Heat damaged hair is dry, brittle, frizzy, and rough. Two of the most damaging things for your hair are excessive heat damage and UV exposure from the sun. When the inner cortex layer of the hair is severely damaged the hair becomes more brittle, reducing shine and increasing the risk of split ends. Heat damaged hair means weaker, less elastic hair that is susceptible to further damage by other factors. Here are our best product recommendations and tips for how to protect your hair from heat damage.
How to Protect Your Hair From Heat Damage
1. Use a Heat Protectant
A heat protectant is a no-brainer to protect your hair from heat damage. Any time you use heat on your hair, you should be using a protective spray. The CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray forms a powerful barrier between your hair and your heat styling tools. It helps prevent damage and allows your hair to maintain its health, leaving your strands smooth and shiny. Spray it evenly over dry hair and start using your heat tool from roots to ends. You can also use the spray on wet hair before drying it.
2. Try Heatless Hairstyles
The best way to prevent your hair from heat damage is to reduce the amount of heat you use overall. Using a heat protectant is a great option for when you have to use styling tools, but if you’re really worried about the damage that heat is doing to your hair, try out some heatless hairstyles. Heatless waves and curls have come a long way and there are now numerous ways to style your hair without any heat whatsoever.
3. Use High Quality Heat Tools
For the days when you require heat tools for styling, make sure you use high quality tools. They’ll have adjustable heat settings and some are even made with advanced technologies like ceramic, tourmaline, or ionic to help protect your hair from the high heat. Not only does this minimize damage, it helps maintain your hair health by ensuring it stays strong and lustrous. Blow dryers are the most commonly used heat tool and splurging on a good quality one will dry your hair faster and leave your hair smoother. The quicker it can do its job, the less damage it will do.
4. Use the Lowest Heat Setting
When possible, choose a low heat setting when styling your hair. Extreme heat is one of the main causes of hair damage as it can change the shape of keratin protein strands. At temperatures over 302 degrees F, a-keratin slowly converts to b-keratin, which weakens the strands. Heat over 446 degrees F begins to burn hair and cause the chemical bonds that give hair elasticity and strength to break down.
5. Make Sure Your Hair is Dry Before Styling
One of the worst things you can do to your hair is use a heat tool like a flat iron or curling rod while your hair is still damp. While there are wet-to-dry stylers out there, unless you’re using one of them your hair should be completely dry first. Straightening or curling damp hair with a hair tool can cause moisture within the strands to heat up quickly, leading to potential burning of the hair. This impacts the hair’s cuticle surface and can lead to split ends and breakage.
6. Protect Your Hair from the Sun
UV rays can do serious damage to your strands, breaking down the hair’s structure and leading to dryness, reduced strength, loss of colour, stiffness, and brittleness. If you’re going on a sun-filled vacation or will be spending lots of time outdoors, make sure to use hair products with UV protection, such as the Meilury Sunscreen Powder for Scalp and Hair. You can also wear a hat or head scarf or try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Also make sure to use hydrating products like a deep conditioner to help your strands maintain their moisture.
7. Get Regular Trims
Regularly trimming your hair will remove damage from heat styling and chemical treatments. Damage often affects the ends of your hair most and maintaining your trims will get rid of damaged ends and prevent further breakage. Plan to get a trim every 6-8 weeks or 10-12 weeks for thicker hair types. If split ends are a recurring problem, you’ll have to go more often.
8. Use Targeted Hair Care Products
One of the best things you can do if your hair is struggling is invest in products specifically designed for heat damaged hair. They add moisture back into hair that has been over-styled. For example, the Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue is a game changer. It’s a luxurious leave-in spray that strengthens, smooths, and transforms damaged hair. Apply 10-20 pumps to towel-dried hair and let it sit for 90 seconds before styling (don’t rinse). It’s the perfect product to add to your hair care routine.
9. Add a Deep Conditioning Hair Mask to Your Routine
A hydrating hair mask is another must-have product to add to your hair care arsenal. The Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask is filled with moisturizing oils and Keravis protein to help revive dry, damaged hair. The mask deeply conditions your hair to nourish it, making it smoother and easier to style. It also strengthens your strands and is suitable for thick, fine, curly, and straight hair.
If you’re dealing with heat damaged hair, use these tips and products to revive your strands!
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