Festive Hairstyles Without the Damage: Heat, Hairspray, and What to Do Afterwards
Cosmosentials | Hair Care Tips
Diwali is on Sunday, November 8, and wedding season is already under way, which means a lot of blow-dries, curls, sleek straightening, tight buns, and heavily pinned updos over the next few weeks. A good hairstyle can make an outfit, but the way it is made matters. Heat, tension, and layers of product are the three things that most often leave hair dry, brittle, or thin around the hairline after a festive week. Here is how to get the look without paying for it later.
What actually damages hair at a festive event
Heat. Blow dryers, straighteners, and curling tongs dry hair out and weaken the outer layer, and dermatologists advise using the lowest effective heat and avoiding heat tools on wet hair altogether.
Tension. Tight buns, ponytails, braids, and updos pull on the hair and the follicle. Done once, this is rarely a problem. Done repeatedly, it can lead to traction alopecia, a gradual hair loss along the hairline and temples. Dermatologist Dr. Neera Nathan notes that if a style hurts when you pull your hair back, that is a sign of damage to the follicle, and that persistent traction can cause permanent hair loss.
Product buildup. Hairspray, gel, serums, and heat protectants all leave a layer behind. When you use several products across a long festive week, that layer builds up on hair and scalp, leaving hair dull, heavy, and sometimes itchy.
Before the event: prepare your hair
Get a trim a week or two earlier, not on the day. Split ends show up more under heat and styling.
Deep condition two or three days before. Hair that is well conditioned handles heat and pins better. A weekly deep conditioning treatment is also a sensible habit through the whole festive season.
Wash and fully condition on the day before, or the morning of. Clean hair holds a style better, and you will not need as much product to make it stay.
During styling: protect what you can
Always use a heat protectant first. Apply it on damp hair before blow-drying, and again, lightly, before using a straightener or curling tong.
Let hair air dry partway before reaching for a tool. A microfibre towel absorbs more water than a regular towel and cuts down on blow-drying time.
Use the lowest heat that gets the job done. Many hair clinics advise keeping styling tools at no more than around 180 degrees Celsius, and the Canadian Dermatology Association says to use low or cool settings on a blow dryer and the lowest heat on tools.
Never use straighteners or curling tongs on wet hair. Wet hair is more fragile, and heat on damp strands can damage them badly.
Go over each section once. Passing a hot tool over the same strand repeatedly is a common cause of damage.
Keep tension light. If your hair feels pulled or your scalp is sore, loosen the style. Use soft hair ties and gentle clips, and be careful with heavy hair accessories and tight pins, which can add tension when worn for hours. If you need to keep hair off your face, a stretchy headband or rubberized bobby pins are gentler than tight elastics and metal clips.
Try heatless alternatives when you can. Braiding damp hair loosely overnight for waves, or using soft rollers, gives you shape without the heat.
A word on hairspray
Hairspray is useful, but the more you use, the more has to come out afterwards. Use only as much as you need to hold the style, spray from a distance so it does not land in a heavy, wet layer, and avoid layering several strong-hold products on top of one another. Some hairsprays contain alcohol, which can leave hair drier, so look for one with conditioning ingredients if your hair is already dry.
After the event: what to do afterwards
- Take pins and ties out gently, and give your scalp a minute of light massage to ease any tension.
- Detangle from the ends upwards, with a wide-tooth comb or a gentle brush, rather than yanking from the roots.
- Wash out the buildup. If you used several products, a clarifying shampoo once or twice that week clears out the residue. Focus shampoo on the scalp, and let the suds run through the lengths.
- Condition properly. Apply conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends, and leave it on for a couple of minutes.
- Deep condition once that week, to put moisture back after heat.
- Give your hair a break. Skip heat styling for a few days and wear it loose or in a gentle style, so your hair and scalp can recover before the next occasion.
When to see a doctor
If you notice a sore, tender, or thinning hairline, or small bumps along it after wearing tight styles, speak to a dermatologist. Traction hair loss responds best when it is caught early. For more on avoiding styling damage, including heat and product buildup, this guide on protecting your hair from styling damage is a useful read, and this dermatologist's list of hair habits to avoid covers tight styles in more detail.
Keeping your hair in good shape through the season
A heat protectant, a good conditioner, a deep conditioning mask, and a clarifying shampoo for use after heavy styling days cover most of what festive hair needs. You can browse the hair care range on Cosmosentials to put together a simple festive routine, with every product sourced directly from its manufacturer.
This article is for general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a dermatologist or trichologist, especially if you notice hair loss, a painful scalp, or thinning along the hairline.
