Dealing with Damaged Hair From Straightening? Try This

It's no secret that heat from hair straighteners can lead to breakage and damage. Without a protective, reparative regimen in place, it's often the price we pay for sleek strands. But you don't have to deal with flat iron damage. As you'll see from our expert tips below, it is possible to prevent and repair stressed lengths. Here's the straightening advice you need to know...

Do Hair Straighteners Really Damage Hair?

Like all hot styling tools, hair straighteners cause damage when they're not used with protection. A protective cream, serum or spray is crucial if you want to keep heat damaged hair at bay. The damage usually begins inside the hair shaft, where the heat weakens the hydrogen bonds that keep strands healthy. Meanwhile, the surface can become dry and brittle as heat strips away the natural oils, leaving strands vulnerable to split ends and breakage.

What Does Heat Damaged Hair Look Like?

You'll know straightener damage when you see it. It looks like:

• dryness and brittleness;
• hair breakage through the lengths and split ends;
• brassy, dull, fading colour;
• a rough, straw-like texture;
• loss of elasticity (meaning your hair has no stretch);
• frizz and flyaways.

Of course, these are all signs of damaged hair that could also be caused by over processing or excess friction. But, if you flat iron your hair regularly – and without protection – straightening is likely to be the culprit.

So, How Can I Prevent Damaged Hair from Straightening?

If you're not ready to give up the flat iron and you want to use it safely, make sure you're following these steps every time you style. They're simple changes that make a big difference.

1. Apply a Heat Protectant

Never skip a heat protectant. If your hair is currently healthy, you can use a light formula, like EIMI Thermal Image heat styling spray. The bi-phase mist shields strands from heat up to 448°F, while boosting shine for the sleekest finish. Simply shake and spray to help straighteners glide.

But if your hair is damaged, apply a nourishing, protective cream before styling. ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In repairs, cares and protects in one delicate formula.

2. Only Straighten Dry Hair

Unless you’re using a hair tool specifically designed to suit wet hair (like the ghd Duet), your straighteners should never touch wet hair. So, make sure your strands are 100% dry – not even slightly damp – when you reach for the flat iron, or they risk fast-tracking damage by sizzling and burning your hair.

3. Adjust the Temperature Control

If your flat iron comes with a temperature dial, like the Pro-Straight Shine tool, check the settings. You may be exposing strands to more heat than necessary and causing damage in the process. As a general rule:

• The optimal temperature for straightening thin or fine hair is 250°F - 300°F (120°C - 150°C).
• The optimal temperature for straightening thick, coarse hair can go up to 350°F - 450°F (180°C - 230°C).

How Can I Repair My Damaged Hair After Straightening?

1. Get Regular Hair Trims

Your first stop is your nearest Wella salon to get dry, damaged ends cut. You can't heal already broken hair, but by going for a trim, you have a neater starting point for your reparative regimen. If you're worried about losing length, ask your hairstylist for a Cut & Seal service. They'll target the broken ends only for an 'invisible' cut, and then seal your hair with a leave-in treatment called ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. This powerful mist leaves your hair looking and feeling smoother, stronger and healthier. Make it a habit; book your trims every six to eight weeks to keep on top of breakage.

2. Wash with a Reparative Shampoo

Gentle yet effective cleansing is key when hair is feeling fragile, so it’s important the shampoo you use is able to purify strands without stripping away essential moisture. ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo delivers on both counts with a rich, luxurious lather that rinses away impurities, including the microscopic debris that – without you knowing – can actually cause further breakage. It's a transformative cleanser that suits all hair types, from straight to coily and fine to coarse, getting strands clean and ready for the next bond-rebuilding steps in your regimen.

3. Use Conditioners and Hair Masks

Hair that's been damaged by hair straighteners is dry, brittle, and calling out for deep nourishment, so using a conditioner is non-negotiable. You want it to be creamy but not heavy, providing deep conditioning that doesn't weigh hair down. ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner is our pick, with a sumptuous formula that even helps to repair highly porous hair. Apply it to your lengths and ends, then allow it to absorb for up to three minutes. It rinses completely clean, so even fine hair types can reap its benefits.

Then, once per week, swap the conditioner for ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask; a deep conditioning treatment like no other. It's packed with smart conditioning agents that are able to identify the most damaged areas, and target them with intense care. So, if there are some areas particularly stressed from straightener use, like the wispy front layers, the bespoke mask will restore balance by giving these sections extra nourishment.

4. Repair the Inner Hydrogen Bonds

While the signs of hair damage by straighteners tend to appear on the surface of strands, it's the deeper layers at the cortex that need urgent attention. The bonds within are broken down by excessive heat styling, and only specialised formulas can help to build them back up.

That's why our hair stylists always recommend ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue for intensive repair. The leave-in treatment is enriched with a blend of AHA and Omega-9 for a dual-pronged approach to healing stressed, over-straightened strands. The AHA is an acid so tiny that it's able to penetrate the cortex and repair hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, the Omega-9 is a bio-identical lipid that recreates the outer layer of your hair. This inside-out action works to repair damage in 90 seconds¹, giving you 12x smoother hair² with 99% less breakage³. A real miracle.

5. Reduce Daily Friction

From brushing to styling to towel-drying – day-to-day friction is unavoidable. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of extra stress you put on heat damaged strands. The goal is to build good habits into your existing regimen. This means making small switches that ensure your everyday rituals are gentler on hair. Try these swaps:

• Switch cotton towels for microfiber towels: The fabric wicks away moisture fast, without rubbing on fragile strands. Use it to blot hair dry or, if you have curly or coily hair, press and twist to encourage texture.
• Sleep on silk or satin pillowcases: More than a luxury, these sleep accessories are gentler than regular cotton pillowcases, leading to less snagging. For extra protection while you sleep, apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum to mid-lengths and ends, and wake up to 6x smoother hair².
• Trade hair elastics for silk scrunchies or spiral ties: Whether you love a ponytail or a topknot, switching out elastics will put less strain on the already sensitised cuticle layer.
• Start detangling from the ends instead of the roots: Instead of dragging your brush or comb from roots to ends, work through knots in small sections, starting at the ends. Once you've eased out the tangles in one section, move higher up the hair shaft and repeat. This is the gentlest way to remove knots.

6. Revive Flat Ironed Curls and Coils

When curly or coily hair becomes heat damaged, it starts to lose its shape. Dryness and frizz disrupt the pattern, leaving formerly bouncy curls looking dull and limp. The hair care steps above will help your texture get back on track with deep, inside-out repair, but it's also important to use styling products that offer rich nourishment.

NutriCurls Curlixir Balm (and a break from the flat iron) will be your new go-to. Instead of straightening your curls, use this rich gel to celebrate your hair's natural shape and beauty. The rich balm can be used on damp or dry hair to add instant, frizz-defying definition. Finger-coil it through the lengths for a texture-loving, air-drying solution that gives heat-damaged strands a break from blow-drying, too.

7. Treat Straightener-Damaged Coloured Hair

Heat damage doesn't just affect your hair's condition; it can also fade the colour – a problem best fixed by a visit to your nearest Wella salon. But if you're not yet due a shade touch-up, and your straightened strands are looking brassy, the Color Fresh Mask is the ideal treatment for a refresh in between appointments. It comes in a range of shades, from blondes to reds to browns and even pastels. So, whether you're eliminating yellow tones or reviving shine, its pigment boost will target dullness in just 10 minutes. Simply apply it to clean, damp hair in place of your usual conditioner, let it develop, then rinse to reveal your revived colour.

How Long Does it Take for Hair to Recover from Straightening?

There's no set timeline for fixing hair that's been damaged by straighteners, but by following a consistent routine, you should start to see results within a few weeks. Keep booking regular trims every six to eight weeks, masking weekly, and scaling back on flat iron use. Over time, as new hair grows in and stressed ends are removed, you'll notice hair looks stronger and healthier.

¹ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

² Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.