Defeating Heat Damage

Can’t live without your precious flat iron straightener? If you are unsatisfied with your frizzy, split-end central, rough, damaged hair, it may be time to take a long vacation from all the heat! Let’s get down to business on heat damage.

Cause

Heat tools dry out the ends of your hair and exposes the hair’s cuticles, causing your hair to become brittle, dry, and split end prone. According to Women’s Health, to make up for this dryness, your hair is forced to soak up moisture from the air to compensate, which gives you the infamous, frizzy hair.

1. Hair dryers
2. Flat irons
3. Curling irons
4. Hot rollers

Repair

1. Hot oil treatment twice a week. Essortment says hot oil treatments will condition your dry scalp and add moisture, bounce, and shine to your hair. Not only will it soften your hair, but it can prevent frizz and breakage.
2. Leave-in deep conditioner. While conditioner does wonder for your hair, Hairscapades states that we should limit the time the conditioner stays in our hair to a maximum of 30 minutes because any more than that causes more harm than benefits.

At the end of the day, these are temporary treatments and once your hair is damaged and essentially dead, there is no repairing the hair back to its original, healthy state besides cutting it off.

Prevent

1. NEVER use heat above 300-350.
2. Trim your split ends every 6-8 weeks. Dale H. Johnson, author in “Hair and Hair Care” states that leaving split ends untreated will cause even more damage to your hair.
3. Do NOT heat style your hair until it is 100% dry, unless you are using a specific wet hair straightener, because it will cause further irreversible damage to your hair.
4. Women’s Health advises that if you must blow-dry your hair, when towel-drying, pat your hair and invest in heat protection spray. This will protect your weak or already damaged hair and will distribute the heat evenly. Once you start blow-drying, put the heat on high to limit the amount of heat exposure. A nozzle attachment is important to use because it creates a safer distance between your hair and the damaging hot metal coil.
5. Try to wash your hair only twice a week. If you must wash your hair more than twice a week, dilute your regular shampoo or purchase a gentle formula. Washing your hair too often causes more damage than benefits! Start using healthier hair products that are sulfate-free.
6. Invest in professional heat styling tools such as a professional blow dryer and/or flat iron