We owe a lot to hair. Despite hard style, harsh DIY dye treatments, and hurried brushing, hair can still serve up some pretty amazing hair days. Even when we're sleeping, if we don't use a protective sleep style or curly hair ponytail extension, our hair is becoming harmed.
We can at least try to avoid harm by using a heat protectant spray. And for all you "does heat protectant actually work?" sceptics out there, we've got proof that this magic spray can almost completely avoid heat damage. And what happens if you don't utilize it?
What Happens to Hair When You Style It with Heat?
Hair dryers, unless set to the coldest setting, can heat hair to temperatures ranging from 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you may vary the heat on your straighteners and curling irons, we know that for a decent style, you should set them to 275°F or above. I'm very sure we all have a secret crush on the 410°F level that the lower settings are unaware of.
Even if you don't use the higher settings, when your hair warms up above 260°F, it suffers from a few sorts of damage right away:
Keratin proteins in your hair are hydrogen-bonded, and as these hydrogen bonds break down, they suck away your hair's natural oil and moisture.
As keratin proteins deteriorate, so do your hair's strength and flexibility.
The pigments in your hair are also removed, which might cause your hair to change colour (blondes will go a bit brassy).
The cuticle (outside surface) of the hair splits and frays, resulting in frizzy hair.
Moisture will evaporate from the inside of the hair, especially when using straightening irons and curling irons.
When you heat style your hair frequently, "bubble hair," an industry term for those hydrogen bonds that are filled with air, affects the structure and texture of your hair.
But how effective is heat protection against all of this? It certainly does! We adore difficulties that can be avoided.
What Is the Purpose of Heat Protectant?
Simply simply, heat protectant acts as a barrier between your tools' exterior heat and your strand. Before we get into the science, heat protectant smoothes down the cuticle with a low conductivity component, resulting in sealed-in, tamed frizz, and hydration!
What exactly does heat protectant do to your hair while it's working? Certain chemicals are critical in heat protection for your hair. PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, quaternium 70, and hydrolyzed wheat protein are some prominent active substances that accomplish all the job.
When they were evaluated (in a 1998 study), they discovered that these typical heat protectant chemicals might lessen damage by 10-20% at 1% strength. Because of the low thermal conductivity of these substances, heat was distributed more uniformly and heat conduction was retarded.
There are a slew of other compounds out there that rely on the similar "poor thermal conductivity" effect. Silicone is frequently utilised, and your halo hair extension even has a very tiny layer of silicone to help reduce styling damage.
So, does heat protector really work?
It does, but it doesn't mean you can go crazy with heat and disregard everything you know about damage prevention. We can now answer the question, "What does heat protectant do?" by stating that it minimises the immediate heat effect of styling products, slows heat transmission, and reduces the quantity of heat that penetrates the hair. The important terms in this sentence are "slows" and "reduces" heat.
According to many studies, heat protectants can only protect against up to 50% of the heat that hits hair. That said, 50% is a lot if you're heat styling every day! Along with lowering heat in general, utilising a heat protectant shampoo and conditioner, as well as a heat protectant spray, provides a significant barrier for your hair and results in less severe/noticeable damage. That is something we will gladly accept!
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