Who doesn't love having bouncy curls or that sleek, smooth hairstyle after a good flat ironing session? We sure do! But, while heat styling may be a gamechanger, it can also cause severe damage to your hair's health.
It dries out the hair cuticle and alters your natural hair proteins, resulting in brittle, frizzy hair that breaks easily and is full of split ends. The dehydration caused by these styling tools can further wreak havoc on your beautiful tresses.
Even if you're someone who avoids heat styling at all costs, UV is another factor that can cause heat damage. When heading outdoors, we lather on sunscreen to protect our skin from the UV rays, but what about the hair? They're just as prone to getting damaged by severe environmental conditions like heat, humidity, and wind quality.
So, whether you're a styling enthusiast or not, chances are your hair is suffering. Don't worry, though; we are here to your rescue with the best tips to undo all this heat damage.
1. Cleanse Out Your Hair
While we're massive supporters of co-washing, you must get rid of any product build-up. Most heat protectant serums have silicones that keep moisture out of your hair to ensure the styling lasts a long time. You will need to cleanse off these silicones first, or they won't let any enriching nutrients and hydrating compounds of your masks seep into your hair.
We recommend using a sulphate-free, gently clarifying shampoo which will strip off all the product build-up without further drying your hair.
2. Exfoliate and Mask
Scalp exfoliation is as important as exfoliating the rest of your skin. Once you have cleansed your hair, the next step should be to exfoliate using gentle, natural ingredients to prevent further product build-up. Brown sugar makes a fantastic exfoliant. Here is the recipe we use to create our scalp scrub:
· 2 tbsp hot olive oil
· 1 tbsp light brown sugar
Massage this mixture into your hair and focus on scrubbing the scalp well (don't overdo it, though!). Then, cover with a shower cap and let it sit for around half an hour, so the oil works its wonders before rinsing with lukewarm water.
Now that you've exfoliated, it's time to indulge in some deep-conditioning to hydrate and nourish your hair. Apply your favourite conditioner and leave it on for 45 minutes before washing with cold water to seal in the moisture.
3. Reconstruct Your Cuticle
Heat styling damages your cuticle and the integrity of your hair. To undo this, you will need to restore your hair proteins through a reconstruction treatment.
Reconstructions are extensive protein treatments that will bring back the glory of your untreated hair days. A certified hair expert does it best as they have all the tools, products, and knowledge required to treat your hair in a way that will suit it the best.
The Bottom Line
Hairstyling may be glamorous, but it can severely damage your hair. Hence, your locks will need some special treatment to regain their texture and strength. Try to use lower temperatures for your curling and straightening irons and apply heat protectants to minimize the damage.