This causes the hair fiber to swell excessively, increasing its diameter and making it more prone to damage. At this point, a vicious cycle begins: the damaged cuticle allows more water to penetrate inside, further worsening the condition, the more water gets in, the more the hair is damaged and its fragility increases. This is why, before exposing your hair to heat stress, it is essential to protect it with a heat protectant
The insights of La Saponaria
Heat Protectant for Hair: The Right Ally in Your Hair Care Routine
If you're tired of dry, brittle, or damaged hair from styling tools and want to keep it healthy, you must use a heat protectant! This often-underestimated product acts like an invisible shield, protecting your hair from high temperatures and helping it stay strong, shiny, and soft over time. If you want beautiful, healthy hair, this product is essential!
A heat protectant is a fundamental product in any hair care routine, especially for those who frequently use thermal tools like straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers, which can reach up to 200°C and seriously damage your hair. Its main function is to protect the hair and reduce the damage caused by excessive heat, which can weaken the hair structure and leave it dull, dry, and fragile. Here's what we’ll cover in this article:
- What is a heat protectant?
- The function of a heat protectant
- Organic heat protectants: what they are and how they're made
- Key ingredients in an organic heat protectant
- Benefits of organic heat protectants
- When to apply a heat protectant
- What happens if I don’t use a heat protectant?
- Organic vs traditional heat protectants: which is better for your hair?
- Organic heat protectant: La Saponaria's offerings
- Conclusion
What is a heat protectant?
A heat protectant is a product applied to the hair before using thermal tools or exposing hair to the sun. UV rays can damage the hair fiber, making it dry, brittle, and dull. Additionally, when hair absorbs water—from the shower, sea, or pool, the cuticle (the hair's protective layer) lifts. This causes the hair fiber to swell excessively, increasing its diameter and making it more prone to damage.
The fuction of a heat protectant
Hair is made of keratin, a protein sensitive to heat. If not protected, high temperatures can denature keratin. That’s where the heat protectant comes in. It forms a protective barrier around the hair, preventing direct heat from damaging the hair fiber. It also reduces the thermal conductivity of the hair, protecting not just the outer layer (the cuticle) but also the cortex (the middle part) and medulla (the innermost part), while locking in internal moisture.
Organic heat protectans: what they are and how they're made
Organic heat protectants are perfect for those with sensitive scalps, who want to avoid buildup of heavy substances and prefer a greener routine. They are formulated with natural and organic ingredients, free from polluting chemicals like parabens, silicones, and sulfates. Traditional heat protectants often contain these non-biodegradable chemicals, which accumulate in the environment and harm ecosystems. On the other hand, organic heat protectants use plant extracts, essential oils, and other natural, organic ingredients to provide effective heat protection without compromising the health of your hair or the planet.
Key ingredients in an organic heat protectant
- Vegetable oils, such as argan oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil: flaxseed oil is rich in minerals and omega-3, making it perfect for damaged and brittle hair. Argan oil is an excellent moisturizer and protects the scalp from external agents; it is useful for treating stressed hair that has lost its elasticity. Coconut oil, rich in fatty acids, is a great moisturizer for damaged hair and split ends.
- Vitamins, such as vitamin E: moisturizing, elasticizing, and helpful in protecting hair from sun exposure.
- Silicone alternatives, such as C13-15 alkane: a natural emollient.
- Natural-origin fragrances, such as cinnamyl alcohol, a fragrance agent naturally found in cinnamon. Another natural-origin fragrance is eugenol, extracted from essential oils of clove and cinnamon.
Benefits of organic heat protection
- Natural Protection: Organic ingredients provide effective heat protection without damaging the hair.
- Environmental respect: organic heat protectants are made with eco-sustainable ingredients that reduce environmental impact. Additionally, the packaging can also be environmentally friendly—for example, using glass bottles, which are 100% recyclable.
- Better hair health: by using natural ingredients and avoiding harsh chemicals, organic heat protectants help keep hair soft, shiny, and healthy.
- Deep hydration: in addition to protecting against heat, these products provide nourishment thanks to vegetable oils and vitamins, helping to prevent dryness and breakage
When should you apply a heat protectant?
You should apply heat protectant on damp hair. Spray and distribute it evenly from roots to ends every time you use a blow dryer or other heat tools. It’s important to cover the entire hair length for uniform protection. The silky texture tends to dry quickly, prepping the hair for heat exposure. Heat protectants are suitable for all hair types: fine, oily, dry, or damaged. Benefits are visible from the first application and become more noticeable over time with consistent use. Your hair will be less frizzy and easier to comb.
What happens if you don't use a heat protectant?
Heat protectants help minimize the damage caused by thermal styling tools. Without them, heat can weaken the hair cuticle (the outermost layer), causing it to flake and break. Hair without protection becomes dry, dull, and loses volume more quickly. Over time, it becomes increasingly fragile and harder to manage.
Organic vs traditional heat protectans: which is better?
Organic heat protectants have the great advantage of being formulated without harsh chemicals that can negatively affect hair health and the environment. Traditional heat protectants often contain silicones, parabens, or sulfates that may build up on the hair shaft. Silicones, due to their film-forming properties, can create a coating on the scalp that may hinder proper oxygen flow and skin breathing. This can lead to irritation or increased sebum production, causing dandruff or itchiness in more sensitive individuals. Parabens, used as preservatives, can also cause allergic reactions like redness or itching. Sulfates, strong cleansing agents, may strip natural moisture from hair, making it dry and fragile. In contrast, organic heat protectants use natural active ingredients to protect and nourish the hair using the power of nature.
Bio Heat Protectants: La Saponaria’s Proposals
You can choose from different bio heat protectants based on your hair type:
Plant-Based Hair Crystals – ideal for fine or normal hair. They nourish, protect, tame, and soften the hair. We created them by blending wonderful organic oils of Coconut, Flaxseed, and Hemp with Argan Oil, which is sourced from a women’s cooperative in Morocco. This blend nourishes the hair without weighing it down and makes it shinier than ever. They can be used as a smoothing styling product – just a tiny amount is enough to add shine and reduce frizz – and as a bio heat protectant to shield your hair while blow-drying or before using a flat iron.
3-in-1 Protective Hair Oil – Aloha – ideal for thick hair. It provides nourishment and protects the natural beauty of your hair from:
- Sun, Salt, and Chlorine: prevents dryness and brittleness during sun exposure or swimming in pools.
- Heat from Blow-Dryer and Flat Iron: when applied before styling, it shields against heat and helps prevent split ends.
- Dryness and Dullness: used as a repairing hair mask, it restores tone and shine.
Conclusion
Organic heat protectant is an essential product for anyone who wants to protect their hair from heat while providing gentle, natural care that doesn’t harm the planet. Incorporating an organic heat protectant into your hair care routine isn’t just an act of beauty — it’s a small step that makes a big difference for the health of your hair and for a more sustainable world.