Hair, we put it through so much especially when it comes hair when using heating appliances like styling irons and hair dryers. The pressure from the heat causes the cuticles to crack causing split ends and leaving you with dry and brittle hair. So when you style your hair at home using heated appliances, then you jump straight into the freezing cold, you are going to increase your chances of damage to your hair. We asked Nicky for his ideal tips on how to protect your hair this winter.
1. Before using your heated appliance, it is vital that you use a good quality Heat Protect and cover the entire head, such as my Nicky Clarke Heat Protect Shine Spray (retails at £12.00 from www.nickyclarke.com)
2. After applying the heat protect product, comb through with a wide toothed comb to ensure extra coverage to the hair.
3. Once you have applied the spray you now need to take into consideration your hair’s natural texture. The thinner the hair, the lower the temperature should be. Putting too much heat on very fine hair will just cause even more breakage.
4. I would recommend using a good quality moisture shampoo that will hydrate the hair and add an extra gloss and shine.
5. The best way to prevent damage from heated appliances is to use the correct products and avoid chemical procedures. Intensive moisture treatments are really great and my top tip would be do one a week. Put a shower cap on and sleep with it on and rinse the following morning.
6. When using styling appliances make sure you turn the temperature down to a low heat and try to limit your use of them to once or twice a week.
7. If in doubt and your hair is extremely damaged from the heat, pop into see your hair stylist who can recommend an in salon treatment for a good quality condition.
8. Make sure you clean your styling appliances each time after using. With the use of pre-styling products, your tools will be left with a build-up of residue.
9. Sometimes the ends of our hair can become so badly damaged that the only solution is a trim. It is always best to visit your hair salon at least every three months to keep your hair looks its best.
10. One of the worst things you could do is to using your styling appliances on damp or wet hair. Your hair is at its weakest when it is wet so make sure your hair is 100% dry.