Beat the Heat!
WE LOVE SUMMER HEAT!
BUT WE HATE HEAT DAMAGE!!
Let’s face it: even with the best hair products in our arsenal, sometimes we need to add a little heat to tame, style, and set our hair. Whether you’re maintaining your curls with a diffuser, blow drying fine hair for va-va-voom volume, or straightening for a sleek style, there’s a hot tool for every look.
But with repeated heat exposure, even the most luscious of locks can suffer from damage. Each strand of hair has layers:
An inner cortex, filled with water molecules and keratin
An outer cuticle, which in healthy hair is smooth and shiny
So how do you know which heat protectant is best for you?
First, what’s your hair type? Identify your hair type, and select a product that works for you. For example, serums are often too heavy for those with fine hair, so consider a spray.
Then, what are the ingredients? Look at the ingredients list and look for high-quality and nourishing ingredients, including natural oils and extracts.
Lastly, is it something you’ll remember to use? Make your life easier by investing in something that can replace two (or more!) of your other products such as R+Co’s must-have HIGH DIVE Moisture + Shine Crème was voted best styling product for damaged hair in O Magazine's 2017 Fall Beauty O-Wards! (even Oprah uses it!)
Applying heat to hair essentially evaporates the water molecules in the inner cortex, altering the internal structure and mechanical properties of the strands. This allows you to change your hair’s natural curl patterns, but it can also cause frizz and dry out your hair. High temperatures can also form cracks and ruptures in the cuticle, making the hair even more vulnerable to future damage. Finally, heat can break down the keratin in your hair, which affects the strength and texture of the hair.
Now that we have you scared, let’s talk about a beautiful thing called heat protectants! Heat protectant is a product that reduces damage to your hair when used before heat styling. It’s often a spray, cream, or serum that you leave in your hair (damp or dry). Heat protectants add a barrier between your styling tool and your hair, sealing in moisture and fending off frizz. They also work to smooth the cuticle, making your hair look smooth and feel soft. Quality heat protectants contain ingredients like humectants (like panthenol and propylene glycol), which preserves moisture and blocks frizz; amino acids (like keratin), to strengthen hair and provide antioxidants; and natural oils and extracts (like aloe), which protect and seal the hair’s cuticle.
