When it comes to buying a hair steamer, many of the models don’t give you an instructions or guidelines on how to effectively steam your hair. Most of the cheaper models simply come with basic setup instructions, so you are left to try and figure out what are the best means to steam your hair. In this short article we will be discussing some of the most effective ways to get the best out of your steamer, and hopefully this will give you an idea of how to use it best.
Now there are a few tips we can give you before you even start steaming your hair. The first tip is that you should always use distilled water with your hair steamer. This will prevent any limescale buildup in the machine. Most models will work with standard tap water, but you run the risk of degrading the functionality of the steamer. Some models have filters built in so that they can function with tap water, but these kinds of models are often quite expensive.
Next up you should always make sure that the water tank or jar is full before use. Most tabletop steamers will give you around 20 minutes of use before they run out, and standalone steamers will give you between 40-60 minutes of usage on a full tank. Never ever run your steamer with an empty tank, as this will damage it. Most models come with an auto cut off when the water level reaches the low level. Once you have finished your steaming session you should also also empty out the remaining water to prevent any water scum from building up.
Conditioning your hair
A common use for a hair steamer is to condition your hair, as the heat allows the conditioner to penetrate the hair as best as possible. Once the steamer has warmed up, apply a generous dose of conditioner to your hair and sit underneath the steamer for around 15-20 minutes. This will give your hair ample time to soak up all the nutrients from the conditioner. Once you are done, cold wash or spray your hair to keep the nutrients in. Washing it with cold water will help the cuticle to close, thus sealing in the nutrients.
Coloring your hair
Once you have your coloring treatment in place, around 20 minutes should be sufficient for it to penetrate your hair. As with conditioning your hair, rinse with cold water afterwards to seal in the color.
Moisturizing / Retaining your current hairstyle
Nobody wants to restyle their hair from scratch if your hair gets a bit dry, and a hair steamer is the ideal way to revitalize your hair. Simply sit under the steamer for about 10-15 minutes, and your hair should be lovely and full of moisture again. No need to rewash or condition again which is great! If you hair does get particularly dry, try to keep these kinds of treatments to twice a week for the maximum benefit.
Summary
So those are a few tips and tricks to help you with your steamer. If you haven’t bought one yet, then take a look at our reviews section to see some of the best models we have reviewed.
