Minimize the intensity of the heat as it is applied to the hair: It's OK to use a blow-dryer and a nozzle, of course, but be sure the heat isn't on full blast. Make sure your flatiron's protective coating is intact, too. Use a heat protectant: Heat protectants are an absolute must when you're using hot tools.
Use a Heat Protectant
Most heat protectants will protect your hair with heat up to 450 degrees (but that doesn't mean you need to apply that much heat—more on that later). After detangling, use this step before moving on to styling.
Argan oil, avocado oil, and refined coconut oil, all seem to be popular choices with good feedback from people who have used them as heat protectants.
Once your hair is dry and it's been coated in a small amount of serum, apply a heat protectant to each section of hair before you flat iron it. "Use a heat protectant to seal the cuticle and form a protective barrier around each strand," says Powell.
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.
The downside of a silk press
Heat damage occurs when keratin (hair strands) is melted by the heat applied, causing hair to become permanently altered in shape (usually straight), never returning to its natural curl pattern. Heat of around 215-235 C is likely to cause keratin to melt.
Since heat application can cause damage to your cuticle, a protein treatment can help repair those tears, cracks or breaks in your hair by reconstructing the proteins that have been lost. Protein treatments encourage your curls to bounce back to their normal state.
Coconut Oil Heat Protectant: Mix melted coconut oil with aloe vera gel or water in a spray bottle. Shake well and apply to damp hair before heat styling. Shea Butter and Essential Oils Blend: Melt shea butter and mix it with a few drops of essential oils (like argan, lavender, or rosemary).
By deep conditioning, co-washing, using the right products, detangling, using a diffuser, protective styling, air drying, low manipulation, sealing in moisture and trimming your ends regularly, you can help to keep your hair healthy and manageable.
Minimize the intensity of the heat as it is applied to the hair: It's OK to use a blow-dryer and a nozzle, of course, but be sure the heat isn't on full blast. Make sure your flatiron's protective coating is intact, too. Use a heat protectant: Heat protectants are an absolute must when you're using hot tools.
Top Heat Protectants for Natural Hair:
Best heat protectant cream: Kerastase Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Cream, $46. Best drugstore heat protectant: TRESemmé Protecting Heat Spray, $38. Best for 4C hair types: CHI 44 Iron Gaurd Thermal Protection Spray, $12.
Limit the frequency of straightening curly hair to no more than twice a week to maintain its health.
Both create temporary silky, glossy hairstyles without the use of chemical relaxers, and both involve wrapping your hair at the end of the treatment. The Dominican blowout generally results in a final look with more volume and movement, but a silk press can last slightly longer — from two to three weeks.
Don't Overdo It with Heat Styling. While silk presses are a great way to achieve straight, shiny hair, it's important not to overdo it with heat styling. Using too much heat can damage your hair and cause it to lose its silkiness.
Dominicans like a lot of movement in their hair so this step is crucial. Once the hair is dry, rollers are removed and heat protectant in the form of an oil-free, water-free silicone serum is applied sparingly throughout your hair.
So, how do you repair damaged 4C hair? First, you can book an appointment at your local hair salon to cut off the damaged parts of your hair. You should also protect your hair from future damage with the right shampoos and conditioners.
“We have proven that this [treatment] works on every type of hair damage: chemical, mechanical, thermal, even damage from the sun,” says Lavinia Popescu, chief scientist for Olaplex. Hair is structured by three different bonds: disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds, and salt bonds.
Type 4B Hair - Your hair is prone to dryness and breaks and has a zig-zag shape and experiences shrinkage. Type 4C Hair - Your coils are dense and can range from fine and soft to coarse and wiry, your hair strand will have a "Z" shape and will experience significant shrinkage.
To properly use as a heat protectant, melt one teaspoon of coconut oil and then dilute it by adding 3/4 cup of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well before each use. It's always best to apply this formula to wet hair and to keep it all on the mid-shaft to ends, away from the scalp.
Leaving coconut oil in your hair overnight is usually okay and can be very beneficial for dry or damaged hair. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids that can penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize from within.
Before flat ironing, apply a heat protectant gel or serum evenly throughout your damp hair using a comb to ensure even distribution.