Why You Should Never Skip Heat Protectant on Natural Hair
Heat protectant is a must-have product designed to minimize damage to your hair when using styling tools like blow dryers, flat irons, or curling irons. It’s typically applied before styling to create a protective barrier against heat damage.
Why Is Heat Protectant Important?
Anytime heat is applied to your hair, it breaks the natural proteins and bonds within the hair shaft. This process is unavoidable, regardless of how much or what type of heat protectant you use. However, using a heat protectant can significantly reduce the extent of the damage.
For curly hair specifically, heat damage is especially noticeable. Without protection, curls may start to break off, become limp, and lose their natural pattern. Most importantly, it cannot be reverted unless it’s chopped off – yes with scissors. You can take measures of using bond repair products & proteins to help but no amount of product can revert your curls back to its natural integrity.
So, how do we prevent this catastrophe? The answer is simple: HEAT PROTECTANT.
Heat Protectant: Spray vs. Cream
The debate over whether heat protectant spray or cream is better ultimately comes down to personal preference and hair type. Based on my research, here’s what I’ve found:
- Cream Heat Protectants
For type 3A to 4C hair, creams are often recommended. Creams are formulated with heavier ingredients, such as silicones, humectants, and nourishing oils, which penetrate deeply into coarser hair. They deliver moisture, conditioning, and long-lasting protection during heat styling.
- Spray Heat Protectants
For those with thinner hair, sprays are typically preferred. They provide the necessary protection and hydration without weighing the hair down. Sprays coat the strands lightly, making them ideal for finer hair types that need protection without a heavy or greasy finish.
My Experience With Heat Protectants
As someone with thick, type 4B/4C hair, I’ve tried a variety of heat protectants, from sprays to creams. On my latest blowout, I used the new Fenty Hair “The Protective Type 5-in-1 Heat Protectant.” I wasn’t thrilled with the results—it left my hair feeling weighed down and oily, which is exactly what I try to avoid during a blowout.
Years ago, I used the Eden BodyWorks Blow Dry Cream, but I hadn’t revisited cream protectants in years because of similar results. A heavy or oily finish completely defeats the purpose of a blowout for me.
In the past year, I’ve gravitated toward heat protectant sprays, and the results have been amazing. My blowouts are light, airy, and, most importantly, not oily or heavy.
If you’re interested in seeing the results for yourself, check out my latest YouTube video here on how I achieve flawless blowouts using a spray heat protectant!
I also have a YouTube video on of a blowout using a cream heat protectant. Check it out here!
Fenty Hair Heat Protection Cream Let Me Down! Type 4 Hair Review
Conclusion: Spray vs. Cream—Which One Wins?
The debate between spray and cream heat protectants ultimately depends on your hair type and personal preference. As a type 4 natural, I prefer sprays because of the light, non-greasy results they give me after a blowout.
No matter what you choose, the key is to properly coat your hair with your preferred heat protectant. Whether it’s a spray or a cream, protecting your hair from heat damage should always be your top priority.
Here are a few of my favorite heat protectant sprays linked down below:
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