The 5 Very Best Hair Steamers and How TF to Use Them Correctly

I get it: There are legit so many hair steamers on the market right now that it's kinda impossible to know which ones are worth the $$$ (and, like, which ones are worth skipping). So rather than leaving you to read the fine print of every Amazon review (or, worse, buy one that lowkey destroys your hair), I went ahead and got a professional hairstylist to share everything you should know about hair steamers for natural hairincluding, yes, how to actually use them correctly. Keep reading for the ultimate guide, plus the best steamers to shop RN.

If you ask the experts (and anyone who has tried them), the answer is a thousand times yes. When you stick your head under a steamer, the moist heat helps hydrate strands, promote scalp circulation, and open the hair cuticle (which can help amp up the effects of your hair and scalp products, especially if you have low-porosity hair). Oh, and they're also relaxing as f*ck. According to Anthony Dickey, hairstylist and founder of Hair Rules, hair steamers are great for four things in particular: hydrating dry hair, soothing your scalp, pre-cleansing on wash day, and deep conditioning.

"Steamers can do a lot for anyone who's trying to get their natural, dry texture to be softer," says Dickey. "It just makes the hair more manageable so you have more styling options." He also adds that wavy and straight hair textures can benefit from steamers, tooparticularly those with longer lengths or color-treated hair. "Everyoneregardless of their hair texture and hair typeis looking for their hair to be more manageable and shiny," he says. And that's where steaming can help.

If you're hung up on exactly how to use a hair steamer the "right" way, don't freak: "There really aren't any real rules for using a hair steamer," he says, especially if you're working with a hair texture that's naturally dry (but, hey, I like tutorials too, so if you need a visual, check out this tutorial on how to steam type 3 curls, and this tutorial on steaming type 4 hair).

There is one thing you'll want to keep in mind though: Your steaming sessions shouldn't last any longer than 30 minutes (in fact, most experts say 20 minutes is the sweet spot). You actually run the risk of damaging your hair bonds when you over-expose your hair to steam, so even though you might be tempted to sit under your steamer for hours on end, it's best to set an alarm for 20 or 30 minutes max.

Once you've got the feeling of steaming down, though, here are Dickey's favorite ways to use a steamer:

That depends entirely on your hair. Those with extremely dry or damaged hair can steam as frequently as once a week, whereas folks with minimal damage can pare back to once a month. At the end of the day, only you (and, okay, probably your hairstylist) know what's best for your hair. Just remember the golden rule: No steaming for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Glad you asked! There are three types of at-home hair steamershooded, tabletop, and cappedand it's all about personal preference. It's really about what feels comfortable, what you're used to, and what you have space for. But to make things extra easy for you, I rounded up the five best hair steamers to try at home, below.

See the rest here:

The 5 Very Best Hair Steamers and How TF to Use Them Correctly - Yahoo Lifestyle