Should I use heat protectant before blow-drying my hair? Which are the best?

it is convenient to regulate the heat

It is always advisable to use a heat protectant before blow-drying your hair.
This way, you will avoid heat softening the natural protective collagen layer that can break the hair fiber.
A heat protectant is always used on wet hair and with the blow-dryer on medium temperature.

Which heat protectant can you choose for blow-drying your hair?

It all depends on your hair type and goals but, roughly speaking we can say that:

If your hair is oily, it’s best to choose a liquid protectant
if you want to eliminate frizz, choose a bi-phase protectant
if you’re worried about your hair getting tangled while you’re drying it, pick an oily one
and if your hair is very porous or thick, a cream protectant is best

use before blow drying hair

Let’s face it, even if you have the best hair products, you often need to use a hairdryer to tame, style, and set your hairstyle.

However, have you ever thought about the damage your blow-dryer can do to your hair if you don’t use a heat protectant?

I’ll tell you in three simple sentences: frizz, split ends and damaged hair fiber.

That will happen if you don’t use heat protectant. To understand why and how this happens, you need to know more about your hair structure. Every strand of hair has two layers:

An inner layer, full of water molecules and keratin
An external cuticle, which is smooth and shiny in healthy hair

When you apply heat to the hair, it essentially evaporates the water molecules of the inner layer, altering the internal structure and properties of hair.

This allows you to change your hair’s natural curl patterns, straightening them or vice versa. However, it can also cause frizz and dry out your hair. High temperatures create cracks and cause cuticle breaks, resulting in hair fiber damage.

In addition, heat destroys your hair’s natural keratin, weakening it and causing frizz.

Are you worried?

Wipe that worried look off your face because, fortunately, it’s not all bad news. If you use a heat protectant, you’ll reduce the chances of damaging your hair, and you’ll be able to use your hairdryer without guilt.

So, if you’re worried about the health of your hair, stay with me, because I’ll tell you:

How to use the heat protectant correctly before blow-drying your hair
How to choose the heat protectant according to your hair type

Now, the dryer will no longer be your enemy, but a reliable ally.

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How to use the heat protectant correctly before blow-drying your hair

spray

As I told you before, heat protectants add a protective barrier between the dryer and your hair, sealing in moisture and preventing frizz.

They are also very effective in smoothing the cuticle, leaving your hair soft.

But, there is a correct way to apply it to make sure that every little bit of your hair is protected.

Divide your hair into different strands.

This way you can spray each section evenly from the roots to the ends.

Comb your hair.

Use a comb to effectively distribute the protectant across the entire surface of your hair.

If the product you are going to apply is a cream, I do not recommend applying it directly to the hair.

The best thing in this case is to apply it to the palm of your hand, starting from the tips which are usually the most damaged, dry, and porous areas. Finish by applying some of the protectant to the roots, to prevent your hair from becoming too flat or greasy.

Finally, dry your hair.

Here’s how to do it right so you don’t damage your hair.

How to blow-dry your hair without damaging it

medium temperature

Generally, most hair dryers have power and temperatures that we can regulate.

Ideally, we should use the medium temperature, i.e. heat should be neither hot nor cold. As for speed, don’t worry, you can use the maximum power, as long as the temperature is medium.

It is important that you use the dryer correctly so that the protectant fulfills its function properly.
Therefore, start by drying the hair root and then the ends, placing the dryer nozzle downwards and following the vertical direction, as if you wanted to flatten your hair.
In this way, you will be drying in the direction of your hair cuticles, which will flatten out and reflect light much better. So your hair will look brighter and less frizzy

Choosing a heat protectant will depend purely on the texture of your hair. Do you want to know which heat protectant is best for your hair type?

Then, read on.

How to choose the right heat protectant for your hair type

In this type of product, quality is important. So, as far as possible, choose a good quality heat protectant.

Good quality products contain moisturizing ingredients, such as panthenol and propylene glycol, which preserve moisture and block frizz.

They will also include amino acids, such as keratin, to strengthen hair and provide antioxidants and natural oils and extracts, such as aloe, that protect and seal the hair cuticle.

Protectants containing these ingredients are generally suitable for all hair types.

Now, if your hair is very oily, avoid those containing silicones, such as dimethicone and Cyclomethicone. Also, avoid water-based polymers, such as polyquaternium and acrylate copolymer, as these ingredients leave a film that can cause your hair to be very flat.

Heat protectants come in different presentations. You can find them in cream, oil, biphasic and liquid presentations with a dispenser. Which one should you choose?

Thermal protectant in cream for thick and porous hair

This type of protectant will nourish your hair fiber and smooth the surface making hair look much shinier and leaving a perfect finish. It provides extra weight for hair that "swells up" and needs to lose its frizz.

Thermal oil protectants for easily tangling hair

The vast majority of this type of protectants contains Moroccan argan oil or highly concentrated coconut oil. They nourish and repair the hair fiber without adding weight to the hair.

Its light and fluid texture make it easy to blow-dry hair, leaving it soft from the roots to the ends. It is also ideal for untangling hair after washing and adding shine before or after drying.

Bi-phase heat protectants for hair with a lot of frizz

These protectants are two in one, as they contain one part of the product in cream and the other in oil. The cream provides weight, and the oil eliminates frizz while providing shine.

Liquid heat protectants for oily hair

This type of protectant is lighter, so it will not add oil to your hair. It will not reduce its shine and it will prevent your hair from being flattened if what you need is a hairstyle with volume.

Conclusions

Before using the hairdryer, always apply a heat protectant to your hair because, this way, you will protect the external part of the hair, avoiding breakage. Therefore, the appearance of frizz is avoided too.

You will only need to apply it to your wet hair before starting to blow-dry it.

Now tell me, which heat protectant will you choose according to your hair type?

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