In earlier days, hair coloring or perming could have been only two available options for those looking for hair makeover. But today, those with wavy or curly hair look forward to straighten their hair using various hair straightening equipment, such as hair irons, flat irons, and straightening irons.
Ideally you should not use hair straightener on color treated hair. But in case you have grey and curly hair, and you want to color your hair as well as straighten it, then you are recommended to take precautions while doing so. Before straightening your color treated hair, you should take following precautions:
Keep your hair moisturized
Conditioning of hair is very important to keep the hair moisturized. Shampoos, color and straightening iron makes your hair dry because of the chemicals. You should daily condition your hair either by rinsing it with conditioner after using a good-quality hair shampoo. It becomes more important if you are using some heat appliances on you hair. This is because heating makes your hair dry and rough. In addition to conditioning, you can also apply smoothing balm or other such products to moisturize your hair.
Know your hair type and use products accordingly
Check the status of your hair before you use any chemical or heating appliance on your hair. If your hair is damaged, try to avoid using chemicals or heating applications. This is because chemicals and heat cause more damage to your hair. Some of the symptoms of damaged hair are dryness, roughness, overly porous, and vulnerability to breakage. Damage does not happen due to one time use of chemical or heating application, but with frequent use.
Select the right appliance
Remember, a right appliance is a one-time investment. Therefore, you must purchase the right type of appliance and do proper research before selecting the one. For long hair, you should buy an appliance with a large heating surface. Similarly, for short hair, you must consider buying an appliance with slim heating plates. Though you can also buy a slim model for long hair, but it will take more time to straighten your hair.
Give some time gap
You should always give at least a time gap of two weeks between hair coloring and hair straightening. Because coloring and straightening both requires use of chemicals and if done without gap, it can badly damage your hair.
Choose a hair treatment that lasts long
You must go for a hair treatment that lasts for a longer period. This is because you need not use chemicals and apply heat on your hair repetitively. Moreover, it prevents further damage to your hair.
Though you should avoid using hair straightner on color treated hair, but if you really want to change your style and experiment a new hair style or look, you can always do. However, you must take the precautions listed above to avoid possible hair damage.
