Heat Protectants- Really?

candacekelley
Mar 6, 2015
2 min read

Heat Protectant Basics

Fried, dyed and sanctified. You have done it all to your hair and the damage is done. What to do? Heat protectants exist for a reason so use them! It's 200-300 degrees on that flat iron so you are literally playing with fire!

What are heat protectants for hair? Basically they are products that create a sort of layer over your hair’s surface, saving it from heat damage. They usually come in the form of a spray, sometimes a mousse. Do they really work?

Many products make promises and don't live up to them but heat protection products on the other hand make a small promise, and live up to it! Of course, if you keep your straightener on 200 degrees, there’s very little a mere spray will do for you, but used right, it can save your tresses.

What's typically in these protectants? Well, heat breaks down hair proteins, it makes hair rough and dry and the products you use to protect it, counteract these effects. Usually, a heat protectant hair spray has many ingredients, starting from alcohol to silicone. Sounds scary right? Don’t worry, it really isn’t!

Alcohol: Alcohol is a base for the ingredients to stay dissolved in, once sprayed it evaporates.
Silicone: Silicones, commonly dimethicone but any ending in ‘cone’ is a conditioner, it forms a layer on your hair and makes your cuticles lie flat so your hair doesn’t frizz. You can find this ingredient in your everyday conditioner too! But remember if you have oily hair, find a product with minimum silicone, it will build up and make your hair greasy and flat. Not a good look!
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein: This stuff is the bomb! This is what your hair will soak up and it will help nourish it and makes it soft, especially since its own protein is being broken down by heat
Pvp / Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer: That’s a mouthful! Like silicones, this helps in coating your hair and detangling it. Less snags and more protection!
Quaternary 70: Found in higher end products, this helps to keep hair smooth and frizz free after heat styling.