5 Heatless Hairstyles for Heat Damaged Hair

We’ve all overused heated tools, or forgot to apply a protectant and caused damage.  But that doesn’t mean we have to give up our favorite hairdo, or curls for that matter. 

There are dozens of fabulous heatless hairstyles that you can create to keep your look fresh while you repair your hair.  But be careful with the tools you use.  If your hair is dry and brittle from heat damage, modifying your routines and products will be vital to prevent breakage while you repair the strands.  

For example, elastic hair ties tend to create more pulling because of the way they grip, and may increase friction while you style.  That’s why a spiral hair tie with smooth sides may be more friendly for hair that is heat damaged.  And switch out your cotton towel for a microfiber option if you towel dry.  Microfiber tends to be smoother so there may be less friction to break your hair.  

Now onto the heatless hairstyles so you can keep your favorite look without causing more heat damage.

Heatless Curls

There’s no shortage of ways to do heatless curls overnight.  And this post on how to do heatless curls walks you through each.  And there’s a bonus option with using your yoga pants.  Here’s the easiest and most popular option.

Tools needed:

• Styling mousse
• Tiny hair ties
• Large hair ties
• Hairspray

The steps to create beautiful no-heat curls:

1. Add styling mousse to your damp hair (to help hold the curls) and create several small ponytails by dividing your hair into between 3 - 9 sections.
1. Make sure to secure each section with a tiny hair tie at the base.
2. Starting from the top of the ponytail, wrap your hair around the tiny hair tie until you've wrapped the entire ponytail, secure it with a large hair tie, and repeat on each ponytail.
3. Go to bed and let the curls loose in the morning.

Bubble Braids

One of the most popular heatless hairstyles is the bubble braid because it adds texture, pops of color, and you can do double bubble braids, side options, and the classic high pony.  There’s even variations of the half-up half-down double bubble braid.

This is a fun and functional style that works from sitting in class to a red carpet runway, and bubble braids can be styled as creative as you’d like.  That’s only one of the reasons for its mass appeal, not to mention you only need a brush and hair ties to create it.  Here’s how to do it.

1. Brush your hair to eliminate all tangles and to ensure that your hair is smooth and ready to be styled.
2. Tie your hair into a ponytail where you want to begin your bubble braids.
3. Secure any baby hairs or flyaways using a lightweight hairspray. 
4. This step will help ensure your ponytail is as sleek and smooth as possible.
5. Using another hair tie, secure another section of your ponytail a few inches below your first hair tie.
6. To create the bubble in between the hair ties, tease the section of hair to loosen it and create the bubble.
7. Repeat these steps and add hair ties until you’ve reached the end of your ponytail.

Space Buns

For an out of this world look, the only heatless hairstyle you’ll need are space buns.  And this post will teach you how to do space buns with five variations.  Here’s how to create the standard style.

To create space buns you will need:

• Hair ties
• Hair pins
• Hairspray
• Hair clip (optional)

The Steps to do Space Buns:

1. Part your hair down the middle in two equal sections.  
1. For a textured look, part your hair in zig zags.
2. Gather a section of hair on one side and pull it into a high pigtail with a hair tie.  
3. Create an identical pigtail on the other side and mirror your placement so your space buns are "spaced" evenly. 
4. Twist the pigtail away from your face to create a coil and then wrap it around the base of your pigtail like a hair bun.  
5. Once the bun is wrapped, tuck the ends of your hair underneath the hair tie or use an additional hair tie to secure.

Hair Clip French Twist

You may be wondering why a hair clip could be on this list of heatless hairstyles for dry and damaged hair.  Simple, unlike elastic hair ties which pull on the follicles and add friction when styling, claw clips expand and can gently close into their holding position.  This reduces the amount of time you spend pulling and tugging when creating a look. 

And because you can smooth out tangles with your fingers or a brush, you can twist your hair without a heated tool, reducing another round with a hot iron.  Another benefit to this look is that claw clips don’t have to hold against your scalp like a barrette reducing irritation, and they can expand to be removed vs. sliding against follicles with a hair tie.  It’s a win-win in friction reduction.

Here’s how to do a claw clip French twist:

1. Brush your hair out with your fingers and pull it back, leaving your bangs in front if you want them.
2. Smooth the hair on your head down so that it lays flat against your scalp and gather it towards the middle of the back of your head.
3. Hold the base with one hand (don’t use a hair tie because you won’t be able to remove it) and gently twist your hair with the other.
4. Lift the twisted ponytail up towards the top of your head and then pull out or fan the lowest twists to cover the actual ponytail for a smooth and sleek look.
5. Now clip it into place so the hair clip covers the entire wrap, or the mid-section depending on your personal preference.
6. If there is extra hair on top, twist it into a neat little knot and secure it by looping the tips into the twist, or style it however you see fit.

Twisted Knot Bun

Probably the easiest heatless hairstyle is the twisted knot bun.  You can wear it up or low, and it only takes a few seconds to do.  Best of all you only need two hair ties to secure it.

1. Smooth out your hair with a brush or your fingers to remove knots and tangles.
2. Gently pull your hair back and secure it into a ponytail where you want the bun to be.
3. Now twist your hair into a cylinder and as it coils and wrap it around the base.
4. Secure it with the other hair tie and tuck in any loose ends.

And now you have five heatless hairstyles for any occasion.  If you found this style guide helpful, subscribe to TELETIMES by TELETIES for more hair ideas.