How To Identify and Treat Heat Damaged Hair

Many an African person, especially woman, has been conditioned into believing that the best way to manage their hair involves application of heat at some point. The untold story is that this almost always leads to heat damaged hair. If your hairstyling tool of choice involves heat, be it your curling iron, your hot comb, or your hair dryer; you must be familiar with heat damage.

There are many aesthetic benefits to using heat to style your hair as it causes the cuticle to lie flat and easily create your desired shape after releasing the natural curl. However there are also some short, mid and long term disadvantages based on frequency of heat use.

While heat is a hair styling game changer, it dries out your hair cuticle and changes the structure of protein in your hair. Repeated and frequent application of heat completely changes the structure to a point that the hair bonds break. Once your hair is damaged by heat, it rather easily escalates to the point where cutting your hair off is your only option.

Did you know that your hair can recover from heat damage? However, this depends on the severity and type of damage, there are things you can do to restore your hair to its previous glory.

Curly, Coily, Kinky Hair

The intension of heat is to remove the natural curls of hair. Given the intrinsically original texture and structure of this hair, heat damage is not kind to this kind of hair. It results into fizzing, tangles and unpredictable texture. In order to restore your natural curls, focus should be on sealing moisture back into your hair follicles and do this as regularly and frequently as daily.

Hair masks and deep conditioning treatments which are rich in moisturising ingredients such as shea butter, castor oil, aloe vera and argan oil can help your hair get back its curly bounce. Choose moisture rich conditioners to help with your hair follicles.

Avoid shampooing your hair daily, as shampoo strips hair of its natural oils. However, when shampooing, only add shampoo to your scalp and the roots of your hair after thoroughly wetting the hair first. Wash your hair once after every couple days until you notice your hair starts to regain its curly shape again.

Products recommended for this from Livara’s amazing collection are:

• Sapphire Shampoo Bar
• Sapphire 2in1 Deep Conditioner and Leave In Treatment
• Emerald Hair Butter

Chemically Treated Hair

Everything about this type of hair revolves around application of heat. Because of the damage and discoloration resulting of it, there is regular use of chemical hair dyes. Relaxing your hair and colouring your hair with bleach can result in heat damage. Your hair will be burned by harsh hair products especially when left on the hair for a long period of time. And sometimes this damage proceeds to hurt the scalp.

To help your hair that has heat damage from chemical exposure you may need to critically think about mitigation measures. A hair mask, a protein rich treatment or conditioner, products rich in highly potent natural oils like shea butter are great for restorative purposes. Hot oil treatments designed for home are another option.