According to biology and styling experts, coloring your hair gray is a long and damaging process which, at the end will leave your hair dry and brittle, therefore heat styling can damage your hair even more. Unfortunately, gray hair caused by aging is not better than the dyed one, therefore even if you dyed your hair gray or your hair went gray naturally, checking this article may be helpful for you.
Nowadays, one of the most faced problems encountered by the women with gray hair is that after using the flat iron or the curling iron the hair is turning yellow or greenish and the remedy is simple: heat protectant products. What actually causes the problem is the water which can contain calcium and the heat produced by the flat iron or by the curling iron turns the mineral deposit on your hair leaving a greenish color.
Another problem can be that the iron is burning the hair, therefore you need to invest in a good iron and also, in good hair products including a heat protectant, which will add a barrier between your styling tool and your hair.
Best Heat Protectants for Gray Hair of 2020
Moroccanoil Treatment Light
Recommended by salon professionals and with many positive reviews on the internet, Moroccanoil is by far one of the best brands you can find. Morrocan oil is an improved version of the argan oil, one of the most expensive and most precious oils in the world. Named as a ‘miracle oil’ for gray hair, free of toxic chemicals it is also used as a protection for ultraviolet rays.
Its premium ingredients help every type of hair to recover, being extremely rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, Morrocan oil helps to prevent splitting and breakage.
It can be used either on wet or dry hair prior to blow-drying or styling session as it contains silicones, it also can be used daily as it will protect your hair from the wind and the sun.
For fine and light-colored hair, such as grey, it is recommended to use Moroccan Oil Light as it absorbs quickly into hair, it is lightweight and paler in color than the normal Moroccan Oil Treatment while you can enjoy the same benefits.
Benefits:
- Prevents Split Ends
- UV Protection
- Frizz Control and instantly detangles while its formula is non-greasy
- Repairs Hair Damage
- Heat protectant which provides long-lasting shine
- Suitable for light-colored hair
- Speed up blow-drying time
Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
If you are blow-drying your hair often, this product it’s a must. Kenra Platinum is a spray that will not only reduce the time it takes to blow-dry your hair, but it also detangles leaving your hair soft, frizz-free and manageable without to dry out your sensitive hair. Its elegant scents will make you love it even more. It does eliminate frizz and resists to humidity.
Talking about the ingredients, it does not contain alcohol, therefore it can be used on gray hair without any worries. It contains jojoba oil which is an oil-like wax extracted from seeds of jojoba plant which is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin E, copper, and zinc.
Another benefit of jojoba is that it promotes thickness and prevents dryness. It is good to use even as a detangler, you can spray it on your hair or on your brush.
Benefits:
- Reduces blow-dry time by up to 50%
- Provides intense heat protection from damage and breakage
- Lightweight formulation detangles, smooths, and softens
- Eliminates frizz and resists humidity
- Provides long-lasting, healthy-looking results
GHD Heat Protectant
Another product loved by celebrities and by the salon professionals, also an award-winning hairstyling brand is GHD heat protect spray, and it is not hard to see why. It not only protects the hair from blow-dry and from flat iron heat, but it also leaves the hair soft and smooth-but not sticky- unlike some other heat protectant sprays that just aim to protect.
Its lightweight and non-sticky formula makes it suitable for all hair colors and it’s easy to use too, therefore you don’t have to worry when using it on gray hair. You only have to spritz over your hair from roots to tips, which usually takes around 6-8 sprays for a mid-to-long hair, and that’s it! It also can be used with other styling products without any worries.
As every everybody’s tastes are different, it is important to know that is not suitable for a person who is looking for a scentless hair product and it does not contain nut-based oils, the only oil it contains is castor oil.
Benefits:
- Lightweight feel on the hair
- Suitable for all hair colors
- It leaves the hair glossy and healthy-looking
- Easy to use and it’s non-greasy
- It has a strong nice smell
HSI Professional Argan Oil
Another great heat protectant suitable for all hair types and colors, including gray is HSI Professional. It is easy to use at home, but it offers a professional salon level of protection. It will not only protect your hair from heat exposure up to 450º F, but it will also hydrate, detangle, boost the shine of your hair and will create a nourishing protective barrier between your hair and the high heat styling tools.
This product is suitable for natural hair, dyed hair and human hair extensions because it contains a mild formula, which does not contain sulfate, phosphate and paraben, therefore your hair and your color won’t be damaged.
The key ingredient of this product is the pure Argan Oil which contains vitamin A, vitamins B, vitamin C and vitamin D, therefore it can be also used as a leave-in conditioning serum, on either wet or dry hair.
Benefits:
- One of the best heat protectant product which can be used with other hair products
- Suitable for all types of hair and colors
- It is infused argan oil and boosting vitamins
- It leaves the hair glossy and healthy-looking
Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique
If you have a fine dry hair and you are looking for a heat-activated leave-in conditioner this might be your winning product. The best thing about this product is that it hydratases almost as deeply as a mask without to leave the hair flat or oily. It is designed to ease styling, defend hair against heat damage, and polish the hair’s surface.
It contains royal jelly extract – a gelatinous substance produced by honey bees, rich in vitamins and minerals – which will replenish the hair fiber and will leave it with a healthy-looking shine.
It is easy to use. You should use a small amount, start at the ends and spread throughout the lengths of the hair when your hair is towel-dried. Gently massage the lengths and ends, paying attention to the driest areas. Do not rinse it out! If you want to use the flat iron on the next day, you won’t have to worry about re-applying the milk as the heat produced by the flat iron will reactivate it.
Benefits:
- Contains royal jelly extract
- Suitable for gray hair
- Protects your hair from heat – suitable for a blow dryer and flat iron-
- Deeply moisturizes
- Adds smoothness and shine
John Freda Frizz Ease
Containing hydrolyzed keratin, this spray is perfect for grey coarse hair. Designed to work with powerful hair straighteners it feels weightless on the hair.
The key ingredient, keratin gives your hair strength and makes it more elastically which is very helpful especially for the damaged gray hair which looks dull and less vibrant than it used to. Keratin also helps with the fizz. Studies showed that people who use keratin on their hair have smoother, easier-to-manage hair.
People who use keratin claim that it prevents split ends and breakage by giving an extra boost of moisture. Overall, keratin will bring back the smooth and the healthy look on your hair.
The spray is easy to use. You should spray only on damp or wet hair, not on dry hair! It usually takes about 7-17 sprays, but it really depends on your hair length and thickness. Distribute the spray evenly and blow-dry your hair straight. Finish by flat ironing the hair.
Benefits:
- Offers heat protection
- Lasts up to three days on the hair
- Makes hair fizz-free
- Contains keratin
What should you check before buying a heat protectant
Ingredients
Always check the label! You really should avoid applying products on your hair which contain harsh chemicals or at least you should understand the chemicals that you are going to use on your fragile hair otherwise, you may end up losing money on products which will harm your hair.
Quality heat protectants contain ingredients like amino acids( usually keratin), natural oils and extracts( usually argan oil) and humectants( like propylene glycol) and for providing insulation for the high temperature, a good heat protectant should contain silicones( like Cyclomethicone).
Try to avoid products that contain alcohol. Gray hair is naturally drier, brittle and coarser than pigmented hair, therefore putting alcohol on your hair will only dry it further.
Sulfate-free hair products are better for dry or frizzy hair because sulfates can lead to a loss of moisture. If your hair is dyed it is recommended to use sulfate-free products as they are less likely to wash away your hair dye. If your hair is tortured from hot tools like flat iron it is also recommended to use sulfate-free products as are more likely to repair your hair.
Try to use products which contain essential oil. The most popular oil in the beauty industry is the argan oil and it’s recommended for gray hair too, as it is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids. It usually is combined with jojoba oil which contains vitamins and minerals essential for healthy hair.
Types of heat protectant for hair
Hair heat protectants can be found in different types such as spray heat protectants; oil, cream, milk and lotion heat protectants. Spray type of heat protectant is more suitable for fine and thin hair and it’s easier and quicker to use, where a thick or coarse hair needs an oil, leave-in conditioner, cream, milk or lotion as they will moisturize better.
Please notice that not all hair products are vegan, therefore if you are looking for a vegan heat protectant you should check the label first.
Consider the brand
As you don’t want to damage your hair with poor quality products that contain any harsh chemicals, you should consider products from reputable brands that are mainly focused on hair products. Brands specialized in hair products invest much more money and do more elaborate tests on their products before selling them, therefore the chance of ending up with a poor quality product is lower.
However, this thing may also increase the cost of the product, but no one should trade the hair’s health for a couple of bucks. Most of the times, really cheap products are not properly tested, it is your duty to do some research about a hair product before purchasing and applying it as in some cases it can prove harmful (even wrong usage can cause harm), therefore it is recommended to get information about the testes passed by the product and to apply it following the instructions.
Final Recommendation
In order to achieve your dreamy hair, you should invest time and quality products, especially if your hair color is gray. Fortunately, there are several good products you can find on the market, therefore you can find products which will not only protect your hair from the heat, but will also cut the blow-dry time, will leave your hair healthy, hydrated and glossy, will reduce frizz and will leave your hair manageable, but it depends on the product and its ingredients.
Also, pick a high-quality iron to protect your hair, and choose the brand carefully. Irons or straighteners made from high-quality materials like titanium, ceramic or tourmaline won’t damage your hair as much as cheap quality materials will do, but even a high-quality iron won’t protect you from damage, but a heat protectant will help you to reduce the damage.
Thus, with a bit of research, it is impossible to not find your winning product.