Can you straighten your hair between washes?

Straightening your hair once won’t ruin your waves. 

Although your hair is incredibly tough, exposing it to temperatures above 180°C when straightening can damage its protective cuticles.

These cuticles form a hard outer layer that shields your hair and locks in moisture.

When damaged, hair becomes dry and brittle, prone to breakage.

As these cuticles deteriorate, they lift, resulting in frizzy hair.

So if you’re planning to straighten your hair between washes, there are a few steps you can take to minimise the risk of damaging your waves...

1. Always use a heat protectant

This is a must! Heat protectants create a barrier between your hair and the heat tool, helping to lock in moisture and protect your hair cuticles from damage.

2. Lower the heat setting

It’s tempting to crank up the flat iron to get quick results, but using a lower heat setting can still straighten your hair while reducing the risk of damage.

3. Straighten in moderation

Limit how often you straighten your hair. The less often you use heat, the less likely you are to cause long-term damage to your waves.

4. Keep your hair hydrated

Heat styling can strip your hair of its natural moisture. Be sure to follow up with a deep conditioning mask to keep your waves hydrated and healthy.

5. Never straighten damp hair

You might want to cut time by straightening your hair before its fully dry but this should be avoided at all costs.

When your hair is wet its in its most vulnerable state, increasing the damage direct heat from straighteners will cause.

To wrap up...

Straightening your hair once between washes won’t permanently ruin your waves.

But if it becomes a habit, you might start to notice changes in the texture and health of your hair.

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