We'd all love to be able to honestly say, I woke up like this.

But the fact is, looking this good doesn't come easy.

It takes valuable time to get your hair just right and that means using an arsenal of heated tools. Which puts a lot of stress on our hair! Over time this causes split ends and dryness that is irreversible.

The good news is you can protect your hair while still rocking that gorgeous style.

It's totally possible to find a heat treatment for hair, without damaging your luscious locks. Read on to learn how to heat style your hair without all the damage!

1. Handle With Care

Wait! Stop right there!

Before you even use heated tools on your hair you need to apply some form of protection. Maintaining healthy looking hair starts before you even plug in your hot iron.

Protecting your hair is most important after you've washed it. When your hair is wet it is most vulnerable. It is weakened when it soaks in water and swells, making it more prone to break. That's why you should never use heat treatment when your hair is wet.

2. Safety First

After you get out of the shower, dry your hair gently with a towel. You can scrunch it to soak up as much moisture as you can. Then take a moment to apply some product.

This could be some light oil on the ends of your hair. Even a little can go a long way to protecting your strands. Don't forget to use some thermal protecting spray with some hold in it.

Even with the protection of a spray, you don't ever want to hold your hair clamped in a hot tool for too long. You can easily burn your hair!

When you do start using heat, don't begin with the highest setting while your hair is still slightly wet. Use a cooler setting on your hair dryer until your hair starts to warm up. Then you can increase the temperature of your tools.

3. It's Getting Hot in Here

We all know what damaged hair looks like. Dry, split ends and flyaways are a dead giveaway that your hair has had too much heat. So keep heat treatment to a minimum.

If you are using a hair straightener, curling iron, and/or blow dryer on a regular basis, then you are going to cause damage. Even if you are consistent with conditioning and deep moisture hair masks.

It's best to use heat treatment at most 1-2 times a week. Blow out your hair no more than five times a week. This will avoid too much damage to your hair. Sometimes the best treatment is to give your hair a break. There are plenty of products on the market that will help you style your hair without heat.

4. Tools Are Not Created Equally

Using professional tools will not only save you time when styling your hair, but it will also be safer. If you have to use hot tools regularly, then spend the extra money to get professional tools made of titanium, ceramic or tourmaline plates. You won't regret it.

Quality hot tools will heat up faster and stay hotter longer. They also heat evenly and are less likely to damage your hair. You won't have to hold them on your hair for long periods of time. This is safer for your hair and also means it will take less time to get through styling.

5. Size Matters

This is a tip for styling your hair, but it can also save time and result in less heat. The size of the iron you buy is going to make a big difference in the effectiveness of your heat treatment.

For fine hair, you can purchase a 1" flat iron, which should be large enough to straighten your hair efficiently. For long, thicker hair you should purchase a 1 1/2" flat iron, which will get the job done faster.

The size of your curling iron depends on the look you are going for. For example, if you want springy curls, then your hair should wrap around the barrel about three times. For a soft wave, it should wrap around less. Curling irons come in sizes ranging from 1" to 1 1/4".

6. Right on Time

When you're using one of these heated tools, you want to make sure you are using a temperature that is safe for your hair. A range of 175 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit will work for most hair types. You should try to use the lowest setting that is effective for your hair.

To make the most of the tool without damaging your hair, separate your hair into sections. You don't want to leave a heated tool on your hair for more than 3-5 seconds. It might take you some practice to figure out what setting works best in that amount of time.

If you hold a tool on your hair for longer than 5 seconds, you are more likely to cause permanent damage to your hair. You should only need to run an iron through each divided section of hair one time.

7. Nourish and Replenish

Whether you use hot irons regularly or not at all, we all struggle with split ends. Why is this inevitable for so many of us? It's because, over time, our hair experiences wear and tear. Ultimately the cuticle layers of the hair get chipped away.

As this happens, the hair gets weaker and is more likely to break. This is especially true for long hair. Long hair is older at the ends and the natural oils from our scalp can only reach a certain distance down your hair.

No matter how careful you are and how great your tools are, you need to continue to take care of your hair with moisturizing treatments. Leave-in conditioners are highly recommended if you have coarse hair that is prone to dryness.

Don't forget to apply heat protectant every time you get anywhere near your hair with a hot tool!

Best Heat Treatment for Hair

Your hair is a major part of your daily style and for many of us, using heat of some kind is a necessity. We hope these tips for better heat treatment for hair will help you keep your locks safe and healthy while you live your best life.

If you are looking for more tips on maintaining your best hair, explore our blog!