1 heat style = 1 month of dry hair??? Anyone else?

[julliams]

I stopped frequent heat styling September 2009. Now I get the urge to straighten my hair about once every 3 - 4 months or so for special occasions. But lately, now that I've reached waist, I'm finding that after a straightening using a ceramic straightener and heat protectant, I'm having to put up with dry somewhat unruly hair for the next few weeks. Do you think this is just coincidence or does anyone else experience something similar? It could be all in my head too...

I also haven't trimmed in a year (exactly) so maybe it's time for a trim. Gah! I've only just gone past waist, decided I want to grow to hip but I'm scared that I'll lose too much length and be back to shorter than waist length. Was going to push the no-trimming thing til August. Hmmmm....

[kwaniesiam]

Infrequent heat styling isn't likely to cause that much damage. Are you usually cone-free? Nearly every heat protectant product is mostly cones, that could be causing some of the problems. Maybe clarify and to a deep treatment after heat styling when you wash your hair again? Also what kind of flat iron are you using? Cheap, old, or non-ceramic flat irons make your hair a lot worse off than the better ones. Be wary of cheap "ceramic" flat irons too, those are usually just coated and the coating can wear off exposing your hair to hot plates of steel which definitely can be a problem. The better ones are made from solid ceramic.

Instead of trimming you can just do several through S&D sessions or get a very small dusting, like 1/8" trim.

Edit: What heat protectant are you using?

[julliams]

Kerastase so nothing cheap and nasty. My ceramic straightener was about $100 about 5+ years ago so it was a decent one.

Maybe I just need a trim and maybe I am expecting too much from my hair. It is "old" after all. It just seems to not want to "sit" nice anymore.

[UltraBella]

I can't tell a difference when I heat style. I used to heat style three or four times a week for years and my hair was nice and healthy.
I think I am the oddball around here though. Heat styling, bleach, dye and no damage. I wonder what my hair would be like virgin ??? Don't think I will ever know......

[kwaniesiam]

Kerastase so nothing cheap and nasty. My ceramic straightener was about $100 about 5+ years ago so it was a decent one.

Maybe I just need a trim and maybe I am expecting too much from my hair. It is "old" after all. It just seems to not want to "sit" nice anymore.

A very small trim can make a world of difference, you're using good products and a good tool so I don't know what else it could be unless you somehow have severe buildup from something.

[tigereye]

Hey. Yeah my hair always seemed dry and horrible after heat-styling. And I have good ceramic stylers too. When my hair is normal, it is nice and shiny and healthy and thick, but after a single styling, or whatever its nasty. I don't use heat stylers very often any more for this reason, but when I have something really special on, I have occasionally done it, with these results. Maybe it was the heat protectant that I used...
I've thus far been trying to resist taking my straighteners to music camp next week. I keep packing and unpacking them.
Thankfully, I haven't done it since my last real trim, so me and my hair are no longer enemies. I'm thinking of passing my straighteners and such on to someone else. Then I won't have the temptation.
And besides, I'm loving my braidwaves at the moment...

[annsue83]

i have the same problem with my hair. i have stopped using heat tools except for once in a 4 months or so. but everytime after using the heat tools i find a lot more split ends in my hair and also the ends become dried and frayed. i guess the everyday damage was already there and using heat tools brought them out!!!

[Firefox7275]

Some of the ceramic heat stylers get super-hot, I don't know if the rumour about them turning any water in your hair to steam is true but .... I also don't really get the purpose of heat protectants, surely that is the same as styling at a lower temperature? Maybe turn the heat down on your flat iron next time? IIRC I read of some US doctor (?dermatologist) who specialises in damaged hair recommending a max temperature but I can't find the reference now: will edit if I do.

ETA: I can't find the exact article but perhaps I am mis-remembering! Hopefully this will be useful
http://www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/going-to-great-lengths-for-beautiful-hair-dermatologist-shares-hair-care-tips-for-healthy-and-damaged-hair
http://www.hairfree.bz/Article.pdf

[xoxophelia]

Heat styling with a flat iron even once can actually make a significant difference to the health of your hair. I read a scientific reearch paper that showed that the high heat caused the porosity of the medulla (center of the hair shaft) to increase noticably which decreases shine.

Personally I think you should hold out till August since your hair is still pretty and not showing damage (at least not in your photos). Maybe just try to not heat style at all. :D