Avoid Heat Styling Daily Using heat styling tools every day can be detrimental to the health of your hair. Constant exposure to heat can strip away the natural oils, leaving your hair dry and brittle. Try to minimize heat styling to two to three times a week and use non-heat styling methods in between.
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. If you have fine or thin hair, it's essential to use a lower heat setting on your tools to avoid damage.
Any heat tool will damage your hair no matter what you do. But you can minimize the damage by using a heat protection product on your hair before using heat tools.
Did my hair magically transform over not using heat for a few months? Unfortunately, it's unlikely. ``While you may have given up heat during quarantine, you may have had heat damage already, so this will not make your hair healthy right away,'' Ciceron said.
Does Hair Grow Faster In The Summer: Myth or Fact? The sun and heat do enhance hair growth. Human hair indeed grows faster during the summer by about 10% compared to hair growth during the colder weather. Following a study conducted by the National Institute of health, seasonal changes cause changes in hair growth.
Usually, any temperature above 200ºC/392ºF will cause damage to the hair – in fact the hair can start to melt at 220ºC/428ºF!
Argan oil has been the go-to natural heat protectant for years. This lightweight oil can protect hair against high heat. Plus, it leaves you with a smooth style and shiny finish.
Apply shampoo to your scalp, instead of the entire length of your hair. This way, you cleanse and wash away built-up products, dead skin, and excess oil, but avoid drying your hair too much. Use conditioner after washing your hair. Conditioner moisturizes and detangles your hair, and makes it easier to manage.
Exposing your hair to frequent high heat also increases your risk of breakage because it loses its elasticity. If you've ever noticed short pieces of hair that stick up, they're likely pieces of hair that have broken off. Your hair can break when it's wet or dry.
For those with fine, normal, moderately coarse, or color-treated hair, Rehkopf says ceramic is the healthiest option. "Ceramic is smooth and glides through hair without snagging, reducing breakage and damage," she says. "It emits negative ions, reducing frizz, enhancing shine, and creating smoother styles."
Stick between 300°F and 375°F for a smooth finish without frying your hair's cuticle. –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.
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.
Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera Gel: Mix melted coconut oil with aloe vera gel for a lightweight yet protective heat protectant. Aloe vera soothes and forms a protective barrier, while coconut oil moisturises. Shea Butter, Argan Oil, and Honey: Blend shea butter with argan oil and a small amount of honey.
It has long been praised for its high smoke point and its nourishing benefits as a conditioning hair treatment. Hot tool lovers will be happy to hear that those same properties also make coconut oil an excellent natural heat protectant to use before styling. Coconut oil not only conditions but also seals the hair.
Hot tools can reach temperatures of up to 450°F, which can make your hair dry and brittle. Very dry and brittle hair is difficult to repair, and can even break when it becomes too weak. Using a heat protectant reduces the amount of heat that is absorbed by your hair, keeping it healthier.
“When you stop using heated styling tools for a few weeks, you may notice a difference in your hair's health and appearance. The hair will typically become softer, smoother and shinier. Split ends may also start to mend and hair breakage may decrease consequently,” she advises.
Is it OK to straighten hair every day? According to hair stylists, it is not recommended to straighten hair every day as it can cause breakage, heat damage, and moisture loss. Ideally, you should be flat ironing freshly washed, conditioned hair and heat protected hair no more than 2 or 3 times a week.
“You can improve the quality of hair after slight chemical damage using bond-building products that will rebuild the amino acid bonds that make up the keratin in hair, however, you cannot restore split ends or breakage in severely damaged hair,” details Caspara.