Your Guide to Heat Protectants

I have written this article a few times before, but I feel once in a while I need to create a new one because as new products some out and as technology evolves my recommendations for heat protectants changes. It is SO important that we use heat protection when we flat iron, curl or blow dry our hair. No excuses. Heat Protection will help to ensure our color stays vibrant, our ends don't dry out and that our hair stays healthy. But there are so many on the market, and it's hard to know which ones to get and when to use them. So here is my guide to heat protectants, when to use them and what I recommend. You can also click on any of the product names to learn more about them and where to purchase them.

Blow Drying Hair

When you blow dry the hair you need a heat protectant that can act as a wind breaker and not only protect your hair form heat, but from the pressure and force of the dryer. Here are a few of my favorites. And Pro Tip - unless you are diffusing curly hair, dry your hair about half way with a towel or dryer before applying the heat protectant. Otherwise it penetrates the water on your hair and evaporates off with it.

FOR CULRY HAIR I love the Matrix Style Link Curvy Queen Blowout Cream (pictured on the left). It helps your curls to form fully and last with a diffuser. You can pick that up here. I also love how it tames frizz without weighing the hair down a ton. If you have very frizzy kinky curls, you may want to opt for the suggestion I have for coarse and thick hair.

FOR FINE HAIR OR OILY HAIR I like the Tigi Bed Head Small Talk or the Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray (pictured on the right). They are both super light weight. The Small Talk smells like candy and the Pillow Proof has more of a honey scent. The TIGI product helps to hydrate as well as protect and add volume and fullness to your look. The  Redken spray is weightless and protects your hair, but doesn't do much for hydration of fullness. Both are great options, but if your hair is plenty full, or has major frizz issues, then the Primer spray would probably be better than the small talk cream. If you want no shine at all try the Wella EIMI Perfect Me Beauty Balm. It's hydrating, lightweight and matte.

FOR COARSE OR THICK HAIR I love the Matrix Style Link Skinny Queen. It's super hydrating and truly cuts down on your blow dry time. It makes your hair feel healthier and softer. I seriously am obsessed with it. It's my go to product for people with that ultra-dry porous texture that is commonly found in African cultures or in islanders. Otherwise I also like the Hot Sexy Hair Prep Me Blowout Cream (pictured on the left). It's also hydrating and has some weight to it. The Hot Sexy Hair is a little lighter weight than the Skinny Queen, which is necessary for many.


Using Styling Tools

When you are curling or flat ironing your hair, that is when it is most important that you use a good heat protectant. Styling tools (curling wands, flat irons, curling irons, etc) can be super harmful for your hair because you are putting direct heat on them! Make sure you are using a high quality hot tool, just like with cooking pans, the types of metal you use can effect the things on their surface differently. You can read my guide to hot tools here.

FOR FINE HAIR I love the lightweight, yet effective, Hot Sexy Hair Protect Me. It comes out of a pressurized can in a fine mist, it doesn't weigh your hair down and it smells amazing. It protects up to 450 degrees of heat and is seriously worth every single penny. I also like the  Biosilk Silk Therapy Thermal Shield. It comes out of a classic spray bottle with a pump nozzle, and it is very light weight. Just make sure you brush through your hair after applying it to prevent clumps of concentrated product. Another fan favorite of mine is the Wella EIMI Thermal Image (pictured on the right). It smells delicious, is weightless and so easy to use. It protects from up to 438 degrees of heat.

FOR COARSE HAIR OR THICK HAIR I like the Biolage RAW Heat Styling Primer. It is a cream, so it's hydrating. It has 98% natural ingredients, it's silicone free, paraben free and vegan. It also protects up toTIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray (pictured on the left). This stuff smells like an orange creamsicle. It is amazing! It adds a lot of shine to the hair and keeps it looking healthy. If you don't want any added shine, you may want to skip this one.
450 degrees. I adore the

FOR HAIR THAT WON'T HOLD CURL I recommend a few products that are very similar. They are all classic sprays, they all have a little starch in them. This acts as a primer to help hold the style you give your hair and will reinforce hairspray. My hair holds a curl very well, but I often still use these kinds of heat protectants so that I can skip the hairspray entirely. The Kenra Thermal Styling Spray is probably the most gentle of all of these (because it's starchy quality isn't as strong). Then I like the Redken Iron Shape (pictured on the right), Hot Sexy Hair Support Me and the most high hold of them all is the Redken Hot Sets. You really can't go wrong with any of these products.



For Everyday Protection

In your normal day to day life, your hair goes through a lot. Dirt and pollutants in the air can adversely affect your hair. On top that the sun's rays have a major impact on your hair, just like it does with your skin. You ever noticed how your blondes may begin to yellow over time? Or how your beautiful warm browns and red tones dull after a while? The sun plays a major part in that. But fear not! Just like you can purchase sun block for your skin, you can purchase it for your hair too! I have two that I adore.

FOR FINE HAIR I love the TIGI Bed Head Beach Bound Spray. It smells incredible, it is completely light weight and will protect your color from fading and your cuticle from damage inflicted by UVA and UVB rays. 

FOR COARSE HAIR I love the Unique One spray (pictured on the left in the fragrance Original). This spray in incredible and can be found at your local salon. It is actually made by Revlond, but is a multi benefit treatment spray. It hydrates, smooths, repairs and conditions the hair all while blocking UVA and UVB rays. It comes in four fragrances and I know you'll be hooked. It is the best selling product at all of the salons I have worked at that carry it.