What happens if you flat iron your hair without heat protectant?
Essentially heat protectant is an added barrier between your hot tool and the strands themselves, and considering how thin and fragile hair can be, skipping out on this barrier can cause your locks to fry and eventually become more prone to fallout and thinning.
Without protectant spray, the heat strips off the natural or artificial color pigments in your hair. It breaks down the keratin protein that gives your hair its strength and elasticity. This causes your hair cuticle to open up and cause frizz.
Shea Butter
Shea butter has natural thermal conductivity properties, so it's a natural replacement for the silicones used in some heat protectants. Silicones coat the hair and protect it from the heat of your styling tools. Shea butter has similar properties, so it's ideal as a natural heat protectant.
“It needs moisture in order to keep it from becoming dry and brittle.” While your shampoo and conditioner can help nourish your hair, balance your scalp and restore the hair's cuticle, applying a heat protectant is key to preventing further damage or dryness.
The truth is that hair straighteners can damage your hair if you don't take important steps to protect your locks first. From finding a good temperature for straightening hair to finding ways to straighten hair without heat, there are several things you can do to find out how not to damage your hair when straightening.
Wet hair can quickly heat to scorching temperatures, burning and even breaking your hair. If you're lucky, you won't destroy your hair the first time. Persistent wet straightening, though, will inevitably damage your hair. This makes tresses harder to manage, producing more frizz and coarsening your hair's texture.
While this may vary depending on your hair type and texture, one thing that you should not forget about before styling your hair is yourthermal heat protectant. Keep in mind that the temperatures of your flat iron can go as high as 400° , and applying such heat without protection can be extremely damaging.
Use heat protectant every time you heat style your hair
Whether your hair is freshly washed or you're just doing a style touch up, to keep protecting your hair – and color—you should use heat protectant every time you heat style.
Keep in mind that using heat protectant doesn't completely prevent heat damage, especially if you're styling often. If your hair feels like straw, or is breaking off more than usual, you may be dealing with heat damaged hair.
You should never use a flat iron without a heat protectant. Flat ironing your hair without a heat protectant is a recipe for disaster. Even if you skip it once, you're putting the health of your hair at risk.
How important is heat protectant?
A heat protectant adds moisture to your hair and forms a protective barrier. It reduces moisture loss caused by heat applied to your hair shafts. It prevents hair breakage and damage (1). It also minimizes heat damage due to blow-dryers and hair straighteners.
After 4 Hours
If it's been a while since you applied a heat protectant and you want to do your hair again, then reapply the heat protectant before doing so. As we mentioned, the benefits of thermal protection disappear after 4 hours.
If you see smoke when you flat iron your hair, it's probably because you've applied too much product. It's OK to use a little hairspray, but you don't want to go overboard. “It can cause some breakage, especially on blonde and fine hair,” says Lopez.
If you can't find an infrared straightener, look for a one-pass ceramic straightener. Ceramic plates are gentler than titanium and tourmaline plates. And since one-pass straighteners work quickly, they expose your hair to less heat.
It is important to dry your hair before using the straightener. Once you have washed the hair, dry your hair with a towel. Towel dry would take away a lot of moisture from your hair. Use a blow dryer to dry the remaining moisture in the hair.
“Do not do it more than once a week. Look out for other options if you need to use this heating tool more than once a week,” the expert said, sharing the step-by-step process of straightening your hair to ensure minimum damage. *Wash your hair with shampoo and use a conditioner meant for dry damaged hair.
It should only be slightly damp, and definitely not completely wet. Sleeping with completely wet hair damages the follicle and causes breakage, so you'll want to blast it with the hairdryer to dry out 70 per cent of your hair, or let it naturally dry till it's just a little damp,” says Sabanayagam.
Using a hair straightener on dry hair is the best way to use this tool. Unlike wet hair, dry hair does not get damaged by using a flat iron. However, that still does not mean that the damage to dry hair is zero. Regular use of a flat iron, especially if using it incorrectly, can still cause damage to your hair.
Most experts agree that the best temperature range for you is between 250°F and 300°F. If your fine hair is a bit more damaged, go with a lower temperature closer to 250°F. And if your fine hair is fairly healthy, 300°F should be the perfect flat iron temperature for you.
A few things can cause frizz after straightening hair, including not using a heat protectant, using too much heat, or not properly sealing the hair. A heat protectant is essential to help keep the hair from damage by the straightener's heat. Applying too much heat can also cause frizz.
What should I put on my hair before flat ironing?
Before you flat iron your hair, apply a heat protectant gel or serum. This is your best bet for protecting your hair from heat damage. Implementing this step while your hair is still wet allows you to apply the serum evenly without creating clumps. Use a comb to brush to work the gel through your damp hair evenly.
According to studies, “A good protectant gives about 50% heat protection,” Neubarth says. But even so, because all hair isn't created equal, it's bound to differ from person to person. “Some hair is finer and weaker, where some is thicker and much more durable to wear and tear of heat and daily elements,” she explains.
They work on any hair—dry or damp
Yes, your hair is in the optimal condition to slurp up moisture when it's damp, but dry hair can still reap the benefits of a heat protectant. In fact, there are now fancy formulas made specifically with already-dry hair in mind.
Get some pieces of white bread, spray your heat protectant all over one side of the bread, and put it in the oven on broil. You'll be able to see if your beloved heat protectant was able to protect the toast from getting hit by the heat of the broiler! Or which of your faves is better, if you test multiple.
While this may vary depending on your hair type and texture, one thing that you should not forget about before styling your hair is yourthermal heat protectant. Keep in mind that the temperatures of your flat iron can go as high as 400° , and applying such heat without protection can be extremely damaging.
Heat protect your curls with a heat protectant: A rule to follow is to never straighten your hair without using a heat protectant. A natural and healthy curl pattern requires good protection from the heat by using heat protectant serums and oils.
Heat protectant is essential for both protecting your hair's health & creating a polished final look—especially for natural hair, which is particularly susceptible to breakage & moisture loss. Heat protectant spray can help: Smooth down unwanted flyaways.
How Long Does Heat Protectant Last In Your Hair. Typically, it is better to heat style or blow dry your hair within an hour after spraying the heat protectant on your hair. However, the effectiveness of a heat protection spray can last up to 4 hours on average.
So what happens to your curls when you straighten them that makes them not bounce back? When your curls aren't protected and heat is applied, the structural proteins within each strand are damaged. “This repeated damage essentially breaks down the strand,” says Wilson. Once the damage is done, there's no coming back.
- Ditch all the chemical relaxers and heat tools for good. ...
- Invest in ultra-rich hydrating conditioners, leave ins and a mild shampoo.
- Use a deep moisturizing hair mask for 20-30 minutes at least once a week.
How often should you straighten your hair to avoid heat damage?
So, how often should you straighten? “Do not do it more than once a week. Look out for other options if you need to use this heating tool more than once a week,” the expert said, sharing the step-by-step process of straightening your hair to ensure minimum damage.