6 Steps to Avoid Heat Damaged Hair

6 Steps to Avoid Heat-Damaged Hair

From blow-drying and straightening to waving and curling, our hair endures a lot of heat styling on a pretty regular basis. Sure, hot tools leave our hair looking more stylish and put together, but over time, that heat styling can lead to damage, dryness, breakage, and split ends. Let’s be real; getting rid of hot tools isn’t going to happen, which is where these helpful tips from our team of hair care experts come into play.

1. Start off on the right foot.

Healthy hair starts in the shower. It doesn’t matter how well you treat your hair if you’re not properly cleansing, hydrating, and conditioning at the start. Kevin Murphy’s Blow Dry Wash contains a hydrolyzed pea protein and wood bark complex that work together to help strengthen and protect hair against breakage with added protection against heat damage.

2. Create a protective shield

You would never take something out of the oven without mittens, would you? Whether your hair is fine and straight or coarse and curly, you should never style your hair without a quality heat protectant. Try Kevin Murphy’s Heated Defense, a weightless and invisible leave-in treatment foam that can be used on wet or dry hair.

3. Under 300 degrees rule

Your goal should be to find the lowest temperature setting that still allows you to get your styling done efficiently. Your hair can melt at 350°, and 95% of people only need 280° for their hair. If you can bake cookies on your hot tools, they are too hot. Additionally, turning your iron all the way up upon plugging it in will not make your hot tools heat up any faster.

4. Weekly hair mask

Hair masks are good for everyone, but they’re especially crucial for those who regularly style their hair. A quality hair mask will replenish your hair’s natural moisture and add an extra layer of protection to prevent future damage. Swap a treatment mask in place of your conditioner, and let it soak for 5-10 mins while you wash your face, shave, and so on.

5. One and done

It is important to consider how many times you’re using your tools on the same section of hair. Follow the “One & Done” Rule — pass over a section of hair, and that’s it. While it may seem like you are reinforcing the style or direction of your hair, you are actually causing damage and confusing the hydrogen bonds, resulting in frizz and flyaways.

6. Don’t overdo it

Like all good things, it’s all about moderation. When you have a chance to give your strands a rest and let them air-dry, do it! Cove All-In-One Versatile Creme is the perfect quality product for no-blowout styling and will leave your hair feeling healthy, hydrated, and smooth.