What’s the deal with heat and natural hair?

I had a conversation the other day with my sister about heat and natural hair. I thought about the ladies I know who have damaged their natural because they used too much heat, I realized that perhaps there’s a misconception that applying heat to your hair (blow dryer, flat-iron, curling iron) is only bad if it’s relaxed, especially for those who are transitioning. While it’s true that natural hair is stronger than chemically relaxed hair it’s still delicate and susceptible to damage.

When you apply heat to your hair the cuticle opens up and the heat withdraws the moisture, overtime your hair becomes dry and brittle and if the heat is too hot, the hair shaft may burn and the damage is irreversible regardless if your hair is natural or relaxed. I use heat….once in a while I blow out my hair and when I do, I’m careful to use a low temperature setting on the blow dryer. Some people think because their hair is kinky they need to use the highest and hottest setting to get it straight. Rule of thumb: If you want to apply heat start at a low setting and gradually increase the temperature to get the desired texture if you need to. Either way you shouldn’t see smoke or hear your hair sizzle and remember to apply a pommade before you start. Like most things, too much of anything is not good, so if you’re going to use heat use it in moderation.

What’s your experience with applying heat to your natural hair? Do you have any tips you can share?