Once hair has become heat damaged there is sadly nothing that can be done to reverse the situation.
Once the hair’s protein bonds are broken and the hair cuticles are cracked, the inner cortex becomes exposed to all types of damage. This leads hair to become weaker, rougher in texture, and less manageable. Once hair is damaged, the only options left is prevention and managing the hair’s appearance.
Heat damage is self-explanatory as to why it happens. It occurs when you use hot tools on high temperature settings over prolonged periods of time. Hair cannot handle high heat!
Treatment and Prevention
If the damage to your hair is severe, then one solution is to cut it all off! This of course depends on how high up the strands the damage goes. Cutting your hair is the only way to remove damage completely.
If opting for a big cut fills you with dread, then getting regular trims at the salon to manage and remove split ends is a must! This helps to remove the damaged lengths and prevent splits and breakage from moving further up the strands.
Cutting back on your heat tool usage and giving your hair a break can work wonders for the health of your hair. The continued use of hot tools will only exacerbate the damage making it worse. Try to let your hair air dry whenever possible and embrace your hair’s natural texture. If you do need to use hot tools, then make sure you use them on lower heat settings between 200°F to 300°F. And apply a heat protectant product every time you use heat too!
When it comes to products, use shampoos and conditioners that are moisturising or damage-repairing. Heat damaged hair will be craving moisture, so make sure you give it plenty! Use products that will help to hydrate the hair too, such as leave-in conditioners, and oils that contain argan or jojoba.
Recovering from heat damage takes a lot of patience and TLC, but nothing beats the feeling of soft, silky, healthy hair. It’s a long journey to get there, but one well worth taking!