Hmm… A few days a week? I use a wide-barrel curling iron or a flat iron for a few seconds on very few pieces of hair to create some waves on my outer layers.
And then once or twice a month I’ll bust out ye olde big guns (the T3) and use it on low heat with a diffuser to lock in some waves, or on my roots if it’s chilly outside and I can’t bear to have wet roots. But I generally try to use heat styling as infrequently as possible, because experience has taught me that it, or at least the way I do it if I have my druthers, damages my hair more than anything else.
How about you? How often do you use heat to style your hair?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rachel Runyan says
May 29th, 2019 at 9:12 amAlmost never. My hair doesn’t hold the style, regardless of products used. It confounds even stylists in the salons.
Karen says
May 29th, 2019 at 3:20 pmHi Rachel,
In a way I guess that can be a good thing? No heat equals no heat damage!
Ruchita says
May 29th, 2019 at 11:13 amProbably several times a week. I will wash, dry and flat iron my hair and that will usually last for a few days. Sometimes I can get away with just brushing my hair and sometimes I’ll smooth it out with the flat iron or use a curling iron to create loose waves. It gets really warm and humid in Ohio so a lot of times in the summer I’ll just pull my hair up in a ponytail or messy bun.
Hope your week is going well!
Karen says
May 29th, 2019 at 3:23 pmHi Ruchita,
Ah, I miss the days of getting a few day’s worth out of a style. I keep trying to get back into the habit of letting a few days pass between shampoos but I just can’t seem to do it. Gotta wash the hair every night.
How is your foster kitty doing?
Michele E DiCola says
May 29th, 2019 at 11:15 amI’m not capable of using a curling iron , flat iron or even a reg iron .
I can use big rollers or a diffuser.
My niece who does my hair blows it out and uses a curling iron . And that’s to straighten it out ! Lol 😂
Karen says
May 29th, 2019 at 3:39 pmHi Michele,
It must be nice to have your niece do your hair! Hope you’re having a great week so far.
Noemi says
May 29th, 2019 at 11:19 amTry to stay away from heat styling.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:21 amHi Noemi,
In general it seems like that’s the best thing to keep hair healthy. I would love to give it up completely but I can’t seem to quit my curling iron, LOL!
Have a good rest of your week.
Savannah says
May 29th, 2019 at 11:31 amI must blow dry my hair after I wash it (every second day) if I don’t… it becomes an oily, greasy mess by the next day. Styling products are optional but not the blow dryer. I rarely “style” as it never stays and I can never quite make it look nice the next day. Also, “dirty hair is better for styling?” Not mine! Then mine is curly AND greasy. Plus the curls won’t hold. Right now I’m not loving how my hair has been behaving lately.
Bebe says
May 30th, 2019 at 4:06 amMine is greasy and straight, lol
As you have to use a blow drier every time I wash my hair which means every other day
I’m searching for a good heat protectant that won’t weight my hair down and make it greasier
All the best
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:23 amHi Savannah,
Back in the day I used to wash and blow dry every single day. (I know.)
What blow dryer do you use? I have a first generation T3 from a million years ago! I use it rarely but it’s still going strong.
Tatiana says
May 29th, 2019 at 12:27 pmIn the winter I blow dry my roots every time I wash my hair. I can’t stand wet, cold hair against my scalp or neck in the winter. If I’m going out somewhere nice I give it a complete blow dry.
In the spring, summer and fall it just depends on if I need to be somewhere that day and how quickly. I hate going out with wet hair. In general I find blow drying gives me more volume than I have naturally.
I never use a flat or curling iron.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:25 amI used to not mind wet hair but now that it’s shorter for some reason it bugs me more than it used to.
What hair dryer are you using? I have an ancient T3!
Tatiana says
May 30th, 2019 at 8:32 amThat’s just it. I have shorter hair and I hate when the water from my hair drips down my neck. I also have an ancient T3. I got it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at least 10 years ago.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 9:42 amThose old school T3s are BEASTS.
You know what I’ve found very helpful with drying my hair? An Aquis hair towel. My friend Jen bought me one ten years ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long) and I haven’t been able to use anything else. They are these super absorbent and lightweight and get a lot of the water out.
Tatiana says
May 30th, 2019 at 10:50 amI choked when I saw the price, even on sale, of the T3. But it dries so much better than the Conair hairdryers I’d been buying at the drugstore. And I would have to buy a new drugstore hair dryer every 2 to 3 years, so I would say it was worth it. Now the new Dyson, unless it came with someone to actually style my hair for me every morning I don’t think I’d pay for that one. Haha, yes! I even took my Aquis on vacation with me last December. But I still love to blow dry my roots. I need the lift.
Chelsea says
May 29th, 2019 at 2:20 pmNot often. However, I bought this Revlon round brush dryer thing that makes blowouts really easy so I use that every so often! My hair doesn’t hold curls from curling irons, even when professionals do it (they all say they can do it, they can’t. It’s not them, it’s my hair)
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:27 amI had a similar tool back in the ’90s (also from Revlon, I’m pretty sure). I can’t believe they still make it.
You’re the second person to mention how their hair refuses to hold a curl/style. I wonder what the science is behind it, hmm.
Anywho, happy Thursday! Any exciting plans yet for the weekend?
Chelsea says
May 30th, 2019 at 8:17 amWe’re going to my cousin’s wedding on Saturday – all 5 of my mom’s sisters will be there, so it should be really nice. We have a family reunion party the next day. I’m really sick today so I’m hoping to be better by then!
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 9:43 amOh, that’s right! Have fun at the wedding and please be careful when you’re dancing. lol
You know what really helps me when I’m sick? Drinking obnoxious amounts of water.
Marcia says
May 29th, 2019 at 6:19 pmI use a curling iron pretty much everyday since I started growing it out. But I noticed that my hair tends to get dry and frizzy. The ends were breaking off so now I try to use conditioners and hair masks frequently.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:28 amHi Marcia,
I love me a good hair mask! Have you ever tried the one by Hask? It’s super affordable and it works. I used to get 2-3 uses out of a packet, but now that my hair is shorter I can easily double that.
Karen recently posted … How Often Do You Use Heat to Style Your Hair?
Marcia says
May 31st, 2019 at 5:54 pmHi Karen,
I never tried Hask. I’ll have to look into the brand. It definitely makes a difference in the texture of my hair when I use the hair mask. 🙂
Rachel says
May 29th, 2019 at 10:14 pmToo much?! I have to blow dry the front parts because otherwise it dries weird. Btw I loooove your new cut!
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:30 amAww, thanks Rachel! I’m liking it too. It felt so freeing to let go of all that long hair.
Have a wonderful Thursday!
R says
May 29th, 2019 at 10:41 pmFor as long as I can remember (20+ years now!) I’ve been washing and round brush blow drying EVERY day (with a few weekend exceptions). For the past 15 years or so, I’ve also been flat ironing. 4 months ago, I decided to try the “Curly Girl Method”, and have ditched silicone, sulphates, harsh alcohol…AND (gulp) heat styling. I knew I had somewhat tight waves that had been deep fried, and now my texture is starting to come back. I’ve committed to keeping it up for a year so I get a full sense of my natural locks, and if I like it better, I’ll keep it up. To dry my hair now, I’m doing a combination of cool diffusing and air drying.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:31 amHi R,
What a coincidence, you’re the second person I’ve talked to in a week who’s mentioned doing curly girl. (I did it back in the day, circa 2004-2005.) I have to say that the cut is vital. Do you have a stylist who knows how to cut curly hair?
Karen recently posted … How Often Do You Use Heat to Style Your Hair?
LindaLibraLoca says
May 30th, 2019 at 2:46 am2-3 times a week, which is about as often as I wash my hair. I wash it, I blow dry it (it gets really frizzy when air dried) and that’s it. Rarely I reach for a dedicated styling tool.
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Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:32 amGood for you! I’m trying to shampoo less but I just can’t seem to break the habit.
Amanda says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:16 amI have very fine, light blonde hair that needs a little bit of heat and styling, otherwise I look like an awkward fifth-grader. It’s just the way the cards have fallen. Even when I let it air dry, I have to take a flat iron to the bottom section, which dries kinky curly, while the top half has a more subtle wave pattern. Curly on the bottom, flat on top. It’s not a good look!
I’m a loyal Aveda and Pantene consumer, and I think both product lines have kept my hair in good condition.
Karen says
May 30th, 2019 at 7:33 amHi Amanda,
Aveda makes some great shampoos and conditioners. I’m a fan of the Shampure shampoo and have been using it for years as a clarifying product.
Kim says
May 31st, 2019 at 11:11 amI blow dry my roots/bangs every day but almost never mid-shaft through ends. Even with heat protection cream, I still find that it’s too tough on my old stands!
Laura says
June 5th, 2019 at 2:54 amGreat question Karen!
I will always straighten or curl my hair for a special event… but I try to keep my day-to-day hairstyle as heat-free as possible! I do blowdry my hair quite a lot, so I always make sure to use a heat protectant spray to keep my hair as healthy as possible. 🙂
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