6 Easy Ways to Protect Your Hair from Heat

Heat styling appliances can work wonders by replacing a wild and unruly mane with beautiful, smooth hair. But without proper care and use, heat styling products can take a toll on your hair. Don't worry - we're not saying you should throw out your favourite styling tools! Just take a few extra precautions and you'll reap the benefits of heat styling and preserve the beauty of your hair for years to come. Read on to find out how!

Remove as much water as possible before blow drying.

After washing and conditioning your hair, remove as much water as possible before blowing it dry. Try gently squeezing any excess water with a soft towel, taking care not to tug or wrench the hair roughly as this can also cause damage. Attacking sopping wet hair with a dryer causes it to rapidly expand and contract, which can cause significant damage to the hair cuticle.

Protect your hair from the sun's damaging effects.

The sun can damage your hair, causing it to become dry and brittle, which can lead to breakage. And just like bleach, the sun can lighten your hair, destroying its colour. Applying a leave-in conditioner before you leave the house can help mitigate the sun's drying effects, while wearing a hat protects it from bleaching. Heat from the sun deteriorates the hair's outer layer, causing split ends and making it dry and frizzy. There are many hair products on the market that protect hair from the sun's harmful rays. Look for leave-in conditioners and sprays that provide colour and heat protection.

Choose your hair products wisely.

Most of us use hair products to help our hair look its best, but using products that contain alcohol can cause hair to dry out. If you combine these products with heat, the dry and damaging effects will be even worse. Always read the labels on hair products before purchase to ensure they contain gentle ingredients.

Use a heat protecting spray.

Before blow drying or heat styling your hair, apply a heat protecting spray to shield the hair from the drying and burning effects. There are plenty of these products on the market and they are reasonably inexpensive to buy.

Turn down the heat.

Most heat styling appliances have different heat settings. The heat level that you use should be appropriate for your hair type. If you have thin or fine hair you should use a low setting. A higher setting is appropriate for thicker or coarser hair. Also remember that if the heat from the blow dryer is burning your scalp, it's probably burning your hair as well and you need to adjust the heat.

Use a conditioning treatment.

Chances are that no matter what precautions you take there will eventually be some damage to your hair. Help mitigate the drying effect by using a deep conditioning mask once a week. This will help moisturize and replenish the hair, leaving it looking healthy and shiny.

If you're concerned about the condition of your hair, we welcome you to come into Loaf for a free consultation. We can recommend products and techniques that will be appropriate for your hair so that you can enjoy health, luxurious hair once again.