Best heat styling tools for your hair, tips on how to avoid damage, what temperature you should use, and whether to apply protectant
- Flat irons, curling irons and wands, hair dryers, hot brushes – there are many heat styling tools you can use, but which ones will get you the style you want?
- Different materials – ceramic, tourmaline, titanium – have different effects, and there are vital things to know to avoid permanently damaging your hair
These days styling your hair doesn’t necessarily mean going to the hair salon. Thanks to the vast range of tools available, anyone can become a hairstylist at home. But don’t expect it to be easy.
Heat tools provide us with near endless possibilities. They can also cause damage to hair by stressing the cuticle, says Rodney Cutler, ambassador for haircare brand Redken. This can lead to hair becoming rough, dry, damaged and even breaking off.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use heat tools, but there are some things to keep in mind before introducing them to your routine. Here we take a look at different devices.
1. Flat irons
Pin-straight, glossy hair is a classic look that people used to achieve by spreading their hair over an ironing board and having someone straighten it using a clothing iron. Thankfully, there’s a more effective and safer method out there now: flat irons.
These gadgets are made up of two flat panels that, when heated and pressed together around hair, break the hydrogen bonds in the cortex that preserve hair’s natural shape – leaving you to style your locks how you wish.
2. Curling irons and wands
If you’re longing for bold, dynamic, voluminous waves in your hair, then curling irons and wands may be the answer.