Many naturals are fearful of heat damage despite wanting the straighter look, and just like Borney_Ly from Curly Q&A wanted to know, many naturals are curious on what they can do to ensure their fabulous blow out does not create problems for them down the road.
Question
What do you after you have natural blow out to prevent hair damage?
Answer
The most important part of staving off heat damage occurs before you even do your blow out. Sure, some will always covet straight hair, but rocking the big full hair of a blow out allows you to have straight hair with volume. Just like any style that naturals try, a blow out can have the potential for damage from heat. While you can most definitely care for your hair after the blow out, to prevent heat damage from a blowout requires work done before you even do the blow out.
Here’s what you should do before the blowout.
1. Clarify
Creating a blow out on dirty hair can make the oil, dirt, or product buildup may yield a less than stellar results, as they last longer and look better on clean hair.
2. Deep condition
You want to start on healthy hair and deep conditioning is necessary to help hair stay manageable, stronger, less frizzy, and retain hair’s length. It should be done after every wash but definitely before a blow out, as you want it in the best possible condition before adding heat.
3. Use heat protectant
Always apply a heat protectant before using heat styling tools, and yes that includes a blow out. Just like you wouldn’t grab a hot pan out of the oven without oven mitts or pot holders, you should never place heat appliances to your naked hair without some sort of protection. Most heat protectants contain silicones (e.g. cyclomethicone and dimethicone”> and other essential ingredients to coat and protect the hair against heat applications. Heat protectants coat the hair shaft, lessening the damaging effects of direct heat and keeping the moisture sealed into your strands. Many naturals opt for natural heat protectants like grapeseed oil or olive oil, but they can be heavy and weigh the hair down. A better option may be the over-the-counter and just as Sister Scientist has stated “chemists will combine synthetic ingredients like silicones with the natural goodness of oils to provide an improved customer experience when using the product.”
Read more: This Buildup Actually Saves Your Hair and Why Oil Doesn’t Work as a Heat Protectant
4. Use the lowest setting of heat
You are not trying to fry your hair nor dry it out, so use the lowest setting possible and never use heat appliances that do not have a variety in heat settings.
So in a nutshell trying to prevent heat damage after your blow out is too late, as it needs to occur prior to even doing the blowout. You can make your style last or give protein treatments or deep conditioning after the blow out to care for your hair and keep it moisturized and strong.
