In my Ultimate Guide to Heat Damage, I gave you all the details on what heat damage looks like on gray hair, what temperatures are safe, how to prevent damage, and product recommendations. Since then, you have had questions, so in this post and the corresponding video I answer all your questions.
Getting the application of heat protection wrong can leave your gray hair vulnerable to damage – I’ve seen it happen too often. Most silver sisters I do consultations with don’t have the right products for their hair, and/or they aren’t applying heat protectants correctly, leading to unnecessary damage.
Don’t worry! I’m here to share my best advice on how to use heat protection on gray hair and answer all your questions. Trust me, once you understand how heat protectants work on gray hair, and make these tweaks part of your routine, you’ll see a true difference in how your gray hair responds to heat styling!
Let’s dive in and hopefully I will have answered all your burning questions.
Table of Contents:
- What is heat damage?
- How do you select a heat protectant?
- Do you need heat protection for diffusing, if that is all the heat you use?
- Do I need heat protection if I ONLY blow dry my hair?
- What’s the difference between heat protection and UV protection?
- Does everyone with gray hair need to use heat protection?
- Does silver hair need a different hair protectant than naturally darker hair?
- Step-by-Step Heat Protectant Application Guide to Protect Gray Hair
- Hair tips for heat styling:
- When to apply heat protection?
- How long do you wait between application and heat styling?
- Do you only need to apply to it on washday?
- Do you apply it every time you use heat, what do you use before you use heat on a non-washday, and what do you use for heat styling on day-two hair?
- Can I use my hot tool on the hottest setting because I have applied heat protection?
- Is there fragrance-free heat protection?
- What products do you recommend most for heat styling?
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When You Say Heat Damages the Hair, What Do You Mean?
Aside from yellowing, damages to the hair can be seen and felt. These damages are accumulative. The longer your hair is and/or the more you use heat, the more damage your hair will accumulate.
Damage includes:
- Between 248°F & 392°F protein degradation occurs, and yellowing begins
- Over 428°F charring begins leading to a rough texture
- Dryness
- Brittleness and breakage
- Discoloration
- Dullness and loss of sheen
- Split ends
How do you select a heat protectant?
It all depends on how you use heat:
When straightening, using a curling iron (direct heat), hot brush, or doing a blowout you want a Blow-Out Creme or a heat protectant product rated up to a certain temp.
Do you need heat protection for diffusing, if that is all the heat you use?
No, if you use a diffuser, the diffuser is what is providing heat protection. Usually, medium and low heat are below 200°F, if your diffuser is getting hotter than that, it might be time for a new dryer that is gentler on your silvers.
If you are curly girl using a leave-in and gel, usually these will also help absorb some of the heat and protect your hair. That all said you can still use a heat protectant just to be on the safe side.
Do I need heat protection if I ONLY blow dry my hair?
Not necessarily.
If you are using a blow dryer, only, and not using a round brush with high heat, you can probably get away without needing heat protection since most dryers don’t get extremely hot. That said if your dryer is older or feels really hot, again, it might be time for a new dryer that is gentler on your silvers.
I would still advise a heat protection, to be on the safe side, especially if you have fine or thin hair.
What’s the difference between heat protection and UV protection?
Heat protectant is for protecting your hair from styling tools like flat irons and curling irons. You want to make sure your heat protection is rated up to a certain temperature, say 450°F, this means the product was lab tested to verify it works as claimed up to that temperature.
UV protection is for protecting your hair from the sun. UV protection includes hair products, UV protective hats, buffs, umbrellas etc. While the sun is hot, it is not the heat of the sun that damages your hair.
Distinctly different ingredients are used to protect from heat versus UV exposure. Some products only do one job or the other, while some are combo products. SEEN’s styling cremes, Leave-in, and Magic Serum all provide heat protection, and the leave-in cremes provide both UV and heat protection, which is my choice. I like that this gives you both benefits and saves money with using one product for multiple purposes.
Gray Hair Specific Heat Protection Questions:
Does everyone with gray hair need to use heat protection?
No, some hair types experience worse yellowing with heat protection.
The coarser and/or thicker your hair the more tolerant it will likely be to heat.
If you notice your hair yellowing despite the use of heat protection, this may be something you don’t need. This is, unfortunately, experimental so be careful, and continue to make sure your tools never go over 365°F.
Does silver hair need a different hair protectant than naturally darker hair?
Yes and no! This is where ingredients matter – I have found heat protection with added red, yellow, orange, and even blue dyes. You want to check the color of the product because the color can adhere to your hair especially when heat is applied.
Also, if the company or the bottle claims it is “color-safe” that doesn’t necessarily make it appropriate to use on gray or white hair. Often these contain added dyes to enhance dyed hair.
Whatever you choose make sure it is clear or white to slightly off-white, If the product is a dark color or looks like it has an added dye, find another product.
Step-by-Step How to Use Heat Protection On Gray Hair – Application Guide
Preparation to Applying Heat Protectant for Gray Hair
- Shampoo your hair on washday. When you remove buildup, you prevent that buildup from burning and yellowing and you will help ensure your product absorbs into your hair.
If you are only using a co-wash, it is advised to use a shampoo regularly to remove the buildup especially before heat styling. - Condition your hair, unconditioned hair is more prone to heat damage. Conditioner will help keep moisture in the hair during the styling process.
- Let your tee towel or microfiber towel help you with the drying process. Wrap or plop your hair instead of rough drying it with a towel, when rough drying your hair, you cause mechanical damage and raise the cuticle, this will also lead to yellowing.
Application of Heat Protectant for Gray Hair
How do you properly apply heat protectant for complete coverage?
- Apply your heat protectant to damp hair, not soaking wet hair, this will help you get the right concentration of product that isn’t watered down with soaking wet hair.
- The density of your hair determines the number of sections. Small sections are best for all hair types. Take this time it pays off in the end.
- If you have fine and thin hair, you only need a few sections and minimal product.
- If you have very thick hair, you need more smaller sections and likely more product.
- Use a comb or rake product through from root to tips with your fingers to ensure even coating of product. Remember the surface area of the hair is huge and difficult to coat 100%.
Hair tips for heat styling:
- If you use a heat protecting cream and serum, use the cream first and the serum just before using a flat iron or curling iron, especially if you blow dry your hair before.
- Make sure to focus product in areas (e.g., face framing pieces, ends, frizzy spots, etc.) that are stubborn to style and where you tend to hit multiple times with your heat tool.
- Once your hair is in the shape you want, don’t keep going over it with heat repeatedly. This is when the worst damage is done. Use a finishing spray to hold your style and hopefully your touch-ups will be minimal.
- If you are headed to the salon, take your favorite heat protectant with you and ask your stylist to lower their tool to 365°F or below.
Timing Your Heat Protection Application
When to apply heat protection?
Before you touch your hair with hot tools like flat irons, curling irons, and hot brushes.
How long do you wait between application and heat styling?
You should make sure your hair is dry before using irons and hot brushes (unless it is a damp hair styling brush).
If your hair is wet when you use a flat iron or curling iron, it can cause “bubble fractures,” this is where the water molecule explodes inside the hair and damages the cuticle.
Common Application Questions and Mistakes to Avoid
Do you only need to apply heat protection on washday?
No! You need to apply some form of heat protection before you touch your hair with heat tools.
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Do you apply it every time you use heat?
What do you use before you use heat on a non-washday?
What do you use for heat styling on day-two hair?
Yes. You may need a different product to prevent loads of buildup. A heat-rated light-serum would be my choice here, especially if you are only touching up a few pieces. You can target apply and prevent buildup (remember build up can also burn and discolor your hair).
Can I use my hot tool on the hottest setting because I have applied heat protection?
No, you want to use a heat rated product, but you want to make sure you combine the protection with reducing the heat to below 365°F. Protecting your silvers requires both heat protection and going as low as you can with the temperatures to achieve your style.
Is there fragrance-free heat protection?
All three of Seen’s leave-ins and the Magic Serum come in fragrance-free and provide heat protection, plus all the creams provide UV protection.
You can get 10% off SEEN with my code if you want to try one or all of them out: QUICKSILVER10
What products do you recommend most for heat styling?
Aside from Seen I have more products that top my list in my Amazon shops.
If you are looking for a great hair dryer, my #1 recommendation is Laifen Swift
Get $10 off Laifen with code JOLILF
Protecting your gray hair doesn’t have to be complicated! By following these techniques, you’ll ensure your silver strands stay protected and beautiful. Remember – the key is in the details of your application process. If you start implementing these tips today, you’ll see the difference in how your gray hair maintains its health and shine, and you can avoid yellowing.
I hope you found this post educational and helpful.
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to share.
As always it is about so much more than the hair.
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Works Cited:
Cranwell, Dr Philippa, and Dr Paul Cornwell. “Hair Heat Protection Claim Support 101.” Tri Princeton, Tri Princeton, 9 Jan. 2024, www.triprinceton.org/post/hair-heat-protection-claim-support-101.
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