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.
Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera Gel: Mix melted coconut oil with aloe vera gel for a lightweight yet protective heat protectant. Aloe vera soothes and forms a protective barrier, while coconut oil moisturises. Shea Butter, Argan Oil, and Honey: Blend shea butter with argan oil and a small amount of honey.
Instructions. To properly use as a heat protectant, melt one teaspoon of coconut oil and then dilute it by adding 3/4 cup of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well before each use. It's always best to apply this formula to wet hair and to keep it all on the mid-shaft to ends, away from the scalp.
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.
Hair styling using high heat can cause irreversible damage, but it doesn't have to. Heat protectants are an essential product for natural hair styling to protect, moisturize, & smooth whether you have thick hair or fine hair.
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.
While a leave-in conditioner can provide some protection, it may not offer the same level of protection as a dedicated heat protectant. Leave-in conditioner isn't formulated to withstand high temperatures, which means it may be unable to protect the hair against the full extent of heat damage caused by styling tools.
Argan oil has been the go-to natural heat protectant for years. This lightweight oil can protect hair against high heat. Plus, it leaves you with a smooth style and shiny finish.
Always remember that the main purpose of a serum is to protect your hair from heat, dust, pollution, and other environmental aggressors. Thoroughly clean your scalp with your shampoo and dry the hair with a towel.
No matter your hair type, it's essential to use a heat protectant to prep the hair and a finishing cream, oil or hairspray to lock the look in.
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.
Coated fabrics are often used as heat shields and for protective purposes. Coatings can be made from neoprene, silicon, ceramic or others and are also UV, chemical and abrasion resistant.
But, if your hair runs dry, it can be extremely helpful to use a leave-in conditioner after you wash and before you flat iron. It will help keep your ends from getting that dry, burnt, straw-like look.
One of the best ways to care for your hair after a shower is to use a leave-in conditioner. This type of conditioner is designed to be left in your hair and can help to restore moisture and prevent breakage. Another option is to use a hair oil or serum, which can help to add shine and protect against heat damage.
So, if you are wondering exactly what to apply before ironing hair, these are the 4 must-use products: a hair primer, a thermal heat protectant, a hair serum, and a split end sealer.
While it may sound counterintuitive, oils can help protect from heat damage + lipid loss in many ways. To start, they help regulate your hair's moisture content.
Quality heat protectants contain ingredients like humectants (like panthenol and propylene glycol), which preserves moisture and blocks frizz; amino acids (like keratin), to strengthen hair and provide antioxidants; and natural oils and extracts (like aloe), which protect and seal the hair's cuticle.
Silicones work by forming a barrier between your hair and the heat source, effectively protecting your hair from heat damage. If your leave-in conditioner contains ingredients that protect against heat, it could protect your hair from damage resulting from heat application.
Aloe vera is known for its hydrating and moisturizing properties, which makes it a perfect ingredient for a heat protectant spray. It helps to form a protective layer on your hair strands that shields it from the heat of styling tools.