This Is How Hot Your Curling Iron Should Be If You Have Thick Hair
When it comes to hair, the best way to make it look good is to keep it healthy. As with all the other parts of your body, having healthy hair is dependent on getting the proper nutrients and vitamins. Since your hair is mostly composed of protein, it's important to consume the daily protein requirement of 45 grams in order to have glowing, rich locks (via Healthline). When you don't get enough protein, you can experience dry hair follicles that can break or even fall out, so aim to regularly eat eggs, lean poultry, fish, beans, and dairy.
Once the foundation for good hair is established, the next step is to care for your hair. You want to regularly shampoo and condition it, making sure the conditioner reaches the ends more than the top of your head, and you don't want to over wash or brush too much (via Good Housekeeping).
When styling it, the most important thing is to protect your hair so be very careful when using heat. If your hair is thick and lustrous, you'll want to pay special attention when using a curling iron.
Thick hair needs more heat
Using too much heat on your hair is one of the top offenders that causes hair damage. According to Yahoo!, using too much heat on your hair, and using heat too often ranks as number two on the list of the worst things you can do to your hair.
It's best to start off slowly when turning up the heat on a curling iron. Celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko says, "It's all about finding out what is right for your specific hair. Always start low, and you can increase if you need to" (via PopSugar).
Then, it's vital to use the right temperature according to your personal hair texture. Keep in mind, though your hair may be wavy or curly, that doesn't always mean it's thick. You can have fine curly hair, so first consider whether your hair is fine, medium, or thick.
Though curling irons used on fine hair should stay in the under 200-degree range, and for wavy hair, you can go up to between 300-350 degrees. If your hair is thick, you can hover around 350.
Make sure you use a heat protectant
Though thick hair may require more heat, you still have to prep your hair to receive the heat before grabbing your iron. Clariss Rubenstein tells Self, "If you're heat styling, using a product is an absolute must — it creates a protective barrier between the hair and the iron." Rubenstein recommends "using a conditioning product while hair is damp, such as a hair oil, leave-in conditioner, or cream, then using a heat protectant before using your hot tool of choice."
Start by adding the heat protectant to small, uniform sections of your hair and spraying it up and down the length of your strands to ensure that it is evenly applied (via Allure). If not applied properly, heat protectants won't work.
If you're not sure what texture your hair may be, whether it's medium or thick, your best option is to consult your own stylist. You can even bring in your curling iron and ask what setting you should use based on your hair type.