Luscious Locks: How to Protect Your Hair When You Straighten It Every Day
Does your go-to hairdo require straightening every day and are you wondering do straightening brushes work? A
lot of women (and men, too) prefer hairstyles that entail a bit of maintenance. If you love to wear a
hairstyle that you flat-iron daily, be sure you don’t wreck your tresses in the process. Read on to learn
how to protect your hair from heat damage and chemical harm.
Thank heredity for your hair
The manner in which a strand of hair behaves is based on a number of factors. One of the biggest influences is genetic. If the genes you inherit from your parents point to waves and curl, that’s likely the sort of hair you will have.
According to Popular Science magazine, DNA explains roughly 90 percent of curly hair. The other ten percent involves the shape of the follicle from which a living hair emerges. If the follicle is symmetrical, the hair that comes from it tends to be round and straight. If the follicle is asymmetrical, the hair that emerges will be oval shaped and therefore curly. Distribution of keratin and other proteins also contributes to the way an individual hair is shaped. Frizz is a day-by-day occurrence and may be influenced by humidity, hormones, medications, and other temporary conditions.
You’re not stuck with the hair you were born with
The science of hair genetics would be fine and dandy, if everyone was content to walk around all the time, every day, all week, forever, with the shape of hair that they were born with. The thing is, people like to switch things up, follow fashion trends, and generally have fun with their hair, clothes, and overall appearance. For this reason, implements, tools, and hair products have been devised that can take a lady’s locks from bone-straight to wildly curly, and vice versa.
If you were born with naturally curly hair and want to wear it straight for the day or night, expect to invest a bit of time. Start by washing your hair and giving it a good conditioning to prep your hair for the assault of heat straightening, advise beauty pros at Livestrong magazine. Don’t use a blow dryer on hair, but do use your fingertips to work a few dabs of heat protective product throughout damp locks to the ends. Some women prefer a spray-on heat protector; some like a gel or cream. It really doesn’t matter, just as long as you shield your tresses from the heat you’ll use to straighten your hair.
Amazing argan oil
If you choose to use a professional flat iron, argan oil could be your hair’s best friend. Obtained from a nut that’s native to Morocco, argan oil contributes to strength, moisture, and luster to hair, especially hair that is subjected to the rigors of heat straightening or curling. Safe enough to eat, culinary grade argan oil has been enjoyed as a breakfast food in northern Africa for eons. Today, women around the globe are catching on to the beauty benefits of hair and skin care products fortified with natural Moroccan argan oil. Where argan trees are indigenous, they provide shelter, food, medicine, and erosion protection. Ecologically sound and sustainable, argan oil does no harm to the tree nor to the land where nuts are grown and harvested for beauty and hair care oil.
Argan oil provides beneficial amounts of numerous essential fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic, and palmitic fatty acid. Argan oil also offers a significant amount of vitamin E and other hair- and skin-friendly nutrients. If you’re like many folks who try argan enriched hair care products, you may find that a regimen comprising shampoo, conditioner, leave-in treatment, and smoothing mask makes your hair look and feel its best, no matter how many times you straighten or curl. Be sure to use an argan oil enriched thermal protection spray before you fire up your flat iron, as well.
If you want your curly hair to behave and stay straight when you iron it, be sure not to shampoo too often or too much. Curly hair is naturally dry, say beauty editors at Bustle. Shampoo no more than thrice a week, and when you do, focus the foam at the roots.
Argan oil is a good hair conditioner, but you don’t want your hair to ‘get used to’ one specific product. For this reason, be sure to alternate argan with other soothing hair care oils, including coconut, avocado, shea nut butter, and palm oil.
Jay Bell is a hair stylist who loves to gossip and discuss hair and beauty secrets with clients. He is now sharing his tip tips around the internet with his hair and beauty articles. Aside from work, Jay lives with his partner by the ocean and dotes on his 2 small dogs.