DIY Hair Heat Protection Spray with Essential Oils

You can make a heat protectant spray at home with water, a little conditioner, sweet almond oil, coconut oil and a few drops of clary sage and geranium essential oil. It takes five minutes, costs very little and leaves hair soft and shiny. Here is the recipe, how to use it, and which oils help protect hair from heat.

Why your hair needs heat protection in summer

When summer temperatures rise, your hair faces more than humidity. Hours in the sun, sea water, chlorine and heat styling can all leave it dry, frizzy and damaged.

We remember sunscreen for our skin and lots of water for our bodies, but hair often gets forgotten. A homemade heat protection spray is an easy and affordable way to keep it healthy. Use it before styling, after a day outside, or whenever your hair feels hot and dry.

How to make heat protectant spray at home

This simple recipe gives a natural barrier against heat while it deeply nourishes your hair. You will need a clean spray bottle that holds at least 250ml (about one cup).

Directions

1. Fill your spray bottle halfway with water.
2. Add the coconut oil, conditioner, clary sage oil, geranium oil and sweet almond oil to the bottle.
3. Add the rest of the water and stir or shake well.
4. Apply one spritz to your hair and coat it lightly.
5. Style your hair as normal.

This natural mix works as a homemade hair heat protectant that keeps your strands shiny and strong all summer long. Nature provides!

Is almond oil a heat protectant?

Yes, sweet almond oil can be used as a natural heat protectant. It is rich in vitamin A, and it deeply hydrates the hair so strands feel softer and less brittle after styling. Many people also like it because it is light and does not weigh fine hair down.

The vitamin A in sweet almond oil is also why it is known for helping to prevent future acne, so it is a kind choice if the spray touches your face or hairline.

To use it on its own, rub one or two drops between your palms and smooth them over the lengths and ends. Avoid the roots, or your hair may look oily.

Can you use coconut oil as a heat protectant for hair?

Yes, coconut oil can act as a heat protectant. It helps protect hair by locking in moisture, which reduces the dryness and damage that heat styling can cause.

The secret is to use very little. A thick layer of oil on hair that then meets a hot straightener can sizzle, so a light coat is best. That is why this recipe mixes coconut oil with water and conditioner. You get the moisture without the heavy, greasy feel.

• Use it on dry, thick or curly hair, where it works best.
• Apply it to the mid-lengths and ends, not the scalp.
• Let your hair dry fully before you use a straightener or tongs.

Which oils protect hair from heat?

Here are the oils in this recipe and what each one brings to your homemade heat protectant.

Oil	Type	What it does for hair
Sweet almond oil	Carrier oil	Rich in vitamin A, deeply hydrates and softens
Coconut oil	Carrier oil	Locks in moisture and reduces dryness
Clary sage	Essential oil	Helps protect hair from heat and adds a fresh, herbal scent
Geranium	Essential oil	Nourishes and shields hair, with a soft rosy scent

Essential oils are always used in tiny amounts and mixed into a carrier. You can find both oils in our essential oils collection. For help picking the right base, read our guide on how to choose your carrier oil.

Homemade heat protectant for straightening hair

The same spray works before straightening, curling or blow-drying. Spritz it lightly over damp hair, comb it through, then dry your hair fully.

• Never use a straightener on wet hair. Wait until it is completely dry.
• Use the lowest heat setting that works for your hair type.
• Pass the straightener over each section once or twice, not again and again.
• Give your hair a rest from heat styling a few days a week.

Want to treat damaged hair after a long summer? Try our guide to repairing your hair with geranium oil, or see 6 essential oils for hair care, growth and shine.

Is a DIY heat protectant safe to use?

• Do a patch test on the inside of your arm 24 hours before your first use.
• Keep the spray away from your eyes. If it gets in, rinse with plenty of cool water.
• Clary sage is best avoided in pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your GP or midwife first.
• Do not use on young children, and keep the bottle out of reach of children and pets.
• If you have a nut allergy, swap the sweet almond oil for more coconut oil.
• Water-based sprays have no preservative. Keep it in the fridge and make a fresh batch every week or two.

FAQs

How do you make heat protectant spray at home?

Fill a spray bottle halfway with water. Add 1 teaspoon of sweet almond and coconut oil, 2 teaspoons of conditioner, 5 drops of clary sage and 5 drops of geranium oil, then top up with water and shake well.

Is almond oil a heat protectant?

Yes, sweet almond oil is a great natural heat protectant. It is rich in vitamin A and nourishes and hydrates hair. Use only a drop or two on the ends, or mix it into a spray.

Can you use coconut oil as a heat protectant for your hair?

Yes. Coconut oil helps protect hair by locking in moisture, so it reduces dryness and damage from heat styling. Use a very light layer, or mix it with water and conditioner as in our recipe.

What can I use as heat protectant if I don't have any?

A tiny amount of sweet almond oil or coconut oil, smoothed over the ends, is a simple stand-in. Mixing a little conditioner with water in a spray bottle also helps. Keep the heat low and let your hair dry fully first.

Which oils protect hair from heat?

Sweet almond oil and coconut oil are the best carrier oils to start with. Clary sage and geranium essential oils are a lovely addition, as they nourish the hair and give it a fresh scent.

Can I use oil as a heat protectant?

Yes, as long as you use a light coat. Too much oil on hair that meets a hot tool can feel greasy and sizzle. A water-based spray with a little oil gives you the best of both.

Does a homemade heat protectant work on dry hair?

Yes. Dry hair often gains the most, because the oils and conditioner add moisture back in. Spritz it on before styling and again on the ends after a day in the sun.

How long does homemade heat protectant spray last?

Keep it in the fridge and use it within one to two weeks. If it smells odd or looks cloudy, throw it away and make a fresh batch.

The bottom line

Keeping your hair safe from summer heat is simple with a homemade heat protection spray. Sweet almond oil and coconut oil hydrate, while clary sage and geranium nourish and shield the hair, so it stays soft and healthy all season. Find both essential oils in our essential oils collection.