If you have curly hair, chances are, you have had your fair share of heat styling sessions. We all know heat is not that great for the hair but since we can't seem to avoid it whether from blow dryers, flat irons, or diffusers, the most important thing is to figure out how to avoid damaging your hair while using heat.
In this article, we'll be discussing some of the best tips for avoiding heat damage on curly hair. Whether, you're getting silk presses, blowouts, or simply drying your hair with heat, these tips are extremely important for keeping your hair healthy so be sure to keep each one in mind. Ready? Let's dive in.
1. Reduce The Heat
Whether you're using a blow dryer, diffuser, or flat iron, you should never ever put the heat setting too high when heat styling your hair. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make and it is the cause of heat damage as there are certain temperatures that are too much for the hair to handle and can weaken the cuticles.
When heat styling, try to keep the temperature setting between 200-300 degrees. If your styling tool only provides the option between low, medium, and high heat, stick to the low and medium heat settings to avoid the risk of basically frying your hair. Additionally, try limiting the amount of times you pass over each section of hair if you're using a direct heat tool like flat irons. Generally, one or two passes are enough for each section of hair.
2. Use A Heat Protectant
A heat protectant is non-negotiable for anyone who uses heat on their hair. It is designed to create a protective shield around your hair so that even if you make the mistake of using your styling tool at an extremely high-temperature setting you can be protected from damage.
3. Load Up On Deep Conditioner
Incorporating a deep conditioner like our Manuka Honey & Avocado Deep Conditioning Mask into your routine helps replenish your curls with the moisture that has been lost during the heat styling process. It is also designed to repair and nourish the hair so using it every week or at least twice a month is essential for preventing heat damage and maintaining the health of your hair.
4. Don't Overdo It
Like most things, heat styling is best in moderate doses. Too much of it can cause serious damage to your hair and leave it feeling brittle, limp, dull and even breaking off. So if you want to keep your hair healthy, do not make heat styling a frequent part of your routine. It is okay to use it every few weeks or months, but if you are using heat every single time you style your hair, you will ultimately end up with heat damage.
Instead of constantly using heat, consider air drying your hair and heat-free styling options like Bantu knots or perm rods.
5. Get Regular Trims
Regular use of heat on curly hair often leaves your ends looking a little rough with split ends. However, if left alone, those split ends can travel further to the hair shaft and cause real damage to your strands. So, getting regular trims is extremely important for maintaining the health of your curls. We all love to skip our trims because we don't want to let go of our length but if you use heat a lot, this is not something you can afford to skip. All you need to do is cut off about a quarter or half an inch every 3-4 months so you will really not be losing that much hair.
6. Avoid Heat Styling Soaking Wet Hair
Heat styling your hair soaking wet exposes your hair to more heat than it can handle and increases your risk of damage since it takes much longer to get the hair from wet to dry. Instead, it is better to thoroughly dry your hair with a towel or let it air dry until it is damp before using heat on it.
7. Don't Skimp On Moisture
Exposing curly hair to heat can often leave it feeling a little dry afterwards so making sure your hair is thoroughly moisturised before heat styling is very important. Apply a generous amount of Sofnfree’s Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner before heat styling and follow up with our Hair & Scalp Oil afterwards to lock in the moisture and make your hair appear more shiny and smooth.
Although it is best to avoid using excessive heat on your curls to keep them healthy, you can still incorporate them into your routine if you follow the necessary precautions. So, if you want your curls to flourish even after your blow dry and flat ironing sessions be sure to stick with the tips we've outlined.