Another Anon Asks…Hey, I just discovered this site and I consider it to be really interesting, so I just wanted to know, is it really true that heat activated/thermo protector products actually protect hair from heat? PS: I love this site keep up the good work!
The Right Brain Blushes:
Thanks for being a fan, Anon. Here’s your answer along with a little background on heat and hair:
Heat on Hair
Heat from styling appliances damages hair in a three ways. First, heat can weaken and destroy the proteins that hair is composed of. Second, heat can disrupt the natural oils in hair that help hold it together. Third, heat can dry out hair by boiling off internal moisture. After this kind of heat exposure hair can be damaged much more easily which leads to split and broken hairs.
Hair Heat Protection?
Can heat activated/heat protectant products really help? First, you have to understand that these terms don’t mean the same thing. Heat activated is more of a marketing term that doesn’t really mean much. It just means that the ingredients in the formula do “something” different when exposed to heat. Fragrance, for example, can be encapsulated so that it releases when exposed to heat. Styling products can be heat activated because certain polymers they contain melt and spread better when heat is applied. So, just because a product is heat activated doesn’t mean it offers heat protection.
Heat protection, on the other hand, is a “real claim” or at least as real as a hair care claim can be. Heat protection products work by coating the hair and lubricating it during heat styling. This conditioning effect reduces the amount of damage caused by blowdryers, curling irons and flat irons. The good news is that any product that conditions your hair during heat styling will help protect it. You don’t necessarily have to buy a special product.
The Brains’ Bottom Line:
If you’re exposing your hair to heat you need to use a product to protect it. Conditioning your hair before styling will help and so will using a spray or mousse in your hair during styling.
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So that means that *any* hair product, be it mousse, hair spray, leave-in conditioner, etc. will protect hair while I blow dry and curl with an iron? I don’t necessarily need to buy a special heat protecting product then, right?
Should I wait until this stuff (any product) dries before I apply the heat?
no the chemicals in mousse and hairspray actually damage the hair even more by drying your hair out. I would suggest using a heat protector or a leave in conditioner while hair is towel dried, and then wait to style until it is fully dry or else it will result in weak dry damaged hair
Hm. I don’t acctually “believe” in heat protection products, because they conday alcohol and many many chemicals. I would like to try something simple. Does olive oil help when applyed on dry hair just before straighening?
Vanilla, you shouldn’t use oil to flat iron. You are literally frying your hair.
As long as the product contains silicone (ie. Dimethicone or anything ending in “cone”) then you should be fine in terms of heat protection. I use Redken Heat Glide heat protectant and it’s great.
As I understand it. The alcohol keeps the polymer dissolved until it coats your hair. When sprayed it evaporates and your left with a polymer – plastic/silicone layer for protection.
can u us heat protector straightening on dry hair be for u flat iron it.
If you have a product that is versatile for wet or dry hair then i would evenly apply (usually between a dime and quarter size) that product through the hair after towel drying, once the hair is completely dry (via air or blowdry) i usually re-apply if you have fine hair you may want to stick to one or the other but i normally cut the amount in half or even 1/3 due to the fact that now there is no water left in the hair to dilute your product. if you always air dry you could get a professional flat iron spray only (can be used with curling irons too lol) which is intended for use on dry hair and evenly spritzed on each individual section you are applying the heat to. or get two different products, a thermal protective conditioning serum to blowdry (or air dry yes it will still help shine in the finished style) and a flat iron thermal protective spray on dry hair to ensure you havn’t activated all the protection from the first product and help give a hold to your style.
What brand for heat protecting serum is available in the Philippines?