TREATING HEAT DAMAGED HAIR

Using some sort of heat styling tool is part of many people’s daily routine. This hair styling tool can be a curling iron or a hair straightener; it may even be something as basic as a blow dryer. Heat just makes it easier to style hair.

While beneficial in hair styling, the use of heat tools, however, damages the overall health of hair.

If you are the kind of person who often styles their hair with heat, you will notice over time that your hair will start to look dull and feel coarse, even stringy, to the touch. You may also notice a lot of breakage and split ends. You hair may also lose its natural curls and become straighter. What happens is that the heat tools have dried out the hair cuticles and changed the structure of the hair proteins.

For people with heat-damaged hair, the prospect of cutting off the hair and beginning all over again is often daunting and confronting. Before you go cutting, however, I want to share with you some solutions that can help you. While heat-damaged hair cannot typically be fully repaired, you can make things better with a committed treatment plan.

Step 1: Begin your new hair care routine now

The time to do things right and begin a new hair care routine is now. The longer you wait before you treat the damage, the harder repair will be, and this might warrant you to resort to more extreme treatments, such as cutting your hair. Your new hair care routine should not just include treatments, but also good habits, such as totally cutting out heat styling.

Step 2: Use a clarifying shampoo as necessary

Use a clarifying shampoo if you have staticky or dry hair, as this helps to smooth down crispy hair. In the absence of a clarifying shampoo, use a gentle shampoo and rinse with apple cider vinegar.

However, if your hair is extensively damaged, it is best to avoid a clarifying shampoo because it could worsen the damage. Unsure what to use? You can book a consultation with us here.

Step 3: Build strength with a protein-based conditioner

Protein-based conditioners are specially made to fill the tiny tears and rips in hair, and by so doing make the hair stronger. It is, however, important to note that this is only a temporary repair. This repair lasts only until the next time you wash your hair, but your hair becomes stronger and more resistant to damage. I personally recommend a leave-in conditioner, as this helps to lock in moisture and keep your hair hydrated all day long.

Step 4: Use a hydrating mask

Once a week or so, use a simple hydrating mask to rejuvenate your hair. Wet your hair, apply a deep conditioner, pull your hair up into a loose bun, and cover with a shower cap. Wrap a hot towel around your head and leave it there for ten to 20 minutes. You can then rinse the deep conditioner out. Look out for deep conditioners that have ingredients such as Shea butter, olive oil, protein, or keratin.

Step 5: Use a hot oil treatment

Once or twice a month, heat your favourite oil over the stove. I personally prefer olive oil for heat damaged hair. Once heated, allow it to cool to room temperature, and then apply to hair that is clean and towel-dried. Put on a shower cap, and wrap a hot towel around your hair. Wait one hour, and rinse the oil out with cold water. If there is any residue, you can use shampoo to remove. Please note that you need enough oil to completely saturate your hair. If you have the time, you can leave the oil on overnight.

Step 6: Assess your progress

Once you have treated your hair for a while, it is time to assess whether the treatment is working. I suggest at least three months before you do this assessment. If there is no progress after three months, it is likely that your hair is damaged beyond repair. You may need to visit a salon to have the damage cut out. If there is progress however, you need to continue with your treatment until you see more progress.

Step 7: Cut out the damage

If you are not experiencing any progress in your treatment, this is an indication that you need to cut out the damaged hair in order to begin to grow healthy hair. Please note that how far up the damage extends will determine how short you will have to cut your hair. If your hair is damaged down to the roots and you are anxious about cutting off all of your hair, you can cut it in stages. And I want to encourage you to make the most of your cut by going for a cute pixie or chic bob. Do something different that you wouldn’t have normally done and have fun while at it.

Step 8: Moving forward

As your hair recovers, it is important to continue to protect it. Here are some of the ways to protect your hair:

Wear it in loose, pulled-back styles. Avoid sleek ponytails and tight braids, as tight styles will damage the hair shaft further.

Take a pass on regular towels and dry your hair using a T-shirt. Regular towels are too harsh and will only make your hair coarser.

Hold off on the hair dye, bleach, and relaxers, as these will your hair further damage.

In conclusion

You do not only want to repair heat damage but also make sure that it doesn’t happen again. This means limiting heat styling or skipping it altogether. As much as you can, avoid hot hair rollers, hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons. For example, use the no heat method (using braids or foam rollers) if you want to add curls to your hair.

If you must use heat, make sure you do so on low temperatures and using heat protectants. And as much as you can, limit your heat styling to once per month.

See you on the other side of healthy.