You’re rushing to get ready and your hair is still damp. Can you use a hair straightener on wet strands to speed things up? Or will it wreck your hair?
This common question has a more nuanced answer than a simple yes or no. Traditional flat irons are generally not recommended on wet hair. However, new wet-to-dry straightening brushes make it possible to style wet tresses safely.
Read on for an in-depth look at the risks of using hair straighteners on wet hair and expert tips for heat styling damp locks.
Should You Use a Flat Iron on Wet Hair?
Traditional flat irons and hair straighteners are designed to be used on dry hair. Using them on wet or even damp hair can cause significant damage. Here’s why it’s risky:
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Wet hair is very fragile when heated. The intense direct heat from flat iron plates can boil the water in hair strands, fracturing the hydrogen bonds that give hair its strength. This can cause breakage and splits.
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The shape of flat iron plates puts wet hair at risk. When delicate wet hair is clamped and pulled through small flat plates, it can snap and break off.
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Wet hair requires more heat to straighten. This leads to overexposure to extreme temperatures that dry out and fry delicate strands.
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It can burn and potentially singe hair. The sizzling and steaming is moisture evaporating rapidly from your hair. This creates a serious risk of burns.
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Results are less smooth. Wet hair is unevenly straightened with lots of frizz and flyaways. The outcome is worse than properly straightening dry hair.
Are There Any Safe Options?
While regular flat irons are risky, some newer tools provide a safer way to straighten damp hair. Wet-to-dry straightening brushes use gentle infrared heat and uniquely designed bristles.
These next-gen hot brush straighteners minimize the risks of wet styling and deliver salon-quality results. Some good options include:
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Hot Tools Pro Signature Straightening Brush: Infrared heat dries wet strands while straightening. Flexible bristles smooth and shape hair.
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Infinitipro by Conair: Ionic technology helps reduce frizz on damp hair. Curved edges create loose waves or flips.
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Revlon One-Step Volumizer: Nylon bristles detangle while tufted bristles provide volume. Great for adding body to fine limp hair.
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Dyson AirWrap Smooth+Control: Coanda air styling wraps hair strands around the brush barrel without extreme heat. Can be used on damp hair.
Tips for Straightening Wet Hair with Specialty Tools
If you want to use a wet/dry styling brush on damp hair, follow these tips for the best results:
1. Towel-dry hair to remove excess moisture
Do not use wet-to-dry tools on sopping wet hair. Gently blot with a towel to absorb moisture until hair is damp but not dripping. Remove tangles with a wide-tooth comb.
2. Apply a heat protectant
Spritz a heat protectant like Tresemme Thermal Creations evenly from roots to ends before heat styling. This helps guard against thermal damage on delicate damp hair.
3. Section damp hair into manageable pieces
It’s easier to handle and straighten damp hair in small sections. Clip up the top and work in horizontal subsections.
4. Keep the tool moving
To avoid excessive heat exposure, continually glide the straightening brush down each section from roots to ends in one motion. Don’t hold it in one spot too long.
5. Straighten at medium heat
Use lower heat settings designed for damp hair. The high temperatures for dry hair can fry delicate wet strands.
6. Let sections cool before repeating
Give hair a minute or two to cool off before going over it again with the hot tool. This avoids compounding heat damage.
7. Finish with a smoothing product
Apply an anti-frizz serum or hair oil to smooth flyaways, reduce static, and boost shine for a sleek finish.
The Takeaway
While conventional flat irons are too damaging for wet hair, specialty hot brush straighteners provide a safer alternative for styling damp locks in a rush.
These newer tools minimize the risks of blistering direct heat with gentler infrared heat and innovative bristle designs. Plus, they deliver sleek, straight styles with body and bounce – not just limp, lifeless results.
However, take care not to overdo it. Too much repeat styling on damp strands risks long-term heat damage. For the healthiest hair, allow your locks to air dry before regular hot tool styling. But when you’re in a bind, these wet/dry straightening brushes let you safely straighten damp hair beautifully.