4 things you need to know about heat-styling your hair

Most of us spend a decent amount of time blowing, brushing, spraying and styling our hair, in an effort to get the look we want. In fact, in the bh Hair Lover’s Survey that we ran in September, we discovered more than 70 per cent  of you straighten your hair at least once a week – if not more. So it’s fair to say that many of us may be heat-styling the wrong way.

So how should you be doing it? Read on to find out if you follow the rules when heat-styling your hair...

#1 Never skip the prep step

Be honest, it’s a sin we’re all guilty of committing at least once in our styling lifetime! Cutting corners might seem insignificant, but not using a heat-protect spray before picking up your styling tool could be costing you more than you think. ghd education manager Robert Kovacs ranks it as the most important thing you can do when styling your hair. He likes ghd heat protect spray – a little sprayed through the mid-lengths and ends will go a long way in terms of protection.

#2 Know your hair type

Identifying your hair type or concerns can help you pinpoint the best way to style it. While Robert says it’s okay to heat style on a daily basis, this should only be done if your prep, hair type and tool selection tick all the right boxes. And whether you have fine, coloured, damaged or dry hair, there’s a checklist for everyone.

For hair that’s fine, dry or damaged, Robert says it’s important to be conscious of future breakage. He recommends using a tool with built-in heat control, like the ghd platinum® styler, which cleverly considers your hair’s condition while it’s styling it. “By maintaining a styling temperature of 185 degrees with an even heat distribution across the plates, the ghd platinum® styler allows for one-stroke styling, meaning you have 50 per cent less hair breakage*,” he says.

Meanwhile, colour-treated hair can often be prone to fading more quickly as a result of heat-styling. Typically this is caused by the heat of a styler being too high, or the distribution of heat too uneven. But with the ghd platinum® styler, Robert says colour fade can be combatted through temperature control. Tests conducted for ghd by scientists at Princeton University have shown it has “two times more colour integrity and fade protection” than a styler working at 230 degrees. This difference is paramount to maintaining your colour and keeping your locks safe while you style.

#3 Pick your time

In our September survey, more than one-third of you told us that your hair is frizzy or prone to flyaways, or that your style just won’t hold. Addressing these pesky issues could be as simple as switching the time of day that you style your hair. Renowned award-winning hairstylist Jayne Wild, who’s the director at Wildlife Hair in Sydney and a ghd ambassador, recommends washing and drying hair the night before. “Then in the morning when your hair is dry, you can style using ghd tools to achieve the best result in minimal time.” Tbh, a better result in less time sounds like our kind of solution.

#4 Know the technology

Contrary to popular belief, not every hair straightener is built the same. When it comes to heat-styling, you probably know terms like ionic technology in hairdryers, and how it translates to less frizz for your hair. Now here’s another one to memorise: tri-zone® technology. As Robert explains, “This means that six sensors across the styler’s plates distribute heat evenly from root to tip. This allows your style to be locked in, with one stroke, without compromising the health of your hair.” Hey, if it wasn’t this good, it wouldn’t have been voted Best Straightener at this year’s Best in Beauty Awards. Perhaps bh member Delicious Girl said it best with her comment: ”I think it is well worth its cult status.”

*vs. a styler working at 230°C.

Do you worry about the health of your hair when you heat style? What do you do to prevent damage?