There is no question that heat styling can damage hair. Using the highest temperature settings and overusing heat styling tools are not recommended by hair care professionals. Heat or thermal protection hair care products are recommended. The claims are that they can help prevent hair damage from happening. The newest ones contain various silicone emulsions, in addition to styling ingredients, to provide a more appealing, dual purpose product.
However, while thermal damage to hair may be minimized using such products, the downside can be dry hair, which can result in split ends and breakage because these products do not offer the best moisturizing properties or slip and cause build-up. They can also be sticky.
Petrolatum and mineral oil can be found in some thermal protection products too. What can be a better choice for thermal protection is cosmetic (USP/BP) mineral oil used on its own. Mineral oil is a thermal coolant with a solid history of that use in industrial applications. Mineral oil is a better moisturizer than silicones or vegetable oils and it can be washed out of hair easily, leaving no residue behind and it is not sticky. It is about the amount used, and not much is needed to moisturize and protect hair and still be removed easily. Small drops of mineral oil can be evenly distributed throughout the hair very easily. It has no colour unlike other products that can adversely affect hair colour.
Mineral oil can be a multipurpose hair product. It can replace the need for: styling aids, conditioners, detanglers and hair treatments. Used on damp hair, before blow dryer use, it can moisturize hair to help compensate for dryness caused by heat, while helping to protect hair from heat damage. Used on damp to wet hair that is dried before other heat styling tools are used, it can do the same.
Cosmetic mineral oil is a very inexpensive, safe, natural product, that can be used a number of ways to help achieve and maintain great looking and feeling hair.
Results of hair tested for changes at different heat temperatures
Results of hair tested for changes at different heat temperatures
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