For the new year, I wanted to start with fresh hair. So I set up a hair appointment to get my hair straightened and my ends trimmed. I decided to not be overly cautious of heat damage — like I usually am. So when my hair was done, it was laid, hunty. LAID!
… So laid, that when I tried to revert my hair, it would not cooperate. My hair would just NOT curl right. Normally, I would freak out. But although I was highly annoyed, I turned to the internet to find some solutions. Some were great remedies, while others I found were riddled with misinformation. Over the last few weeks, I have been doing various treatments to get my hair back to optimum health.
The most important step is to do an initial assessment of the damage. Are there any straight pieces? Is there a loss of elasticity? Take a look at past pictures and compare your curls. After looking at pictures, I was able to determine which sections of my hair had a naturally looser curl pattern vs. hair that was heat damaged.
How To Fix Heat Damaged Hair With Just Four Products
To straighten your hair, you often load your hair with lots of products like blow-dry creams and straightening serums. These products, usually laden with silcones, can be difficult to get out with sulfate-free shampoo alone. They may even make your hair look dull and lifeless. To start with a clean state, clarify your hair with your clarifying shampoo of choice or use a clarifying alternative like bentonite clay or apple cider vinegar.
There are lots of protein treatment options on the market. Aphogee makes both a heavy protein treatment, Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatment, as well as a milder one Aphogee 2-Minute Reconstructor. You can also try homemade remedies like egg protein treatments and dark beer rinses. Whatever you choose, it is important to note that results may take some time. Depending on the severity of the damage, one treatment will not do the trick. Felicia Leatherwood recommends bi-weekly treatment for three months. (You don’t want to overload your hair with protein. This is only recommended in extreme circumstances.)
After three months of treatment, reassess your hair. With each treatment, I have noticed a difference in curl definition and elasticity. At first, sections of my hair would remain straight. Some sections of my hair were lacking elasticity and refused to “spring back” normally. I even had issues with the edges of my hair straightening when I pulled them into a puff. I took note of each particular issue and have tracked my progress with each treatment. Last week, I had my first successful twistout. Yay! The last few twistouts were riddled with pieces that would not curl. I still have a few ends that are having issues curling, but for the most part my hair is rebounding well.
Heat Damage!! Should I Cut It Off?
Before you pull out the scissors, it’s important to wait until after your initial assessment, in addition to your reassessment a few weeks later. If after repeated treatments, it looks like the damage is irreversible, you should cut or trim the damaged hair to prevent breakages and split ends. You can either cut out all of the heat damage or trim a little at a time. In extreme cases, this may require a transition or a second big chop. Over the next few months, I plan on cutting out irreversible damage with regular trims. I’ve already cut a few strands that were damaged beyond repair.
Its important to remember that heat damage isn’t the end of the world. Although it can not be reversed, with care you can gradually rebuild the strength of your hair.Hey guys! I have heat damaged hair, fairly thin too. I am looking for a hair mask specifically made for this. Can you suggest any? Also, really working repairing hair care tips would be very helpful. Thanks!
Every day a woman can face the problem of heat-damaged hair. Well, heating tools really allow us to simplify our hair routine. Besides, there are so many innovative hair-styling gadgets, e.g., hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners on the market! Ladies crave to try them all. Tight afro curls? Big Hollywood waves? Sexy beach waves? Yes, please! As a result, we damage our beautiful hair and seek magical remedies to repair it. Fortunately, some products have proved their efficiency in heat-damaged hair treatment.
Letting Go Of Heat Damage
If you notice at least three of these signs (and are using hot hair tools frequently, or walk under the sun without any headwear, of course), we have some unpleasant news — your hair suffers from thermal damage. Even if you have all these signs, there is still a way to fix the situation and to repair heat-damaged hair fast.
We cause damage when… – We brush our hair too much, especially when it’s wet and most fragile. – We blow dry our hair everyday. – We use a towel to vigorously dry our hair. – We use heat tools on hair that has layers of products that aren’t supposed to be combined with heat! Some products have silicones and waxes that will basically melt on hair strands…@waltersmakingwaves
1. Learn how to blow dry hair. Keep a hair dryer at a safe distance, try to decrease the temperature (no more than 300 degrees). Try a hair diffuser.
Healthy Hair After Heat Damage
Hair burns at the same temperature as paper: 451°F. And really, anything over 420°F is a bad idea. At that point, the keratin protein in your hair starts to melt and no amount of deep-conditioning will help. Thankfully, there’s a temp that’s just right: 365°F! In case you are too attached to your hot tools, choose them wisely, and opt for a heat protectant. @rym_guesmi
2. Choose tools and equipment of a good quality only. Trust reputable brands when picking up a flat iron or a blow-dryer, read customers’ reviews, check-out Youtube videos.
4. Buy nourishing products and do nourishing treatments. Just like a person can’t stay healthy without a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals, our hair can’t preserve its beauty and shine without good nourishing products. Protein treatments and Olaplex show great results when you need to restore your natural hair without cutting off. The Olaplex effect is more efficient and long-lasting if you do it at least twice a year.
Cutting Off My Damaged Hair & The Aftermath
Compared to straight tresses, curly locks require a more complex treatment. And if a girl uses different thermal hair-styling tools on a regular basis, she will, for sure, suffer from hair problems in the nearest future.
2. Wear natural hairstyles. For some reason, most curly gals prefer straightening their spirals (and thus damaging them) instead of showing up their curls with pride. However, natural hairstyles look exceptionally gorgeous on women with curly locks. So, instead of using flat irons, curly ladies should better say “Yes” to their natural patterns if they want to prevent heat damage.
3. Choose a microfiber towel. Those towels help dry the locks fast and in a natural way after washing your hair. Thus, you won’t have to use a blow-dryer, or, at least, you will spend less time on blow-drying.
How To Protect Natural Hair From Heat Damage (with Pictures)
4. Don’t neglect a conditioner! A huge mistake of all curly ladies is to skip conditioning after washing. However, conditioners make brushing more gentle and prevent hair loss and thinning. Waves look shinier and healthier after using a conditioner. When selecting the best conditioner for curly hair, experts suggest focusing on ingredients. Argan oil, coconut oil, and aloe vera work great for healing heat-damaged locks.
Tips I follow when doing a blow out: - Deep condition to prep – Dry your hair as much as possible before you resort to heat (use a cotton shirt or microfiber towel to remove excess water before beginning to blow dry) - Use a heat protectant (@Briogeo Farewell Frizz is a CG approved option otherwise search for other products that contain Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein)… - Keep your heat settings below 200° F and hit your hair with a cool shot of air to help set the shape (same as you would do if diffusing!) @wavycurly
Our new client…came in to see us with a desire to get rid of her straight ends, from prolonged flat ironing, and embrace her curls again. Notice how the ends of her hair are so straight, while the top section is trying to produce curl? This is classic heat damaged hair. The ends HAD to go if she wanted to achieve any curl formation throughout. And, like we always say: “We’re not here to hair SHAME, we’re here to hair HELP!” @poshcurls
How My Hair Changed After Transitioning
All the suggestions above, including heat protectants, lower heat settings, high-quality beauty gadgets, and nourishing products/treatments are recommended for you too. Other necessary steps include learning good no-heat hairstyles (overnight braids, twists and other sleep-in hairstyles will give you those desired waves and curls without using curling irons!), avoiding more damage from dyeing, extreme brushing, and frequent hair washes with improper shampoos. You need to pamper your locks.
Don’t Heat-Style Damp Hair. When you apply hot tools like straighteners or curling irons to damp hair, you’re basically frying your hair. Wet or even damp hair is
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