To obtain a great style, the use of heat is almost unavoidable. However, this can come with drawbacks: heat damaged hair. Our viral Instagram reel, which got over 13 million views, demonstrated the impact of heat on coloured hair.

The video has ignited a wider discussion on the severe consequences of heat styling and the toll it takes on hair’s health and colour. It also uncovered various myths surrounding our everyday beauty regimes and the proper treatment for damaged hair. To clarify the situation once and for all, we explore the effects of heat on damaged hair and discuss how we can more effectively protect and maintain hair against the onslaught of heat styling.

Understanding the effects of heat on damaged hair

With the growing reliance on heat styling tools, heat-induced damaged hair has become a common grievance.

High temperatures can alter hair's keratin proteins, effectively evaporating the moisture, leaving hair dry, brittle and with altered texture over time. Excessive use of dryers, straighteners and curlers can damage the hair’s outer cuticle, leading to weakened hair shaft and accelerated colour loss in dyed hair.

Several factors contribute to the path toward heat damage:

• Frequent use of heat styling tools
• Skipping on heat protection sprays
• Chemical processes for hair
• Environmental elements such as sun exposure

Integrating heat tools into our beauty regimens is almost intuitive, yet the adverse effects are often overlooked. Continually applying heat, especially beyond hair's protective threshold, exacerbates damage, making hair porous and less capable of retaining moisture.

The hallmarks of heat damage are clear:

• Hair becomes dry and brittle
• Split ends appear
• Loss of shine and dullness
• Increased tangling and frizz
• Reduced elasticity and weakened strand
• Frequent hair shaft breakage
• Rough texture
• Uneven colour fading

While damaged hair cannot repair itself, adopting routines focusing on minimising heat exposure and strengthening hair can vastly enhance its state and look of your damaged hair over time.

Styling tips for damaged hair

The common belief that higher heat equals better styling is flawed. Exposing hair to high temperatures can lead to intense damage, including brittleness, colour loss and structural harm.

Research highlighted in the Journal of Cosmetology & Trichology identifies 185 degrees Celsius as the optimal heat level for styling. This magic number not only reduces colour fade by 50% but also cuts down on breakage, preventing lasting damage. 

Here’s how to care for damaged hair from heat:

Limit heat exposure: Use lower temperatures when styling. Aim for 185 degrees Celsius using tools like the GHD Straighteners that use low heat to prevent severe damage and breakage while allowing hair to recover.

Invest in top-notch styling tools: High-quality styling tools like GHD straighteners are crafted to offer precise styling while safeguarding your hair against further damage by minimising excess heat. With ceramic plating that evenly distributes heat, opting for GHD straighteners and styling tools can greatly enhance the health and look of your hair over time.

Try no-heat styles: Use heat-free methods such as braiding damp hair for waves or using rollers for curls to reduce damage. Enhance your hair's natural texture with volumizing products instead of heat.

Always use heat protectant: A heat protection spray is essential to guard against damage whenever you use heat on your hair.

And one golden rule to remember: Never skip the heat protection spray!

Understanding heat protection spray

Heat protection sprays are essential in hair care, offering more than just a shield against the damage from styling tools. They play a critical role in maintaining hair health, especially for repairing damaged hair or preventing harm altogether.

Heat protection sprays form a protective barrier on the hair, which helps to evenly distribute the heat from devices such as straighteners and curling wands. The barrier slows down heat transfer and helps prevent moisture loss, crucial for keeping hair's natural hydration intact. Common ingredients like silicones and natural oils coat each hair, locking in moisture and almost creating a wall against thermal damage. Additionally, these components help to tame frizz, smooth out flyaways and enhance the hair's overall shine and sleekness.

To provide both nourishment and shield, we highly recommend a heat protection spray, like Kevin Murphy's protective foam or the I-N good hair guardian thermal primer. For those with generous, thick tresses, the Kevin Murphy blow dry series, which includes a shampoo and conditioner that also act as heat protectants, can revolutionise your hair care routine.

Here's the correct way to use your heat protection spray:

• Spritz on towel-dried hair: For the best results, you should apply heat protection sprays to slightly damp hair which helps the product disperse more evenly and absorb better.
• Focus on the tips: Give extra care to your hair's ends, typically the most worn out and damaged area.
• Even distribution: A wide-tooth comb can help spread the product consistently from your roots all the way to the tips, ensuring that every strand is safeguarded.
• Combine with other styling aids: Although heat protection sprays can be layered with other hair products, they should go on first to make direct contact with your hair for optimum protection.

Expert insights for protecting your damaged hair

To enhance the health of your heat damaged hair and keep your hair colour vibrant for an extended period, consider these expert tips:

• Shield your hair from UV rays and the high humidity, typical in Hong Kong, by wearing hats and applying hair-specific UV protection.
• Wash your hair in lukewarm or cool water and finish with a cold rinse to close the cuticle and give your hair a nice shine.
• Use shampoos, conditioners and masks that contain peptides and amino acids to aid in repairing and strengthening your hair.
• Make regular appointments for trims to cut off split ends and mitigate further harm.
• Limit the use of heat-driven styling appliances and discover the beauty of no-heat hairstyles as fashionable alternatives.
• Ensure you are holding your blow dryer further from your hair to minimise the risk of heat damage.

Conclusion

Using heat and styling tools incurs a toll on your hair's texture and colour — often resulting in a dull, frizzy appearance indicative of heat damaged hair.

However, reviving your hair's health and lustre is still achievable by adopting a hair care routine that balances protective styling, the use of premium-grade tools like GHD straighteners and heat protection sprays.

At Love Hair, we are dedicated to providing tailored, heat-conscious care, and colour services that focus first and foremost on ensuring your hair's wellbeing. By understanding the impacts of heat styling, our goal is to impart knowledge on how to strike an ideal harmony between staying stylish and preserving healthy hair.

For those who treasure vibrant and healthy hair colour, Love Hair Hong Kong is your go-to choice. Book a free consultation and allow our professionals to assist you in nurturing and retaining strong, healthy hair whatever the style.