Aug 27, 2024

HOW TO RECOGNISE HEAT-DAMAGED HAIR

Exposure to the summer sun's intense heat and UV rays, alongside the use of styling tools, can really impact your hair's health and appearance. Just like your skin, hair can become sun damaged, leading to dryness, brittleness, and fading colour.

Here are 5 telltale signs of heat-damaged hair, and some super-easy styles to keep you inspired for a heat-free September.

Sam x

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Whether you're a sun worshipper or frequently use heat styling, understanding the indicators for heat-damage is essential for maintaining the health and vibrancy of your hair.

DRY & BRITTLE HAIR

One of the most common signs of heat damage is excessively dry and brittle hair. The high temperatures from heated styling tools and prolonged sun exposure can evaporate the moisture content in the hair. This can damage the hair's natural lipid layer, which acts as a barrier to keep moisture in and protect the hair shaft. As this moisture is lost, your hair strands becomes dry and brittle, making them more susceptible to texture change and breakage.

Try our intensely nourishing Deeper Love or Bigger Love treatment masks, for 10x stronger hair in just 6 uses - ideal for a post-summer hair revival.

SPLIT ENDS

Split ends occur when the protective cuticle layer is damaged, due to heat. A compromised cuticle means that the hair is effectively 'unsealed', leading to splitting at the ends. This damage often travels up the hair shaft, exacerbating the issue further.

To seal 50% of split ends from the first use, reach for our hybrid care and styling Happy Endings Nourishing Balm. Formulated with Vegabead microcapsules made with mushroom-derived chitosan, Happy Endings boosts manageability and shine without adding build up, to increase all-day softness and control. Deeply conditioning with Pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin-rich Shea Butter, the lightweight formula is perfect for priming hair ahead of styling, or as a finishing touch to smooth and soften hair or add definition to waves and curls.

DULLNESS & A LACK OF SHINE

Healthy hair will reflect light due to its smooth cuticle layer; heat damage lifts the cuticles, making them rough and uneven. This rough texture scatters light instead of reflecting it uniformly, resulting in a dull appearance. Moreover, the loss of natural oils and moisture as a result of too much heat exposure can further reduce the hair's natural shine, leaving your hair lacklustre.

For instant photo-flash shine, smooth Love Me Do through your ends, working up to your mid-lengths for dryer strands. The ultra-light formulation transforms hair in two ways: by penetrating the hair shaft to nourish farther into the cortex, helping to retain moisture and improve elasticity; and by creating a weightless protective shield, preventing moisture penetration that causes frizz – smoothing the cuticle and boosting shine.

INCREASED FRIZZ & FLYAWAYS

We often heat-style our hair to keep it smooth and sleek; however, this can actually lead to increased frizz and flyaways over time, if proper heat protection is not used. This is because the hair cuticle is composed of overlapping cells that protect the inner structure of the hair. Heat can lift these cells, creating a porous and uneven surface that allows moisture to escape, and environmental humidity to enter the hair shaft - and it is this which causes frizz.

For when you're creating a supermodel blowout, our Save The Do protects hair from drying out and becoming dull during the blow-dry process whilst creating soft, smooth natural finish and boosting shine. This is thanks to the active ingredients Flexan and Crodasone, which offer supreme protection against damage caused by hair dryers.

For even more protection when you're using heated styling tools, hold, set and heat protect up to 230ºC with our most versatile shine-boosting styling partner, Modern Hairspray. Perfect for curling, straightening and smoothing flyaways to achieve glossy styles that brush out with ease.

COLOUR FADING

Too much sun exposure is a one-way ticket to colour-faded strands, whether it's your natural colour or dye. UV rays from the sun can penetrate the hair shaft and break down melanin, the pigment responsible for hair colour; and the same occurs for colour-treated hair as the dye is broken down. This leads to the lightening of the hair and increased colour-fading.

Keep your hair vibrant, smooth and deeply nourished with our Kind to Biome® certified Rich Cleanse Nourishing Shampoo. Formulated with strengthening plant Keratin, colour-protecting Quinoa Pro and hydrating Sugar Beet, this formula delivers a combination of 17 amino acids that deeply condition, repair and soften hair.

WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE HEAT-FREE STYLING A GO

Using proper heat protection will help your strands avoid damage, by protecting the outer cuticle and retaining moisture in your hair. However, heat-free styling with hybrid care and styling products is a great way to allow nourishing formulas to work their magic throughout the day, whilst keeping your style perfectly in place.

Here are some of our most popular heatless styles to help you put down the heat this September.

YOUR GO-TO UP-DO

For grip that won't slip, mist Easy Up-Do through hair before twisting and securing with pins.