Perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the natural hair community is the use of heat styling tools. Should you use them? If so, how often is too often? Most importantly, how can you protect your curls while using heat to change their shape? And then, once you get past the ‘should I?’ questions, you have to decide which tools to use. Are ceramic straighteners better than titanium? Are hot combs still a thing? Can type 4 hair rely on the increasingly popular straightening brush? One thing you’ll need regardless of the heat styling tool you choose or how often you use it? A heat protectant. Adding a heat protectant to your routine can be the difference between healthy curls post-heat and a heat-induced disaster. It’s also important to remember that heat damage does not have a universal appearance; it can present itself as damage to the cuticle layer (probably the most noticeable sign, resulting in the appearance of dry and dull hair), to the denaturing of hair proteins (hair protein is the magical component that gives hair its elasticity, strength and volume), to the loss of hair lipids and amino acids, which are crucial for moisture retention in the hair, and even loss of pigment in coloured hair. So while heat can be certainly be bad for hair, especially curls, damage