From blow drying and curling to flat ironing and waving, our hair endures a lot of heat styling daily. Over time, heat damage can lead to dry, dull, and brittle strands. If you color or chemically process your hair, this damage is compounded, since it’s coupled with the effects of the chemicals used. Here, we explore some go-to solutions for protecting strands from heat damage.

Air drying might take longer, but it will save your hair from severe damage in the long run—even if you do it just once or twice a week. If you have naturally curly hair that you love to wear straight or super straight hair that you love to make wavy, allow your hair to air dry first and then apply the hot iron.

Before you apply heat to your hair, use a heat protectant, which creates a barrier between your open hair shaft and the heat. As a bonus, a lot of heat-protectant serums tend to detangle strands, as well, creating less friction and breakage when you comb through.

This is one of the simplest ways to cut out some of the damage you may be causing your hair, says Chillino. “A better blow dryer with a proper nozzle will eliminate having to work as hard and long on your hair because it will take less time and therefore apply less heat. Using a boar bristle brush since it doesn’t heat up the way a ceramic or metal brush does. Instead, it pulls the natural oils through the hair without drying the hair out.

If you do heat-style often, one of the best ways you can expedite your hair’s recovery is to do a hair mask at least once a week. Masks can condition and protect hair from heat and environmental aggressors.

Cutting your hair might not seem like it could help prevent heat damage, but the reality is the healthier your strands, the less damage heat will cause. You can prevent breaking or splitting hair by trimming your hair even just once every couple of months, although stylists recommend doing so every 8–12 weeks.