What to do with Severe Heat Damaged Hair

Have you severely damaged your hair with heat and now have stringy, straight ends?

Has your hair failed to revert to its coily, curly state even after many washes?

What do you do with your heat damaged hair?

Read on as we discuss what to do with heat damaged hair and how to get back on the path to healthier hair. 

We unpack the following: –

*Pssst, looking for inspiration on what to look out for when choosing a natural hair salon for your next visit? Check out our Natural Hair Salon – Kudatot Hair Salon. 

🌺 Do you need to cut heat damaged hair? 

Unfortunately,  the answer is a resounding YES. 

Heat damage breaks the bonds of hair thus altering the hair structure. This is why heat damaged hair has a different texture to your healthy, normal coils / curls. Once this damage has been done, it cannot be reversed.

You can either cut it off for a healthier, even look or grow it out and then cut the damaged strands later. .

However, holding on to the damaged strands will give your hair an unhealthy look due to the different textures, and it is better to just cut it off for a fresh start. 

🌺 What are some heatless ways to stretch natural hair? 

It is possible to stretch your hair without using heat and still rock some head turning looks. 

As with everything in life, with practice you should become a pro at these heatless methods to stretch hair: –

• African threading method
• Tight plaits
• Flexi-rods. 

Give them a try! Your hair will thank you with heathy, luscious curls.

🌺 Use a good heat protectant to avoid heat damage

To minimize heat damage, always use a heat protectant before applying heat to your hair. 

During salon visits, be proactive and request that the stylist apply a heat protectant before straightening your hair.

Alternatively, you can take along your own protectant to guarantee (ample) use. 

Prevention is better than cure! Want to prevent heat damage on your hair? Get to grips on How to Prevent Heat Damage on Natural Hair. 

🌺 Protective Style Responsibly

Put heat damaged hair in protective styling, so it can recover. 

The best styles to do are low manipulation hairstyles – especially styles that don’t put tension on your scalp.

Alternatively, you can put your hair in loose cornrows and use glueless wigs in your preferred style. This will allow you to have access to your hair for hydrating and protein treatments. 

Want to style your hair responsibly going forward? Read up on Protective Styling for Growth/; Do’s and Don’t’s. 

🌺 TLC with deep conditioning treatments

Regular deep conditioning treatments are one of the ways that you can nurse your hair back to life after exposing it to heat damage.

After cutting the damaged hair, give your hair extra TLC with regular moisture and protein treatments.

This routine will ensure that your hair grows back healthier, stronger and longer. 

Try out our Avocado & Aloe Vera Hair Mask for Dry, Damaged Hair. 

🌺 Abundance Mindset

It is easy to get discouraged when you experience heat damage and you may be tempted to hold onto your stringy (raggedy) strands.

If this is your mindset, then you need to take two steps back and relook at how you view your hair growth journey. This journey is about lessons learnt and your empowerment, rather than arriving at the destination of your dream length. 

Learn to adopt an abundance mindset when it comes to your hair. Your hair is always growing.

Promise!

Rather embrace the journey.  chose health over length and let any damaged strands go. Part of the learning process is going back to what feels like square one – but is actually growth. 

What has your experience with severe heat damage been? have you been able to reverse this condition? Sound off in the comments and share your experiences and lessons learnt. 

And until the next time, beautiful ladies, happy naturaling!