Heat Damaged Hair? Try These 7 Steps to Fix It

From bouncy blow-dries to sleek ponies to voluminous curls, heat tools are the answer to some of the most covetable hairstyles out there. But the ease, speed and effectiveness of heat styling can come at a cost. Heat damaged hair is an all-too-common problem when the right protection isn't used.

The good news is, while you can't reverse heat damaged hair, you can take steps to nourish it and, over time, restore it back to health. It may not be a quick process, but with a few trims and the tricks below, your heat damaged hair will start to look healthy and hydrated once more…

What are the Signs of Heat Damaged Hair?

1. Dull, Dry Hair

If your hair looks and feels drier than usual, heat damage may be the culprit – especially if it's dull and brassy, too. Why? Because heat can strip away the natural, protective oils that keep strands feeling supple and hydrated.

2. Split Ends and Breakage

Extreme heat can also cause the hair cuticle to lift while weakening the cortex. This leaves the hair shaft vulnerable to breakage and split ends – a problem that can also lead to thinning, fraying lengths.

3. Stubborn Tangling

The drier and frizzier your hair becomes, the more it will be prone to tangles. If you can't glide a brush or comb as easily through your hair, this is yet another sign of heat damage. Some level of tangling is normal due to daily wear and tear, but when hair strands become a challenge to tame, emergency care is needed.

Why is Heat Damaging to Hair?

Heat causes damage to your hair in a multitude of ways, starting at the hair cuticle – the outermost protective layer that shields the inner cortex. This cuticle layer is made up of overlapping cells that look a little like fish scales, which can lift up when exposed to heat, leaving your hair strands looking and feeling rough, dry and brittle.

That's not all. This process can also strip away moisturizing natural oils, so you're left with dryness, dullness and a lack of shine. Plus, heat can impact the internal bonds, leaving your hair weaker and more prone to breakage. But don't let that put you off heat styling tools. With the right steps – including a heat protectant – you can enjoy all the smoothing benefits of flat irons and curling irons, minus the added stress.

So, How Do You Fix Hair Damaged By Heat?

1. Get Broken Ends Trimmed Off

Your first course of action is to trim off split ends. If you love your length and want to maintain it, head to your nearest Wella salon and ask for the Cut & Seal service. First, your stylist will precisely target stressed ends only for an 'invisible' cut. Then they'll mist ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue from root to tip to seal your hair. More than a leave-in conditioner, this intensive treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds¹, leaving you with 99% less breakage². A true miracle.

2. Wash Your Hair with Repairing Products

Next up, give your hair care regimen an overhaul. You need products that repair hair from the inside out, giving the cortex a boost of strength while caring for the cuticle layer. Skincare-inspired formulas will treat your fragile strands to the same level of nourishment usually reserved for delicate complexions. Think, deeply hydrating and restorative, with nourishing ingredients that deliver fast results.

ULTIMATE REPAIR has heat damaged hair covered, featuring a blend of AHA to repair the internal bonds, and Omega-9 to recreate the protective outer layer. So, use ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and Conditioner, and even the most stressed strands will feel softer, stronger and healthier. Need extra nourishment? Once weekly, do a deep conditioning treatment with the rich and sumptuous ULTIMATE REPAIR Hair Mask for an added boost of bond-building care.

3. Use This Damage Repair Power Pair

The moments after you've washed your hair are crucial to how healthy it looks and feels. Trust us: when you're dealing with heat damage, you want only the most nourishing formulas helping you take your hair from wet to dry. So, try this power pair:

• Mist ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue from root to tip while your just-washed hair is still damp. This is the same salon-grade, leave-in treatment from step one, which works to repair hair damage in 90 seconds¹ (including heat damage), so you can enjoy strong, healthy hair with 99% less breakage².
• Because heat damaged hair is often lacking natural oils, it's important to put that nourishment back in while your hair is damp. So, pump ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum into the palm of your hand, and smooth it over the top of ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The lustrous and luxurious blend of Squalane and Omega-9 nourishes your hair in 30 seconds, locking in smoothness that lasts up to 3 days³. Goodbye, frizz!

4. Apply Hard-Working Heat Protection

Not all heat protectants are made equal. The latest formulas do more than simply shield your strands; they offer a range of other hair care benefits that prove essential when you're not ready to hang up your hot tools. Case in point: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. Along with 96 hours of frizz control³ and inside-out nourishment, it delivers heat protection against temperatures up to 230°C/450°F. No regimen for heat damaged hair should be without it. So, whether you use it while blow drying, straightening or curling your hair, it's got protection covered – with a dazzling dose of mirror-like shine to seal the deal.

5. Turn the Temperature Down

If you're skipping the heat, ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum is great for air-drying, as it keeps frizz at bay to let your natural hair texture shine. But it's also going to keep your hair protected while you blow-dry, which means you can still use heat styling tools – as long as you check the temperature.

To prevent further heat damage, it's important to ensure your heat settings aren't too high. This is true for all your heat styling tools, including flat irons and curling irons. Not sure what temperature is right for you? These are the optimal temperatures for your hot tools based on hair's thickness:

• For thin or fine hair, aim for a temperature of 120°C - 150°C when using a flat iron or curling iron.
• For thick or coarse hair, aim for a temperature of 180°C - 230°C when using a flat iron or curling iron.
• For all hair types and textures, switch your blow dryer on to a low to medium heat setting.

6. Reduce Friction and Physical Damage

Heat damaged hair is delicate hair, so switch up your styling techniques to be ultra-gentle. Your goal is to reduce friction and physical damage in any way possible – which is easier than it sounds. Here's how:

• Be mindful when massaging shampoo in. You want to lightly lather it up in circular motions without any scrubbing or rubbing of already damaged strands.
• Start detangling weakened hair from the ends first, then work further up the hair shaft until you've gently released every knot from root to tip.
• Switch cotton pillowcases for silk pillowcases and a few drops of ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum. The weightless formula protects your hair while you sleep, so you wake up to reduced frizz and fewer tangles. Bonus: less frizz = less need for more heat styling.
• Trade hair elastics and slicked-back styles for silk scrunchies and low-tension looks. Nape-hugging ponytails and chignons are your new go-tos while you get heat damaged hair back to its best.

7. Banish Heat-Induced Brassiness with a Purple Shampoo

If your heat damaged hair has fallen victim to brassiness, try not to panic. Your colour isn't ruined forever – it just needs a purple shampoo to cool things down. We love INVIGO Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde Shampoo, which has a violet tint that neutralizes yellow and orange tones when they happen. Simply massage it into wet hair, let it get to work for three to five minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.

How Long Does it Take to Repair Heat Damaged Hair?

There's no set timeline for fixing heat damage. How long it takes all depends on how bad the damage was, as well as how consistent you are with your new reparative regimen. Start with a cut, which can make a big difference, and then follow the steps above to ensure your heat damaged hair is getting the best care from root to tip. You'll start to see changes from day one with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, which is so fast-acting, it repairs hair damage in 90 seconds¹.

Looking for more ways to care for your hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring tips for every type and concern.

¹ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

³ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.