As the cooler months settle in, you might start noticing more hair breakage, especially if you’ve been relying heavily on heat styling tools like curling irons or straighteners. Overusing these tools, along with colouring your hair without adequate protection, can lead to significant damage. These habits are common, and we often get asked how to restore and maintain healthy hair. To help keep your locks looking fabulous throughout the winter season, we’ve compiled some essential tips to prevent hair breakage.
It’s natural to want to fix the issue by brushing your hair more often, using heat styling tools, or even opting for a new colour that requires less maintenance. However, the key to preventing breakage lies in adopting healthier habits. Here are our top recommendations:
Avoid Brushing Wet Hair
Brushing your hair when it’s wet can lead to breakage because wet hair is more fragile. Instead, wait until your hair is completely dry before brushing. If you need to detangle, we suggest using a detangling spray and a wide-tooth comb to gently work through your hair. Our stylists love Eleven’s Detangle My Hair Leave-In Spray This lightweight spray is packed with Pear Extract that hydrates and tames hair, leaving it smooth and silky and 100% comb-able! Pair it with the WetBrush Detangling Comb and you’ve got the perfect post-shower combo for brushing wet hair!
Let Your Hair Air Dry Before Blow-Drying
Give your hair some time to air dry before reaching for the blow dryer. Heat can be damaging, so it’s best to wait until your hair is at least half dry before blow-drying. This approach reduces the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat, minimizing potential damage.
The only safety net between your hair and concentrated heat is a thermal protectant product. Just like wearing sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun, you need protection for your hair when exposing it to heat. Our favourite heat protectant to use is the Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique spray. Not only does it protect your hair from heat, but it also nourishes, moisturises and fortifies your locks. You can also expect some added shine and a delightfully soft finish.
Schedule Regular Haircuts
Regular trims are essential for maintaining healthy hair and preventing breakage. Trimming off split ends encourages growth and helps eliminate damaged hair. If you’re considering a bigger change, a chic, shoulder-length cut could be a stylish, low-maintenance option.
A healthy trim cycle usually starts at every six to eight weeks. But, for those who leave a lot of time between haircuts, we recommend telling your stylist to give your ‘natural layers’ a good trim. Regularly “dusting off” dead ends throughout your natural layers will remove all those brittle bits while maintaining your length.
Use Low Heat Settings on Styling Tools
The right hair straightener can last for years, so it’s worth spending some time choosing the best appliance for you. The most important factor is temperature control. Using a tool that has a temperature too high could melt the core of your hair, while not enough heat can leave your hair looking unfinished with a style that doesn’t last long.
When using straighteners or curling irons, opt for a lower heat setting and work with small sections of hair. This allows you to achieve your desired style with minimal passes, reducing heat exposure. Additionally, using heat-protectant products can help keep your hair smooth and minimize breakage.
Another thing to consider is the material of the plates. Ceramic irons are more gentle, while titanium is more aggressive. A classic example of a great quality ceramic straightener is the GHD Original Professional Styler, which guarantees sleek, smooth and shiny hair.
Shop all your favourite GHD styling tools at Allure by Epic or pop into your favourite Epic Hair Designs salon and enjoy $60 off! Book your next appointment today and talk to our stylists about which straightener is best for your hair.
Incorporate At-Home Treatments
If you’ve got 5 minutes and desperately need a hit of hydration, we recommend enlisting this reparative treatment to deal with split ends, shedding, and smooth hair follicles, fast. The K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask only requires 4 minutes to reverse hair damage. And the best part? You don’t need to wash it out because it’s a leave-in treatment! This holy grail product is clinically proven to repair damage from bleach + colour, chemical services and heat, with immediate and lasting results to restore strength, softness, smoothness and bounce to hair.
Cream format enables easy, lightweight application across all hair types, with detangling and softening benefits. So, you can expect healthy revitalised strands in less time than it takes to pick up your morning oat latte.
