6 Shiny-Hair Saboteurs

Photo by: Roger Cabello

The saboteur: Soggy styling. 
"Steam coming off your head is never a good sign," says hairstylist Jen Atkin. In fact, using hot styling tools on wet hair doesn't just damage strands-it scorches them. "Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit," says Lewellyn. "The heat from a blow-dryer is around 250 degrees, and a flatiron produces a temperature nearly twice that amount." The sizzle you hear when you clamp down on wet-or even... more 

Photo by: Roger Cabello

The saboteur: Soggy styling. 
"Steam coming off your head is never a good sign," says hairstylist Jen Atkin. In fact, using hot styling tools on wet hair doesn't just damage strands-it scorches them. "Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit," says Lewellyn. "The heat from a blow-dryer is around 250 degrees, and a flatiron produces a temperature nearly twice that amount." The sizzle you hear when you clamp down on wet-or even towel-dried-hair is actually the water inside the shaft bubbling and expanding. "Under a microscope, you can see the bulges and holes where the water evacuated."

The savior: Hair armor. 
Lightly mist on a heat-protecting spray, such as Nexxus Pro-Mend Heat Protexx Heat Protection Styling Spray, rather than a lotion, which is heavier and takes longer to dry. Blow-dry hair when it's damp, not wet, and wait for it to be 100 percent dry before flatironing, says Lewellyn.

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