Heat damage SOS: five ways to repair and protect your heat-damaged hair

The hair on your head is exposed to daily external aggressors, which can damage strands over time and lead to a host of hair issues. UV rays from the sun play their part, but it’s the daily use of styling tools that can have the biggest impact on your hair health. One of the culprits is heat. So, what does heat-damaged hair look like? Dry, faded and prone to breakage. So, can heat damage be repaired? Superficially, yes. But what’s more important is how to prevent heat damage on hair in the first place, decreasing its damaging effects without having to compromise on your go-to hair look.

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Reduce the heat
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Styling tools use heat to break down the hair’s hydrogen bonds and temporarily rearrange its shape and texture. For most hair types, 350°F is hot enough to achieve this. Always make sure your hair is fully dried with a blow-dryer before you start using your flat iron.
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Use a heat protectant
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It’s time to start using a heat protectant. Our Dove Style+Care Smooth and Shine Heat Protection Spray works by coating strands with an invisible layer that takes the impact of the heat from your styling tools (rather than your hair’s cuticle) and makes the flat iron slide more easily along the hair. With this protective layer intact, the hair will look and feel stronger and healthier.
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Reach for a gentle shampoo
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Heat exposure dries hair out, removing its essential moisture and leaving it more prone to breakage and fraying. This means it’s important to use the right shampoo. Our Dove Hair Therapy Rescue & Protect 0% Sulfates Shampoo gently cleans and conditions without stripping essential oils.
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Pair with a repairing conditioner
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We all know our daily conditioner is designed to nourish and repair, but did you know it can also boost your hair’s resilience against future damage? Our Dove Rescue & Protect Serum + Conditioner is infused with ceramide and peptide to nourish fragile strands and reinforces the hair’s all-important protective lipid layer, giving it a helping hand in the fight against heat damage.
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Take a heat detox
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The truth is, heat-damaged hair can’t repair itself, however long you step away from the heat tools. It’s all about protecting it in the first place, as well as nourishing it with the right products so it looks and feels healthy. Dove Breakage Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to help with hair breakage and leave your hair looking thicker, stronger and healthier.