But this kind of protection also has another benefit: some kinds of hair mousse can even provide heat protection for your locks when you blow dry or style, minimizing the potential for damage. To style, texturize, and provide hold: One of the most common reasons people use hair mousse is to add texture and definition.
It also doubles as a heat protectant, so if you need to blow dry your hair after using it, you can do so without having to layer on other products.
Argan oil, avocado oil, and refined coconut oil, all seem to be popular choices with good feedback from people who have used them as heat protectants.
First, What ARE Heat Protectants? Heat protectants add a protective barrier between your styling tool and your hair, sealing in moisture and fending off frizz. They often contain key moisturizing ingredients, like natural oils and fatty acids, but it's the usually the silicones and polymers that provide the barrier.
Redken One United All-In-One Leave In Conditioner - Multi-Benefit Treatment For All Hair Types, Heat Protectant Spray, Paraben Free.
Things to Consider Based On Your Hair Type
For those with thick, coarse hair, using a leave-in conditioner can provide extra moisture and make the hair more manageable. However, these hair types will also want a protectant in conjunction with a leave-in conditioner when heat styling to prevent damage.
Coconut Oil Heat Protectant: Mix melted coconut oil with aloe vera gel or water in a spray bottle. Shake well and apply to damp hair before heat styling. Shea Butter and Essential Oils Blend: Melt shea butter and mix it with a few drops of essential oils (like argan, lavender, or rosemary).
Damaged hair looks rough, dry, dull, and frizzy. It loses its natural shine because the cuticles, which give hair its sheen, have been damaged. Heat damaged curly hair may appear limp, and the curls may not hold their shape, and straight hair may not appear as polished and sleek.
If you're curling your hair or straightening, spray each section before applying the hot styling tool. This ensures the section gets a full dose of heat protection. After you spray your hair or section with heat protectant, LET IT DRY BEFORE APPLYING HEAT.
Instead of a packaged heat protectant hair product, you can use natural items found in your kitchen instead including avocado oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil.
Argan Oil
Argan oil has been the go-to natural heat protectant for years.
Your heat protectant is typically applied before rather than after mousse and other styling products like volumizing sprays. Liberally apply your heat protectant from root to ends to ensure that your hair isn't damaged by heat styling.
Too much usage of hair mousse may dry out your hair strands and cause damage. 3. If your hair is chemically treated, then overusing mousse may have adverse effects on your hair.
Always use the mousse on semi-wet hair that has been towel dried, ideally after having cleaned it free from other product traces and residual dirt. Using hair mousse on dry hair will often only serve to mat it and dull its appearance. Amount: The amount of product you use will depend on your hair length.
As we've noted, damaged hair repair isn't possible because the protein bonds and cuticles have been permanently altered. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining hair to prevent further damage. If your hair is severely damaged, the most extreme solution is to cut it off and start fresh.
Moderately damaged hair may start to return to its “usual self” in two to three months after using heat with caution & twice-weekly treatments, especially if you use treatments & ingredients such as jojoba oil that are specifically targeted at rebuilding your hair's protein & restoring its lipids.
Straightening unprotected hair daily is one of the quickest routes to serious damage. Each time you apply direct heat without protection, you're essentially cooking your hair, stripping away its natural moisture and weakening its internal bonds.
Some people also claim olive oil can act as a heat protectant, but Zito does not recommend this. Extra virgin olive oil has a smoking point of 320 °F, Zito says, and many flatirons, wands, and curling irons reach temperatures much higher than that between 400 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
It can also be applied to your hair before straightening or curling to protect it from heat and give it that extra shine. If you are prone to dry or damaged hair this could be the perfect treatment for you as it is deeply nourishing and helps to improve scalp circulation.