It seems like everywhere you look on the internet, everyone is trying to show you how to get the most beautiful, voluminous hair. The beauty gurus have spoken, and the best way to get head-turning locks is to focus on the health of your hair. We all know that heat-styling is one of the biggest culprits of hair damage, but for the sake of optimising your hair’s health, are you really going to stop using your dryer, straighteners and curlers? Minimising using heated styling tools is highly recommended, but no one is saying you have to give them up completely – you just have to do what’s necessary to protect your hair. Enter heat protectants!
Heat protectants have come a long way since they were first introduced to the market, and it took some time for people to catch on to the fact that they were necessary to protect your hair from the hear. Now we have a huge range of different types of heat protectant products, with sprays and serums being among the most popular.
The thing is, with heat protectants, you need to use the right type for your hair, or else it could just cause a lot of buildup and leave your hair looking and feeling less than glamorous. So, we’re going to help you find the type of heat protectant that will best suit your hair. Which will it be, sprays or serums? Let’s find out!
What should a good heat protector contain?
Regardless of whether it’s a spray or a serum, you need to make sure you use heat-protectant products that contain ingredients that will effectively protect your hair. So, when you’re perusing the back of the containers, here are some of the active ingredients to keep an eye out for:
- PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer
- Hydrolysed wheat protein
- Quaternium 70
- Silicones (dimethicone and silicone quaterniums)
- Argan oil
- Keratin
- Panthenol
What is a heat-protectant spray?
Heat protection spray is a type of heat protectant with a lightweight formula that you can spritz over your hair from root to tip. It should create a thin protective layer over your hair to minimise the damage caused by the heat emitted from styling equipment.
What type of hair would best benefit from a heat protectant spray?
Heat protectant sprays are suitable for all types of hair, especially for finer hair that is easily weighed down by the product. It’s best used if you’re going to be styling hair that is already dry, as not only will the spritz give you an added layer of protection, but it may also give you the benefit of a style that holds for longer.
What is a heat-protectant serum?
Heat-protectant serums use similar ingredients to sprays, but the biggest difference between these two amazing products is the texture. Serums have a smooth and thick texture and are generally heavier than a spray.
What type of hair would best benefit from a heat-protectant serum?
Serums are usually thicker than sprays and, therefore, are better suited to thicker hair and can be more nourishing. The best time to use a heat-protectant serum is when you are styling with wet hair, as it can protect your hair from the harsh temperatures of hair dryers and brushes that may cause it to overheat.
What are the benefits of using a heat protectant?
If protecting your hair from irreversible heat damage wasn’t enough to convince you to start using a heat-protectant product like a spray or serum, maybe these benefits will pique your interest:
- Heat protectants can help prevent moisture loss
Coating your hair with a thin layer of hair protectant not only depends on it against high temperatures but also locks in moisture. Think about it: when you apply heat to the hair, any moisture that is inside may evaporate due to the exposure to the heat, so adding a thin protective layer can help your hair hang on the moisture in your strands.
- Heat protectants can help restore moisture
Using a heat protectant that is rich in nutrients will add moisture to your hair, which will also help it hold styles better.
- Heat protectants can smooth the hair cuticles
Not only are heat protectants great for protecting your hair but many are formulated with ingredients that can also smooth and nourish it. Smoothing out the cuticles will add a shine and glossiness to your hair which can make it look super healthy.
- Heat protectant may make it easier to style hair
There are some heat protectants that contain ingredients that are activated by heat. This means that using heat protectants with these particular ingredients can actually make it easier to style your hair.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, nobody knows your hair quite like you do, so while there is a general rule of what heat protectant would work better for different types of hair and styles, you need to go and experiment! If you know your hair doesn’t do well with heavier products, stick to the sprays and use a very light hand when applying. The aim is gorgeous, healthy hair and using heat-protectant products is a necessity, but you’ve got to find the one that suits you.
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