It’s a well-known fact that heat can do a number on even the healthiest of hair. So how to be a mama bear and protect every single strand before the damage is done? Simple: By choosing your styling products carefully…and making sure that what you reach for is the best possible guardian for your heat source. From flat irons to curling wands, we’ve got you covered….
Before you turn up the heat…
Want to keep damage to a minimum — even with protection in place?
Follow these hair-saving tips:
- Keep your tool’s temperature as low as possible (250 – 350 for fine hair; 360 – 400 for medium hair; 410- 450 for thick and multi-textured hair).
- Set your blow-dryer to medium (not hot); keep it moving; and hold it as far away from hair as possible.
- Limit heat styling as much as you can – 1 – 2 x per week is optimal; 4 x per week max.
- Use a weekly healing treatment, targeted to your hair type. (Defy Damage Protective Masque for all hair types; Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm for thick textures; HydraSplash Hydrating Gelée Masque for fine hair; K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Instant Shine & Repair Treatment for color-treated hair.)
- Make sure hair is at least 80% dry before exposing it to flat irons or curling wands – these heat tools can pull moisture from the inner layers of the hair strands, causing dryness and breakage.
Match your product to your heat source…
The culprit: Blow-dryer
How it wreaks havoc:
Creates the perfect storm of damage. You’re targeting one section over and over; using a brush that tugs on fragile wet strands; and roughing up the cuticles when pointing air flow against the direction of hair growth.
The hair savers:
Defy Damage Protective Shampoo and Conditioner bolsters hair with protection every time you wash.
Dream Blowout Thermal Protection Crème safeguards strands up to 450 degrees; with 50% faster drying time (less exposure means less damage); and 75% less breakage.
The culprit: Flat iron
How it wreaks havoc:
Sandwiches hair between two heated plates, so strands are getting the full-court press (literally) from each side. Inexpensive models may not have smooth plates, which means hair can also snag and break as you go along.
The hair savers:
Heat Hero protects strands from damage up to 450 degrees with a heat-activated split-end mender – spray it onto dry hair before you clamp down.
The culprit: Curling iron/wand
How it wreaks havoc:
Holds hair against a heated barrel for a prolonged time; and the clamp itself can cause breakage when you lock down strands.
The hair savers:
Defy Damage Protective Shield buffers hair from the heat source, while making hair 4X more resistant to breakage during heat styling.
The culprit: 3-barrel waver
How it wreaks havoc:
This mega-sized tool is like a curling iron in triplicate – delivering mermaid waves, one giant section at a time. Not only are you covering a larger area with heat; but it’s a less precise tool than a single-barrel iron, so there’s more risk of overlapping strands and increasing damage.
The hair savers:
- Defy Damage Protective Shampoo and Conditioner bolsters hair with protection every time you wash.
- Defy Damage Protective Shield buffers hair from the heat of your blow dryer, while making hair 4X more resistant to breakage during heat styling.
- Heat Hero is applied to dry hair, protecting strands from damage up to 450 degrees with a heat-activated split-end mender.
The culprit: Sun
How it wreaks havoc:
Prolonged exposure to both UVA and UVB rays can damage the hair’s cuticle, as well as the protein within (known as keratin); causing dry, brittle, broken hair; bleached/faded color; and difficulty styling.
The hair savers:
K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Daily Shine & Protect Spray delivers UVA/UVB protection; 2X stronger hair; and locks in over 82% color vibrancy for up to 8 weeks.
Posts You Might Like:
