Protecting your hair from heat damage

If you use a curling iron, flat iron, or blow dryer to style your hair, chances are you need to change the way you use them to protect your hair from even further heat damage. So how can you do that?

With the wear and tear that these devices can wreak on even the strongest hair, you may need to change the way you style and care for your hair to shield your tresses from further damage. Here's how.

Flat ironed hair is more popular than ever, and you're not alone if you use your iron daily for shiny, straight hair or pressed-in waves. Protect your hair from the stress and strain of that hot iron with these tips.

• Go low. Turn the temperature on your flat iron as low as possible to keep your hair shiny and safe. Experiment to find the temperature that works well enough to get your hair smooth without frying it to a crisp.

• Go high. If it's been a while since you invested in your flat iron, consider an upgrade. You'll be surprised at how much more efficient modern flat irons are.

• Never go naked. The cardinal sin of flat ironing: going without protection. Coat your hair in a protective oil or styling product before ironing, and be sure to follow all directions to ensure that your hair is getting the protection it needs.

Don't sacrifice your hair for that flawless blowout. Here's how to keep hair healthy even when the heat is on:

• Dry as little as possible. If you can, air dry before finishing with a blow dryer to protect sensitive strands.

• Dry in small blasts. Less is more when it comes to blow drying. Instead of going over and over each strand with the dryer, concentrate the heat into small segments of your hair for small periods of time.

• Dry with care. Invest in good tools and a great blow drying lotion, then use them.

Those bouncy curls weren't meant to be burned. Keep your hair curly and healthy with these tips:

• Never curl wet hair. Make sure your hair is completely dry before curling.

• Never curl with high temps. Experiment with your curling iron's heat settings to find a gentle temperature that works for your hair.

• Practice makes perfect. Curling irons take practice to master, so practice before your big night out (sans heat) so that you can handle the iron with a masterful touch instead of sacrificing your locks to a date-night heat disaster.

Keep your hair happy and healthy by being beauty tip-savvy!