The wedding date has been set and you may have already chosen your dream hairstyle for the day. But to have really beautiful, healthy hair, you should start taking care of it months before the wedding. And an important point here is to avoid damage from heat! We'll explain how best to do this and what else you can do for beautiful hair!
How can heat damage hair?
It won't surprise you to learn that heat can damage your hair, but how exactly does the damage occur? High temperatures can open the cuticle (the protective layers of the hair shaft), allowing valuable natural moisture to escape and making your hair more vulnerable to damage.
Hair is also made of a protein called keratin. High heat can change the keratin structure of hair, weakening it. Think of your hair like a delicate silk shirt: the more you iron it with a hot iron, the faster the fabric weakens.
So if you frequently use a hairdryer, straightener or curling iron, you should look out for signs of heat damage.
Can heat damaged hair be repaired?
In fact, there is unfortunately no magic formula for repairing heat-damaged hair. Instead, it's all about preventing and minimizing damage. Here are some of the best tips for healthy hair:
Always use a heat protectant when heat styling
Especially at weddings, treatments such as straightening or using curlers are always necessary to achieve the perfect hairstyle. Before you straighten your hair with a straightener or otherwise heat treat it, you should always apply a heat protection spray to protect your hair from UV and heat damage.
straightening brush instead of straightening iron
A gentle alternative: When straightening your hair, use a straightening brush or a hot air brush instead of a normal straightening iron! These are less stressful for the hair and, with the appropriate ionization, also protect it from damage.
Avoid using the maximum heat setting when using hot appliances.
Super-high heat does more harm than good. You may be surprised to hear that higher temperatures do not correlate with better styling results, so choose a temperature between 150°C and 180°C.
Regular cutting
If your hair ends are looking a little shaggy, a neat trim will do wonders for preventing further damage and stopping split ends from spreading along the hair shaft.
Use hair products that are suitable for dry, damaged hair.
By using products for dry and damaged hair (conditioners and a hair mask at least once a week) every time you wash your hair, you can give your hair the care it needs.
Don't sleep with wet hair!
Never go to sleep with wet hair - this is perhaps the worst hair sin of all, because this is where the hair is most sensitive. It is also best to tie your hair back in a sleeping style and sleep on a silk pillow .
Which heat temperatures damage hair?
We hate to break bad news, but the truth is that any type of heat can cause damage. The keratin strands in hair begin to change shape when exposed to temperatures above 140°C. Over time, this leads to limp hair as it loses its elasticity. However, with the right care, you can minimize further damage and promote the health of your hair.
Heat plays a pretty big role when it comes to the health of your hair, and we're all probably a little guilty of putting our hair through more than we should. From hot showers to heat styling to summer sun exposure, make sure you don't expose your hair to high temperatures and always use heat protection long enough in advance to ensure you get the perfect wedding styling !
Cover image by Linse2
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