How to minimize heat damage to your hair

Heat damage can leave you with split ends, brittle hair, and future hair growth issues. I straightened my hair the first time when I was five years old but the times I was putting heat on my hair increased when I got to middle school. I would straighten my curly hair every couple of months and would put the most amount of heat possible on my hair. My hair became uneven, brittle, and evidently damaged. On top of that, I began bleaching my hair. With all this damage I am surprised with my hair growth and volume now, all because I found out some of the best ways to keep my hair healthy and happy even while putting heat on it.

Hair Prep

1) Just like you would prep your skin for makeup, prepping your skin for styling is as important. Before straightening your hair, especially if you intend to keep it straightened for a while make sure to wash and condition the hair properly. Washing the hair and making it nice and clean will help prevent build up.

2) Deep condition your hair and wash it out properly before as well. Deep conditioning can give the moisture and softness your hair will need before going through any damage. Also making sure the hair is fully detangled is best.

3) I usually put in a heat protectant through out my hair…I pretty much satiate it in a heat product and spray before hand. Making sure there is heat protectant is a great asset to your hair health. Please, if you take anything from my advice, Heat protectant is so important. I mean everything from this list is important advice but heat protectant is a really great tool to use.

Also make sure your hair isn’t wet when straightening either. Its not okay! Blow dry your hair with a brush until dry! If you need a step by step there will be a video posted on the Khaurafab YouTube channel soon after this article is posted.

Heat setting

A lot of people including me at times, use a very high heat setting to make sure that their hair is pin straight. I have to let you know though, that it is not worth it. Depending on your hair texture and the level of damage on your hair you should go away from that. For reference I have thicker curly hair and the maximum heat I will go to is about 375 degrees .I used to go over 400 degrees but that heat will make the hair practically fry, especially if you are using hot tools more frequently. If you are going from curly hair to straight I would say you can go 375 and if you are touching your hair up or straightening it daily lower the temperature.

Using less heat styling

Styling your hair with heat is always a risk so implementing heatless styles whenever you can is very important. You can get heatless curls with Satin curling rods, curlers, or my favorite , braiding your hair over night. Heatless options for your hair will always be the best way to avoid heat damage and minimizing the heat as well as how often this heat is used.

After heat

One of my favorite things to do after using all that heat on my hair is reversing it. This may not make any sense but I am about to explain my process in the best way I can. After I blow dry and then straighten my hair I will usually try to cool my hair down by lightly blow drying my hair on the cool setting. If I am going out with this hair I will simply cool down my hair and then go out but if I am going to sleep or stay inside, I do my same cooling method and then set it. Using satin products, this makes sure the hair doesn’t get frizzy and keeps its moisture and shine. The reason I cool down my hair is to close the hair follicles. After, I will Oil the ends of my hair too.

For more beauty, fashion, and wellness information, make sure to Follow Khaurafab social medias and subscribe to our newsletter for more information. Like I said in the beginning of this article, you can find my step by step on healthily straightening hair on the Khaurafab YouTube channel.