Unfortunately there is one simple and short answer to this question, a big YES! Dermatologists (skin and hair specialists) have been pushing out warnings by the new time to users of these popular devices.
Now it wasn’t any different when ladies globally were applying a simple household iron to their hair, the fact of the matter is that by applying heat to our hair we are drying it out, and like with a deep fat fryer on food all of the goodness is forced out. The American Academy of Dermatology in 2008 reported their findings based on research that indeed damage to hair is caused by using hot straighteners, the disclosure of their findings attempted to convert lovers of the device from using them.
Using a hair straightener will lead to dry ends, with the added problem as a result of residual moisture loss that breakage will occur more frequently. Now breakage is all well and good, but when it occurs as a result of using these devices it can occur from any point in the hair strand. With that if there is too much broken hair the appearance can be a ‘straggly’ and uneven one, taking away any of the apparent positive change in the aesthetic of the hair.
The problem compels users of these irons who have not heeded the warnings to be even more vigorous with usage making the issue even worse. Think about it, and lets hold to the theory that hair is a natural thing and thereby should be treated in a natural way. Hot straighteners use heats at up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to do their thing, do you know of any natural environments where that kind of heat is generated? The simple answer there is a resounding NO! There is cause for alarm, but equally there is the opportunity to still use the devices and cause limited harm whilst doing as such.
If you are going to use them make certain to limit the amount of time that your hair will be exposed to this searing heat, think in terms of seconds not minutes, and if using ensure that the hair is not damp when it is being used, this will cause the water to evaporate past the protective cuticle doing damage to the protective layer. Equally important is to avoid using the iron if the hair has recently been chemically treated, this has the same effect, yet in this scenario the chemicals will prove more dangerous than mere water.
If you are using them then a protective spray can help delay the negative effects of the intense heat, there are a number of products on the market which pertain to having these protective qualities. Don’t use the device at its maximum setting, and instead shoot for the lowest setting on the iron. Prolonged usage at regular intervals has been proven to damage yet the evidence was less conclusive if low heats are applied and at less regular intervals.
If it is too late for you, and you are reading this as a result of already experiencing damaged hair, then fear not, the damage can be undone with time. Avoid the use of chemicals, and of course heat application like blow drying for a while, maybe go for a haircut and remove as much of the damaged hair as possible. Whilst it is proven that cutting your hair as the old wives tale suggests ‘Will make your hair grow back faster’ is a work of fiction, cutting your hair regularly does promote healthy growth, and you should get back to your pre heat curler hair standard with time.
There is a sound that we should all fear when there is no BBQ about. Ginger haired people fear it most, and it usually denotes an unhealthy sunburn, it is the sound of sizzling, if you are using a heat applying hair straightener then beware, and if the sound occurs stop using it that instant, and get your head under the cold tap to try to ease the suffering of your poor hair.
Modern inventions in hair care are welcome, but the user should be aware that when we go outside the realm of the natural it is natural too that damage is likely
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