Choose the right conditioner.
All conditioners leave behind ingredients that make hair smooth, but some also deposit a beneficial protective oil. John Frieda Hydrate + Rescue Deep Conditioner ($10; drugstores) encases hair in an undetectable coat of omega-3-rich Inca inchi oil, a plant derivative that doesn’t weigh hair down.
Prep hair with a heat-protective spray.
Consider this step a second layer of defense. Use a spray that contains dimethicone or amodimethicone; both ingredients lock in moisture so it isn’t lost during styling. We suggest Got2b Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm ($6; drugstores).
Find a better brush.
Use a ventilated version, like the Ion Titanium Vented Ionic Brush ($7; sallybeauty.com), as you dry; the openings allow air to flow, so strands don’t rest against a scalding surface. Even better: Keep the dryer 6 inches away and always in motion, so you don’t focus the heat on one area.
Go ceramic
If you use a curling iron or flatiron, choose an instrument with ceramic plates that conduct heat evenly (no scorching spots) and let hair glide past them smoothly. Try one from the Remington T-Studio Silk Ceramic line ($40 and under;remington.com).
