Every tool we sell has adjustable heat, and almost nobody adjusts it. The default habit is to turn it to maximum and go. That works — once. Over months it is the single biggest cause of split ends and dullness that no mask will fix.
Start here
- Fine, damaged, or colour-treated: 250–300°F
- Normal, medium density: 300–380°F
- Thick, coarse, or resistant: 380–450°F
Start at the lowest setting in your range. If one slow pass does not do it, go up one step — not straight to maximum.
How to tell you are running too hot
Steam or a sizzle when the tool touches your hair means there is still water in the strand and you are boiling it. Stop, dry properly, start again lower.
A burnt or sweet smell is protein damage happening in real time. That is not the smell of product.
Hair that feels rough right after styling, when it should feel smoothest, means the cuticle is being lifted rather than sealed.
Why one hot pass beats four cool ones
This is the nuance people miss. Four passes at 300°F can do more damage than one at 380°F, because total exposure matters more than peak temperature. Find the lowest setting that works in one pass and stay there.
Heat protectant is not optional
It does not make heat harmless. It slows how fast the strand heats up so the outside does not cook before the inside is styled. Two seconds of spray buys you years of length.