How hot is too hot? In the last few blog posts we have talked about how to protect your hair, maintain healthy hair and last week what the essentials hair tools are. All of these posts have warned you about the damages that heat can cause on your tresses.
But why does the dial on your flatiron and curling iron goes up to scorching temps? How hot is too hot when it comes to your hair? These hot tools are essential in your hair routine, but they can cause breakage, split ends, and a crispy texture. Using a heat-protectant spray can help, it is important to turn down that dial to your hair’s desired heat!
Flat Irons
We love the sleek look our straighteners create, but it comes at a price. These hot tongs can burn the hair inside and out. It is crucial to never go about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as you go above the 400-degree level you’ll spot split-ends almost immediately. Around 451 degrees is when hair begins to melt. There is no reason to get near that number, no matter what style you’re trying to create. It is safe to stay around 290 degrees if you have fine, dry, fragile or damaged hair. If you have thick, coarse hair, stick with 300 to 350 degrees. If you use a flat iron regularly always remember to condition your hair with a deep conditioning mask once a week.
Curling Irons
A curling iron operates like a flat iron but creates the opposite effect. You can treat these two tools in the same manner. The 300 to 350 degree zone is the optimal level of heat your curling iron should reach. It is okay to go to a higher level of heat, like 360 to 375 if you are just taming troubled ends. However, if you are creating a more structured look and have to hold your hair in the iron for more than a few seconds, go with a lower temp, like 275 to 300 degrees.
Blow Dryers
The dyer, a timeless staple of the hair styling world, can cause much more damage than we would hope for. Unlike curling irons or flat irons, blow dryers rarely come with a degree-setting dial. The temps the dryer sends out can make the water inside the hair boil cause the outer coating to bubble up. This will give the hair a frizzy coarse texture. The key with blow-dryers is to keep it on the medium setting. Many women use the high heat setting in hopes to rush the drying process. However, dryers with high heat and low fans end up baking your tresses. It is important to purchase a blow dryer that has a powerful fan speed and combines heat, that way you don’t have to use a high heat setting to get faster results. A helpful tip is to consider only blow drying your hair halfway, then letting it air-dry from there on.
Hair Borne 