Ever since the pandemic happened, life has been about WFH, sweatpants and messy buns. But what if we told you that you don’t need to step out to look glam every now and then? Maybe it’s for date night with bae or a virtual happy hour with your girlfriends–getting dressed up can be an instant mood-lifter! So go ahead and get glammed up–and don’t forget to do your hair!
Whether you’re going for the straightening iron or the curling wand, it’s important to take a few necessary precautions before applying heat to your hair to avoid damaging it. If you want to keep your hair healthy, shiny and happy, here are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Choose The Temperature Wisely
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The temperature settings on your heat styling tools are there for a reason. Whether you are using a straightening iron or curling wand, don’t arbitrarily set a temperature. You need to consider your hair texture and type–whether it is brittle, thin, fine etc–and accordingly adjust the settings. So, if you have coloured or thin hair, it is best to use your heat styling tools on a low setting to avoid flat, dull or lifeless strands.
On the other hand, those with thick or luscious, curly hair can begin on a higher setting and slowly lower the temperature.
Do Not Style Wet Hair
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This is an absolute NO! Many people make the mistake of straightening their hair while it’s still wet or damp and this can lead to hair damage or hair fall. While using styling tools on wet hair, the water on the strands starts to boil, in turn, leaving the hair damaged and fried. In worse case scenarios, it can also break the hair, causing a lot of hair fall.
You need to let your hair dry completely or use a heat protecting serum and blow dry it before using the heat styling tool.
Do Not Be Repetitive
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Find it impossible to curl your straight hair or vice versa? Most of the time this is due to the wrong technique or removing the iron way too early. Either way, it doesn’t give you a reason to keep heating the same strand of hair, over and over again. This can damage the hair, make it brittle and dull.
Instead, rework your styling technique and hold the styling tool in place for a couple of seconds to achieve the desired results.
Invest In Good Cleansing Products
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Just like your face prep can make a big difference before applying your makeup, in the same way, your hair prep can either leave you with a fabulous mane or wishing you could shave your hair off in frustration. Use good salon-quality shampoos and conditioners which are designed to protect your hair from the heat. These products help maintain the correct amount of moisture and pH levels in your hair. Once you’re done with the cleansing routine; a heat protectant is a must to protect the strands from drying out.
Now that you are aware of the hairstyling dos and don’ts, go ahead and flaunt gorgeous, healthy locks at your next festive event.
Featured Image: Pexels
