When it comes to products I use on my hair and body, I want them to be natural and nontoxic. This DIY heat protectant for hair is easy to make, protects hair from damage from heat styling, and is completely safe and natural.
DIY heat protectant for hair
During my healing journey, I learned about the myriad of toxins that constantly bombard us. Reducing my body’s toxic burden is a top priority for me.
Since my hair often has a mind of its own, I need heat styling to help bring it under control. However, I’m not a fan of the damage that heat styling can bring. And I’d rather not use commercial hair products with toxic chemicals, either.
Some of my other favorite DIY natural hair care products are my tallow shampoo bars, herbal hair rinse, and leave in conditioner.
Keep reading to learn all about my favorite DIY Heat Protectant for Hair…
DIY heat protectant for curly hair
Since I love DIY, I decided to create a natural heat protectant for hair before straitening curling, or blow drying. After some research on which oils protect hair the best, I started experimenting, and came up with something that really works well.
All it takes are a few simple ingredients, and a hand mixer to whip it all together.
It does a great job of protecting hair from heat, and also deeply conditions and nourishes hair. It also smooths frizz, which I’m really excited about!
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How to make a DIY heat protectant for hair
With a few simple ingredients, you can make your own heat protectant to keep your hair healthy and safe from damage.
Keep reading to learn how to make one of my favorite hair care DIYs…
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup tallow
- 2 TBSP avocado oil
- 10 drops essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
- Melt tallow so it is liquid.
- Measure all ingredients and put them in a large mixing bowl.
- Allow oils to solidify to room temperature.
- Whip oils with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape sides of bowl as needed.
- Add essential oils, if using, and whip again to incorporate.
- Store in a glass container, and use a small amount on damp or dry hair.
How does this natural DIY heat protectant for hair work?
Commercial heat protectant products often contain things like silicones that coat hair and protect it from heat. Avocado oil and shea butter, it turns out, coat hair and protects it in a similar way to silicones, but without the toxins.
Grass fed tallow contains so many amazing nutrients that condition, nourish, moisturize, and smooth hair, while also offering protection from heat. The grass fed tallow is what makes this product unique.
If you’ve been on my blog long, you’ll know why I love grass fed tallow. Tallow just can’t be beat as a body and hair moisturizer. The nutrients it contains are amazing! If you don’t have access to tallow, though, you can just substitute the tallow for more shea butter.
Does it work?
Yes! I can tell a big difference in my hair’s health after using this homemade heat protectant for many months. I love this recipe for my own, unruly hair and I strongly think that you will love it for yours too.
Essential oils to protect hair
I love adding essential soils to this DIY heat protectant. Some essential oils that have beneficial properties for hair are bergamot, rosemary, and peppermint.
My favorite is peppermint. I also love peppermint in my tallow shampoo bars, and you can find the recipe for those here.
Can I use coconut oil instead of heat protectant spray?
Coconut oil is another great option for a natural oil with a high smoke point. It can make a really nice ingredient in a DIY heat protectant.
I chose shea butter and avocado oil because I like how they behave similarly to silicones. But if coconut oil is all you have, it’s definitely a better choice than toxic heat protectant products.
Can I use olive oil as a heat protectant?
Again, olive oil is a better choice than toxic commercial heat protectants. However, olive oil is a more fragile oil that doesn’t have a high smoke point, so it wouldn’t be my first choice as a natural heat protectant.
More natural ways to protect hair from heat styling
Besides making natural a natural heat protectant to use, there are more things you can do to help prevent heat damage to your hair.
- Only use heat tools on clean hair
- Use newer heat tools with the latest technology
- Only use curling irons and straighteners on dry hair
- Use heat tools only when needed
- Don’t heat style a section of hair more than once
- Use a natural shampoo
DIY heat protectant benefits
There are so many ways that we apply damage to our hair on a daily basis. From styling tools like hair dryers and straighteners to natural element exposure like sunshine, it’s important to protect our hair.
This DIY hair protectant is the perfect addition to keeping hair safe and healthy.
Why avoid commercial heat protectant products?
Most commercial heat protectants contain chemicals that you can breathe in or absorb through your skin. They do provide some nice protection and other benefits to the appearance of hair, but unfortunately, they can also be quite dangerous to our health.
Many are known as carcinogens, immunotoxic, and linked to developmental disorders and reproductive problems, and the EWG recommends restricting or avoiding them in cosmetics (source).
Aside from a DIY heat protectant being more cost effective, this recipe will help you avoid toxins as well as harmful chemicals that can cause more damage in the long run.
I love this DIY heat protectant for my own hair and I definitely think that you should add it to your own hair care routine.
DIY Heat Protectant for Hair Video
More DIY Hair Care
Leave in conditioner spray DIY
My all natural hair care routine
What are your biggest hair struggles?
Have you made any of your own hair products? Share your experience in the comments!
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DIY Heat Protectant for Hair
When it comes to products I use on my hair and body, I want them to be as safe and natural as possible. Our modern world is full of toxins, and it can be hard to find products that are truly nontoxic at the store. This DIY heat protectant for hair is easy to make, and is completely safe and natural.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup tallow
- 2 TBSP avocado oil
- 10 drops essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Melt tallow so it is liquid.
- Measure all ingredients and put them in a large mixing bowl.
- Allow oils to solidify to room temperature.
- Whip oils with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape sides of bowl as needed.
- Add essential oils, if using, and whip again to incorporate.
- Store in a glass container, and use a small amount on damp or dry hair.
I liked your recipe for hair with shea butter, tallow, & avocado oil. I also saw a question for “what was your worst problem with your hair”. At least that’s what I think it said. My worst problem would be losing my hair. Not sure why yet. Can you give me any help there?
Thanks
Christy Forester Theiler
Thank you! So sorry to hear that. I have heard that a big reason for hair loss can be poor thyroid health. I’d recommend finding a holistic doctor to try and help figure out if that’s what the issue is. They can do a blood test. Hope that helps!
Does this have to be made with a hand mixer or can I use my standing Kitchenaid mixer? Also, does this have to be stored in amber jars or are clear jars okay. My tallow is incredibly soft, is the avocado oil still necessary?