EVERY hair fan knows the importance of protecting your locks from heat, whether that’s from curlers, straighteners or hairdryers.
One of the best ways to ward off heat damage is to use a protection spray, but it turns out most people are doing it totally wrong.
Professional hair stylist, Matt, who goes by @mattloveshair on social media, recently explained how to get the most out of your heat protection spray, and the common mistake to avoid.
In a viral video Matt explained: “Your heat protector could actually be causing heat damage.
It turns out, you should wait until the spray is totally dry on your hair before using certain heat tools, like curlers and straighteners.
However, there is one exception to this rule, and that’s if you’re blow drying your tresses.
Otherwise, “you have to wait until it’s totally dry,” Matt explained.
After sharing his top tip on TikTok, people were stunned they didn’t learn it sooner.
One commented on the viral video: “Ok so I’ve been doing this wrong for 20 years.”
And a second wrote: “I wish I knew this a decade ago, makes sense.”
Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: “I thought this was common sense?”
“My hairdresser does this and I knew it was wrong,” another said.
OTHER TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR HAIR
Hair pro Chris Wenzel previously shared some of his top tips to revive damaged hair.
He took to social media to share his tricks (@blowoutprofessor) and it’s perfect if you’ve got heat damage, split ends or just need to inject a bit more life into your locks.
Avoid daily touch-ups
It might be tempting to quickly restyle your hair every day, but this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
He said: “Damage adds up really really quickly when you do that.”
Your hair needs a break between using heat on it, so straightening it one day then touching it up the next will cause loads of problems including dry and brittle hair, split ends and frizz.
“Even if you just do the front section or that little thing that looks weird, it’s going to cause damage.” he explained.
Instead, Chris advises waiting three days before using any heat tools on your hair, and when you do use heat always use a protectant spray or cream.
Avoid naked hair
A lot of people think leaving their hair completely alone is the best way to keep it healthy, but that’s not necessarily true.
The hair expert said: “Naked hair is when you get out of the shower and you don’t put any products into your hair.
“Your hair is like a baby; it can’t take care of itself, you have to take care of it.”
Some hair is naturally more dry so will need added moisture, and that comes in the form of hair products. Consider adding conditioner to your hair every wash.
Don’t air dry then style
When you air dry your hair, it will want to stay in the same position and shape, so if you try to style it afterwards, it’s going to take a lot more work, and that means a lot more heat damage.
Chris said: “Even if you do win the fight and get it to be super straight it’s not going to be that way for very long because it’s always going to be fighting to go back to the air dried shape that it was before.”
If you do want sleek locks, you should blow dry your hair flat and then smooth it out with a straightener.
It might seem like using a hot hairdryer and then straighteners will cause more damage, but it will be less heat overall, and you style will last longer, so you can avoid touch-ups.
The wrong shampoo
Supermarket shampoos are great if you’re on a budget or need a quick product. But many of them mask hair damage instead of fixing it.
Chris explained: “Cheap shampoos leave a layer of gross dirt and oil on your hair that other products struggle to penetrate, so what good are these other products if they can’t actually get to your hair?”
A lot of cheaper shampoos don’t get rid of grease and oil build up from the scalp, meaning you have to wash and style your hair way more.
The price of professional shampoos aren’t as high as you might think either, in fact, Chris noted that they’re not much more expensive than regular shampoos.
He said: “You only need to use a little bit because it’s super powerful, and because it gets your hair all the way clean you don’t have to wash it that often so you’re not going through it that quickly.”
A top tip to not waste any shampoo is to squeeze a small amount into the palm of your hand, and rub and mix it between your hands to create a lather, then apply to roots and ends.
Don’t get trims too often
If you want long hair, or simply want to grow your current style out, then getting it cut too often will stop you from achieving that.
Cutting split ends off can help your hair look more healthy, but you don’t need a trim every time your visit the salon.
Chris said: “You get to pick when you get a trim, not your stylist.
What are the biggest hair care mistakes?
Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley spoke exclusively to Fabulous.
Not looking after your scalp
Your scalp is an extension of the skin on your forehead and it should be given similar attention and care to the skin on your face. Scalp health is vital to healthy hair growth. Your scalp is your hair’s support system, and a flaky or inflamed scalp can contribute to hair loss and also impact the quality of hairs as they emerge from the follicle. Do cleanse and tone your scalp frequently. Try to leave no more than 2 days between shampoos.
High heat styling
The most common cause of hair damage is high heat styling – either with a blow dryer or straighteners. While it may take a little longer, a low to medium heat setting will give you great styling results, but without dryness, breakage and split ends. You should also always use a heat protective product such as our Daily Damage Defence and don’t hold your dryer right next to your strands.
Not eating well
Even if you’re using the best products in the world, if you aren’t eating well your hair’s condition and rate of growth won’t be at its optimal. Hair is a dispensable tissue as it isn’t needed for physical survival. This means nutrients are first used to keep essential cells functioning, with hair receiving them last.
