How to Use Heat on Natural Hair!
Being a natural hair stylist is multifaceted. Part of that is guiding clients through best practices for hair maintenance and growth, while also showing them the best and healthiest ways to achieve a certain look, especially when it involves heat!
After many years of being behind the chair, I’ve learned that heat is NOT the enemy. Any thing misused, or used without proper instruction will lead to disaster. So with the use of heat, specifically with a blowdryer or flatiron, there is a process to be followed that will allow you to use heat without fear of heat damage. Here are some principles I go by to get the best results when using heat on myself or on clients:
ALWAYS START WITH CLEAN HAIR
When I say clean, I mean shampooed. I would avoid blowdrying hair that has been co-washed or is dirty. Start with a clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing shampoo. Build up and heat don’t mesh.
USE A QUALITY CONDITIONER
Some of the best conditioners for heat styling contain ingredients that coat and strengthen the hair like hydrolyzed silk, keratin, and wheat proteins. Silicones are particularly useful when heat styling to create a protective barrier around the hair. They are not toxic or damaging, so fear not! If you are concerned about them causing build up, aim for water-based silicones or use a clarifying shampoo after using them.
DETANGLE AND SECTION
NEVER, and I mean never blowdry hair that has not been throughly detangled and sectioned. This will for sure make the process longer than necessary and you probably won’t get the results you’re looking for because you are fighting tangles. After you’ve applied your heat protectant, split your hair down the center, create manageable sections and detangle each section(about 6 on each side). If your hair is long enough, create a loose slip knot on each section of use hair clips.
START AT THE ROOT
Yes. Your roots are holding on to the most moisture AND your ends are the first to receive all the wear and tear from styling, so to reduce the amount of passes over your ends, start at your roots. Once you feel that they are 30-50% dry, begin to dry your ends, working your way from roots to ends.
REVERSE BLOW DRY
This step is optional but helpful, especially if you are planning to flatiron your hair. Put your hair into 4 horizontal sections and blowdry going towards your face. This ensures that every angle of your hair and scalp is dry.
HERE ARE LINKS TO PRODUCTS THAT I USE AND LOVE:
I love to start with a leave-in conditioner and follow it with a serum or spray
Leave-ins
Serum/Spray
Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Feel free to use the products that work best for you! Always grateful for your support!