Give your hair a holiday

Give your hair a holiday

You work hard to make your hair look fabulous. So make sure the steps you take — like styling and colouring — aren’t working against you.

Heat from blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons can make hair brittle and cause breakage. Chemical processing — think colour and straightening treatments — can rob hair of natural moisture, leaving it dry and frizzy. These gentler styling techniques will help you get the look you want while warding off damage.

Treat Wet Hair Tenderly

Go easy on your hair when it’s wet. Wrap it in a towel. Don’t rub it dry. That causes frizz. Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush on wet hair. If it’s straight, let it dry a bit before combing. If it’s curly, comb when it’s still damp.

Don’t tug or pull wet or dry hair. One hundred strokes a day? That’s an old wives’ tale. Too much brushing can cause split ends.

Take a Holiday From the Heat

Let your hair air dry when you can. Heat-free days boost its natural recovery process. For shiny hair without heat, wash it at night and sleep on it.

Turn Down the Heat

When using a blow-dryer, start on the lowest setting and gradually turn it up. If you see steam, you’re probably scorching your locks. Keep the dryer moving and hold it 6 inches from your hair.

Work fast. The quicker, stronger, and faster you are, the better it is for your hair and the less damage you create.

Divide your hair into sections. Focus on drying each section for about 3 minutes, then clip it and get it out of the way so it’s not exposed to extra heat.