How to protect your hair from heat
Hot tools are inarguably necessary if you want a killer runway-worthy blow-out or mermaid-like cascading curls. But, too much heat—without the proper precautions—can cause dryness, dullness, split ends, and even breakage. Before breaking up with your hot tools altogether, consider following the tips we lay out below! We’re sharing ways to protect your hair from the heat to help it look its very best.
1. Hydrate Your Hair
The leading effect of excessive heat styling is dehydration. Heat—whether it’s from the sun’s UV rays, the water your use to wash, or your favorite flat iron—can dry out your strands which leads to brittle-feeling, dull-looking hair. To combat the drying effects of heat, make sure you’re replenishing your hair with moisture. In the shower use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner and once a week reach for a deep-conditioning hair mask.
2. Protect Your Strands
Using your blow-dryers, curling wands, and flat irons on unprotected hair? That’s a no-go. Before using any hot tool you’ll want to first spray or distribute a heat protectant through your hair. Many of these products help to create a protective coating around the hair fiber which can help to prevent moisture loss and reduce the likelihood of dehydration. What’s more, many of these products can also help to boost volume and leave your hair looking shiny and feeling soft to the touch!
3. Give Your Hair a Styling Break
Do you heat style each and every day? Consider taking a break to embrace your hair’s natural texture. Instead of reaching for the blow-dryer the next time it’s raining or its ultra-humid outside, distribute a leave-in conditioner through your damp strands and allow your hair to air dry or style it in a braid or bun.
4. Keep the Heat Low
When you do reach for the hot tools you’ll want to use them on the lowest setting that still helps you to reach your desired result. Blow-dyers can be used on their lowest heat setting and you can adjust the speed for quicker drying and flat irons and curling irons can often be used on a medium setting to get the job done. What’s more, make sure you’re never holding a flat iron in any one spot too long—if the section doesn’t look the way you want it to, wait a moment and go back in once it’s cooled down. With curling irons you’ll want to make sure you only leave your hair in the clamp—or wrapped around the barrel—for no more that 5-10 seconds.
5. Never Use Hot Tools on Wet Hair
Your hair should never (ever!) sizzle like food cooking in a frying pan. If you hear a sound when you’re styling it means your locks aren’t dry and you may be severely damaging your hair. Never use hot tools unless your locks are completely, 100 percent dry!
6. Boost Shine
After styling, consider reaching for a nourishing and shine-inducing hair oil. Just a drop or two can help to replenish moisture, smooth your strands, and leave your hair looking glossy and healthy!
