Summer is almost here, and with it, the hot, humid weather. While many people enjoy the summer weather, it can be tough on your hair. The high temperatures and humidity can lead to hair damage, which can cause your hair to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Ensuring your hair is healthy and free of damage is essential to prevent losing your hair in the future. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce the effects heat has on your hair and keep it in top condition. Read below for a list of tips that will help prevent heat damage.
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Use A Heat Protectant Before Styling Your Hair
Using a heat protectant can help shield your hair from getting frizzy, dry, and breaking due to excess heat exposure. You can find many at most convenience stores or drugstores for under $10 a bottle. The ingredients in a heat protectant coat your hair’s cuticles and can help prevent damage from occurring. Some of the most common elements include ceramides, silicones, vitamin E, and sunflower oil extract. Heat protectants can be applied to wet hair before using a blow dryer or curling iron.
Avoid Excessive Use Of Heat Tools
While heat protectants will help prevent the damage caused by using too much heat, it’s still important to take steps to avoid using them as much as possible. Using these tools constantly can lead to severe and permanent hair damage, so every time you use one, try your best to use it sparingly. Taking breaks in between sessions or not using a curling iron for an entire year are ways you can reduce the number of times you’re exposing your hair to excess heat.
Shower With Cold Water
While this may seem like a small change, it can make a big difference. One of the causes of heat damage is the hot water in the shower. The extreme temperatures strip your hair’s natural oils and lead to split ends and breakage. Its also bad for your skin and can lead to health problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Showering with cold water will not only prevent your hair from getting damaged but will also allow you to save money on water and energy bills.
Trim Your Hair Monthly
It’s essential to trim the ends of your hair every month to prevent split ends caused by exposure to excess heat. You should aim to trim off at least a quarter-inch of your hair every month. Sometimes the ends of your hair can constantly split due to how wet it always is outside. Trimming off the broken pieces after they’ve already split will help reduce future damage that you can’t see yet within your hair.
Use Moisturizing Shampoo And Conditioner
Using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner instead of a clarifying shampoo can help your hair stay hydrated. Using a clarifying formula will remove all the excess dirt and oil from your scalp and hair, but it does this by removing the natural oils within your hair. This leads to fibers that become dry and brittle, which can lead to breakage and damage during styling. Try using Tresemme Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner products for around $5.50 at most stores or drugstores.
Stop Smoking Cigarettes
Smoking cigarettes can damage hair damage from the roots down to your split ends. Nicotine in cigarettes is a vasoconstrictor which means it clamps down on blood vessels and restricts blood flow throughout your body, including within your scalp and follicles. This is especially bad for people who have an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata because it can cause severe thinning of the hair in random areas of the scalp. Stopping smoking will allow your scalp to get a healthy amount of oxygenated blood flowing through it.
Try A Hair Dryer Diffuser
Using a hairdryer can lead to damage to your locks because of the heat they produce. Using a diffuser is an easy way to prevent heat damage during blow drying sessions since it forces air out in all different cuttings, which cuts down on temperature exposure. When choosing a diffuser for your hairdryer, make sure it fits so that the heat doesn’t escape around the edges. Using this tool will help reduce split ends and breakage by evenly distributing heat along the entire length of each strand.
Drink Enough Water Daily
Another easy way to keep your hair healthy is to drink enough water every day. Drinking lots of water helps hydrate your body, including the scalp, creating a healthy environment for strong, thick, shiny hair. The recommended amount is eight eight-ounce glasses per day, but it can vary depending on individual needs. If you don’t enjoy drinking plain old H20, try adding citrus fruits or cucumbers to your water to make it more flavorful.
Conclusion
It’s essential to give your hair a break from too much heat now and then and eat enough fruits and vegetables daily. As you can see, there are several easy and effective ways to prevent your hair from getting heat damage. By using the tips presented here, you can reduce split ends and breakage and improve the overall quality of your hair by staying hydrated and healthy. If you follow these tips, your hair will be able to withstand the heat and humidity of summer!
