View Full Version : Tips for heat styling without damage? (Fine straight hair)
goldcopperbrown
December 2nd, 2014, 05:33 PM
So, usually when I want to curl my hair I use a 1" barrel curler but it's not any particular "good" brand (I got it at Walgreens) and I just use some Phyto heat styling protector (not sure how well it works). I curl my hair SO RARELY (10x/year?) but I'd like to do it more often...weekly or even several times a week because I really only like how my hair looks when it has some wave to it. I have conventional, trendy tastes so I like to keep up with the trends and right now straight hair doesn't seem to get much love!
Only problem? My hair is fine, long (now down to 27-28") and doesn't hold style that well. Plus, since I'm trying to grow it another 5 inches or so, I'm afraid that heat-styling will cause breakage.
Are there any products or tools I can use to reduce or eliminate the risk of breakage? Will using a silicone conditioner (instead of my shea butter conditioner) make a difference? When I don't color or style my hair, it grows pretty well, but it also looks a bit boring and unstylish.
Nadine <3
December 2nd, 2014, 05:47 PM
There are no ways to heat style several times a week without damage. Silicones can give a small amount of protection, but in the long run you'll still get damaged hair.
If you really want to style your hair curly several times a week, why not look at heatless curling methods, or even braids can give waves without damage. Loads of tutorials on youtube!
swearnsue
December 2nd, 2014, 05:56 PM
I agree with Nadine.
Even once damages your hair because there will be points of contact between hair and iron that will cook and damage hair at that spot.
I especially like braiding while damp and sleeping in the braids. In the morning you will have beautiful waves with no damage to your hair. The more braids, the curlier your hair will be.
My siggy example is not a good one, my hair wasn't in very good condition at the time and got a bit too poofy instead of curly/wavy.
Johannah
December 4th, 2014, 04:45 AM
You cannot use heat without damage. Every time you use heat, it damages your hair. And damage that's done, is done. You cannot fix it. Like others said, look for no-heat tutorials. You could try bee butt buns for instance.
purplevickie
December 4th, 2014, 05:26 AM
I agree with the others, and also - I find heatless curls stay in my hair far better than curling tongs or hot rollers. My hair never keeps a curl well, but braidwaves from damp hair stay until I wash again.
alabaster
December 4th, 2014, 06:57 AM
Have you tried headband waves/curls? They look amazing and are hair friendly....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4z9uutdrE0
MissMoppet
December 4th, 2014, 07:44 AM
How about pin curls, or curl formers (although there is a bit of a learning curve when using these.) I think curls last a lot longer when done on wet hair wet.
Jenn_Ivan
December 4th, 2014, 08:28 AM
I agree with the others who have suggested braiding. I've tried using curlers to curl my hair. I have one of those hair curler sets from the 80's that belonged to my Grandmother. The curls turn out nice but because of the weight of my hair, they do not hold. When I braid my hair, even if it is just for a few hours, after I take the braids out, my hair has a nice wave to it and it will last the entire day. You could always try that and see how it works out. If you want more waves, try more braids. I just keep my hair in one braid and I have really nice waves when I take it out.
spidermom
December 4th, 2014, 09:06 AM
Heat-styling fine hair without damage? Not possible. Rope braiding makes especially pretty spirals. You could do it on very slightly damp hair (maybe use a spray bottle) from the top of your head for overnight.
meteor
December 4th, 2014, 09:18 AM
I absolutely agree with everybody else: there is no damage-free heat styling. And fine hair is even more damage-prone than medium/coarse.
You can go for heat-free styling methods: there are lots!
Since you are a straightie, I recommend beautyklove's tutorials on heat-free waves/curls: she has a ton of styling videos for straight hair, from tight curls to loose waves: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4626FAE04F57ED14
Thumper
December 4th, 2014, 10:08 AM
My hair is very very thin and fine. I do several bee butt buns at night - with a little aloe in my hair. Come morning they are very tight and I allow for them to roll out and I have incredibly curly hair.
Anje
December 4th, 2014, 10:13 AM
Agreeing with the others -- the best way to minimize heat damage is to use heat rarely. You'll probably feel like it's OK for a while, then it'll seem like it's a mess if you don't heat style it, and the end result tends to just be a mess; how far you get on that spectrum depends on how your own hair responds to the treatment you're giving it.
There are a couple good heat-free or low-heat methods to consider if you want to do it more frequently. Rag curls, magnetic rollers, and braids are all very low-risk. I've never seen anyone complain of damage from Caruso steam rollers either -- they're warm, but not hot enough to burn you or damage hair. Such things require a bit more of a learning curve and probably won't give as consistent results, but the trade-off is that your hair won't be harmed by them.
Definitely consider setting lotions and such to help your hair hold whatever you do with it, and if you must use heat, use as low a setting as possible for the shortest time possible. Keep up with the S&D and trims, if only so you're consistently monitoring how your hair is holding up.
HintOfMint
December 4th, 2014, 11:37 AM
I have coarse hair and even then it couldn't withstand the frequent heatstyling at the intervals you're suggesting. However, I completely understand your plight. I like my hair to look a certain way (Kardashian waves) which isn't my natural texture. I've been able to achieve that through damp bunning, however, you may have to experiment with other heat-free methods.
I've also used Caruso rollers (err, well, mine is a knockoff) successfully. It takes me about 10 minutes to get my hair wrapped up and about an hour to set the curls. It uses steam to set the curls and isn't damaging in the slightest. Time-wise I think it would only take a little longer than curling your hair with an iron and it doesn't involve sleeping in curlers (a consideration if you have an SO, or you find sleeping in curlers to be uncomfortable).
Baby_doll
December 4th, 2014, 02:55 PM
the best heatless curls i have ever gotten is magazine curls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecOO4S1g8hs <-- thats a good video on them, there amazing and incredibly easy, and as they fall throughout the day it continues to look great
lapushka
December 4th, 2014, 05:16 PM
You say 10x a year is not much, but that's a *lot* for F hair to handle already. Now you want to do it even more. There's just *no* way your hair is going to stay white-dot free. And white dots = damage = breakage. White dots can stay in your hair a long time, but at some point your hair is going to start breaking off.
I found for me the key point was accepting my texture. As a teen I didn't like my wavy hair, it frizzed and so the only thing that got some sort of put together style in it was to crimp it. My hair suffered a lot and never grew past BSL.
Sarahlabyrinth
December 4th, 2014, 05:24 PM
Fine hair? Heat styling? Just - DON'T. Fine hair is so much more susceptible to damage than other hair. There are many tutorials on YouTube for non - heat styling which your hair will thank you for.
browneyedsusan
December 5th, 2014, 05:14 AM
Umm, no.
That isn't good for you. You should stop.
betterhairday
December 6th, 2014, 05:30 AM
I based my desk research on what I read by Ebony C Princess on http://blackhairmedia.com/product-review/the-difference-between-ceramic-titanium-flat-irons/ I chose a Karmin G3 Salon Pro Hair Styling Iron because it has 100% Tourmaline Ceramic plates which is the Rolls Royce of plates. I use it daily with no damage to my hair.
lapushka
December 6th, 2014, 09:29 AM
I based my desk research on what I read by Ebony C Princess on http://blackhairmedia.com/product-review/the-difference-between-ceramic-titanium-flat-irons/ I chose a Karmin G3 Salon Pro Hair Styling Iron because it has 100% Tourmaline Ceramic plates which is the Rolls Royce of plates. I use it daily with no damage to my hair.
Have you done some S&D lately? I'm sure you'll find some damage. If not, then by all means do what you think you have to do...
meteor
December 6th, 2014, 02:32 PM
I based my desk research on what I read by Ebony C Princess on http://blackhairmedia.com/product-review/the-difference-between-ceramic-titanium-flat-irons/ I chose a Karmin G3 Salon Pro Hair Styling Iron because it has 100% Tourmaline Ceramic plates which is the Rolls Royce of plates. I use it daily with no damage to my hair.
The problem is not really what the plates are made of but the fact that you are applying high heat to hair. It inevitably results in damage, whether you see it or not.
Damage is cumulative and impossible to reverse, so if you want to grow hair very long, high heat application will become a problem. If you want to keep it pretty short, then you can get away with it because your ends won't be too old to show wear and tear.
Please read up on heat damage (with pictures of hair under microscope), for example here: http://pgbeautyscience.com/hair-damage.php
Also, I highly recommend being skeptical about all those marketing claims about non-damaging flat irons - I found that manufacturers pushing their products will sometimes lie through their teeth in their marketing claims. Case in point, this ridiculous argan-oil-infused flat iron that claims "conditioning, color protection and revitalization of dry or damaged hair" (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3110545) and a matching argan-oil-infused blow-dryer (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3110541). Don't fall for these lies.
pearlsandpinups
December 6th, 2014, 04:42 PM
Pin curls are a great no-heat way to get some beautiful curls! :) I also suggest though to embrace your straight hair, I LOVE straight hair, it's every bit as beautiful as curly and I definitely don't think it's "out of style". (I'm also very much into fashion and my appearance, though not necessarily trends. :) ) I like to look up inspiration pictures on Pinterest, there are so many pictures there of girls with BEAUTIFUL straight hair, they just make me covet and love my own straight texture more. :)
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