Is blow drying more damaging than other methods?

[LanternFields]

I usually go natural and air dry, or if I want a sleeker look I sometimes use a GHD glide (straightening brush on low heat).

Since January i decided it would be healthier to blow dry with my old parlux and a round ceramic brush and heat protectant. Did this once per week only and after two months or so my hair was the most dry it has ever been and I suffered some hair loss.

Then I recall the same thing happened many years ago, silly me.

I think some of us still think a hairdryer is less harsh than a heated device, but my Glide barely touches the hair and smooths it out without pulling or having to put tension on it when wet.
Even though my hairdryer doesn't 'touch' the hair, the heat has to be crazy hot to get it smooth and even my scalp felt angry.

Am I correct in this, though? Maybe I just have weird hair.

Im following because I have decided I either need to blow dry or straighten my hair rather than let it air dry. It is so frizzy (never used to be like this) and looks an absolute mess

Sounds like you're holding your hairdryer too close to your head.

Are you using a heat protector?

Yes, always use protection - have a decent drier and hold it a good 16 inches from hair. I think the issue comes from hair being damp (or wet, whatever) and the tension of the brush to pull it smooth.
On a low heat, no smoothing effect.
So for me, not a great way to achieve smoothness.

I used a ceramic straightening brush/comb that never caused any issues, although to my logic it should have done. I think it spent less time on the strands and didn't tug?

Apparently air drying you hair is worse than using a hairdryer.

I have heard that, since it is more vulnerable.
I must admit that wet styling has had worse effects on my own hair in the past.

Are you rough drying it first? I brush my hair, blast it and only once it's pretty dry I then start using a round brush.