Be sure to read my article called Best Hair Straightening Brush after reading this one! I analyzed and reviewed the top brands and documented my findings. I’m sure you will want read before making your purchase.
There is no one I know who straightens their hair more than twice daily. And if you do, I highly recommend you change your hair style. You should not be straightening your hair more than once a day.
If you straighten your hair every day you will have straight damaged hair. Damaged hair will become more damaged by straightening every day. If you have split ends more straightening could cause the split ends to travel up the hair shaft. When straightening your hair always use a heat protectant. Straightening brushes are considered a gentler way of straightening your hair over flat irons.
Is It Bad To Use Hair Straighteners Every Day?
According to Meesh, Hair Product Analyst, “Hair straightener brushes operate at a lower temperature and only heats one side of your hair. and can be used daily, but with care and caution.” The way a hair straightener brush operates is your hair flows through the wide-spaced bristles heating your hair. While using a straightening brush you are applying a brushing action and not a pressing and pulling action like when using a flat iron. All this translates to a much better way to straighten hair. All this being said you should still be careful and not overuse your straightener brush.
According to Stacey, Hair Research Analyst, “Straightening brushes provide a quick and easy way to straighten and smooth your hair.” Certain hair types will be easier to style than others using a straightening brush. For example, thin to medium hair works well with straightening brushes. Thick coarse and curly hair have a much harder time and require higher temperatures to straighten. Look for straightening brushes that have a digital temperature readout so you can control the temperature. Straightening brushes with LED temperature displays give you precise temperature control allowing you to smooth and style your hair with professional-looking results.
Just remember that exposing your hair to high temperatures from 347 to 419 degrees for just five minutes can cause harm to your hair and even less for thin hair according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
If you like this article, then you should read my other article on this site called “Best straightening brush for black hair” or “Best straightening brush for thin hair“. You might be surprised at the answers.
Hair straightener brushes have hard bristles that get hot. Some have protection so that your fingers can not come in contact easily with the part of the brush that gets hot. Also before using a straightening brush is best practice to do a comb through before using. Your hair needs to be combed with all knots and tangles removed. And as always, it’s best to work in sections. Start by pinking up hair that is not being straightened to keep it out of the way while you style.
I recommend you style your hair slowly and always use a heat protecting spray. Using a heat protectant spray can help protect your hair especially if you have thin hair. Also, another good tip is to start out using a lower temperature and work up to a higher temperature. By using a lower temperature at first you may notice your style does not last as long. This is an indication you can try increasing the temperature next time you style your hair. Just be careful not to go too high. Start out by using the lowest temperature you can and then work your way up to a safe temperature that gives you a lasting style. Thick hair can not take as much heat as thick hair.
Overusing A Hair Straightening Brush
Overuse of a straightening brush can make your hair become dry, brittle, and frayed. Your hair will begin to look like the ends of a rope, all unraveled. At this point, you now have split ends or trichoptilosis. According to Medline plus Trichorrhexis nodosa is a common hair problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily. Trichorrhexis nodosa can be an inherited condition. The condition may be triggered by things such as blow-drying, ironing hair, over-brushing, perming, or excessive chemical use.
Split ends can’t be repaired. The only reliable way to get rid of them is to cut them off. There is no cure for split ends however there are many products often marketed as a split-end cure. These products moisturize hair and may help to conceal split ends and some products even help to prevent them. There are ways to mask split ends and conceal them but the bottom line is you still have them until you get a trim.
Using A Straightening Brush On Wet Hair
Hair straightening brushes should never be used more than necessary and should never be used on wet hair. Never straighten wet hair. I see this all the time where a hair straightening brush is being used on wet hair. This is a big no. Using a hair straightener brush on wet hair can cause damage to your hair very easily. If you want split ends this is a good way to get some really fast. And the reason why is because your hair is weak when it’s wet. Wet hair can stretch and can be pulled until it reaches a breaking point. The hair then snaps and now you have a split end. You always want to straighten your hair while it’s at it’s strongest, and that is while it’s dry. Every time I see this being done I just cringe.
Using A Straightening Brush On Chemically Treated Hair
Proceed with caution if you have chemically treated hair. If you have chemically treated hair then your hair could be dry. You want to make sure you wash it less often and also do not use a hair straightening brush more than 2 to 3 times a week. Always use a heat protecting spray before you use your brush. Make sure your hair has plenty of moisture. Use a shampoo specially designed for color-treated hair. I recommend using a “2-in-1” shampoo. In my opinion, regardless of cost, popular shampoos and conditioners provide the same benefits. It all going to come down to what brand do you prefer. For those of you who have chemically treated hair, you have the extra added job of making sure your hair is fully hydrated, dry, and in a healthy state before you straighten your hair using a hair straightener brush. Also, you have to be double careful not to use too high a temperature.
Conclusion
Hair straightening brushes are handy styling tools providing a quick and easy way to style your hair. The best straightening brushes give you a smooth, sleek style with professional-looking results. And you also get the added benefit of adding shine to your hair when using a straightening brush. But remember, overuse can cause damage.
Tip: Incorporate a deep conditioner into your regular hair care regimen. This isn’t something you have to do every time you wash your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner, also known as a hair mask, to your hair once a week or a couple of times a month for best results. There are a variety of leave-in conditioners available for purchase, each with distinct qualities that target different aspects of your hair. You may purchase these products from internet retailers or beauty supply stores.
If you liked this article, then you should read my other article on this site called “Best straightening brush for thin hair” You might be surprised at the answers.
References
According to American Academy of Dermatology, “How you style your hair can cause hair to look brittle, frizzy and lackluster, or even fall out. Follow these tips from dermatologists to help style your hair without causing damage.
- Dry your hair by wrapping it in a towel after a shower or bath. Another alternative is letting your hair air-dry.
- Most people should handle wet hair as little as possible as wet hair breaks more easily when combed or brushed. However, people with tightly curled or textured hair should brush their hair when wet to decrease the chances of hair breakage.
- Keep brushing to minimum. Brushing your hair 100 strokes each day can cause split ends.
- Reduce the use of “long-lasting hold” styling products. Using a comb to style your hair after you apply the product can cause the hair to break and can lead to hair loss over time. Consider using a leave-in conditioner.
- Allow your hair to partially air dry before you style or comb. Decreasing the number of times per week that you blow dry also helps limit damage.
- Flat irons should be used on dry hair on a low or medium heat setting, no more often than every other day. If you use a curling iron, only leave it in place for a second or two. No matter your hair type, excessive heat can damage your hair.
- Do not continuously wear braids, cornrows, ponytails and hair extensions. These styles pull on the hair and can cause tension that leads to breakage. If the tension continues, permanent hair loss can develop.
A ceramic technology with ionizer heats up the brush consistently to the optimum styling temperature of 365ºF for guaranteed healthier looking hair. The ions within the brush eliminate frizz so hair is transformed in just a few quick strokes. The combination of high density shorter and longer bristles allows for large sections of hair to be styled, leaving salon smooth natural movement.“
According to Medlineplus, “Trichorrhexis nodosa can be an inherited condition.
The condition may be triggered by things such as blow-drying, ironing the hair, over-brushing, perming, or excessive chemical use.
In some cases, trichorrhexis nodosa is caused by an underlying disorder, including very rare ones, such as:
- Thyroid not making enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism)
- Buildup of ammonia in the body (argininosuccinic aciduria)
- Iron deficiency
- Menkes syndrome (Menkes kinky hair syndrome)
- Group of conditions in which there is abnormal development of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or sweat glands (ectodermal dysplasia)
- Trichothiodystrophy (inherited disorder that causes brittle hair, skin problems, and intellectual disability)
- Biotin deficiency (inherited disorder in which the body is not able to use biotin, a substance needed for hair growth)“
According to Trichorrhexis nodosa, “Trichorrhexis nodosa is a defect in the hair shaft characterized by thickening or weak points (nodes) that cause the hair to break off easily.This group of conditions contributes to the appearance of hair loss, lack of growth, and damaged-looking hair.
Among the symptoms (and signs) for this condition are the following:
- lack of apparent hair growth
- hair appears patchy
- hair breaks easily close to scalp
- hair may have thickenings or nodes in the shaft
- ends of hair thinned or split
- whitish discoloration of hair tips
- hair breaks easily at tips“
By Knopfkind – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Image by Robin Higgins from Pixabay