The temperatures of heated styling tools can, in the case of straightening or curling irons, reach between 175-200ºC/347ºF-392ºF. Usually, any temperature above 200ºC/392ºF will cause damage to the hair – in fact the hair can start to melt at 220ºC/428ºF!
Exposure to high heat changes the shape of your hair's keratin strands. Temperatures over 300°F convert the ⍺-keratin to β-keratin, which eventually leads to weaker hair that has lost its elasticity and become more prone to damage.
Hair type
According to Jonathan Colombini, celebrity hairstylist and L'Oréal Paris expert, “fine hair textures should stay in the 350–375 degree range, but for more coarse or thick hair, 400–450 degrees is appropriate.”
Using 150-degree heat on type four hair will lead to a small lack of elasticity and the hair cuticles will start rising, this means that the cuticles are opening and losing their protective properties.
If you have fine hair, you wouldn't want to exceed 250-300 degrees. If you have course hair, being between 350-400 will be okay but make sure you are using the proper heat protectants!
–Thick or coarse hair (375°F - 450°F): If you've got thick, coarse, or natural hair, you need more heat to tame it, but even here, there's a limit. Keep it below 450°F to avoid going from fabulous to frizz in a flash. Anything over that is basically asking for heat damage, no matter how resilient your hair seems.
The answer depends on several factors, including the type and condition of your hair, the temperature of the tools, and the frequency of use. Generally, it is recommended that you limit the use of heating tools to two or three times a week to prevent damage to your hair.
So, for every type of hair, it is suggested to remain below the 300-395 degrees threshold. Otherwise, you will burn away your beautiful strands. For thicker hair, the range of 300 to 375 is safe. While for thinner hair, remaining below 290 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
Managing heat damaged hair
As we've noted, damaged hair repair isn't possible because the protein bonds and cuticles have been permanently altered. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining hair to prevent further damage. If your hair is severely damaged, the most extreme solution is to cut it off and start fresh.
Flat irons and curling irons are made to reach temperatures of up to 450°F. Many of us may assume that hotter is better for achieving our desired look, but using these tools at high heat settings can damage the hair cuticle.
And with four precise heat settings, it's easy to know the ideal temperature for your hair type: 200°F/100°C is best for fine, fragile, or synthetic hair. 325°F/160°C is best for fine, type 1, or damaged hair. 360°F/180°C is best for chemically-treated hair, finer type 2, type 3, and natural hair.
Here are some tips for safe and effective heat styling: Know Your Hair Type: Fine or damaged hair should be styled at lower temperatures (below 300°F/150°C), while thick or coarse hair can handle higher temperatures (300-400°F/150-200°C).
This method involves repeatedly applying controlled heat to reshape the hair structure while minimizing damage as much as possible. This is done frequently and consistently with the goal of creating hair that's more manageable and looks the way you want without chemical relaxers.
If your hair's looking dull, feeling rough, and breaking easily, it's probably damaged. Look out for dryness, lack of shine, split ends, frizz, and tangles to confirm if your hair is damaged.
Coconut oil can have many benefits for your hair and scalp. It is used to relieve dandruff, restore luster to dry and damaged hair, tame frizz, and protect hair against styling damage. It is safe to use on all hair types.
The temperatures of heated styling tools can, in the case of straightening or curling irons, reach between 175-200ºC/347ºF-392ºF. Usually, any temperature above 200ºC/392ºF will cause damage to the hair – in fact the hair can start to melt at 220ºC/428ºF!
Aim to use the lowest possible temperature when styling your hair. Many tools heat up to 450 degrees, but unless you have ultra-coarse strands, you probably don't need to crank them up to the highest setting to achieve results.
If you have fine hair or hair that's been damaged (potentially from using too-hot tools in the past), it's recommended you go somewhere between 180 and 370 degrees. If you consider your hair to be a standard thickness and in healthy condition, you could try a tool that's set to between 375 and 395 degrees.
The extent to which hair can endure heat styling without sustaining damage depends on various factors, including hair type, its current condition, and the applied technique. Generally, it's advisable to limit hair straightening to a maximum of two or three times per week, although this guideline is not set in stone.
But over time, as you continue to use your heat tools on your hair less and less, you will start to notice a difference in its texture, strength, and shine. While the minimization of using heat tools on your hair is really great, there are additional steps you can take in order to keep your hair healthy.
“A keratin treatment is considered to be the safest way to permanently straighten hair because it does not rely on harsh chemicals as relaxers and permanent waves do.” How Does It Work? A stylist applies a keratin-based product that includes a formaldehyde derivative to your washed hair.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.