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Original poster

Why are my new straighters making my hair smell?

20 replies

murphys · 26/03/2018 07:43

My trusty old Babybliss straighters died so I replaced them with another pair but a bit more fancy. These ones you can adjust the temperature on which I couldn't do on my old ones.

But, the problem is that they make my hair smell so odd once I have used them. I cant even describe the smell, just odd. I thought I was just them being new, but a week on, it still the same. Now I don't know if I am using them too hot, or not hot enough (they do work well), they go up to 250 degrees and I have used them at 220 and 230 degrees. Is that too hot, am I burning my hair maybe? If you can adjust yours, what temperature do you use.

My hair is fairly straight anyway hence why I didn't think it needed to spend a fortune on GHD or Cloud 9 type, and its a layered bob. So it is just to finish off the style really to make it look more sleek.

OP posts:

Strongbeatsskinny · 26/03/2018 08:08

That’s extremely hot I have cloud 9 and straighten my hair on no more than 150. I had GHDs before and these were wrecking my hair because the were too hot at 220 if I were you I’d drastically reduce the heat.

Original poster

murphys · 26/03/2018 08:17

Oh gosh, thank you Strong, I will put them on the lowest setting.

I think I have just fried my hair then.

It is extremely straight now, and I did notice that I could eek out an extra day before I needed to wash it. I hope I haven't damaged it now...

OP posts:

Foggymist · 26/03/2018 08:53

I always straighten my hair at 230-250 degrees, or else it doesn't straighten! Do you have relatively fine hair?

springmachine · 26/03/2018 09:49

I keep mine at 180

Waitingonasmiley42 · 26/03/2018 10:01

I would say that's the smell of burning hair. I always think it smells like Digestive biscuits. Mine is frazzled with the slightest bit of heat so know exactly what smell you mean.

LemonadeWithACherry · 26/03/2018 10:09

Oh gawd mine always smells after I've curled it too. I'm another one that's been frying it at 220! I'm not sure mine would curl/straighten at a lower temperature though?

Original poster

murphys · 26/03/2018 10:21

Yes, Waiting I agree with the biscuit smell, not burning, but odd for hair

Foggy, it is really fine, but I have a lot of it. I see the lowest is 180 so I will just use this from now on.

I was going to go for a colour soon, but perhaps I should just wait a bit in case I have damaged it. It is completely bone straight now, so something has happened. Which I don't think is good when thinking of colouring to be honest.

OP posts:

HildaZelda · 26/03/2018 11:13

That does sound quite high. I use mine at 180.

Pringlemunchers · 26/03/2018 11:22

I watched a program (bbc2) I think. A horizon type. It was based at a hair lab like L'Oréal . They did a scientific test about heat damage to the hair. They had a curly hair , straightened it a lower temp ( about 150 ish ) then put it in water. It went back to being curly. They then did it at 250 , put it in water and it stayed straight. Therefore the high heat permanently damaged the outside of the hair. It was a very good watch, I think it was on last week. Certainly made me think.

Pringlemunchers · 26/03/2018 11:24

Yes it was bbc2 horizon. Hair care secrets.

Original poster

murphys · 26/03/2018 12:00

I am unfortunately not in UK so don't think will see that program, but it does make sense as mine has seemed to do that. And this is just after a few uses at such a high temperature. Imagine if I had just carried on.

Have got a treatment here that I bought and never used, think I had better use it now.

OP posts:

Twilight456 · 26/03/2018 17:41

I think the smell is likely to be the sulphur in the keratin in your hairstrands reaching 'burning' point. Hair would never actually melt but the sulphur in the hair when heated to that level would smell slightly off and not so nice! Heat should only be used up to 180.

waterlego6064 · 27/03/2018 08:52

Just a thought, could they be ‘ionic’? I don’t pretend to understand the scientific differences between ionic and not ionic, but the driers and straighteners that use ions have a particular smell that’s difficult to describe.

Original poster

murphys · 27/03/2018 10:14

I think they are the ceramic ones Water. They are the Remington Proluxe ones.

I think my hair is definitely burnt. Or as Twilight explained. As I walked past dd this morning she said she my hair smelt burnt. And I hadn't even mentioned the issue to her. And I didn't use the iron this morning, this was still from yesterday.

Its definitely not behaving well. Its not acting like my normal hair. The ends are dry and seem more brittle, although I recently had it cut so cant be split. And it just isn't doing anything like it should. So, yes, I know I have damaged it.

Any ideas or tips on what to do now? Treatments of some kind, or just try to wait it out? I did mention I really wanted to colour it soon, it is looking awful.... but don't think I should just yet, might just be the cherry on top for my what used to be healthy manageable hair. It isn't grey, its just very light at the moment and I think it drains me, so just want to go a bit darker.

Argh, such a silly thing.

OP posts:

Original poster

murphys · 27/03/2018 10:18

I see they have just brought out that Dyson Ionic dryer here. The price of it

Cheaper to book a regular trip to the salon I think

OP posts:

Twilight456 · 27/03/2018 11:04

Probably best to go to a salon that does either smartbond or olaplex treatments, these can be done as stand alone treatments or added into colour processing if your hair is suitable to be coloured. You can also buy olaplex step 3 to do at home however it is not just a conditioner so make sure to follow the instructions. It helps to rebuild your hair proteins.

Strongbeatsskinny · 27/03/2018 11:57

When my hair was wrecked by the GHDs nothing would’ve fixed it once the damage is done it’ll need cutting. At first I didn’t realise it was the GHDs and brought a new hair dryer parlux used that to blow dry hair on the cooler setting then replaced straighteners for the cloud 9. My hair dresser now compliments how healthy my hair is.

NC4NW123 · 28/09/2020 20:06

@murphys found this thread while searching for burnt hair as mine smells burnt after new straighteners, only to read the comments and see they are the exact same straighteners too! Did you have to get new ones or did it get any better ?

Original poster

murphys · 29/09/2020 11:13

[quote NC4NW123]@murphys found this thread while searching for burnt hair as mine smells burnt after new straighteners, only to read the comments and see they are the exact same straighteners too! Did you have to get new ones or did it get any better ?[/quote]
Wow I forgot all about this thread.

I used them for a while and then I bought a new hairdryer and in the set there was a set of straighteners. They are the Tresemme ones and they are really great.

I left the Remingtons at my DP's house so that I didn't need to pack them every time I stayed over. We broke up and I never went back to collect my things.

I did use them on the lowest setting after, and did a weekly treatment on my hair. It was definitely burnt though as my hairdresser (who knows my hair well) even commented when I went for a cut.

So I would turn them right down and put some treatment in your hair.

OP posts:

NC4NW123 · 29/09/2020 15:42

@murphys ahh ok thank you!! I just had to comment when I saw it was the exact same straighteners 🤣 I will be using them on the lowest setting too now!

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