Heat styling tools like straighteners, curling irons, and hair dryers can be a quick and easy way to achieve the hairstyle you want. However, excessive heat styling can damage your hair, causing it to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
In this blog post, we'll explore the truth about heat styling and ill share my tips on how to protect your hair from damage.
The Truth About Heat Styling
Heat styling tools work by using high temperatures to reshape your hair. The heat breaks down the hydrogen bonds in your hair, allowing you to mold it into a different shape. While this may sound like a great way to achieve the hairstyle you want, the high temperatures can damage your hair.
Excessive heat styling can cause your hair to lose moisture, become dry and brittle, and even break off (eep). Over time, this can lead to thinning hair and even hair loss. In addition to the physical damage, heat styling can also cause your hair to become frizzy and difficult to manage.
Protecting Your Hair from Heat Damage
Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your hair from heat damage (phew). Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Use a Heat Protectant
Using a heat protectant product can help to reduce the damage caused by heat styling. These products work by creating a barrier between your hair and the heat, reducing the amount of damage that occurs. I think of a heat protector as sunscreen for your hair. I also have this trick that I have been teaching in salon FOR YEARSSSS and everyone is blown away by it when I share it with them. If you have a heat protectant at home and you're not sure if it works, spray it on the top of your hand and run the hair dryer over it with the hottest heat. If it protects your skin - then its protecting your hair. If it's not then it's time for a new heat protectant. We use DunGud in salon and it's a crowd favourite, literally fly's out the door! Oh... and it smells DEVINE.
Adjust the Heat Setting
Most heat styling tools have adjustable heat settings. To avoid excessive damage, start with a lower heat setting and gradually increase the temperature until you achieve the desired result. A good tip I like to think about is, if you wouldn't put something in the oven at that temperature - don't put that level of heat on your hair. I like to keep my straightener/ curler at around 160-170 Degrees. My fave straightener is the Hot Tools straightener, it's epic and super affordable!
Limit Heat Styling
To reduce the risk of heat damage, limit your use of heat styling tools. I created a routine of washing my hair and styling it on the same day (once a week). I sleep on my silk pillow case and the next morning I don't need to use any heat at all, my style holds. I then have a few "Heat Free Upstyles" that I choose from, and I usually start doing those on the 3rd day. My favourite pillow case is our signature BODE Pillow Case that you can grab here if you don't have one already. I'm going to do an entire blog for silk pillow cases alone LOL. That's how seriously beneficial it is sleeping on a Silk Pillow Case!
Deep Condition Regularly
Deep conditioning treatments can help to restore moisture to your hair and repair damage caused by heat styling. Try to deep condition your hair once a week in place of your regular conditioner or as needed, depending on your hair's condition. I like to ring my hair out, apply my BODE Repair Mask to the mid lengths and ends, then grab a treatment towel and wet it under really hot water. Wrap it around your hair until it cools down. The heat opens up your hair shaft and gives deeper conditioning.
In conclusion, heat styling tools can be a quick and easy way to achieve the hairstyle you want, but excessive heat styling can damage your hair. By using a heat protectant, adjusting the heat setting, limiting heat styling, and deep conditioning regularly, you can protect your hair from damage and keep it healthy AF.
Was there any info in here that was game changing for you? I hope this has been helpful, if it has I would love for you to please leave a review in the comments and leave me a star rating (hopefully it's a Fiver! hehe). See ya next week!