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Both men and women often use hair tools to make their hair look great. A hair dryer, hair straightener flat iron and curling irons are usually the tools that are used to persuade hair to behave and look gorgeous. Hair can be sensitive to heat which is why it is important to know how to protect the hair and avoid damaging it when styling hair with tools that use heat.

Better Features

One way to prevent hair damage when using hair irons or even a hair dryer is to buy tools that have a variety of features designed to make its use easy and less damaging to the hair. Temperature settings is one of the more important features that should be considered when buying hair implements. This is important because not all hair is created the same. Fine hair will need less heat to style while coarse hair may need more. Another reason why it is important for the iron to have different heat settings is for professional and personal use. Compared to a professional stylist, personal use of a hair straightener can expose the hair to heat for a longer time. An individual can take longer to iron her hair because she has to deal with doing it herself. Practice makes perfect when it comes to styling one’s own tresses.

In connection to hair tools with better features, most of these are usually the more expensive ones. This is something that has to be considered by the individual when looking for hair tools. The more expensive ones with the backing of a good name brand and years of experience making hair implements is likely to be made with better materials that can help to prevent hair damage. Examples of these are ceramic coatings, specific air flow nozzles and automatic shut off features that can minimize damage to hair. Invest in a hair implement that may be more expensive but has been designed to last longer and offers features that help to protect hair.

Hair Type

The hair type of any individual can be an indicator as to how much heat it should be exposed to. Fine hair is easily damaged so it is best to use a lower heat setting when styling it. Coarse hair can be difficult to style with a lower heat setting so a higher one may be used on it for shorter durations. While coarse hair is more difficult to style with a lower heat setting, it is still susceptible to heat damage. It is advisable to use a higher heat setting on coarse hair so it can be styled accordingly but limit exposure to heat so as not to damage the strands.

Hair should be brushed according to its grain (from roots to tips);the same goes to styling it with a flat iron. Hair grows in layers that start from the roots much like an artichoke but longer. If the hair straightener is applied towards the opposite direction the layers may peel off and make the strands brittle and prone to breakage.

Applications

There are many different hair products that can be applied to the hair before styling to make it less vulnerable to heat. The most popular ingredient to these products is silicone which can coat each hair strand and give it some protection every time you style. Silicone is usually integrated into shampoos while other products are actually applied some time before styling. It is also beneficial to minimize using harsh chemicals and products on hair that can compound the damage that heat brings. Frequent coloring and straightening using harsh chemicals can make hair susceptible to damage from heat. Some hair types will also benefit from the use of a light shampoo and fewer baths. Hot water can have the same effect on hair as heating implements so it is better to set the shower to a warm setting than a hot one.

Learn from the Pros

Hair is sometimes exposed to heat unnecessarily when the person who uses the tools does not know what he or she is doing. Beginners should try to study how professionals use a hair straightener so they can learn useful techniques in minimizing damage to the hair. A lot of professional stylists are only too willing to share tips and tricks of minimizing heat damage to hair.

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