All You Need To Know About Heat Protection Sprays

All You Need To Know About Heat Protection Sprays

Are you using a heat protection spray when you are styling your hair with flat irons, curling rods or blow dryers? If not, then it's something to worry about. Whether you’re going for a sleek and straight hairstyle or for voluminous curly bangs, it definitely takes a little heat to set your hair in your favorite style.

But along with enhancing your mane with special looks, heat styling also brings havoc to your hair in the form of heat damage. The right heat protection spray can however come to your rescue! Want to know how you should choose and use the right heat protection spray, and why it is an important step in heat styling? Read on.

What Is Heat Protection Spray For Hair?

A heat protection spray is meant for protecting your hair from the damage caused by the direct exposure to heat from the styling equipment[1]. It usually comes as a leave-in product and can also be available in the form of cream, gel, or serum. It needs to be applied to your hair before heat styling your hair.

Does Heat Protectant Really Work?

Yes, heat protectants really work to reduce the direct heat exposure on your hair, thus controlling heat damage. However, it cannot prevent heat damage completely but only helps in minimizing it.

How Does Heat Protection Spray Work?

Heat protectant spray coats a protective layer on your hair strands, which acts as a barrier between your hair and the dissipating heat from the styling tools[2]. This helps in slowing down heat conduction and promotes even distribution of heat in a hair strand.

What Does Our Ayurvedic Doctor Say?

"Heat protection sprays can make your hair heat up gradually and evenly while it reduces sudden shock to your hair, resulting in less hair damage."

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic doctor at Vedix

Most common ingredients used in heat protection sprays and how they work on your hair:

  1. Humectants: Controls frizz by preserving the moisture in your hair.
  2. Amino acids: Nourish[3] and strengthen your hair while fighting the free radical damage.
  3. Herbal extracts and essential oils: Seals the hair cuticles and imparts a smooth texture to your hair.

Important Note:

We recommend you to avoid using the heat protection sprays containing silicones and water-based polymers. These ingredients can weigh down your hair and leave residues that can cause further hair damage in the long run.

Benefits Of Heat Protection Sprays

1. Prevention Of Moisture Loss

By adding a protective barrier to your hair, heat protection spray prevents the loss of moisture when you apply heat during hair styling. This keeps the hair healthy and nourished.

2. Moisture Restoration

Most of the heat protection sprays contain nourishing and conditioning ingredients which help in restoring the moisture that was already lost from your hair.

3. Damage And Frizz Control

Using heat protection spray before styling your hair can help you keep your hair cuticles integrated. This prevents protein loss, which in turn, controls the hair breakage and frizziness caused during heat styling. Thus, heat protection sprays help in maintaining the smooth texture of your hair.

4. Easier & Effective Hair Styling

Some of the ingredients used in heat protection sprays get activated on the application of heat during styling. These activated compounds make your hair get styled easily at lower temperatures. They also help in maintaining your hairstyle for a longer period while protecting your hair from heat damage.

What Happens If You Do Not Use Heat Protectants?

hairdresser appliances - hair dryer, curling, corrugation, straightener

If you do not use a heat protectant, then your hair comes in direct contact with the heat every time you use a styling tool. This direct heat exposure can dry out your hair and break down the keratin bonds in your hair strand. Thus, your hair becomes dry and frizzy while it loses its elasticity and strength. Your hair also starts to look dull while the split ends increase. The heat can even strip off the melanin pigment in your hair, leading to premature greying[4].

How To Use Heat Protection Spray For Hair?

You need to use the heat protection spray in the following way on your damp or air-dried hair before using a blow-dryer or styling rods on your hair:

Step1: Detangle your hair a little with your fingers gently. Do not apply a pulling force on your damp hair.

Step2: Divide your hair into small sections.

Step3: Take each section and spray the heat protectant from all sides. Avoid spraying it on your scalp area.

Step4: Now, comb each of your hair sections gently to distribute the heat protectant evenly across your hair.

As per recent studies, it is better to use a blow dryer from a distance of 5 inches or more on your scalp to protect your hair follicle from heat damage[5].

How Do You Find The Best Heat Protectant For Your Hair?

You should choose the best heat protectants for your hair by considering the following factors:

1. Your Hair Type

You need to pick your heat-protecting product depending on your hair type. For example, people with extremely dry and frizzy hair can opt to use heat-protecting creams while people with extremely oily hair can prefer using heat-protecting gels. You can also use heat protection sprays that are customized with ingredients suitable for your hair type.

2. Your Hair Texture

If you have thick hair, then choose a heat protection spray that is non-greasy and light in weight. Similarly, people with fine hair can choose oil-based sprays which are a little heavy. If your hair is colored, then you need to pick heat protection sprays that do not strip off your hair color.

3. Ingredients Used In The Spray

Always opt for a heat protection spray that has high-quality and nourishing ingredients. Ensure the product does not contain any harmful and irritating chemicals such as sulfates and parabens.

DIY Natural Heat Protection Sprays

If you want to stick to a natural hair care regimen, you can ditch the heat protectants available in the market and use any of the following as your home-made heat protection sprays:

1. Coconut Oil Heat Protection Spray

To make a coconut oil-based heat protection spray, dilute a spoonful of coconut oil with ¾ cup of water. Pour this emulsion carefully into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well before each use and it’s preferable to spray on wet hair. Keep the temperature below 325 degrees for styling when you use coconut oil as a heat protectant.

Coconut oil is a good option for people with fine hair as it has a smoking point of 350 degrees. However, it can weigh down your hair a bit due to its heavy nature. Coconut oil helps in repairing the hair from the existing heat damage by conditioning your hair deeply. It also acts as a natural sealant for your cuticles, keeping your hair smoother, softer, and free of frizz.

2. Avocado Heat Protection Spray

Add a spoonful of avocado oil into 1 cup of water. Mix the solution well and pour it into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well before using it on your dry hair before heat styling.

Avocado oil is loaded with vitamin E and antioxidants. Avocado oil can protect your hair from all kinds of heat, right from the styling tools to the sun. It is also a great option for people with color-treated hair. It has a smoking point of 520 degrees, which makes it a good choice for any hair texture and density. It is light in weight and ideal to use even on fine hair strands.

3. Grapeseed Oil Heat Protection Spray

Put 4-6 drops of grapeseed oil into your palms. Rub your palms together and apply the oil directly from the mid-shaft to the tips of your hair with even distribution. While styling, maintain the temperature below 400 degrees when you use grapeseed oil for heat protection.

Grapeseed oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E. It is absorbed easily into your hair and helps in reviving lifeless and dull hair. It has a smoke point of 420 degrees and can be used by people with dry scalp and coarser, thicker hair textures. It helps in sealing the hair cuticles well while leaving your hair softer and lustrous.

4. Sunflower Oil Heat Protection Spray

Add a spoonful of sunflower oil into 2 cups of water. Mix the solution well and pour it into a spray bottle. Use it from the mid-shaft to the tips of your wet hair before heat styling.

Sunflower oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E, which provide deep nourishment to your hair. Sunflower oil has a high smoke point of 440 degrees, which can make it a good option for people with coarser and thicker hair textures. It can be a great natural alternative to silicon-based heat protection sprays. Moreover, it has rich conditioning properties that give your hair a very soft texture.

5. Almond Oil Heat Protection Spray

Apply 3-5 drops of cold-pressed organic almond oil to your damp hair directly. When you use almond oil as a heat protectant for your hair, it is recommended to style your hair with a maximum temperature of 420 degrees.

With the richness of vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E, almond oil helps in nourishing your hair by filling the gaps in your cuticle layer. It makes your hair more resilient, healthier, and stronger.

You can use almond oil when you have over-processed fine hair. It has a smoke point of 430 degrees and it is easily absorbed into your hair.

As almond oil is light in weight, it does not cause your hair to weigh down. Avoid using almond oil as a heat protectant for your hair if you have nut allergies.

‘’Based on your Ayurvedic hair type, moringa oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, etc., can be used on Vata hair type as natural heat protectants. Similarly, olive oil or honey can be used for Kapha hair type and aloe vera gel or amla oil can be used on Pitta hair type,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

Vedix Tip: If your purpose is just drying your hair but not styling, then it is always better to leave your hair for air drying rather than using a blow-dryer.

How Often Should You Use Heat Protection Sprays?

You need to use a heat protection spray every time you are applying heat on your hair to style it. However, any heat protection spray can only minimize the direct heat exposure to your hair but cannot completely insulate your hair from the heat. Hence, we encourage you to limit your hair styling frequency to prevent hair damage.

How Long Does Heat Protectant Last In Your Hair

Typically, it is better to heat style or blow dry your hair within an hour after spraying the heat protectant on your hair. However, the effectiveness of a heat protection spray can last up to 4 hours on average.

Important Note:

Please consult your doctor before using any heat protection sprays on your hair. Do check if the ingredients are suitable for your hair type.

The Last Word

Most of the heat protection sprays are a blend of herbal extracts, humectants, and protein. This combination of ingredients works to seal the moisture in your locks, in turn, reducing the heat damage caused by styling procedures. Hence, never style your hair with hot tools until you shield your hair by spraying a heat protectant. Also, include regular deep conditioning treatments in your hair care regimen to revive your hair from heat damage.

At Vedix, we customize an Ayurvedic hair care regimen with the most suitable ingredients for your hair type and hair needs.

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