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As per Emma’s request.
This started out as a quick reply but then thought it deserved a post in its own right.
Can GHDs damage your hair?
Originally I would have said no, but I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days and now I’m not so sure. I do get split ends. Badly. And my hair won’t grow much past my shoulders now, whereas it was waaay down my back before I started straightening it.
What I did notice when I got my new GHDs last year was that the plates were a lot smoother and glossier than my old ones from circa 2001, and seemed to do less damage. Not sure if they improved the design or not – how old are yours?
Also, I comb down my hair and follow the comb with the GHDs, if that makes sense? Hold a portion of your hair aloft at the root with the comb (nothing fancy, I use one I got free in a hotel) and with the other hand, insert the GHD behind the comb and pull them both down through the section at the same time. The comb detangles and kind of paves the way for sleek hair rather than just crushing and matting it all together with the iron.
Don’t spend too long on the ends either, just a quick swish past them is all you’ll need.
I found the GHD heat protective spray pretty bleh. A good one I had was thermal defense by Racoon, the company that supplied my hair extensions. You can get it from Amazon or Ebay I think. Other than that, I adore TiGi BedHead AfterParty and use it daily. Just a teeny blob, the size of a five pence piece massaged into the ends of your wet hair (don’t get it near the roots) and your hair smells gorgeous and is silky and shiny all day – works on curls too.
In fact, just visit the entire TiGi site, but be warned, your credit card will be a bit itchy. I love BedHead for products, and Catwalk for shampoo and conditioner. Ohh it’s making me want to order some now!
So, what do we think ladies? Can GHDs damage your hair? And what are your recommended heat protection products?
I’ve had my one and only GHDs for 5 years. I used to use them a lot but now it’ll be a couple of times a week. I agree, the GHD spray is horrible; it made my hair greasy. I use a serum from Aveda before I blow dry my hair and after I’ve run the straighteners through, I finish with a drop of Aveda’s smoothing fluid on the ends and the shaft of the hair but not the roots.
I agree with my hairdresser that the heat produced by ghds will damage anybody’s hair if held against it for too long or done too frequently. Dont get me wrong, I adore the ghds. They were a gift from heaven to combat my curly hair after years of failed attempts with the babyliss irons with steam!
However, I noticed a marked difference in the quality of my hair when I was able to reduce the time spent putting irons on it by getting it permanently straightened with yuko (Japanese hair straightening system). My hairdresser noticed that my ratty ends are no more! The products which the yuko people recommend are also amazing and keep your hair supple and glossy.
So in my humble opinion, if you are a ghd addict your hair may benefit from some hot iron cold turkey…
Any intense heat can damage hair – keep the GHDs moving and protect the hair before using. Any product is better than nothing, but I’m a cynic – if you use GHDs and GHD spray and STILL get damage , you have a valid complaint. Try complaining to your stylist/GHD after using anything else and they will politely remind you that you aren’t following recommended aftercare advice.
If you want to test the effectiveness of a heat protection spray, try this little demo we use in the salon. First, hold a hairdryer over the back of you hand for as long as you can (about 4 seconds is my limit!). Now, spray the protective product onto the back of your other hand, let it dry and try the hairdryer test again – the GHD spray gives me a good 2 or 3 seconds more.
Bear in mind that chemical straightening can damage hair too – it’s just a different type of damage. GHDs, heated rollers and hairdryers dry the hair out and recommended treatments are deisgned to replace lost moisture. Chemical damage effects the keratin proteins that make up the hair structure, and related treatments work on rebuilding the hair structure.