Heat Protectant Explained

Protection applies to more than just sex ed.

Hi, hairdresser here to enlighten you on heat protection. Now I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t have a f**king clue behind the science of heat protectants, but I do know they work and are extremely imperative for hair health and color longevity. Heat protectants are like a bandaid on your hair. They are the first line of defense against hot tools, and protect your hair from the heat. Woah… what a concept given the name.

Protectants are burnt off with hot tool applications, which is why it is so important to apply one every. single. time you use a tool. Not just once before your blow dry. Here’s an example: it’s unfortunately hair washing day, and now you have to execute the daunting task of drying your hair. Que your first heat protectant application. Now that your hair is dry, you want to curl/straighten it. Second application. Fast forward four days and your hair has fallen limp and lifeless (get your head out of the gutter). You’re going to a friend’s wedding where your ex will be, and you’ll be damned if he sees you with busted hair, so you re-curl it. Third application enters the chat.

Now I know what you are all thinking… “Blah, blah, blah, just tell me what to buy and where to buy it.” Well unfortunately you’re going to have to do a little research. Smell, feel, weight on hair, and price are all going to be deciding factors for each of you.

While blow out balms and styling cremes all have heat protection in them, they’re usually only good for the first round of styling. Personally, I love a good one size fits all product. Aside from making sure your products are professional quality, look for a protectant that has a spray nozzle. These are more universal when it comes to applying them on both wet and dry hair.

Now I really know what you’re all thinking… “Great, I just read this whole stupid article and now all I know is my hair is crispy af, and I still don’t know what to buy.” Don’t get your panties in a bunch, below I’ve listed some of my personal favorites in no particular order. All can be purchased at Sephora, Ulta, or direct from manufacturer. *Disclaimer- we all know I have an unhealthy obsession for the It’s a 10 Leave In. The only reason it didn’t make the list is because it doesn’t work for both wet and dry applications.