Styling wands can give you poker-straight hair, gorgeous beach curls, and everything in between, right at home. No hassles of salon appointments and splurging those big bucks. However, when not used correctly, applying (excessive, we may add) heat to your tresses can alter your keratin strands and make them prone to damage or breakage. To counter this problem, all you need is this exhaustive guide on hair styling. Right from the prep stage for minimizing damage to the aftercare – we are here to ensure that every day is a good hair day. Since these styling tools are also a beauty investment, we list some tips to improve their longevity. So, read at leisure and make an informed decision!
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Understanding Styling Tools
If you like donning different hairstyles, these tools should find a spot on your vanity. These beauties give you a salon-like transformation within minutes.
1. Hair Dryer
A regular hair dryer carries an electric fan that facilitates a continued airflow across the heating element. This ensures a stream of hot air on your tresses to absorb excess moisture, drying them up instantly.
Tip: We recommend making sections to tackle individually if you have dense, thick hair. This little activity ensures quicker results.
2. Hair Straightener
A hair straightener applies heat to break the hydrogen bonds in the strands, eventually reshaping in a straight fashion. The temperature settings on a straightener are between 150 to 230 degrees C. This straightening effect may wear off when your tresses are exposed to heat and humidity.
Tip: Start from the lowest temperature setting and work your way up. If your hair is fine or damaged, we recommend staying only a little north of 150 degree C.
3. Curling Wand
Depending on how tight or loose you want the curls to be, choose a temperature setting and an attachment for the wand. The heat-radiating wand clamps a section of your hair and reshapes it as a coil.
Tip: Use a leave-in conditioner before styling for best results. Our argan oil & lavender heat protect & conditioning mist is perfect for controlling frizz, conditioning and instant shine to your hair. What’s best is that it also provides resistance to hair damage from heat styling. So that you can blow dry, straighten or curl without worrying. Its potent formula creates a protective film on the strands that slows heat conduction and facilitates better heat distribution. This helps minimize any damage to your hair.
4 Pre-Styling Tips
To make the most of your styling tools, here are some tips that you should bear in mind, along with using a heat protectant, ofcourse.
- Always use your styling appliance on thoroughly cleansed hair. Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner in the shower to curb frizz. This prep will accelerate the styling process by leaps and bounds.
- Use a microfiber towel to pat your hair dry. Never rub your hair aggressively as it may create frizz, prolonging the styling process. Your hair strands are extremely fragile when wet. Applying heat to damp strands can lead to irreversible damage and breakage. Therefore, using a curling wand or a straightener to wet hair is a BIG NO.
- Use a comb to create smaller sections in your mane. This will help you tackle every single strand, ensuring great results.
- If your hair is damaged or brittle, start from the lowest temperature setting. As you get ahead in the process, feel free to crank it up slightly. Folks with damaged or fine hair should stick to 100 to 150 for straightening and 170 to 200 for curling.
Heat Damage Signs And How To Treat Them
If you’re someone who uses styling appliances quite regularly, beware of the many signs of damage. Here are some common factors to discern whether you need to steer clear of your styling appliances. Additionally, we bring you some tips to restore your hair to its former glory.
1. Your hair appears dull and dry
Cuticles make your hair look shiny and smooth. These cuticles can get damaged by excessive heat application. If your mane lacks luster posting washing too, chances are that it is damaged.
How to fix it: Stick to a hydrating hair care routine if your hair is extremely damaged, we recommend adding bond-building products to strengthen the cuticles.
2. You observe split ends
Excessive heat application reduces your hair’s moisture-retaining ability. This makes your strands rougher and stiffer—often fraying apart on the ends.
How to fix it: Stick to a nourishing wash and condition ritual. To help replenish the hair fiber, try repairing formulas to make your hair smooth while reducing the appearance of split ends.
3. You experience breakage
Using heat appliances regularly disrupts your hair’s water-holding capability. This, in turn, reduces the elasticity of the strands, eventually leading to breakage.
How to fix it: Use formulas infused with Argan Oil that restore your hair’s water-holding prowess. This little switch-up will improve your mane’s elasticity, reducing breakage over time.
4. You notice flyaways
Breakage causes smaller strands around the roots to stick out – dubbed flyaways. If you are noticing these tiny strands on the daily, it's time to part ways with your styling appliances for a while.
How to fix: Add a hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and mask to your weekly hair care ritual. If the flyaways don’t seem to budge, opt for a smoothing oil.
5. You struggle with frizz
Does your hair get frizzy after styling? That’s your cue to steer clear of the heat appliances. For those unaware, applying heat (at high temperatures) can zap the moisture from your strands, making way for untamable frizz.
How to fix: Switch to anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner that help seal ample moisture into the strands.
Proper Usage Technique For Each Tool
Now that you are done with prep, here’s how you can make the most of your styling tool while minimizing damage.
1. Hair Dryer
Step 1: Start by gently patting your hair dry. Using the dryer on slightly damp hair cuts the frizz.
Step 2: Don’t keep the dryer nozzle too close to your strands. We recommend observing a minimum of 6 inches between the dryer and your mane.
Step 3: To minimize damage, use the dryer in a medium setting. Don’t spend too long on a sub-section.
Step 4: Once through, use a blast of cold hair to put your hairstyle on a lock. Finish up with a spritz or two of setting spray.
2. Hair Straightener
Step 1: If your hair is still damp, use a hair dryer before whipping out the wand. This will help speed up the styling process.
Step 2: Make smaller sections in your mane and tackle them, one at a time.
Step 3: Keep the straightener at least 2.5 cm away from the roots to avoid damage.
Step 4: Hold your hair firmly and clamp the plates shut. Don’t be too aggressive while swiping the plates down your length.
Step 5: To ensure best results, run the plates down a section, 2 to 3 times. Work the wand with a hair brush to realize the dream hairdo you envisioned!
Step 6: Finish up with a setting, volumizing or texturizing spray for a long-lasting hairdo that turns heads.
3. Curling Wand
Step 1: Use a wide-toothed comb to brush your hair. You can use a leave-in conditioner or a heat protectant at this stage for best results sans the damage.
Step 2: Start at the lowest temperature setting to create those coils. If your hair isn’t curling due to thickness (or coarseness), gradually increase the temperature. Better safe than sorry.
Step 3: Hold the wand vertically and wrap a section of your hair around it -- starting from the root up. Keep the section intact for about 5 seconds and release. Now, proceed to the next section.
Step 4: If the curls have turned out tighter than what you wanted, run your fingers along the length of your mane. And voila, you have aced the look.
Maintenance And Safety Tips For Tools
Styling tools are not safe from wear and tear. But the good news is that a handful of measures can improve their longevity. Here’s everything you can do.
- After using your hair straightener, take a dry cloth to wipe down the plates. This will clear the residue and product build-up, boosting the device’s efficiency.
- Only put away your straightener or curling wand after it cools.
- It goes without saying; keep your heat styling appliance in a cool, dry place. Avoid placing it on the bathroom countertop where the chances of water contact are extremely high.
- Don’t wrap your hair appliance with its cord. This can lead to irreversible damage.
- If you see cracks, chips, or tears on the appliance, take it to your nearest repair shop immediately.
How Frequently Should You Use Heat Appliances?
Perfectly styled hair elevates your appearance and gives you the much-needed confidence boost. But this doesn’t take away from the damage it inflicts in the long run.
Healthy hair is happy hair. Therefore, we recommend limiting the use of these appliances to only one to two times a week. Additionally, here are some alternative ways to style your hair at home.
Alternative Styling Methods
For curls: Make small sections of your hair, roll them into coils, and secure them using bobby pins. This is the easiest way to get small, tight curls at home. For looser coils, braid your mane (French, Dutch, Classic—whatever your heart desires) and sleep on it. You will have gorgeous, natural curls without the fear of damage. You may also try curling roller or headbands for effective results.
For straight hair: Like your hair sleek and shiny? Here’s what you can do! Use a few drops of our Argan Oil & Lavender Hair Serum and run a brush through your tresses. You are bound to get the desired results without any heat damage. Alternatively, a nourishing hydrating hair mask ensures straight, shiny hair for prolonged periods. Apply a generous amount after shampooing your tresses. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse using cold water. Next, let your hair down and wrap a towel around it (in the downward direction) to get straight hair.
Takeaway
There you have it! Just like everything, moderation is the key. When heat styling is done right, you can style your hair as per your mood, without having to overthink about heat damage.
