Austro-Afrikana
Well-Known Member
I was doing some research on what actually causes heat damage and came across this article:
Blow dry damage can be prevented by using products containing glycerin and propylene glycol because these actives retard water evaporation. Products like Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray should be helpful in this regard. You can also look for an ingredient called “hydrolyzed wheat protein polysiloxane copolymer,” which also showed significant reduction in (cuticle) cracking. Interestingly, while we would expect various silicones to have a similar effect, this study showed that silicones alone did NOT reduce cuticle cracking.
Iron damage can be reduced by using conditioners formulated with low molecular weight conditioners that can penetrate into the hair like cetrimonium chloride. Another study (see Reference 2) showed that exposing hair to heat in the presence of such a conditioning agent actually caused an increase in tensile strength (the force required to break a hair). This is because the heat reacts with the conditioning agents and cross links some of the protein chains inside the hair. Look for products like Sunsilk Heat Defense Cream if you want this effect.
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/29/how-to-protect-your-hair-from-heat-damage/
I've always avoided my glycerine products when straightening but then always end up with rather dry hair as a result of not using glycerine and of using silicones. Next time I straighten I will use maybe try using my usual spritz and seal with grapeseed oil as everyone seems to be raving about it.
Blow dry damage can be prevented by using products containing glycerin and propylene glycol because these actives retard water evaporation. Products like Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray should be helpful in this regard. You can also look for an ingredient called “hydrolyzed wheat protein polysiloxane copolymer,” which also showed significant reduction in (cuticle) cracking. Interestingly, while we would expect various silicones to have a similar effect, this study showed that silicones alone did NOT reduce cuticle cracking.
Iron damage can be reduced by using conditioners formulated with low molecular weight conditioners that can penetrate into the hair like cetrimonium chloride. Another study (see Reference 2) showed that exposing hair to heat in the presence of such a conditioning agent actually caused an increase in tensile strength (the force required to break a hair). This is because the heat reacts with the conditioning agents and cross links some of the protein chains inside the hair. Look for products like Sunsilk Heat Defense Cream if you want this effect.
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/29/how-to-protect-your-hair-from-heat-damage/
I've always avoided my glycerine products when straightening but then always end up with rather dry hair as a result of not using glycerine and of using silicones. Next time I straighten I will use maybe try using my usual spritz and seal with grapeseed oil as everyone seems to be raving about it.
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