If you ever straighten your hair with those super hot flat irons, or even if you let your hairdryer stay in one place too long, you are all too familiar with the terrible smell of burned hair. Not to mention, you have turned your hair into straw.
What to do? I have accidentally burned my hair one too many times and the worst is sitting at my desk smelling that burnt hair all day. It is enough to make you sick! I have received a few emails from readers about this issue – My straightening iron just fried my hair! asking how to fix it. Here are a few ideas to help repair your hair after this common mistake.
- After the burn, reach for your hydrating leave-in conditioner or light oil. Even olive oil will work in a pinch! Run your fingers through your strands and concentrate on the scorched part. Be careful not to saturate. A little will go a long way. After you apply, comb through with your fingers.
“It will instantly smooth and moisturize the straw-like texture,” says DJ Riggs, hairstylist and TIGI creative director. This trick will also get rid of the smell of burned hair.
Prevention:
- Use a heat protecting spray like Nexxus Heat Protexx Heat Protection Styling Spray.
- If your iron has a temperature gauge, keep the temp at no higher than 350 degrees.
- Need to go a step further because your hair is very damaged from all your flat ironing? You can apply a protein hair mask. They can be purchased at any salon or beauty supply store like Sally Beauty Supply. Apply to your hair twice a week. A hair protein mask is a deep conditioner protein-enhanced treatment that is helpful for hydrating and nourishing the hair that has been damaged from the burn.
- If you have had your flat iron for more than five years, it is probably time to replace it. After time the temperature gauge will stop working properly. Replace it with ceramic plates that will evenly distribute heat and reduce damage.
- Make sure your hair is completely dry before you use a flat iron. If your hair is wet or damp, the flat iron will boil the water that is in your hair and damage the ends.
Flat ironing my hair is one of my biggest flaws. I really need to find a way to preserve my hair with ironing it every day.
I know, it is hard on my hair too. I like the idea of the hair mask and conditioners. That may help from so much damage.
The most important thing is prevention!! Everyone who uses heat on their hair, even if it is just a blow dryer, NEEDS to use heat protectant!! Talk to your hair stylist about what heat product is best for you and your hair routine! If you’ve already done the damage you also need to ADD a hair mask and deep leave in conditioner to your hair care regiment.(which now includes heat protectant) :) I’m a hair stylist by the way ;)
My granddaughter has ruined her hair she is 16 and she is still frieing her hair I it is so broken and short I Don’t know what I can do I got all kinds of hydratingconditionerys so many things need some help I think she need to shave it all off she is a mix race
My stylist demands I not wash my straightedged hair for a day or two. So my go-to plan is to blow out and straighten on day one. Rock a ponytail on day two, then dry shampoo on day three and do a funky up-do. I also do a professional look by busting out some gel to smooth fly-aways and go for a braid and twist or bun. The reason I do a day 2 pony is because I don’t like the feel of dirty hair. If you can stand it you could do day 2 down. Then I use a good hair regiment and get a deep conditioning treatment from my stylist every 8 weeks. My hair seems to respond well to it in my very dry Colorado environment. :)
I know this blog is directed at ladies in their 30s, nevertheless, hair is hair! Born in 1953, I’m fortunate 2 still have hair, which I have grown out for a few years now, to past shoulder length, in the tradition of my rock n roller (still am!) days back then. To replace my beginners flat iron, looking for professional results, I bought a RUSK iron, which works great. BUT, I overdid it too frequently, as I did like the results it gave, as far as making the hair look “cool.” I was using the 2 highest heat settings of 410 & 450, but on thinner segments of hair, as well as the thicker parts in the back. The damage was done to the thinner sections I ironed, e.g., using the aforementioned higher heat settings. One of the tips above: “•If your iron has a temperature gauge, keep the temp at no higher than 350 degrees” is great advice. The damage done was, I lost some length, where the hair turned to straw and broke on the sides. There was early signs of it, such as very short fragments of hair on the floor, but I didn’t put 2 & 2 together and “cool” it on the hot iron in time. So, I got an end trim. And, I bought some products that are typically recommended to help my hair to restore itself. I still do the iron, but less, and only go to 375 max with my RUSK. The argan oil leave-in treatment works fantastic for me. I think one solution is to find products that relax the hair’s wavyness or curlyness, so a blowdryer is sufficent to control your hair, and don’t go overboard, like I did in the beginning, with the str8 flat ironing. Take care, H. Kaplan Zihuatanejo, MX
i would like to know if i have to use a mask on my hair every time i wash my hair and if i can use my shampoo that i always used, because my hair got burnt from my flat iron but i have to use it because i have wavy hair and don”t like to go to work like that do you have any suggestions for me if so can you write them done thanks very much
NO, use the mask once a week or you can overdo it, and yes, you can use your regular shampoo.
Thanks!
i have a question, my hair must have been a little wet still when I went to go straighten it and it literally fried my bangs so I went to go get a haircut but she didn’t want to cut my bangs to short so she trimmed them. is there any way to take the straw feeling away along with the smell?? this is horrible out of all the years I have been doing my hair I have never done this :( please help
Just use the oil as described in the post above. You can also add a little baking soda to the shampoo in your hand to get rid of the smell. Good luck!
I was straightening my hair and I burnt it, the colours gone a different olive and it looks brown. Help!
Hi I sprayed my fringe with hairspray then straightened it. It broke completely off. Its been 6mnts now. Ive used biotin pills, argan oil, coconut oil, loreal oil shampoo & conditioner and oil treatment. Still it wont grow back. Its so thin my hair is naturally think. So I thought it would grow back but my fringe wont its so thin. help
The best thing to do is “TIME.” You have already done the damage to your hair so there is no going back. The best thing to do is keep it hydrated and help it grow strong and healthy. First, have a professional cut off as much as you possibly can every month. Second use the real morroccanoil and yes they have all kinds. The Moroccanoil I’m talking about comes in a turquoise container or bottle and is spelt and called Moroccanoil! Exactly how I spelled it! So please don’t try the fake kind because it’s twice as cheap. You can only buy this product line from a professional salon or supply store. No, you can NOT buy it from Sally’s beauty supply! If you are serious and want to pay 30-50 dollars for Moroccanoil ( from a professional only). It will really be the best product for your burnt, damaged hair. I know this because I am educated and in the business of beauty and hair products. Buy the deep conditioner and the leave in conditioner and/or serum. You definitely need a professional deep conditioner to use weekly on your hair. So not go overboard or use to much home remedy products ( like coconut, olive, or mayonnaise). I say that because it will cause build up in your hair and dry your hair out even more , and we are trying to add moisture to your hair. So we need to hydrate , hydrate, hydrate! Also you need to use a good professional shampoo and conditioner (with no alcohol ). Redken or Joico is a wonderful line for all hair types and problems. Along with a good shampoo/ conditioner and a weekly professional, deep conditioner, you need a professional leave in conditioner. The best ones are It’s a 10 with Keratin, Joico leave in conditioner, Moroccanoil leave in conditioner( my favorite), Avalon leave in conditioner, Living proof leave in conditioner, Kiehl’s leave in conditioner, or Aveda leave in conditioner. These are all fantastic leave in conditioner’s. Each persons hair is different so what works for my hair or someone else’s, may not work for you. So you kinda have to try each one of them for a week or two on your own. I know this can be pricey to some, but when you find the best regimen for your hair type/ problems, your hair will always be in great condition. One of the most important things, that I haven’t mentioned, is DIET! Yes, you are what you eat! Drinking lots of water 💧 daily is very important, not only for your hair , but for your whole body, especially your skin( which is the largest organ in your body). Taking a good multivitamin (religiously) daily , along with biotin and collagen , is also very important. I know this sounds like a lot of trouble for some people, but in order to restore your damaged hair , it’s going to take time and money-making sorry to say. Everything good cost a little money these days , especially I’m America. So to make a quick recap— eat a healthy diet( with a lot of protein to help restore hair damage), drink lots of water 💦, take a good multivitamin/ with biotin/collagen , exercise as much as YOU possibly can, ——— now for your hair products— use a good professional shampoo/ conditioner, also a good professional ( weekly) deep conditioner ( hair mask), and lastly, use a good professional daily leave in conditioner. Do not over do it with your hair products or heating tools! To much product will dry your hair further ! To much heat will damage it further! If you can afford professional products then use the professional products that I mentioned above. If you can’t then try to buy the best you can possibly afford. I know good hair products can only be found in a professional salon or supply store ( on line as well from a reputable website). Coconut oil could be used but if I used coconut oil then I would also use a clarifying shampoo when washed my hair once a week. ( by the way—— I hope you do know NOT to wash you hair every day, but you can use the leave in conditioner daily) remember you o wash your hair 2-3 times a week ) to much of something can not always be good—- less is more! I don’t have to tell you that washing your hair daily can strip the natural oils from your hair , do I? I hope my long , un-edited comment helps everyone who is having troubles…
Use the real Morrocanoil products that is in the turquoise containers or bottles. You can only purchase this from a professional salon, store or website. I am educated in beauty and hair , by the way. Also, take a good multivitamin along with biotin religiously. There are a lot of fake products out there that are supposed to Árgon oil in-them, but the MORROCCANOIL in the turquoise container/ bottle , is the best of the best. That’s why you can only buy it at a professional place and it’s a little pricey. Eat more protein as well. Keratin is a protein so a good weekly leave in deep conditioner along with a leave in conditioner daily is the way to go. You can’t fix what you have already screwed up. So , the key 🔑 is HYDRATE,Hydrate, Hydrate! You have to cut off as much of the damage hair as possible and then hydrate your hair and wait! It will take time no matter what anyone else tries to tell you or sell you! If they say their product will repair it instantly, then 🏃🏼♀️ run! Because, there is no way it will go back to shiny , healthy hair , especially after you have burned it up. The top products I recomend ( and each persons hair is different so you have to keep trying products until you can find the best one for YOU) — It’s a 10 with Keratin leave in conditioner, JOiCo heat protectant color blocker, it’s Sexy brand leave in soy conditioner , Morroccanoil deep conditioner and their leave in conditioner’s ( my favorite) , Lanza emergency deep leave in conditioner ( also my top favorite in all natural hair products 👍🏻). Avalon deep conditioner and leave in conditioner, living proof leave in conditioner ( Sephora), kiehls leave in conditioner, Aveda leave in conditioner, along with A good argon oil serum which is from Sephora called Josie Maran Árgan Oil serum. They have some for lighter hair and dark hair so please watch which one you purchase. I could go on and on and on about what to do but it only takes common sense for the rest of it. Like don’t overuse products or heat on your damaged hair. Turn down your settings on your flat iron if you must use it( it’s best that you let your hair air dry and stay away from heating tools , period ). Eating well , exercise and drinking lots of water 💦 should already be known to you , I’m sure. I hope this helps and please keep your hair hydrated by quality ( professional) products and remember less is more. Don’t over do it on all kinds of products. Try them one and a time and find the best fit for YOU! Not everyone is the same, so what works exceptional for one person , might not work for another. That’s why I Gave you many top quality brands to try out. Please , don’t give up if one doesn’t work. Keep trying and find the best Weekly deep conditioner ( hair mask ) and the best weekly leave in conditioner. You need them both to get thru this. It will take time but keeping your hair hydrated , eating well and staying away from things that will further damage your hair, will do wonders. Oh 😯, and one more thing is—- when you are sitting at home watching TV ( or whenever you get a chance) stimulate your scalp where you are wanting to grow. Scalp treatments help some as well. If you massage your scalp area it will help . Even if you brush it 100 times with a brush that doesn’t damage your hair , will also help. Every little thing helps. But you have to know how to do it and what to use. Don’t go by anyone’s word. They really should be educated in the hair business. And the longer they are in the business the better! I hope I helped someone out there and I apologize for all the typos… 😆