Cut Your Blow-Dry Time in Half — Aveda Speed of Light Is the Styling Shortcut You Need

If you have thick, long, or dense hair, blow-drying can feel like a second job. Twenty minutes. Thirty minutes. Sometimes more. By the time you’re done, your arms are tired and you’ve already eaten into the time you needed for everything else. Aveda Speed of Light Blow Dry Accelerator Spray genuinely cuts that time down — and it adds a healthy shine boost while it works.

Speed of Light is a pre-blow-dry spray that accelerates water evaporation from the hair, reducing dry time significantly. At Belt Salon, our stylists use it every day on clients with long or thick hair, and the time savings are real and consistent.

How Speed of Light Accelerates Drying

The spray works by distributing water more evenly across the hair surface and breaking the surface tension that keeps water trapped inside the hair shaft. When water is more evenly distributed, the blow dryer can evaporate it more efficiently. Instead of having pockets of trapped water that take forever to dry (especially in thick, dense hair), the moisture is spread into a thin, even layer that dries quickly and uniformly.

The formula also includes a light conditioning agent that smooths the cuticle as the hair dries. This serves double duty: smooth cuticles reflect light better (giving you more shine) and also allow water to release faster than rough, raised cuticles that trap moisture

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How to Use Speed of Light

Apply to freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Spray generously throughout, making sure to get the inner layers (not just the surface) if you have thick or dense hair. Comb through to distribute evenly. Then blow-dry as usual.

You’ll notice the difference almost immediately. Sections that normally take multiple passes with the blow dryer will dry noticeably faster. For clients with thick, long hair, the time savings typically range from 5–15 minutes per blow-dry session — which adds up to hours saved over the course of a month.

Speed of Light can be layered with other styling products. Apply it first as your base layer, then add your volumizing spray, thickening tonic, or smoothing cream on top. It doesn’t interfere with other products and doesn’t change your styling results.

The Shine Bonus

Beyond drying speed, Speed of Light noticeably improves shine. The cuticle-smoothing action creates a more reflective hair surface, so your finished blowout looks glossier and more polished. If you’ve ever wondered why your salon blowout looks shinier than what you achieve at home, products like Speed of Light are part of the answer — they create a smoother surface that catches and reflects light better.

Who Benefits Most from Speed of Light

If your blow-dry takes more than 10 minutes, Speed of Light will make a meaningful difference in your routine. It’s especially valuable for people with thick, dense hair that holds water and takes forever to dry, long hair (past the shoulders) where drying time becomes a real inconvenience, anyone who blow-dries daily and wants to reduce heat exposure time, and busy parents, professionals, or anyone who needs to get out the door faster.

Even if your hair dries reasonably quickly, the shine benefit alone makes Speed of Light worth adding to your routine. A glossier, more polished blowout with less effort is a win for any hair type.

Where to Get Aveda Speed of Light

Available at both Belt Salon locations. Your stylist can demonstrate the difference during your next blowout service.

Shop Aveda Speed of Light (supports Belt Salon)

Frequently Asked Questions About Aveda Speed of Light

Does Speed of Light provide heat protection?

Speed of Light provides light conditioning that helps protect hair during blow-drying, but it’s not marketed as a dedicated heat protectant. For flat iron or curling iron use at temperatures above 350°F, we recommend using a dedicated heat protection product. For blow-drying, Speed of Light provides adequate protection while delivering its drying and shine benefits.

Can I use Speed of Light on fine hair?

Yes, but fine hair typically doesn’t need a drying accelerator because it dries quickly on its own. The shine benefit is still valuable for fine hair — just use sparingly (2–3 sprays) to avoid any risk of weighing hair down. Fine-haired clients who use Speed of Light usually use it more for the shine than the speed.

Is Speed of Light safe for color-treated hair?

Yes. Speed of Light is color-safe and won’t affect your hair color. In fact, by reducing total blow-dry time, it actually reduces the amount of heat your color-treated hair is exposed to — which helps preserve color longevity.

How much time will I actually save?

Results vary depending on hair thickness, length, and density. Most clients report saving 30–50% of their normal blow-dry time. For someone whose blow-dry normally takes 20 minutes, that means finishing in 10–14 minutes. For thick, long hair that takes 30+ minutes, the savings are even more dramatic.

Can I use Speed of Light with hair extensions?

Yes. Speed of Light is safe for all extension types and is especially helpful for extension wearers because extensions add significant drying time. Spray throughout natural hair and extensions, avoiding the attachment points, and blow-dry as usual. The time savings with extensions are often the most dramatic because you’re drying twice as much hair.

Book a blowout at Belt Salon and see how much time Speed of Light saves on your hair.