Heat Damage and How To Avoid It
Hairdryers, curling irons, straighteners – where would we be without them?
For many of us, these heat-based appliances are inseparable parts of our daily quests to throw together the perfect look, whether we want our locks to sit in tight ringlets, lie flat or demonstrate their natural curls.
But what of the heat damage associated with the use of these tools and the impact it can have on the strength and health of our hair?
It’s a sad fact that frequently exposing the hair to extremes of temperature can leave it brittle and broken, with compromised keratin proteins and a cracked cuticle (the hair’s outer layer) contributing to split ends, dryness and seemingly unmanageable knots and tangles.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way – heat damage can be avoided, and here’s how!
Be strict with your styling times
Look, we get it, your hair is important to you, but spending too much time under the blow dryer or with your hair wrapped around your latest styling product only has one outcome: serious heat damage!
Be less absent-minded when you use these tools and keep a check on just how long you’re spending on your look. We’d recommend using things such as curling irons in short, ten-second bursts and ensuring that all of your appliances are always on the lowest heat setting. Your hair will thank you later.
Heat protection
One of the best arguments we’ve come across for the use of a heat protectant is that it’s the equivalent of making sure you apply sunscreen before leaving the house on a hot day. Simple, right?
By applying a heat protectant ahead of your hair-styling routine, you’re actively taking steps to reduce your risk of heat damage. This is because the ingredients featured in these products slow down the rate at which your hair conducts heat.
Remember, though, that these sprays and formulas can only do so much, so you still need to make sure that you’re limiting your usage of heat-based appliances as much as you can.
Look after your hair
It’s been suggested that heat damage is much more of a possibility should you fail to properly look after your hair on a day-to-day basis, and this is something that should go without saying.
The use of shampoos and conditioners that feature sulphates and parabens has been identified as a major factor in the development of dry, lacklustre-looking hair – a departure into brittleness that can only be exacerbated by the application of heat to already-damaged locks.
Avoid this by switching to hair-washing products that are free of these destructive ingredients. There are plenty of these out there.
Go heat-free!
By far and away the best method of beating heat damage is to swear off heating appliances altogether. Sound like too much to handle? It really isn’t.
Though they may be more time-consuming (you have time, there’s a lockdown on!), you could use more “primitive” tools such as curlers and rollers to help you achieve your hair goals, not to mention the plethora of styles that can be put together with minimal accessories: braids and updos, anyone?
It should also be obvious by now that our extensive range of hair extensions can also provide a great alternative to heat-styled hair. These are made from 100% human hair and can be added and removed in an instant, giving you the chance to embrace a new style at will!
To find out more about us, or to purchase our hair extensions, visit our website today. You can also call us on (0)1926 659 500 or email admin@flipinhair.com.