Tag: Heat protection

  • Split Ends Causes and Prevention: Action Map

    Split Ends Causes and Prevention: Action Map

    Split ends cannot be repaired once they form, only trimmed off or prevented. The causes are predictable: lack of vitamins, hair age, overuse of the hair dryer, harmful chemicals, UV exposure, damaging daily habits and cutting mistakes, and each cause has a practical fix.

    1. Lack of vitamins

    A shortage of biotin, vitamin E and B complex weakens the hair cuticle, making the fibre brittle and easy to break.

    • Food: eat nutrient-rich food such as eggs, avocado, salmon, nuts and green vegetables.
    • Supplements: take biotin or a hair multivitamin, on a doctor’s advice.

    2. Hair age

    Older hair, especially at the ends, loses moisture and natural elasticity, so it splits more easily.

    • Regular trims: cut the ends at a salon every 8–10 weeks.
    • Protective serum: use a serum with light silicone to shield the ends.

    3. Overuse of the hair dryer

    High heat damages the cuticle and dries the hair out.

    • Heat protectant: spray a heat protection product before drying.
    • Drying technique: use low heat, keep a 15 cm distance and limit drying to 2–3 times a week.

    4. Harmful chemicals

    Parabens and SLS in products such as hairspray or rebonding dry the hair out.

    • Safer products: choose products labelled SLS-Free or Paraben-Free.
    • Fewer chemical services: avoid rebonding/coloring too often, at most once every 3 months.

    5. Weather exposure (UV)

    UV rays damage keratin and the hair’s moisture.

    • UV protection: wear a head cover, or use a hair spray with SPF.
    • Protective oil: apply argan oil or coconut oil as a natural protective layer.

    6. Damaging daily habits

    Rubbing wet hair roughly or combing through tangles causes breakage.

    • Dry gently: blot wet hair with a microfiber towel.
    • Wide-tooth comb: use a wooden comb or a wide-tooth comb to avoid pulling.

    7. Cutting mistakes

    Ordinary scissors leave an uneven cut, known as a crushed cut.

    • Professional trim: go to a salon for a dusting trim, which removes split ends without losing length.
    • Sharp scissors: make sure salon scissors are sharpened regularly.

    Split ends prevention action map

    • Internal nutrition: eat biotin-rich food and take supplements.
    • Heat protection: heat protectant plus low heat.
    • Regular trims: trim the ends every 8–10 weeks.
    • Avoid chemicals: choose SLS-free and paraben-free products.
    • Weather care: cover up in the heat and use a protective oil.

    Key facts

    • Split ends cannot be repaired, they can only be cut off or prevented.
    • Healthy hair starts at the scalp: massage with jojoba oil to improve blood circulation.

    With a minimum spend storewide, you can currently redeem a free Labbell Crystal Repair Serum, the salon serum used to prevent split ends and add instant shine.

    Summary

    Preventing split ends is easier than treating them, and balanced nutrition, quality products and the right technique keep long hair healthy. To find the right repair routine for your hair, message us on WhatsApp or view the product page for Labbell Crystal Repair Serum.

  • Rebonding vs Flat Iron: Which Straightening Fits You?

    Rebonding vs Flat Iron: Which Straightening Fits You?

    Rebonding and flat iron both give you straight hair, but the mechanism is completely different: rebonding uses chemicals to change the hair structure from inside and lasts 3-6 months, while a flat iron only uses heat and the effect disappears the next time you wash your hair. The right choice depends on your hair condition, how long you want the result to last, and how much damage risk you are willing to accept.

    Rebonding: 3-6 months of straight hair, but the highest risk

    Rebonding is a chemical process that alters the internal structure of the hair so curly hair becomes permanently straight. The result lasts, but the risk is also the highest.

    Who is it suitable for?

    • Natural curls, coarse and hard hair, or resistant hair
    • People who want a one-time treatment that stays straight for 3-6 months
    • Precondition: the hair must be healthy, not bleached or coloured, and the scalp must have no wounds

    The professional process

    1. Assess the hair: confirm there is no bleaching, no severe damage, and no wound on the scalp.
    2. Apply the softener (H1): keep 1-2cm away from the roots and apply evenly. Wait 10-25 minutes and check every 5 minutes (the stretch test should rebound about 1.5 times for the best result).
    3. Rinse and set with a flat iron: rinse thoroughly, blow dry, then straighten small sections with a flat iron at 180°C.
    4. Apply the neutralizer (H2): apply over the whole head, leave for 20-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly to stop the chemical reaction.

    Why it works

    • Softener: breaks the disulfide bonds (S-S) inside the hair so the strands become soft and mouldable.
    • Neutralizer: rebuilds those S-S bonds and locks the straight shape in place.

    ⚠️ Risks you must know

    • Chemical burns: the softener contains strong alkaline ingredients; contact with the scalp can cause redness and burns.
    • Hair breakage: if the hair is already damaged, the chemicals will damage its structure further.
    • Irreversible: once the hair is over-softened it cannot be repaired, only cut off.

    My advice: rebonding is never a home DIY project. If you decide to do it, go to a professional stylist, and start a weekly keratin mask right after to replace the protein the chemicals took out.

    Flat iron: temporary straightening you fully control

    This is the everyday method: wash, blow dry, then straighten section by section with a flat iron. The effect only lasts until your next wash, but you stay in full control.

    When it fits

    • Quick styling before going out
    • Fine, soft hair and already damaged hair — the group that should not touch chemicals again

    The correct steps

    1. Protect first: after washing, blow dry until almost dry, then spray heat protectant evenly.
    2. Section the hair and set the temperature:
      • Fine hair: 120-160°C
      • Normal hair: 160-180°C
      • Coarse hair: 180-200°C (never exceed 200°C)
    3. Straightening technique: start 2cm away from the root and pull down slowly and evenly. Do not pass over the same section more than 2 times, and keep each pass to 3-5 seconds.
    4. Cool and set: right after straightening, blow cool air over the hair to help the cuticles close.

    How heat straightens hair

    High heat temporarily breaks the hydrogen bonds in the hair, so the hair goes straight. When it meets water (washing), the hydrogen bonds return and the hair goes back to its original shape. Damage comes from temperatures above 200°C, which destroy keratin and cause dryness and split ends that cannot be reversed.

    ⚠️ Safety tips

    • Never flat iron wet hair: the water inside the hair turns to steam instantly, forming bubbles inside the strand — this is bubble hair, and the hair breaks from inside.
    • Clean the flat iron: leftover styling product reduces heat transfer, so wipe it with an alcohol swab once a week.

    Quick comparison: rebonding vs flat iron

    • Durability: rebonding 3-6 months (permanent); flat iron less than a day — it is gone once you wash your hair.
    • Type of damage: rebonding chemical damage (high risk); flat iron heat damage (controllable).
    • Hair type: rebonding suits healthy uncoloured hair and coarse hair; a flat iron suits all hair types as long as the temperature is adjusted.
    • Who can do it: rebonding must be done by a professional; a flat iron you can do yourself.
    • Upfront cost: rebonding needs a higher one-time investment; a flat iron only needs the tool plus heat protection products.

    After-care decides the final result

    1. Change your shampoo: use Ionic Nutritive Shampoo and Ionic Nutritive Conditioner (pH 4.5-5.5) to help the cuticles close.
    2. Deep treatment weekly: once a week, use a deep hair mask (with hydrolyzed keratin or panthenol).
    3. Trim split ends: split ends cannot be repaired; if you do not cut them, they travel further up.
    4. Wash less often: 2-3 times a week is enough, because washing too often makes the straight effect fade faster.

    Summary

    If your hair is healthy and you want to forget about curls for 3-6 months, rebonding is the fit — but have a professional stylist do it and never skip the after-care. If your hair is already damaged, or you only want straight hair once in a while, a flat iron with a heat protectant is the safer route. Whichever you pick, one principle stands: hair health comes before styling. Still unsure which suits your hair type? Send us a photo of your hair on WhatsApp for a free assessment, or view our product page.

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