The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Against Heat Damage on Curly Hair

Curly hair is not for the faint of heart. It’s for those unafraid to take on their extended wash and detangle routine. It’s for the brave who buys extra-large sizes of styling products. And hair with a big personality is for those who see a hot styling tool set to 400 degrees and says, “That’s cute; when does it get hotter?”

While your tresses can take the heat, they’re also more prone to being damaged. So it’s time to make sure you’re doing everything to prevent heat damage on curly hair from happening. Whether you’re using a blow dryer or a hot comb, continue reading to learn how to keep your curls healthy, shiny, and best of all, full of life. 

What Does Heat Damage on Curly Hair Look Like?

Hair’s natural condition can be oily, dry, or normal. Curly hair tends to be on the drier side for a few reasons. One is that the moisture-sealing sebum released from the scalp tends to stay there. And the tighter the curls, the harder it is for sebum to move down the hair shaft.

Experts recommend brushing curly hair only when wet, which is usually when you’d want to shampoo your scalp. Without being able to brush the sebum throughout the hair, it gets much less of that beneficial oil.

The second reason relates to the structure of curls. All of those bends and twists make the hair’s protective cuticle vulnerable to lifting and exposing the inner parts of the shaft, thus leading to dryness. This can be worsened with heat styling, as it may weaken the hair bonds that keep it healthy.

Heat damage on curly hair has several of the following characteristics:

• Split ends and frequent breakage
• Dullness
• Loss of elasticity, aka bounce back
• Unmanageable frizz and tangles
• White nodes on ends

In other words, on curly hair, heat damage leads to a fried and dried mess. That’s why moisture replenishment is your best friend when using hot tools to achieve your look. A hydrated, moisturized head of hair is protected and ready to face high temps, and one should attain this kind of hair health both inside and outside of the shower.

Condition with Purpose

Conditioning is the second step in the hair-washing process and the first step in preventing heat damage on curly hair. This is the prime opportunity to pamper your hair, so don’t waste it by using anything less than the best.

For wavy to curly hair, use Davines LOVE Curl Conditioner to get a soft bounce and luscious volume. Founded in Italy, Davines is committed to sustainably formulating high-quality products that work hard to enhance what mother nature gave you. They utilize small farms to source nourishing ingredients, like the Noto almond that’s richly packed with all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins your hair needs. Along with an extra dose of vitamins C and E, this results in strong, easy-to-comb curls that are a breeze to style.

Very curly to coily hair types will love the Kerastase Curl Manifesto Beurre Haute Nutrition Masque. This thick and creamy conditioning mask is perfect for detangling tighter curls. It features nutrient-dense Manuka honey from New Zealand, which is amazing at hydrating and drawing moisture into the hair to leave it soft, shiny, and resistant to frizz. And there are ceramides that strengthen and seal your springy structure to get the punch up it needs for ultimate resilience against heat damage on curly hair that’s extra delicate.

Even a minimalist can find the best conditioner for curly hair when it doubles as a leave-in conditioner. The Ouidad Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner and Styling Primer work for all curl types after shampooing and before grabbing the blow dryer. If you’ve got your eyebrow raised, remember that curls are Ouidad’s sole focus, so you’re getting an expert, cruelty-free formulation without harsh, drying ingredients. This multi-use product coats each strand with nourishment from green tea, olive oil, shea butter, and the fortifying power of keratin. Use it for regular conditioning, effortless detangling, and prepping hair for safe heat styling.

“Leave-In” More Moisture

Why use a leave-in conditioner in addition to a regular conditioner? The answer is in the comb out. Remember that strong, intact, moisturized hair is your best defense against heat damage on curly hair, so products that facilitate easy detangling should be in your arsenal to prevent exposed cuticles and breakage.

UNITE’s Hair Boing Curl Leave-in is a light conditioning spray that guards against heat in multiple ways. It provides ultraviolet (UV) protection from the sun, which can bleach out and dry out hair with excessive exposure. There’s also the pro-favorite provitamin B5 (also known as panthenol), a multifaceted natural ingredient that strengthens and nourishes hair. Spray hair thoroughly and feel your comb glide through your tropically-scented strands, then apply additional styling products as desired.

For a little more hold with your hydration, use a moisturizing curl cream like Davines’ LOVE Curl Controller. This rich formula lets you define each curl and control its volume for a frizz-free bounce that won’t quit. And it’s packed with sustainably-sourced vitamins and minerals, including the all-important provitamin B5, to support your hair’s health with everything it needs.

Straighten Safely

Every curly-haired cutie likes to mix it up occasionally. Still, irresponsible flat ironing can lead to a loss of elasticity, so you want to safely straighten without messing with the integrity of the curl. Applying Davines’ This Is A Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid is an excellent hair prep to prevent heat damage on curly hair.

A little goes a long way to help relax curls and effortlessly smooth that hair into submission. In addition to heat protection, it moisturizes strands and helps minimize frizz, so feel free to skip the leave-in when you’re in the mood for getting the sleekest ‘do. When you’re ready to return to curly hair, it’ll bounce back with ease.

Not Bouncing Back?

Now you have the best ways to prevent heat damage on curly hair, but if you’re frustrated about having gone past the point of prevention, have heart. Conditioning and heat protection are just one component of reparative haircare, and we have everyone covered with more details to digest in our Beauty Resource Center. Learn how to repair heat-damaged hair and get the best products to see soft, vibrant curls once again.