As impressive as a curling wand or hot rollers can make your mane look, the sad truth is that heat stylers don’t always love your hair as much as you love them. Overusing hot tools can lead to heat-damaged hair, which can seriously hamper good hair days.
Whether you just can’t part with your blow-dryer or you’ve already sworn off heat styling for good, we rounded up our best tips on how to fix damaged hair and how to protect hair from heat damage in the future.
What Causes Heat-Damaged Hair?
Heat-damaged hair can result from several common styling practices and habits. Here's a breakdown of the main culprits:
High-temperature styling tools
The frequent use of flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers at high temperatures can lead to heat-damaged hair. These tools can reach temperatures that weaken the hair's protein structure, leading to damaged hair that appears dry and brittle and is prone to breakage.
Lack of heat protection
One of the biggest mistakes leading to heat-damaged hair is not applying a heat protectant before styling. Heat protectants create a protective barrier that helps shield your hair from direct heat, reducing the risk of damage.
Excessive heat exposure
Exposing your hair to high temperatures too often or for too long, without giving it time to recover, can result in severe heat damage. This constant exposure can cause the hair cuticle to lift, increasing porosity and making it more vulnerable to further damage.
Chemical treatments
Hair that has been chemically treated, such as through coloring, perming, or relaxing, is more prone to heat damage. These treatments can weaken the hair, making it more susceptible to further damage from high temperatures.
8 Signs of Heat-Damaged Hair
Have you found yourself wondering,“what does damaged hair look like?” You’re not alone. Many people don't realize their hair is damaged, mistaking the signs for normal changes in hair texture or condition.
If you’re fiercely committed to the hot tool game, any changes in your hair's state could indicate that your strands have become scorched over time. Here are eight signs that you might be dealing with heat-damaged hair:
1. Brittleness and split ends
Heat-damaged hair often becomes brittle and develops split ends, especially at the tips where the hair is most vulnerable. This might be one of the first signs of damage you see.
2. Dullness
Another telltale sign of hair with heat damage is dullness. The smooth outer layer of the hair (the cuticle) gets roughened, preventing light from reflecting off your hair's surface, which can leave your locks looking lackluster.
3. Increased frizziness
Frizz is a common issue with damaged hair. When the cuticle is compromised, it no longer lies flat, which allows moisture to escape and causes the hair to frizz.
4. Faded color
For those who color their hair, heat damage can cause your color to fade faster, even if you’re using a sulfate-free shampoo. Heat strips away the hair’s protective layer, causing the color to bleed out and lose its vibrancy.
5. Tangled and knotted Hair
Hair with heat damage is more prone to tangling and knotting. Roughened cuticles snag against each other, making your hair harder to manage and style.
6. Change in hair texture
Heat damage can alter your hair’s natural texture. Straight hair can go from silky-smooth to rough and coarse, while those with wavy, curly, or coily hair may see a shift in their hair pattern. If your ringlets don’t spring back like they used to, it’s a strong sign of heat-damaged hair.
7. Increased hair breakage
Over time, heat-damaged hair may break more easily, leading to shorter, uneven strands and excessive shedding when you brush or wash your hair.
8. Lack of elasticity
Healthy-looking hair has a certain level of elasticity, meaning it can stretch and return to its original shape. Heat-damaged hair, however, can lose this flexibility and may feel stiff or snap when pulled, rather than stretching.
Good hair day by @hair.julierussita.
Can You Repair Heat-Damaged Hair?
Technically, hair strands are made up of cells that are already dead, so once heat damage has occurred, it can permanently alter the protein bonds and cuticles of the hair. Unfortunately, because these dead cells can’t repair themselves, any damage inflicted on your hair can’t actually be reversed. However, there are steps you can take to make your heat-damaged hair look and feel better. This includes getting a haircut to remove the worst of the damage and using the right treatment for hair damaged by heat.
Those with minor hair damage may see results within a few weeks, while those with more severe damage may need to exercise a bit more patience. Significant hair transformations won’t happen overnight (wouldn’t that be amazing, though, if they did?), so expect to sit tight for about four to six months while your new haircare routine takes effect. With consistency, you can pave the way for new growth and start to see your hair’s healthy appearance come back.
How Do You Treat Heat-Damaged Hair?
Dealing with heat-damaged hair can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can significantly improve the look and feel of your locks while promoting healthier growth. Here’s how to fix heat-damaged hair and restore its vitality:
Get a haircut
Regular trims are the most effective way to prevent the spread of damage and keep your hair looking fresh and vibrant. Trimming involves cutting a small portion of the hair, typically about half an inch or more, to remove split ends and damaged sections. This helps prevent breakage from continuing up the hair shaft. Experts generally recommend getting a trim every four to six weeks.
If the damage is minimal, a technique called "dusting," which removes just the very tips of the hair, can be effective while still preserving your length. However, significant heat damage may require a more substantial trim. If you’re not attached to your length, consider taking the opportunity to try a new, short hairstyle.
Oil your ends
Even with a haircut, any remaining split ends can continue to fracture further up the strand. Run a bit of hair oil through the ends of your hair to temporarily seal your ends together. We love Biolage Professional All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil, a multi-tasking formula that helps to smooth and seal cuticles, reduce the appearance of split ends, enhance shine, and control frizz and flyaways.
Pick up bond builders
Using bond-repairing products is an essential part of how to repair heat-damaged hair. Innovative products like Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate can make a world of difference in strengthening your heat-damaged hair from the inside out. This four-step routine, which includes a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in, and intensive treatment, is formulated with citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid used in a variety of skincare products, and the brand’s Bonding Care complex. These ingredients work together to reinforce weakened bonds and help build your hair’s strength and resiliency.
The acidic formulas defend against the damaging effects of hair coloring, styling tools, and even water while also helping to rebalance your mane’s natural pH levels for healthier-looking, stronger hair.
In addition to Redken, other highly effective bond-building collections include Biolage Professional Bond Therapy, L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular, and Matrix Instacure Build-A-Bond, all of which provide targeted treatment for damaged hair.
Use hair masks
Adding deep conditioning products to your haircare routine can help get your heat-damaged hair back on the road to wellness. Start by pampering your strands with a rich, nourishing hair mask at least once a week. One great option is the Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Silk Bloom Strengthening Mask, which deeply conditions lightly damaged hair due to styling and heat damage.
For very dry hair, try the Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment. Packed with avocado and coconut oils, this mask delivers deep nourishment, leaving dry strands feeling soft, smooth, and vibrant.
If you're short on time but need a quick boost, the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Minute Hair Mask is the pick for you. Part of Redken's aforementioned Bonding Care line, this mask strengthens and smooths your hair in just five minutes. Infused with citric acid and the brand’s Bonding Care Complex, it repairs weak spots and enhances resilience to leave your hair looking healthy.
How To Prevent Heat Damage on Hair
No matter how you slice it, hot tools will always cause some degree of heat damage, but there are some measures you can take to prevent damage. Here’s how to protect hair from heat damage and keep it looking its best.
Identify the right heat setting
One of the first steps in preventing heat-damaged hair is finding the right heat setting for your specific hair type and texture. Using a tool that’s too hot can significantly increase your chances of ending up with heat-damaged hair. But there isn’t a universal temperature that works for everyone. For example, someone with ultra-fine hair can often achieve the desired results with their heat tools set to 250 degrees, while thicker, curly hair might require up to 450 degrees. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to start with a lower setting and gradually increase it. You want to heat style your hair on the lowest possible setting that doesn’t require you to make multiple passes over the same section of hair.
Use a heat protectant
If you only take away one thing from this article, let it be to always, always use a heat protectant. You would never want to sit out in the hot midday sun without first slathering on sunscreen, so why would you want to expose your vulnerable hair to scorching temperatures without also taking the proper precautions? Heat protectants form a barrier between your hair and your hot tools, reducing damage, cutting down on drying time, protecting against premature color fading, and more.
No matter your hair type, there are tons of great formulas to choose from. One of our favorite options is the Redken Thermal Spray 11 Low Hold. This lightweight formula works to provide heat protection up to 450 degrees while also helping reduce frizz.
For hair that is already heat damaged, we recommend the Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler instead. This product not only protects your hair from heat but also repairs and strengthens it, leaving your locks looking vibrant and healthy. Pair it with the rest of the Strength Cure line for the best results.
Check out this heat protectant guide for more of our top picks.
Choose to air dry
One of the best ways to prevent heat-damaged hair is to minimize heat styling altogether. That means embracing your natural texture by air drying your locks as often as you can. Many steer clear of air drying because they’re afraid of frizz, but with the right air-dry hair products, your hair can look and feel as good as it does when you blow dry it.
Two of our current air-drying must-haves for all hair types are Redken’s All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment and Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Shiki Worker Blow Dry Primer.
If you're rocking curly hair, the Matrix A Curl Can Dream Scrunch N' Go Defining Spray is another great option. The formula is specifically designed to enhance and define your natural curls, leaving them bouncy, frizz-free, and full of life.
Good hair day by @niaraalexis.
Embrace heatless hairstyles
Embracing heatless hairstyles is an excellent strategy for protecting hair against heat damage while still achieving stylish looks. Below, discover some heatless hairstyles that work for various hair types and lengths.
- Overnight Braids: Before bed, weave your damp hair into one or two braids. In the morning, let your hair down to reveal beautiful, loose waves. If you want more defined waves or curls, try French or Dutch braiding your hair. The tighter the braids, the more pronounced the waves will be.
- Twist-Outs: If you have naturally curly or coily hair, a twist-out may be the heat-free styling technique for you. It tends to be great for anyone with hair that falls in the type 3 to type 4 range. To try it, you’ll section your damp hair and split each section into two strands. Twist the strands together, and allow your hair to dry. Once it’s dry, you can unravel your twists for defined curls.
- Sock Bun: For soft, voluminous curls, try the sock bun method. Start with damp hair and gather it into a high ponytail. Slide a clean, rolled-up sock (with the toe cut off) to the end of the ponytail, then roll the sock down toward the base, tucking the hair around it as you go. Secure the bun and leave it in overnight. In the morning, remove the sock and gently tousle your hair for beautiful, bouncy curls with extra volume at the roots.
- Beach Wave Twists: Start with damp hair and divide it into two or more sections. Twist each section away from your face and secure with elastics or bobby pins. Wait until your hair is dry (overnight or after a few hours), then unravel the twists and finger-comb to create natural-looking beach waves. This style is best for those with straight to wavy hair (types 1-2) but can also work on loose curls (type 3A).
- Bantu Knots: Bantu knots are great for enhancing curl definition, especially if you have a tighter curl pattern. This style works well on short to medium hair and is ideal for those looking to achieve tight, springy curls. To get the look, divide damp hair into small sections and twist each from roots to ends. Coil each twisted section into a small bun and secure. Let them dry completely then unravel for beautiful, springy curls.
Pro tip: All of these heat-free styling techniques can be hairstyles in their own right. To add some variety to your styling repertoire, try wearing your hair in braids, sporting a sock bun, or doing a twist out and let that be your look. The next day, you can unravel your hair for a whole new ‘do.
Next Up: Brittle Hair: Causes, Treatments, and Best Products
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Header photo credits (left to right): @hair.julierussita and @matrix
