If you’re anything like us, you’ve been borderline addicted to hot tools ever since you were gifted your first flat iron in sixth grade. By the time the crimpers, curling irons, hot rollers, and curl wands came along, you’d never met a hot tool you didn’t love. Unfortunately, hot tools don’t always love you back: If they’re too hot, they can make your style look more fried than flawless.
One way to avoid that crispy, over-processed look is by setting your tools to the right temperature. However, since that answer is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution, we tapped Washington-based hairstylist Matt Fugate to learn more about the ideal temps for hot tools. Ahead, he breaks down how to determine an effective temperature for your needs, how to best protect your locks from becoming burnt, and how to rehab your strands if you go a little hot tool crazy. Scroll on for all the scoop.
What Is the Best Temperature for Hot Tools?
Interestingly, there isn’t one “best” temperature setting that applies to everyone—it depends on your hair’s type, texture, and damage level. Fugate explains that “someone with ultra-fine hair can most likely achieve the same results at 250 degrees that a thick, unruly [hair type] can achieve at 450 degrees.”
The general rule of thumb, however, is to use the lowest possible setting that doesn’t require you to go over the same section of hair repeatedly. Here’s a quick cheat sheet of what that may look like based on your hair type:
- Fine or thin hair: It’s often recommended to use a lower heat setting, typically between 250°F and 300°F, to avoid causing damage.
- Medium hair: This hair density can generally tolerate temperatures ranging from 300°F to 350°F
- Thick or coarse hair: Higher heat, around 350°F to 400°F, may be necessary to effectively style and tame frizz.
- Damaged or chemically treated hair: Keeping the temperature lower, usually between 250°F and 300°F, is essential to minimize further damage.
When in doubt, Fugate says it’s always best to start with a lower setting and work your way up. Using a styler that’s too hot increases the risk of frying and severely damaging your locks.
Good hair day by @luvnyds.
Editor’s Tip: If you’re willing to splurge, consider investing in a device like the L’Oréal Professionnel AirLight Pro. This cutting-edge blow-dryer takes all the guesswork out of finding the right temperature: It features a built-in LCD screen that allows you to toggle between dedicated heat and airflow settings for straight, curly, and coily hair. Plus, it connects to an app that allows you to further customize your settings to meet the unique needs of your hair. Learn more about the new-age tool in our L’Oréal Professionnel AirLight Pro Review, and shop the dryer now on Ulta.com.
Good hair day by @danielle.keasling.
How Do You Protect Your Hair When Using Hot Tools?
Determining your ideal temperature is only part of the puzzle—the second (but equally essential) step is prepping hair with a good heat protectant. A heat protectant is a type of haircare formula that creates a protective barrier between your hair and heat, preventing moisture loss and reducing the risk of damage. While there are plenty of heat-protectant products on the market, Fugate often recommends Kérastase’s cutting-edge hair products to protect his clients’ locks from heat damage.
“Kérastase has always been the leader in this kind of hair technology,” Fugate says. “They have [four] Thermiques available to protect the hair from heat during styling.” Each of the formulas also offers additional haircare benefits based on your specific needs. The range includes:
- Résistance Ciment Thermique Heat Protecting Cream to repair damage while smoothing and strengthening hair
- Nutritive Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Cream to moisturize and nourish dry strands
- Discipline Keratine Thermique Heat Protectant to help manage frizz and flyaways.
- Résistance Extentioniste Thermique Heat Protectant to promote length retention and seal split ends
He also loves the brand’s L'Incroyable Blowdry Re-shapable Heat Lotion to “take your heat styling to new heights” and “allow you to re-style and re-shape your hair over and over.”
Choose a heat protectant based on your hair goals, then apply it from mid-lengths to ends of clean, towel-dried hair before getting to work with your flat iron or blow dryer.
Good hair day by @pasabist.
Can You Reverse Hot Tool Damage?
The short answer is no; you can’t truly reverse the damage created by hot tools. What you can do, however, is repair existing damage and minimize its recurrence. For the latter, heeding the above tips can significantly reduce any future harm. As for the former, reaching for reparative haircare formulas can help improve the look and feel of your tresses. Fugate is partial to a nourishing deep conditioner like Kérastase’s Resistance Masque Thérapiste Hair Mask, which helps repair, nourish, and protect damaged hair.
You can also overhaul your routine with a complete system designed to rehab your hair from start to finish. A few of our favorites are Biolage Professional Strength Recovery, Matrix Instacure Build-A-Bond, and Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate.
Next Up: How to Treat Heat Damaged Hair
Header image credit: @lgarofolo22
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