This moisturizing heat protection spray is filled with hyaluronic acid (yup, the same thing found in your skincare products) to help keep hair soft, manageable, and sleek. Avocado oil is a great heat protectant when mixed with any of the above oils and applied to the hair. While you may experiment with oils when looking for DIY heat protection, oils alone can create drag. The proper heat protectants also help offset heat’s drying effects. 2 DIY Heat Protectant Recipes I love using Living Proof’s Instant Protection Protective Styling Hairspray on my clients because the formula is so lightweight that it actually makes hair feel as if it’s been styled without any product. This may be difficult to follow at the start because you need time to find the right styling speed. What Else Can You Do To Reduce Heat Damage for Your Hair? This makes you wonder what you should do if you use silicones or you find out you have used too much oil. Besides providing great heat protection, this oil is very high in Vitamins E, D, B1, B2, B6 and A - which are all helpful nutrients that allow you to grow strong, healthy, and beautiful hair. It minimizes damage or the degradation of the amino acid tryptophan by preventing the full transfer of heat to the hair’s cortex. Take precaution not to use too much conditioner as it may work up some excess lather in the bottle spray. There’s a reason why people keep coming back for this classic heat protecting spray. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. What does this leave you with? Carrier oils are also called fixed oils because they are less volatile than essential oils. And then I experimented with some homemade heat protectant recipes I found on Pinterest with … A salon look at home! —Monaé Everett, author and celebrity hairstylist. Refined coconut oil or avocado oils but not the unrefined versions. Note: Smoke point ranges can vary wildly based on different factors. SMOOTH YOUR FRIZZY HAIR - John Frieda Extra Strength Serum is a fizzy hair treatment that fights weather-induced frizz, while helping to protect from heat damage and repel humidity. When you’re adding heat to your hair, we have the protection your hair needs. If you are one of those women who needs heat to style hair, at least ensure you use the latest tool with the latest technology. You can also find argan oil-infused heat protectants that have a more serum-like consistency if you prefer serum over a thinner natural oil product. Best for Curly Hair: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Thermal Protectant. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Now you know about oils as heat protectants, it’s time to understand how they protect the hair from dryness and damage. Avoid spraying on too much of the spray. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. According to scientific research, this is how it can help reduce the protein’s heat-induced degradation. Use these following temperature guides as a starting point. © 2020 Condé Nast. You can then gradually increase it until you find a temperature and balance between the heat used and the speed at which your hair styles. RUSK Designer Collection Thermal Serum with Argan Oil, 4.2 Oz, Alcohol-Free, Heat Protection and Shine, Frizz Eliminator, Great for Conditioning and Incredible Shine 4.6 out of 5 stars 586 $16.50 $ 16 . It protects your hair during heat styling and also leaves it smooth, hydrated, and silky (shout-out to the sea buckthorn berry in the formula). Method 1. Another option is to add 2-3 drops of dry oil like argan oil or perhaps essential oils like lavender or rosemary oil, but these are all optional. Start by filling the bottle ... 2. It’s not always a natural ingredient that’s the best candidate for the job. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Your California Privacy Rights. It seals in moisture and controls frizz. This is how silicone-based heat protectors give you the benefits you wanted from oils. You’ll be able to create beautiful hairstyles without worrying about damaging your locks. Heat Protectant Sprays Do This is because, while these oils aren’t automatically considered great heat protectants, they can still transfer heat to the hair’s core. Buy on Amazon Buy on Ulta. While its high moisturizing levels ensure hair doesn’t frizz, it can make hair greasy at times to spoil the appearance. Some natural oils that are great natural heat protectants are coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, and castor oil. Bonus! I thought, they may sound hard, but in reality, they are very easy. To hear more about the best heat protectants worth buying, we asked a few hairstylists about some of their favorites, from brands like Living Proof, Mizani, and Sun Bum. Lottabody does a great job at smoothing out my clients’ 4C hair, since it has tons of slip that makes it easier to manage prior to straightening. Then up the heat and straighten/curl away! This is because it’s quite difficult to reverse any of the damages inflicted on your hair from heat and hot tools. Plus, now that it’s going to be getting warmer out, I can use my spray as a leave-in conditioner when I let my hair air-dry. So, remove all excess water before using a hot tool. On the other hand, natural heat protectants are a better option, as mentioned earlier. It’s also used in sunscreens to increase the lotion’s SPF and works similarly on hair. Earlier we made a DIY homemade hair serum, now here is a DIY homemade heat protection spray. While good heat protectants are important for reducing hair damage, it’s not the only option you have. « Enzyme Exfoliator Ingredients That Will Give You Baby Skin, AHA vs BHA | All You Need to Know About Chemical Exfoliants ». There are lots of silicone heat protectants like dimethicone and Cyclomethicone that coat hair well to create a thin water and heat resistant coating. 3. Biolage Matrix Smoothproof Avocado 6 in 1 Hair Serum. Hair conditioner. Enter: Protect. This only leads to more heat damage. Hair healers are a boon to the hairstyling industry because of the many advantages they offer as a hair healer and protector: Applying protectants before using a straightening or curling iron makes styling easier because the hair proportions remain intact. Living Proof Restore Instant Protection Protective Styling Hairspray, Shu Uemura Color Lustre Thermo-Milk Blow Dry Primer, Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray, Lottabody Coconut Shea Oil Sleek Me Blowout Lotion, Fantasia IC Heat Protector Straightening Spray, Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant, It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Product, Alterna Caviar Professional Styling Perfect Iron Spray. Main of Contents. Spray it on your strands before you blow dry to prevent heat … Some products even provide conditioning and detangling benefits that make whipping through your hair routine a breeze while keeping hair at its healthiest. 2-5 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional). I’m Sienna, I’m all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy, all-natural skincare you LOVE. Fill the remaining part of the bottle with water. It actually has a higher heat point than grapeseed oil, making it a perfect candidate for use with high heat tools. It’s because shea butter’s thermal conductivity is similar to the thermal conductivity of silicone heat protectants, like dimethicone and Cyclomethicone. You must avoid smoke points for your safety and your hair needs ingredients to combat moisture loss. Add 1 to 2 drops of hair serum to the palm of your hand. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum - Argan Oil Hair Serum, Vitamin E Hair Serum and Aloe Vera Hair Serum for Frizz Control, Shine and Straightening - Coz Love is in the Hair - 2 Fl. It minimizes the damage caused by high temperatures from styling tools like curling irons, hair straighteners, and blow-dryers. You can mix your hair protectant spray in the bottle that you plan to keep it in. Shake the bottle well. … These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. —M.E. Once you’ve added the water to the bottle, mix in 24 to 36 drops of avocado oil. ¼ cup aloe vera juice; 2 tsp grapeseed oil; 2 tsp sunflower oil; 2 tsp argan oil; 2-5 drops of your favorite essential oil (optional) Funnel; Spritz bottle 5 Regular application before and after hair coloring or bleaching helps to reduce hair damage. I have now learned from my mistakes and learned what to do to protect my hair from such damage by using my favorite DIY deep conditioning hair mask. This lightweight oil has the ability to protect hair against high heat. For best results, apply your initial application of hair serum to clean, damp hair. This is because they just coat your hair and do not let moisture in. What Oil can I use as a Heat Protectant? “I recommend using a conditioning product while hair is damp, such as an oil, leave-in conditioner, or cream, then using a heat protectant before using your hot tool of choice.”. How to use the DIY heat protectant According to Anderson, acrolein increases the risks of cancer. Natural products are always better. —Devin Rahal, hairstylist, My favorite heat protectant to use right now is the Alterna Caviar Professional Styling Perfect Iron Spray, because it protects hair at up to 450 degrees. Xoxo. It keeps hair strands flat to protect from heat and reduce heat conduction to the cuticles to give you glossy, soft hair. Our Design Essentials® Silk Essentials Thermal Strengthening Serum is a lightweight strengthening and smoothing serum that protects the hair from heat damage. Though a little foaming may occur when adding the conditioner, this is not an issue. There are other things you can do to protect your hair from the heat of hot tools. Here are some of the DIY heat protectant recipes you can  try at home. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I like the product but will never order hair stuff online again. You just have to dilute it with 5 parts water to get the oils or silicone out of your hair. According to chemist Yolanda Anderson, the smoke or burning point as it’s known in chemistry is the temperature where the oil starts smoking, discoloring and decomposing. You do need silicones if you are using some intense heat on your hair. My favorite heat protectant to use right now is the Alterna Caviar Professional Styling Perfect Iron Spray, because it protects hair at up to 450 degrees. Nikki Melillo, hairstylist and owner of Wave Hair Studio in Boston, Massachusetts, recommends Drybar’s Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist, an innovative lightweight spray that protects dry hair from heat styling up to 450ºF. Once the spray has dried a bit, you’re ready to use the heat on your hair. Use more non-heat hair curlers or a paddle brush with the age-old 100 strokes technique to straighten hair. So in a nutshell, though you may not like to hear it, silicones are the best heat protectants. L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray: This high-performance, heat protectant spray for hair offers 450-degree heat protection for an ideal sleek look. Your hair may at the most be damp when using hot tools. A great heat protectant, like Shu Uemura’s Color Lustre Thermo-Milk Blow Dry Primer, can help minimize the damage some hot tools can create. Women have now started including natural oils in their hair care. 3. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. —P.B. Normally, the spray mixture will lather up a bit (it is due to the conditioner being added). This only increases the amount of heat the section receives. Coconut oil/almond Oil (optional) Distilled water. It leaves the hair non-sticky to both protect it against sun damage and repair damaged hair. Add coconut oil, almond oil and conditioner in the bottle. This way you can select the ideal temperature for your hair type. They are also easy to apply. It’s heat activated and locks in moisture, plus it helps smooth the hair cuticle while minimizing frizz and other effects seen from humidity. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Ingredients. 1.1 Streax Pro Hair Serum VITA GLOSS; 1.2 Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Heat Protector Serum; 1.3 Biolage Matrix Smoothproof 6 in 1; 1.4 Organic R/S Root Stimulator Olive Oil Heat Protection Serum; 1.5 THERMASTRENGTH® Heat Protecting Serum; 2 Other tips to protect your hair from heat damage. It’s heat activated and locks in … What are we looking for In a natural heat protectant? Using Silicones as Heat Protectants All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. —P.B. It’s not necessary to always use the hot tool’s maximum temperature for hair styling purposes. Best Smelling: TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Spray. It’s not advisable to rely only on heat protectants because your hair will eventually display signs of damage. You may also be interested in: Best Natural Oils for Dry Hair My homemade heat protectant spray has been leaving my hair so soft and smooth! DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer. They form a layer that covers and protects the hair to prevent heat from reaching the hair’s cuticle. 4. My ignorance led to me having fried hair! The main reason for using a hair protectant is to prevent problems, which these products may induce in the long run. There is an increased interest in the use of purer products on the hair. Pour about 200 ml of distilled water into the spray bottle (do not pour in the whole 250 ml water) while leaving a headspace of 2-3 inches. While it’s okay to use these shampoos with or without heat protectants, we recommend using less oily heat protectants when doing this. Using Oils as Heat Protectants Conclusion. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Use your hands to work the spray through your hair until all your hair is evenly coated. Prevent heat from reaching the hair cuticles and causing irreversible damage and breakage, Prevent hair from frying while improving the hair’s moisture content, Work great on all hair types, including curly and coarse hair, Something that minimizes hair heat damage because you don’t want it breaking, drying or splitting hair, Something that nourishes and moisturizes hair. I highly recommend Oribe’s Invisible Defense Spray, which is a super-light mist that helps prevent frizz and hydrates hair without weighing it down. Argan oil is called ‘miracle oil’ because it’s 100% absorbed by the hair. The baby acts like a protective layer coat and saves your strands from drying and dying out. Get High Heat Resistance! Try to let your hair air dry as much as possible. You could even bring a small bottle of it along on beach and pool days for easy hair detangling. Using a fortifying suite of thermal protectants, this serum guards against heat damage while controlling frizz and flyaways and enhancing shine. Now I don’t like using hair products containing silicones, or ingredients ending with –zane, -cone, -xane or –conol. All rights reserved. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. … It’s also made to protect hair from hot-tool temperatures up to 450 degrees and maintain straight styles for about a week per wear. There are natural oils that work like silicones to effectively protect hair from heat. FORMULATED TO FIGHT FRIZZ - Featuring bamboo extract, our Frizz Ease Serum for women and men transforms dry, frizzy hair into frizz-free hair. Tell heat damage to cool it. 2 DIY Heat Protectant Recipes. Add the avocado oil. This is a protectant that coats the hair to create a barrier and is extensively used to quickly detangle the hair. The fat tends to get closer to the flashpoint as it degrades. What Else Can You Do To Reduce Heat Damage for Your Hair? Using a funnel, pour aloe vera juice in a spritz bottle. I use to style on dry hair between washes and use a heat styling brush to give me fresh from the salon sleek hair! This non-sticking thermal protecting spray prevents hair damage by permitting a clean release from styling tools. Types of Hair Protectants A heat protectant can come in the form of a leave-in conditioner, a treatment spray, a setting lotion, a straightening serum or a blow-out foam. This may slow down the flat iron passing through your hair to induce more damage. Add the remaining 50 ml of distilled water and shake well. Stylists' Choice: GHD Heat Protect Spray. Find more here for more cooking oil smoke points. Plus, it leaves you with a smooth style and shiny finish. Sun Bum’s heat protectant is my absolute favorite right now, since it can be used on both wet hair and dry hair, and works really well to minimize frizz and the time I spend blow-drying my clients’ hair. Heat styles can be amazing for your look, but without proper protection, heat can cause breakage and dryness. This is when it starts producing ignitable gases, which is why using hot tools on oiled hair can lead to toxic consequences. Using hot tools on dripping wet hair is a no-no because the extra water quickly fries your hair. I love using the Fantasia IC Heat Protector Straightening Spray before blow-drying my hair, and sometimes to protect my natural curls before heading to an open outdoor area where sun damage can ensue, like the beach. Make sure you keep the spray bottle at least six inches from hair, so it mists hair evenly. Discover new workout ideas, healthy-eating recipes, makeup looks, skin-care advice, the best beauty products and tips, trends, and more from SELF. You will need to use some heavier oil for more coarse or curly hair. According to cosmetic scientist Erica Douglas, aka Sister Scientist, ” oils work like silicones in creating protective barriers from bad things like heat.”  While some oils remain intact even at high temperatures, it’s usually the heavier oils that weigh the hair down.