When it comes to heat styling—whether it’s your natural hair or your extensions—a protectant isn’t optional. 

Because here’s the reality: when hair is exposed to high temperatures, the cuticle (the outer layer of your hair) lifts and weakens. Inside, the keratin proteins that give your hair strength can literally start to break down. Over time, this leads to dryness, breakage, and faded color.

And once the damage sets in, it’s tough to(and expensive) to undo. 

But don’t stress—I’ve simplified your options into two go-to routines:

On Wash Day

I reach for K18’s Heat Bounce. This isn’t just a shield against heat, it actually helps heal previous damage thanks to K18’s biomimetic bond builder. Plus its conditioning agent makes a great detangler!

On Styling Days In Between

If I’m refreshing my curls or going for the flat iron, I swap to an aerosol like Paul Mitchell’s Heat CTRL. It’s lightweight, easy to mist through quickly, and keeps damage at by without weighing hair down.