Frequent use of hair dryer, straightening iron, curling iron, hot rollers will lead to damaged hair in long run. Splits end, dryness, dull hair are signs of damaged hair as the heat products zap the moisture present in the hair and leaving the hair brittle and dry. Such problems can be corrected but split ends cannot be treated, it will be a permanent problem.
Using safely heated products is the only way preventing the hair from damage. Do not use product which are more than five years old because the heating temperature might not work properly. Apart from this, using styling tools which are made of the ceramic plate is considered as the safest is recommended. It is the safest tool because a ceramic plated flat iron or curling iron will spread the heat evenly resulting in minimal damage.
Quick NavigationSolutions for Treating Heat Damaged HairHow to Repair Heat Damaged HairHow to Straighten Natural Hair Without Heat DamageHow to Fix Heat Damaged HairMinor Damage SolutionsMajor Damage ControlHow to Prevent Hair From Heat Damage
Before using any heat styling product, it is always good to apply conditioner, lotion, spray which protects from heat. Application of such products helps to strengthen the cuticle and prevents from moisture seeping out of the hair. One also needs to use conditioner regularly which will retain the moisture. A good conditioner should have ingredients like silicones, polyquaternium, amino acids, panthenol or mineral oil. Hair mask should be used, and deep conditioner should contain stearyl or cetyl alcohol which can prevent the hair form heat and damage.
Improper use of heat styling products, damage the hair rather than their frequent use. Following directions, while using the product is necessary because there are different levels of heating the temperature. For instance, hard or coarse hair requires a high level of heat rather than soft and fine hair as it requires normal heat. Drying before applying heat styling product is also an important thing to do. Hair should be 80-90 percent dry before applying the product, if it is wet there is an increase in chances for damages and blow drying it, also leads to excessive drying.
Solutions for Treating Heat Damaged Hair
Heat damage cannot be ignored with a flat iron. Heat damage issues should always be anticipated when working with a styling rod. It is better to prevent the condition than to look for its actual solution. Sometimes even the most experienced person can bring about heat damages in their hair due to carelessness. Unawareness and carelessness are the main reasons behind the heat damages caused as a result of the use of hot styling tools. Most of the women who are curious about accomplishing different hairstyles with styling rods forget to distinguish between the authentic and fake models. They take home a poor quality device and start experimenting with it on their hair straight away. Using a hair straightener on your hair without following the correct instructions and safety measures are highly dangerous for your hair.
The first thing that you can do to save your hair from the heat damaging flat irons is to minimize its usage. It is not that bad if you are using a rod to style your hair occasionally for some special occasions. It may also be safe to use the iron if your hair is naturally healthy and well maintained. But those who are already having a frizzy and fragile hair conditions are suggested not to use them frequently. It on style your frizzy and unmanageable hair occasionally for the demand of certain special events, but using it every morning that too in a hurry that you even skip the process of washing, conditioning and applying heat protectants on the hair before styling can definitely devastate your hair forever. If you spare some time gap between every usage and if you preserve your hair with heat protecting products before styling, you can surely prevent the damage of hair to some extent.
The most important solution for the prevention of heat damage is the use of only ceramic or tourmaline models for styling. Ceramic and tourmaline plated devices are the best quality styling tools that are integrated with natural properties for protecting the hair from heat damage. While offering safe styling, these materials prevent the depletion of hair’s natural moisture and get rid of elimination. Make sure your flat iron has a variable heat setting feature for safe styling.
How to Repair Heat Damaged Hair
It is not a hidden fact that styling iron that is used on our hair for acquiring quick hairstyles bring with them several simples to serious hair damage issues that cannot be completely avoided. The use of low-quality flat iron, especially those that are made of metallic heating plates is the main cause for hair burns and damages. However, the modern tools are included with several advanced technologies that ensure safe styling, but still, the damage to the hair by the intensity of heat of these devices cannot be helped. But if you insist in using a styling rod occasionally to get ready for a particular occasion or if you cannot step out of your home without relaxing your horrible and frizzy hair, then you need to carry out some good safety tips so that your hair is guarded against the adverse effects to some extent. If you want to help your hair out from this serious issue and if you want to acquire stylish hairstyles without damaging your beautiful hair, then here are some important safety tips that you should keep in your mind.
First of all, before buying any of those cheap quality flat irons that you get from the shop at affordable rates, make sure that it is safe and gentle for your hair. It is not about saving a few bucks, but the health of your hair that is to be considered when purchasing a hair straightener. If you wish to get the best results that you have cherished to acquire, then you should give more importance to the quality of the device other than any other matters like its exterior beauty and appeal. Look for qualities like ceramic or tourmaline technologies, variable heat setting feature, lightweight, professional 360-degree swivel cord, etc. After being confident to come home with the best styler in the market, you can’t start using it straight away on your hair. There are some important safety rules to follow, which begin with preparing your hair for styling. Clean and condition your hair with moisture rich hair products and apply good thermal protectants on your hair to guard it against the heat of the device.
How to Straighten Natural Hair Without Heat Damage
There are hundreds of different styling irons on the market today. Buying the cheapest is a false economy. Some irons have poor thermal control across the plates so that heat damage can become inevitable. In cheaper versions, the plates can also shift to use, and be ineffective at holding the hair in place. Others can ‘grab’ and pull the hair out.
Choosing the best can be a minefield, so it’s always a safe bet to pick irons that have been used in professional salons and ones that come recommended by stylists. After all, there is usually a good reason a professional uses a particular brand of product. The results after every cut, style or treatment are self-evident. A bad job means the salon is unlikely to win repeat business, not to mention their reputation being at stake.
Straightening irons aren’t just for straightening hair either. With the right technique, the hair can also be curled in some different ways. It’s important to remember, that using straightening irons daily is not good practice if you want to avoid heat damage to your hair.
Professional manufacturers will work in partnership with top salons. They will have a well-developed range of serums and other products specifically for use with their straightening irons. Using these products will act as a barrier between the heat given off by the irons and your hair.
Remember, that when straightening your hair; don’t be tempted to grab handfuls. The best results are obtained by keeping the sections small. Don’t always rely on the irons for straightening the hair. Make sure you blow dry with a quality bristle brush first to avoid ironing in tangles.
Many professional salons worldwide use GHD irons. They are ‘salon grade’ robust, and built to last. And with several different plate options, there is unlikely to be a style on the planet that can’t be created with their use. Using quality hair straighteners will undoubtedly give peace of mind. A good range of propriety products, recommended for use with the straighteners, will minimize damage and give stunning looking results.
How to Fix Heat Damaged Hair
Some would say that relaxed locks are damaged already. This is not the case; relaxed tresses have been chemically altered so cannot be treated the same way that a natural mane is. It is easy to tell the difference between healthy and damaged relaxed locks. The damaged strands will be dry to the touch and extremely fragile. It will fail an elasticity test miserably, snapping with little force whether wet or dry. Damaged strands will also look dull with a reddish tint rather than natural black color. The ends also tend to be frizzy with a multitude of split ends.
Heat damaged natural hair, although stronger than the relaxer damaged locks; it will still be weaker than its healthy counterpart. The easiest way to tell that it has been heating damaged is that the curls do not return or look loosened and uneven when wetted and allowed to air dry. This will usually happen on the ends of the strands as this is the oldest and therefore the weakest part. It will also have many splits ends.
There is no quick fix solution to damaged hair. If the damage is minor, then regular treatment will restore it to health.Repairing the hair can be easy it you catch it quick enough. However, with major damage like split ends or excessive heat damage, only scissors will do the trick to recover! Of course, not everyone is willing to chop their mane off and start again, so there are a few solutions to manage the damage and keep it on the head long enough for new healthy hair to grow in. With regular trims, you can get rid of the damage slowly while keeping your locks at a length you are comfortable with.
Minor Damage Solutions
Dry Strands – Most relaxed locks that have been damaged will fall into the dry category. A series of deep conditioning and porosity control treatments twice per week for four weeks should restore the moisture levels to normal. The deep conditioner required should contain hydrolyzed proteins which will not only be strong enough to impart strength to the strands; they will also be small enough to penetrate the innermost pattern layers. For the upkeep of a relaxed or natural curly and kinky mane, deep conditioning should be done once per week.
Hair That is Mushy When Wet – This signals that the strands have too much moisture and not enough protein. – A strong protein treatment should restore health to mane in as little as one application.
Minor Heat Damage – The curls at the ends of the strands are not as defined and appear looser. To correct this, all direct heat must be avoided for as much as two months. In this time a series of deep protein conditioners (not a strong protein treatment) must be applied once per week to re-strengthen the locks.In the event the damage is minor, the curls should return to normal. Minor heat harm also produces split draws to a close. Cut these off separately as you see them and make sure you keep the ends moisturized twice daily.
Major Damage Control
Only cutting the strands will solve major damage issues. Major damage involves:
Strands that become very weak from over processing from repeatedly bleaching to change the hair colour
Misuse of Relaxers – Overlapping relaxers or leaving the chemical in too long
Failing to Neutralize Relaxers – Using a regular shampoo to rinse relaxer instead of a neutralizing shampoo may cause major damage as the chemical may continue to weaken the tresses even after it has been rinsed.
Misuse of Heat Tools – Natural locks that has been ‘burnt’ straight from the misuse of heat tools and relaxed tresses that have been pressed with too much heat.
To control the above until you are ready to trim the damage you will need:
- A strong protein treatment every six weeks to impart strength and curb the breakage. Try Aphogee two step protein treatment or Nexxus Emergencee.
- Weekly deep conditioning treatments to keep the strands moisturized.
- A protein rich diet to ensure that new growth is healthy.
- Avoid heat tools and choose heat-free methods to straighten.
- A reassessment of goals – e.g. color options or necessity of a relaxer for your hair type.
- Regular trims to remove the damage.
The use of a gloss product can be used to give the appearance of health while you are waiting for your hair to grow. Please note that the silicones in these products (Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone) will only give the locks the appearance of health. It will still be damaged and will, therefore, need to be trimmed.
Tips to Avoid Further Damage:
- Keep up with deep conditioning and protein treatments to avoid dry and weak tresses.
- Avoid using heat tools where possible. There are other healthier options of styling!
- If heat is used, use a temperature controlled tool (never stove heated ones) and use the heat protectant on the strands beforehand.
- Always make sure to the freshly deep condition if heat is to be used.
- Clarify after swimming to remove chlorine residue.
- Air dry where possible or blow dry on a cool setting.
- Use no-ammonia colors.
- Wait until you have enough growth before relaxing to avoid overlapping. 2-3 months should give 1-1.5 inches of hair
How to Prevent Hair From Heat Damage
Heat styling usually involves any device that generates heat. This includes curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers. What do they have in common? These can damage your hair. If these tools damage your hair, why use them in the first place?
Ironically, although these devices are damaging for the hair, many people are thankful for it. The use of blow dryers cut the time spent by a person in drying his hair. He can then attend to other important matters. The flat irons give people with curly hair a chance to experience having a straight hair occasionally and vice versa for the curling irons.
The use of heat easily styles the hair. Unfortunately, it can be punishing as well. To prevent serious damage to your hair, make sure one does follow the following tips:
2. If you can air dry hair, do so. You can do this if anyone with in a hurry. Allow your hair to possess a break from the heat of blow-drying.
3. If it is not essential, do not style nice hair with heat. Zero matter how expensive your devices are, nice hair can still use a day off from it all. Instead of by using a cold weather straightener, you can wear your hair in the natural waves occasionally.
4. Use shampoo and moisturizing hair product for your hair type. Also, it is essential that you shampoo and condition your hair accordingly. If you have curly dry frizzy hair, shampooing daily is an awful idea. However, profound conditioning flowing hair is necessary at least once a week. Moisturize your dry locks if you are planning to use Arctic devices into it.
5. Make use of protective products against the heat. It is also essential that you use serums for flowing hair anytime you expose it to heat. There are protecting products like cream, Nautique, and sprays. You can pick whichever you like.
Hair devices for home use made styling easier and inexpensive. However, it also exposed hair to damage. Heat is one primary causes of hair damage, but it is also necessary to reshape and style hair. Since this is the case, the user of thermal hair devices should learn how to protect their hair whenever they use the said tools. It is important that they use well-designed products such as the ionic curling iron. Investing in good products will preserve the glow of their hair. They should not be dependent on the devices as well. Hair can be styled without the use of these sometimes. They should use the right product on the right hair type as well. Finally, if they want to use thermal devices, they should apply protective products on their hair beforehand.
There are several methods or remedies that you can use to save your hair from heat injury. First and foremost, let your hair have a break from heat styling, and allow it dry on its own. If you are not in a rush and do not have to go elsewhere then it is not necessary to fashion them using heat supported instruments. It is also good way to spend in high-class styling devices if you want to use them quite often. There are ionic hair blowers available in the market that release negative charges to remove the moisture. Some strengtheners are also available with defensive coatings that do cause damage to your hair.
You should spend in high-class hair merchandises that help to thwart in heat damage and keep hair in a better condition. It is good to use a nurturing conditioner and shampoo that restores the lost moisture of the hair and defends it while heat styling. Moreover, there are a lot of styling merchandises such as hair sprays and serums that guard the hair shaft against injury during heat styling.
If you are a habitual user of styling devices, it is necessary to take some time out to treat your hair. Habitual oil massages or conditioning treatments should be an element of your daily schedule. Constant trimming of hair prevents split ends and keeps hair shiny and healthy.
Hair is more vulnerable to injury when it is moist. It is good to allow the hair to dry by itself and then curl or straighten them. This causes a smaller amount of injury to the hair cuticle than curling or straightening it when it is moist.
Heat damage on hair is not only because of styling devices. The sun is also a big cause of heat injury to the hair. Before going in the sun, it is good to use a product that has ultraviolet protection and protects your hair from the damaging rays of the sun. One can also cover their hair with scarf or use a hat to protect the hair from the injurious sunrays.