Many women blow-dry, straighten, or curl their hair on a daily basis. While this can create some winning looks, over time all that heat can damage hair. If you have a habit of using heat styling tools often, you should take some steps to protect your hair from drying out, getting split ends, and breaking.
One of the easiest ways to protect your hair from heat damage is simply to take a break. Go for a day or two without using heat to dry or style your hair. On your day off, put your hair in a ponytail or bun if it is hard to manage. A serum can prevent frizziness, and a medium-hold gel can make your hair easier to tame.
You can reduce your reliance on blow-drying. Let your hair air-dry on some days, or blow-dry it until it is 80 percent dry and then use a wet-to-dry flat iron.
It is important to hydrate your hair before heat styling to keep it nourished and soft. A few drops of oil applied to wet hair can prevent frizz and protect it from styling damage.
You need to protect your hair from heat just like you protect your skin from the sun. A heat protectant is like sunscreen for your hair. It will prevent damage and frizz and make your hair shinier. Use a heat protectant serum before blow-drying and a spray with a flat iron. Check the label to see if the product is meant to be used on wet or dry hair.
The heat settings on styling tools range from 175 to 400 degrees. Choose the appropriate temperature setting based on the thickness of your hair. If your hair is fine, use a lower temperature setting. Never use the highest setting, no matter how thick your hair is. If the tool is smoking or sizzling or burns your fingers, it is too hot and will damage your hair.
Ceramic tools can straighten and moisturize hair at the same time. It is worthwhile to invest more money in a quality tool that will not damage your hair.
When you use a heat styling tool, always keep it moving. Leaving the tool in one place for too long is more likely to cause damage.