Every now and then, we all like to like to add a little flair into our lives. This can be achieved by trying a new fashion trend, switching to a bold nail polish, or simply changing up your hair. I’m all for a quick hair change!
Whether it be a bomb blow out, a sleek flat ironed look, or a few twirls of a curling wand*, heat styling can give you a new look in a hot second, literally. But before you break out the flat irons*, let’s discuss heat protectants. Are they really necessary?
Let us define what a heat protectant is, exactly. A heat protectant is easily defined as a product used to shield your tresses from damage when using heat styling tools, such as a blow dryer* or flat irons*.
The product creates a barrier between your hair and the heat being emitted from the styling tool. When shopping for a heat protectant*, silicone is a key ingredient that the product should contain. The silicone coats the hair, preventing it from reverting while supplying a protective layer of defense against the heat.
Cyclomethicone and dimethicone are found in many heat protecting agents, and other hair products such as conditioner. The properties of these silicones aid in adding shine to your hair, easing the detangling process, and allowing moisture to absorb into the hair shaft.
With all of the benefits of heat protectants, one might wonder why someone wouldn’t want to use them when heat styling. While the choice of products that one uses is typically a personal preference, I have to say that I recommend the use of a heat protectant before heat styling.
Why you ask? Heat damaged hair is not only an unsightly result of using heat in your hair, but it can cause split ends that will work their way up the hair shaft, causing more damage than good. There are products that you can use to strengthen the damaged hair, but the heat has already left irreversible damage. Heat protectants are beneficial for all hair types, and those that are relaxed, or natural.
The time to find a good heat protectant* is not after you’ve styled your hair with heat, it’s before. To keep your hair healthy, vibrant, and full of life, you want to use products that are going to defend each strand before, during, and after the heat styling process.
