If you use a hair straighener, your hair may look shiny and healthy temporarily. A hair straighener uses heat to smooth down the hair follicles, making them lay flat and look silky smooth. However, if you use a straightener regularly, the heat from the tool may gradually damage your hair, causing its cuticles to lift up, notes an online article in "Good Housekeeping." As the cuticles lift up, your hair may feel dry, brittle and have the consistency of straw. Counteract straightener damage at home by changing your styling routine.
Step 1
Stop straightening and let your hair grow out. If your hair has been damaged by the heat, the most effective way to get hair healthy again is to allow the dry, damaged portions to grow out. Snip the ends of your hair once a week with hair shears to help remove dry, damaged locks, recommends Anja Vaisanen, a hair stylist at Suga Salon in New York City.
Step 2
Toss your old straightener and trade it in for a newer model. Christophe, a celebrity hair stylist in Beverly Hills, recommends replacing your straightener every five years. Older straighteners may have broken temperature gauges and metal plates that do not heat the hair evenly. Opt for a straightener that contains ceramic plates to help heat the hair as evenly as possible.
Step 3
Spray a dimethicone serum on your hair if you must straighten it, recommends Cheri McMaster, a senior hair product scientist. Dimethicone will coat the hair and protect it from heat damage. As you heat your hair with the straightener, the dimethicone serum will melt, creating a barrier from the heat.
Step 4
Straighten on a low setting. Straightening your hair on a high heat setting will damage your hair more quickly than a cooler setting. If you must straighten your hair, use the coolest effective setting possible. The new hair that grows in will be healthier and less damaged.
Step 5
Apply a mayonnaise treatment mask to the hair every few weeks to counteract damage and infuse the hair with moisture. Slather store-bought mayonnaise on dry hair, then rinse it off in the shower after approximately an hour, says Steven Docherty, senior art director at Vidal Sassoon Salon in New York City.
Tips and Warnings
- Brush your hair only when it is dry to prevent additional breakage.
- To prevent electrocution, do not straighten your hair near water. Keep hair straighteners out of the reach of children.
Things You'll Need
- Hair shears
- Dimethicone serum
- Mayonnaise
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