7 Reasons Your Hair Looks Fried
Break these bad habits once and for all.
Break these bad habits once and for all.
Unless your hair is super curly or coarse, there's no reason for your tool's temp to get up to 400 degrees. "Three hundred eighty to 390 is usually enough," advises David Lopez, a hair stylist in New York City. When the tool is on your hair, avoid doing multiple passes or holding it in one spot for too long. "Five seconds is the max for a curling iron, and one to three seconds for a flat iron," says Jenny Cho, a Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist for Suave. If that's not doing the job, try an iron that's designed for strands that are more difficult to straighten.
Unless your hair is super curly or coarse, there's no reason for your tool's temp to get up to 400 degrees. "Three hundred eighty to 390 is usually enough," advises David Lopez, a hair stylist in New York City. When the tool is on your hair, avoid doing multiple passes or holding it in one spot for too long. "Five seconds is the max for a curling iron, and one to three seconds for a flat iron," says Jenny Cho, a Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist for Suave. If that's not doing the job, try an iron that's designed for strands that are more difficult to straighten.
If there's one fatal error on this list that we've all committed, it's depriving our hair of hydration. Shampoo and conditioner formulas with moisturizing ingredients are mandatory for getting healthy-looking strands. "Use a lot of conditioner, but focus on your ends — they can never have too much moisture," says Marcus Francis, a Suave celebrity stylist in Los Angeles. Have color-treated or chemically processed hair? Add a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week to soften and nourish.
If there's one fatal error on this list that we've all committed, it's depriving our hair of hydration. Shampoo and conditioner formulas with moisturizing ingredients are mandatory for getting healthy-looking strands. "Use a lot of conditioner, but focus on your ends — they can never have too much moisture," says Marcus Francis, a Suave celebrity stylist in Los Angeles. Have color-treated or chemically processed hair? Add a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week to soften and nourish.
Although getting touch-ups every six weeks is the typical recommendation, holding out for eight weeks or longer will keep hair in better shape (and save you $$). Another way to protect your strands: "Make sure your colorist is paying attention to details — overlapping highlights or color at your roots will lead to breakage," says Lopez. "If your hair is getting destroyed, have a conversation with your pro. It's OK to ask questions, like whether she must use bleach. Any competent colorist will gladly discuss your options."
Although getting touch-ups every six weeks is the typical recommendation, holding out for eight weeks or longer will keep hair in better shape (and save you $$). Another way to protect your strands: "Make sure your colorist is paying attention to details — overlapping highlights or color at your roots will lead to breakage," says Lopez. "If your hair is getting destroyed, have a conversation with your pro. It's OK to ask questions, like whether she must use bleach. Any competent colorist will gladly discuss your options."
From curling wands to good old-fashioned blow-dryers, it's important to limit usage to twice per week max (although with blow-dryers, three to five times per week is fine because the heat doesn't come in direct contact with your hair). Keep a dry shampoo on hand to give a blowout a couple extra days' mileage. And be sure to spritz on a heat protector first. "It's like armor for your hair," says Cho. Spray it on section by section.
From curling wands to good old-fashioned blow-dryers, it's important to limit usage to twice per week max (although with blow-dryers, three to five times per week is fine because the heat doesn't come in direct contact with your hair). Keep a dry shampoo on hand to give a blowout a couple extra days' mileage. And be sure to spritz on a heat protector first. "It's like armor for your hair," says Cho. Spray it on section by section.
Ready to have your mind blown? Your crossbody could be the cause of your breakage. "If your hair tends to get caught under your purse strap and you pull it out, the leather could be doing damage," suggests Lopez. "Lift the bag strap, and then move your hair."
Ready to have your mind blown? Your crossbody could be the cause of your breakage. "If your hair tends to get caught under your purse strap and you pull it out, the leather could be doing damage," suggests Lopez. "Lift the bag strap, and then move your hair."
"Be gentle, particularly when your hair is wet," says Cho. To safely work through knots, apply leave-in conditioner, then use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle, working from the ends up.
"Be gentle, particularly when your hair is wet," says Cho. To safely work through knots, apply leave-in conditioner, then use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle, working from the ends up.
Those warm beams might feel amazing, but UVA and UVB rays can damage the cuticle (the outer layer) of your hair, leaving it brittle and dry. The solution: "If you get a lot of sun exposure, use a leave-in conditioner," says Lopez. Spritz on wet hair, then air dry or style as usual.
Those warm beams might feel amazing, but UVA and UVB rays can damage the cuticle (the outer layer) of your hair, leaving it brittle and dry. The solution: "If you get a lot of sun exposure, use a leave-in conditioner," says Lopez. Spritz on wet hair, then air dry or style as usual.
