Q: Is heat bad for my hair?

A: It’s a question I get asked all the time – and the answer isn’t quite as simple as a straight yes or no.

Heat can damage your hair – but only when it’s used in the wrong way. Think of heat as a way to style your hair, rather than something villainous. The real issue isn’t the fact you’re blow-drying or straightening; it’s how often you’re doing it, how hot the tools are and whether you’re protecting your hair first.

If you’re cranking your tools up to the max and going over the same section again and again, you’re basically cooking your hair, which leads to dryness, brittleness and breakage. But if you use a good heat protectant (like our Almost Everything Cream), keep your tools on a moderate temperature (around 180°C), and make sure your hair is completely dry before styling, you can absolutely use heat without fear.

I’m all for people styling their hair – it’s part of how we express ourselves and feel our best. The trick is to treat your hair like you’d treat your skin: don’t overdo it, use the right protection and give it a break now and then.

So no, heat isn’t bad for your hair – bad habits with heat are.