Call me crazy or naive or whatever, but I really don't see the nail analogy to heat use. Blowdrying is
not taking the dryer and standing with the heat source on one spot for 5 min at a time (--In fact, that sounds MORE like sitting under the hood dryer
). If you are doing that, you need to have all of your heated appliances taken away from you until you are properly trained. IMO if the person who experiences heat damage just admits to themselves that it's because they don't know HOW to use the appliance their on their hair properly (or simply failed to read the instructions included in the box), a lot of the direct v. indirect heat debate would be squashed. How can sitting under a covered heat source on medium or even HIGH (some ppl do this) be
better than using a blowdryer on low, warm heat that is constantly moving along the hair shaft, at least 6-8 inches away from the hair (pointed downward) after applying a heat protectant and letting the hair airdry a bit prior to use???!!!! Please explain this... No matter what the heat source is, people, please just use common sense and put the appliance on at a REASONABLE temp. That solves over half the issues right there. But this is a society of not having enough time to wait, and alas, damaged hair is a consequence. I just don't understand why one must blame the tool itself. Temp control exists for a reason...
Any of the articles I have googled in the past on how to properly blow dry the hair say that it takes TIME, PATIENCE, and PRACTICE to get the technique down so as to not damage your hair. Same w/flat irons, curlers, etc. And heat protectants and regular deep conditioners are a basic necessity. The only time I will recommend someone not use any heat on their hair is if they are recovering from past hair "sins" in which the hair can not take much, and that damage needs to be grown out or cut off. But if you take care of your hair and are consistent with your methods and the appliance's temp is REASONABLE (which YOU determine, not me, as I don't have your hair) then heat use is fine. In fact, in most cases as of late (due to the fairly recent technology) heat use can actually help keep your hair healthy. It's been posted on this forum before, but do a search for "infrared heat"...I don't get why this is still such a mystery to some people...Someone please enlighten me.
Whew! I am done venting; sorry, but this topic just really bothers me
Back to you, ladies