Styling damaged hair with a flat iron can only makes things worse but only when you haven’t taken the necessary precautions or finding the best flat iron for damaged hair to nurse your hair back to health. The best thing would be to avoid heat styling tools while your hair recovers but if this is impossible, start looking for a professional heat styling tool that won’t cause damage to your locks.

If we’re talking about a flat iron, the most important thing is to find one that contains only the finest quality materials in its heating elements, anything less can put your hair’s well-being at risk and that’s something you want to avoid if your locks have already suffered. Temperature is another factor to consider. Exceedingly high temperatures can be disastrous for your hair unless the flat iron produces an even heat combined with advanced technology to minimize damage and reduce styling time. Ceramic is universally known to be gentle on hair and provide moist heat so go for a flat iron that includes ceramic technology.

One recommended flat iron for damaged hair is the Karmin G3 Salon Pro, which uses ceramic tourmaline technology and 100% tourmaline ceramic plates. With its ultra high heat (up to 450°F),  it’s not actually as damaging as you might believe. Thanks to the tourmaline ceramic heating elements, your hair is gently styled, no matter how high the temperature gets. If your hair is already damaged though, it’s best to avoid high heat, and the Karmin G3 also offers the benefit of adjustable temperature settings, so you can style at a setting that best treats your recovering locks. The ceramic elements penetrate the hair shaft with moist heat, sealing the cuticles and reducing frizz to give you shinier, healthier results.

Also, remember to use thermal protectant before you use any heat styling tool, this creates a buffer between your hair and the heat of the flat iron and therefore minimizes the damage.