Sure, they're called "hot tools," but that doesn't mean you should crank it up to the highest heat setting. In fact, doing so could (and likely will) leave you with burnt, damaged hair. According to Lopez, most people are safe to use their hot tool at around the 320-350-degree range. To determine which temperature setting is best for your hair type, he recommends starting with your iron at the lowest possible heat setting and smoothing or curling your hair. Increase the temperature with every single pass until you find the temperature that gives you the results you're looking for. "You'll be surprised to find that it's probably much lower than what you're used to," he adds.

Image via Imaxtree

Experts agree that technique is key. If you don't know how to achieve your desired look, you might be causing damage to your strands in the process. "Basic mistakes are very common, especially when it comes to hot tools, because curling and crimping your own hair requires looking in the mirror, which can throw off your entire perception," explains Lee Rittiner, global hairstylist and brand architect of TOTALEE.

One example of a basic mistake he sees many people make with their hot irons is curling hair in the wrong direction, which can be dangerous and look unnatural. "To be safe, and to not get too close to the face or neck, curl away from the face winding the hair down and around the iron," he says. "The barrel should be facing downward and you should wrap your hair like a ribbon winding around it."

Image via Imaxtree

While hairstylists swear by heat protectants, they often find that their clients neglect to use them. "It's very important to have a layer of protection on your hair so that, if it gets too hot, it's the product burning off, not your hair," says Stephanie Brown, Master Hair Colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in Manhattan. Heat protectants are also typically formulated with nourishing ingredients that leave strands softer and more smooth. A few of her favorites include Color Wow Speed Dry Blow Dry Spray, $24, GHD Heat Protect Spray, $22, and Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum, $25. "If you are restyling you can use heat protectant products that'll help restyle, like Kristin Ess's The One Signature Hair Water, $10," she adds.

Buy now

If you clamp the hair too tightly inside the hot tool, you'll be left with what is known as demarcation lines in the hair. Not only is this not a good look (unless you're going for an awkward crimp), but it will also leave your hair damaged. "Often people try to fix these lines by going over the hair again with the hot tool, causing even more damage," explains Anita Sun, hairstylist at Eliut Salon in New York City. "It's impossible to fix these demarcation lines unless you re-wet it and dry it again to remove the crease." In other words, this is a tedious mistake to correct.

Image via Imaxtree

Let the infamous YouTube video of the girl who burns her hair off with a curling iron be a lesson: Don't make the same mistake she did. Instead, hold curling irons on the hair for no longer than 8-10 seconds to ensure that you're yielding results while causing minimal breakage. With a flat iron, do not let it rest anywhere on the hair — keep the iron moving along, says Brown. She sees this mistake all-too-often with clients and friends, and says that it's a sure way to leave your strands broken and sparse.

Image via Imaxtree