How Heat Protectants can Save Your Hair
In hair care, heat is one of the main causes of dryness and damage. But that doesn’t mean you have to skip the blow dry! Thankfully there is a wide selection of heat protectant products available. Heat protectants are products designed to shield your hair from the damaging effects of heat-styling tools and create a barrier between high temperature and hair. This will help preserve the natural structure and health of your locks, leaving you with beautiful and healthy-looking hair. Read on to discover some of the best heat protectants for your hair, both specifically formulated products as well as multi-benefit formulations.
Choosing the Right Product for your Hair.
When selecting a heat protectant for protecting against hair damage, it’s important to find the right product for your needs. Some products focus specifically on heat protection, and generally offer protection for your hair at higher temperatures. Others are multi-purpose products, offering not only heat protection but a multitude of styling and care benefits for your hair. Many products work on all hair types, but if you have fine, damaged, or blonde hair, you can find products specifically formulated to support your hair type.
Multi-Benefits: Davines Liquid Spell
Davines Liquid Spell does more than just protect your hair from heat damage. It is formulated as a leave-in treatment for damaged or fine hair, and works to strengthen and compact the hair structure. This process gives vitality and body to the hair, so that it looks healthier, feels silkier, and looks naturally shiny. If your hair is dry, damaged, or fine, Liquid Spell is an excellent product you add heat protection to your routine as well as the additional benefits. This product is a no-gas pump mouse that you can apply to wet hair before blow drying and heat styling.
How do you use a Heat Protectant for your Hair?
There are different formulations of heat protectants, but most come in the form of a spray, mousse, or glaze. Mousses and glazes are ideal for applying to wet hair to prepare it before blow drying and heat styling. Sprays can be used on either wet or dry hair, however use with caution on dry hair; make sure that the spray is dry before you begin with heat styling. For the heat protectant product you select, be sure to read the specific instructions for application.
Protect Long and Damaged Hair: Davines MELU Shield
This thermal protecting spray is a quick and easy way to protect your hair from the heat of blow drying and heat tools. The bonus? It also leaves your hair shiny and static-free. You can use MELU spray on wet hair before blow drying, but it’s also great to spray on dry hair before any heat styling (just make sure to let your hair dry after using the spray and before using heat tools).
Pay Attention to Ingredients in your Heat Protectant.
Heat protectants contain a multitude of different ingredients that protect hair from heat application. Generally, silicones are used in heat-protecting products because they provide a protective layer over the hair shaft. However, products utilizing natural ingredients are excellent options for thermal protection as well as the environment. Avoid products that contain harsh chemicals, such as sulfates — these can leave your hair dry, brittle and damaged after styling. Look for natural ingredients like seed oils, and other specialty ingredients featured. For example, Kevin Murphy’s Heated Defense includes Hydrolysed Quinoa, which helps to maintain moisture and strengthen the hair, creating a protective barrier. Davines MELU Hair Shield spray includes Villalba Lentil Seed extract, which is rich in serine and glutammic acid, the most abundant amino acids in keratin for the ultimate nourishment and repair. Be sure to read product labels carefully to make sure you know what types of ingredients your product contains.
High Temperature Protection: Kevin Murphy Heated Defense
Protect your hair against daily life’s biggest aggressor, heat damage. Kevin Murphy’s Heated Defense is a weightless and invisible leave-in treatment foam to protect your hair against damage associated with heated and mechanical tools. Providing heat protection up to 450℉ / 232℃, this leave-in foam distributes easily and disappears in all hair types, providing a weightless protective shield.
Choose Heat Protectants that offer Flexible Holds.
Heat protectants are not just for flat irons! Many of them can also be used for blow drying, curling and other hot styling tools. The heat protectant products mentioned in this post all offer a flexible hold, so it won’t leave your hair stiff like many gels and hairsprays can. Flexible holds provide your hair with the heat protection you need while still allowing the natural movement and texture of your hair.
More of our favourite Heat Protectants
Heat Protection for Blondes: Davines Heart of Glass Sheer Glaze
Calling all blondes… Davines’ Heart of Glass Sheer Glaze is an excellent heat protectant and thermal leave-in fluid for blondes. It also provides hydration, shine, and a brightening effect on blonde tones. Thanks to the patented Fortifying Botanical Shield, it also gives elasticity and vigour to the hair fibre, helping to extend the duration of a blow out. Less blow drying = less heat damage, so this is a great option for blondes looking to protect their hair.
Shorten your Blow Dry Time: Davines This is a BlowDry Primer
If you’re looking to improve your blow dry experience, try this leave-in spray. It’s a multi-benefit product that primes hair for the perfect blowout! Serving as a heat protectant spray, it also provides an anti-humidity barrier and acts as a shine-enhancer. If that’s not enough, it also cuts down the time you’ll spend drying your hair.
Heat Protection for Mature Hair: Kevin Murphy Young Again Oil
This oil is an excellent multi-purpose product ideal for damaged and aging hair. From Kevin Murphy’s YOUNG.AGAIN line, it’s a weightless leave-in treatment with many different benefits, including heat protection. Infused with Immortelle to help counteract oxidation and therefore the aging process, the intensely nurturing treatment oil delivers deep conditioning benefits that leave hair feeling soft and smooth with an overall boost to shine. Use daily to combat dry, damaged, brittle hair and to provide protection against environmental stressors as well as heat damage.