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Did you know that using the wrong temperature for your straightener, curling wand and hair dryer can leave your hair dull, brittle, and prone to breakage? The so-called 'perfect’ 185°C is actually too high for 78% of people. Many of us are cranking up the heat by an average of 41.7°C more than necessary.
At CLOUD NINE, we’re leading a healthy hair revolution. We’re all about helping you to use straighteners and other styling tools on your hair without compromising its health. Our research shows that a whopping 55% of Brits don’t adjust the heat on their styling tools, and it’s causing a lot of unnecessary damage. We’ve also discovered that 8 in 10 people are using their tools at temperatures over 160°C, and nearly half are hitting 200°C or more – way hotter than needed.
Read on for our advice about straightening your hair in a safe, healthy way to get the look you want without the damage.
DO HAIR STRAIGHTENERS DAMAGE YOUR HAIR?
It’s true that straighteners can damage your hair if you don’t take important steps to protect it first.
When cranked up to max, hair straighteners with ceramic plates can heat up to around 200°C, which is too hot for most hair types. While hair is quite resilient, exposing it to temperatures above 180°C can damage its cuticles, the protective outer layer that locks in moisture. When cuticles are damaged, hair can dry out, become brittle, and even break. If you spot frizz caused by lifted cuticles, you might be tempted to straighten even more, creating even more damage.
If you ignore damage and continue to use excessive heat on your hair, it could create a more serious problem – damage to the inner layer of the hair, called the cortex. This makes it harder for your hair to cope with breakage, colouring, or heat styling in the future. That’s why it’s really important to find the ideal temperature for your hair type. Work out your hair’s perfect temperature by using our Temperature Calculator.
The good news is, you can still keep your hair strong and healthy with a regular straightening routine by using a heat protectant spray like the CLOUD NINE Magical Quick Dry Potion before styling, setting straighteners to a lower temperature, and limiting how often you use them.
5 TIPS TO AVOID HEAT DAMAGE WHEN STRAIGHTENING
Sleek, straight, healthy hair is always on-trend. By following these tips, you can enjoy beautifully straight hair without worrying about heat damage.
1. Make sure your hair is completely dry before straightening
If you’re wondering if you can use a straightener on wet hair, the answer is simple – absolutely not. If you hear a sizzle while straightening your hair, it means your hair is too wet. Straightening wet hair causes the moisture in your strands to boil, blistering the hair’s cuticle and leading to breakage and split ends.
Always make sure your hair is thoroughly dry before using a straightener to avoid this kind of damage.
2. Use a heat protectant
A heat protectant is essential for preventing heat damage. Try a few spritzes of CLOUD NINE’s Magical Quick Dry Potion to form a protective barrier over your hair cuticles and reduce the impact of heat styling. It also contains nourishing natural ingredients that help to condition your hair, leaving it soft, smooth and shiny.
3. Adjust your straighteners to the right temperature
Every hair type is different, and using the right temperature is the best way to keep your hair healthy while straightening. The entire range of CLOUD NINE straighteners comes with Variable Temperature Controls, allowing you to choose the perfect heat setting for your hair type. Check out our Temperature Calculator to find the best setting for your hair type, by asking a few quick questions based on its colour, pattern and texture.
4. Turn on Revive Mode™
The great news is that all our straighteners (apart from the Touch Iron) come with our signature Revive Mode™. This premium feature is designed to style your hair at its optimal temperature for minimal damage. It reduces friction on your hair by vibrating the Floating Ceramic Plates 8,000 times per minute, helping to smooth your hair gently. Switching it on is easy – just adjust the heat setting to your hair’s perfect temperature and Revive Mode™ will be automatically activated.
Head to our blog for more information about how Revive Mode™ works to protect your hair.
5. Moisturise and take care of your hair between styling sessions
Keeping your hair moisturised is key to keeping it healthy and lustrous. CLOUD NINE’s Magical Remedy is a nourishing, moisturising 3-in-1 conditioning treatment that locks in moisture to keep your cuticles smooth and repair any heat damage between styling sessions. Magical Remedy can be used as a wash-out or leave-in conditioner, as well as a hair mask, and leaves your hair feeling soft and well-moisturised, ready to take on the heat of your straighteners.
Check out our 9-Day Detox blog for more ideas on how to keep your hair moisturised and hydrated.
CLOUD NINE’S HEALTHY HAIR MISSION
Here at CLOUD NINE, we’re on a mission to encourage healthy hairstyling. From straight to curly, fine to coarse and everything in between, want to educate people on using heated styling tools in the best way for their hair type and texture. Whether you’re aiming for gorgeous, bouncy curls, a sleek, straight look, or beachy waves, our goal is to empower you to use straighteners safely and keep your hair as healthy as possible.
Our mission is backed up by a wealth of innovative technology, supported by scientific research. Our signature Revive Mode™ minimises the impact of heat on your hair while maximising smoothness and softness. Also, our straighteners’ sericite-infused plates have Spring-Flex™ technology which helps to cushion the impact of heat styling. And if that wasn’t enough, Variable Temperature Control technology puts you in charge of the heat you apply to your hair.
That’s not all – our Magical Quick Dry Potion and Magical Remedy (which can be bought as our Magical Duo) have been developed by haircare experts to take extra care of your hair before, during and after heat styling.
HOW TO AVOID HEAT DAMAGE: FAQS
Do all straighteners damage your hair?
All straighteners can damage your hair if set to a temperature that’s too high for your hair type. In particular, straighteners without Variable Temperature Control can expose your hair to dangerously high levels of heat. CLOUD NINE straighteners are packed with healthy hair technology like our signature Revive Mode™ and Spring-Flex™ ceramic plates to help you style your hair safely for shinier, damage-free hair.
Check out our collection of straighteners to find the perfect one for your hair and style needs.
Is it bad to straighten your hair every day?
Straightening your hair regularly can be safe if you follow healthy hair styling practices like those mentioned in this blog. Keep your hair in perfect condition by using a heat protectant like our Magical Quick Dry Potion, selecting the right temperature for your hair type and keeping your hair moisturised. Use our Temperature Calculator to identify your hair’s perfect temperature and upgrade your styling routine.
How do you know if you have heat damage?
Signs of heat damage include dryness, brittleness, split ends, and frizz. If your hair feels rough or looks dull, it might be time to tweak your styling routine.
If you think you may be experiencing hair breakage due to damage, check out our explainer about the causes and solutions for hair breakage.
Can heat damage be repaired?
Heat damage can be repaired, although recovery time and repair techniques depend on the severity of the heat damage. Mild damage can often be managed with moisturising treatments like CLOUD NINE’s Magical Remedy -which can be used as a wash-out or leave-in conditioner as well as a hair mask - turning down the heat on your styling tools, and avoiding high-tension hairstyles. For more severe damage, pop to your hairdresser for a trim to remove split ends and damaged hair strands, then use an intensive hair mask like our Magical Remedy to boost your hair’s moisture before styling at a lower temperature in future.
For more information, check out our guide about how to protect your hair from heat damage.
