How to Get Healthy Hair Without Ditching the Heat
Fried hair never felt so good!
by AVA LABORDE ★ JANUARY 22, 2022
As difficult as it is to accept, we have all looked in the mirror and seen that the years of non-stop heat use are catching up to us. Even worse, if you’ve ever looked up how to bring your hair back to health, chances are that most advice revolved around letting your heat tools go. Although ditching the heat may be the more efficient way of reaching our healthy hair goals, for some of us, it simply isn’t going to happen. So, for us heat addicts with no intentions of recovering, here are the products, tips, and tricks that will allow you to maintain healthy hair without saying goodbye to the heat.
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Olaplex: Worth the Hype?
We can say with confidence that you do not need to break the bank with this eight-step routine in order to achieve healthy hair. However, two of these products are certainly worth the investment. Olaplex No. 3 is titled the “hair perfector”, and it definitely lives up to its name. Apply it to damp hair before shampoo and conditioner and leave it in for 10+ minutes (I’ve had the best results with 1-6 hours), before washing hair as usual. The result is visibly healthier hair with a more resilient feel, even after heat styling. The Olaplex No. 7 oil also holds up to its reputation. Serving as a heat protectant, styling oil, and hydrater, No. 7 gives hair that healthy finish we all crave.
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Don’t be Afraid of Silicones
Although many brands pride themselves on being sulfate, paraben, and silicone free, do not be fooled: if you love heat, silicones are your new best friend. Unlike other ingredients, silicones can’t be absorbed into the hair. Instead, silicones create a thin seal around each strand. The seal is water resistant and blocks heat from touching the hair directly, making silicones most efficient in actually protecting the hair shaft from heat and humidity. Products like Chi Silk Infusion, Frizz Ease by John Frieda, Kerastase Genesis and even Olaplex No. 7, all include these protective silicones. However, silicones have a bad rep because they can’t be washed out with water alone, which can cause harmful buildup. So, it’s super important to use clarifying shampoo once a week while using products containing silicones.
Credit: Ulta
Credit: Ulta
Blow Brushes the Right Way
I learned the hard way that using any blow dryer brush on soaking wet hair is a recipe for disaster. It is important to be sure your hair is at least 70% dry before turning your blow brush on. If your hair is dry enough, you should be able to dry it quickly on the low heat setting, which will visibly reduce damage. Similarly, for those with wavy, curly, or coily hair, stretching out the texture with a normal dryer on low or cool heat before using a blow drying brush will make for a much quicker, sleeker, and healthier-looking blowout.
Credit: Real Simple
Mask Up
If you want to reduce the look of damage while continuing to cause it, the most important thing is to pamper your hair in those brief moments when it is away from the heat. This means hair masks are essential to replenishing your hair between frying sessions. The Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask and The Kure by Amika will leave your hair feeling like it hasn’t seen a hot tool in years. Even better, these masks come in huge tubs, making them worth every penny. For single-use masks, you will be surprised by how well the Hask Argan Oil mask can make your hair feel. For just two dollars at any drug store, the Hask mask is a great staple to have for whenever your hair is in need of a little extra care.
Credit: ELLE
There is a lot of truth to the statement “old habits die hard”, however, when it comes to our hair habits, maybe they don’t have to die at all. Certainly, a few breaks from the heat will help, but in the moments where styling is needed for convenience and confidence, you don’t have to compromise your hair’s health.
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest