2 Bumble Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist.

My advice is always to try out what works best for you and your own unique head of hair, there are no hard and fast rules. 'The kind of heat protector that you choose to go with might come down to personal preference, like whether you are most comfortable using a cream, a spray, or a serum. 'All hair, no matter the texture or the shape that strands make, is structurally the same, and so the principle of thermal protection remains the same,' says François. The format of protectant you use really just depends on what you like. Be sure to avoid overdoing it with the amount of product you're using, and wash your hair regularly to get rid of any remnants.

'Silicones are used in the heat protectants to act as a protective barrier, helping to avoid heat damage,' says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Larisa Love. The ingredient gets a bad rap because of all of this, but it's totally fine to use as long as you're not allowing it to build up. Many heat protectants use silicones to do this, which coat the hair and can make it difficult for other products and nutrients to penetrate the hair shaft. Because of this, you should be applying a heat protectant every single time you put heat on your hair, explains Vernon François, celebrity hairstylist and founder of an eponymous hair-care line. When this happens, it exposes the lipids and proteins that make up the strand, which is what leads to breakage.

Here's what you need to know about heat damage: Putting any type of heat on your hair creates little holes in the protective layer of your hair (known as 'cuticle damage'), and can destroy its outer surface.

The reason? It's one of the most important things you can do to protect your strands against damage. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOPĪpplying a heat protectant should be a non-negotiable step in any hair-care routine that involves hot tools. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love.

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