7 Steps to Healthier Hair
I’ve had long or longish hair for most of my life and it’s very important to me that my hair is healthy!
My hair journey has been quite a ride! About 4 years ago, I realized that my hair was becoming very damaged and it was extremely upsetting to me. It might sound crazy, but I would lie awake at night and worry about my hair!
At the time, my hair was very over processed with color and bleach and the extra heat from drying and using styling tools was only making it worse. It was breaking off and I was going crazy over it!
Most women these days, have some sort of hair color and It’s so important to choose a stylist who is knowledgeable and very careful with color and bleach because if it’s not done properly, your hair will become damaged.
After several years of figuring things out, I have finally found someone who is taking very good care of my hair AND I have started using the Zuvi Halo, Low Heat Hair Dryer when I wash my hair.
The Zuvi Halo uses patented LightCare™ technology to dry the surface of my hair and protect hair moisture within the hair shaft. This cutting-edge LightCare™ technology replicates the natural process of sun rays and wind working together to evaporate raindrops. By directly targeting water droplets on the hair's surface, LightCare™ is specially designed to avoid overheating your hair and scalp, preserving moisture that's essential for healthy, beautiful hair.
I still have damage, especially on the top layesr, but I’m confident that my hair is now growing and will be healthier each month if I continue on this path.
The combination of getting color less often and using the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer, is finally making a difference and my broken layers are slowly growing.
The Benefits of Lower Heat Hair Drying
In the past, the top layer of my hair has never really had a chance to recover because it was literally taking the heat (and the chemicals). I have naturally curly hair and most of my curl is in the crown and front of my head, so obviously, it’s the part that gets pulled on and touched the most. I actually love my curl, but when it’s damaged, it’s not really curly, it’s just frizzy and that has kept me from wearing my hair curly for a long time. For people with natural curls or waves, excessive heat styling to straighten the hair as well as chemical processes can cause so much damage. Heat damage results in a loosening of natural curls or waves, leading to a loss of texture and definition in the hair.
My goal is to get my hair back to healthy and wear it curly (luckily, the Zuvi Hair Dryer has a diffuser to encourage my curls)!
Heat may be the secret to achieving a beautiful hair style, but it is also the ultimate hair offender, especially in excessive amounts. Heat removes moisture from the hair strand and weakens its keratin bonds, thereby breaking the hair cuticle and causing split ends. It’s better to use a lower heat hair dryer when styling the hair because exposing hair to heat at temperatures over 300 degrees transforms the hair's alpha-keratin to beta-keratin, which has less elasticity and strength, making hair more prone to future damage. On thop of that, if you have color-treated hair, excessive heat styling can cause the hair cuticle to open up, releasing the hair dye molecules. This results in rapid color fading and a shorter lifespan for your hair color. The loss of color vibrancy can lead to frequent touch-ups and even more damage from additional chemical treatments.
The reason the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer is helping my hair so much is that it dries my hair at a lower temperature than any other hair dryer and uses the patented lightcare technology.
Between the high heat of the hair dryer I previously used and the dryers the stylists used, as well as the harsh color, the damage has been real and has resulted in split ends, frizz and all around unhealthy hair. My new stylist is using bleach much less often and no color on my roots…AND, I’m using the Zuvi Hair Dryer in between to dry my hair when I wash it, which is still only once a week for the most part!
In the video above, you can see how the top layer of my hair still has significant damage, however, I am able to smooth my damage ends better with the Zuvi Halo and I do use a high quality curling iron to style! I’m hoping that as my hair gets healthier, I won’t have to use other styling tools!
I will also add that hormonal changes due to menopause have probably contributed to my hair being more susceptible to damage. Our hair ages as we do and it can’t take the harsh chemicals and heat that it once could. With age, the length of the hair growth cycle gets shorter, the diameter of the hair follicles gets smaller, and the scalp can become drier. All of these factors influence the look and feel of the hair that comes out of your head. Hair types and textures that are prone to dryness, such as coily, curly, and highly textured hair, will experience more dryness simply as a result of the hair texture's inability to retain moisture due to the genetic design of the hair fiber. This is all the more reason to use a lower heat hair dryer such as the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer!
When your hair is already damaged…what can you do to get it back to healthy?
Low-heat hair drying focuses on a more gentle and gradual approach to drying the hair. By using lower temperatures, this method aims to minimize the potential damage caused by excessive heat on the hair cuticle and cortex. The low heat hair drying method is especially beneficial for individuals with delicate or damaged hair, as it helps retain the hair's natural moisture, reduces frizz, and prevents split ends. By avoiding high heat, you can protect color-treated hair, maintain natural curl patterns, and promote overall hair health and resilience. Here are 7 steps to healthier hair…
1. Choose a Hair Dryer with Lower Heat Settings
Investing in a high-quality hair dryer is essential for low-heat hair drying. Look for a hair dryer with smart settings that are optimized for hair health and known to use lower temperatures without compromising on performance. Additionally, some advanced dryers offer a cool shot button, which releases a blast of cool air to seal the hair cuticles after drying, further enhancing shine and reducing frizz. The award-winning Zuvi Halo is a great example of a low-heat hair dryer offering multiple smart settings, plus a cool shot, designed to prioritize hair health.
2. Use a Diffuser for Curly Hair
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Diffusers are attachments designed to disperse the airflow from a hair dryer, spreading it across a larger surface area. This helps to minimize direct heat exposure and reduce the risk of hair damage. Diffusers are particularly useful for those with curly or wavy hair, as they encourage the hair to maintain its natural texture and enhance curl definition.
3. Let Hair Air-Dry Slightly Before Drying
Before using a hair dryer, gently blot excess moisture from your hair using a microfiber towel or let it air dry on it’s own for a while. This reduces the risk of damage because hair is most vulnerable when it’s wet.
4. Consider Lower Wattage
Higher-wattage hair dryers can provide faster drying times, but they may also produce more heat. Opt for a hair dryer with lower wattage (for example, Zuvi Halo uses only 680w) to strike a balance between drying efficiency and heat control.
5. Ceramic or Infrared Heating
“Hair dryers with ceramic or infrared heating elements distribute heat more evenly, reducing the risk of hot spots and potential damage to the hair. These technologies can be gentler on the hair and offer better control over the drying process. The LightCare™ technology used in the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer is a great example of this, as it leverages beneficial infrared light to efficiently dry only the water on the surface of the hair, avoiding overheating and heat damage."
Drying your hair at lower temperatures is a game-changer for anyone who wants healthy hair! By understanding the science behind hair damage from high heat and excessive color treatments and adopting the low heat hair drying method, you can minimize frizz, split ends, and color fading while maintaining natural moisture and shine”. I know that getting my hair back to healthy will take time but I feel confident that I’m on the right path and the Zuvi Hair Dryer is part of my hair health plan!
6. Use bleach less often and Use Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Due to the fact that semi-permanent hair colors don't contain any bleach or ammonia inside the formula, it's a lot safer to use than permanent dyes, even with permed or previously dyed hair.
7. Supplements Can Help
I am also taking a high quality hair supplement as well as a collagen supplement to keep my hair healthy from the inside out!
Living with damaged hair can make you feel as if you don’t look your best which can affect your confidence! Self care incudes taking care of every part of you…inside and out!
*This is my honest review of the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer! I have replaced my old hair dryer and now only use the Zuvi because I honestly believe it’s better for the health of my hair!