How to Make a Hair Protectant Spray

Co-authored by Michael Van den Abbeel

Last Updated: June 28, 2024

When you regularly heat-style your hair with a curling iron, hot rollers, flat iron, or blow dryer, you can do a lot of damage to your hair. Using a hair- or heat-protectant spray coats your hair so the heat burns off its moisture instead of your hair's natural moisture. You can buy hair protectant spray at the store, but by making it at home, you can control what it's in it and save some money. Best of all, you may already have many of the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients

Simple Heat-Protectant Spray

6 ounces (177 ml) of distilled water
24 to 36 drops of avocado oil

Conditioner-Based Spray

1 tablespoon (13 g) of coconut oil, melted
1-2 teaspoons (5-10 g) of hair conditioner
1 cup (237 ml) of distilled water
4 drops of almond oil

Essential Oil Spray

1 teaspoon (4.5 g) of fractionated coconut oil
1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sweet almond oil
2 teaspoons (10 g) of hair conditioner
1 cup (237 ml) of distilled water
5 drops of clary sage essential oil
5 drops of geranium essential oil

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Simple Heat-Protectant Spray

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1
Pour the water into a spray bottle. You can mix your hair protectant spray in the bottle that you plan to keep it in. Start by filling the bottle with 6 ounces (177 ml) of distilled or filtered water. Because the water is denser than the oil, it’s important to add it first so they mix properly.^{[1]
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- You can use a plastic or glass spray bottle, but make sure that it holds 7 ounces (207 ml) or more.
2
Add the avocado oil. Once you’ve added the water to the bottle, mix in 24 to 36 drops of avocado oil. Add more oil if you have thick, coarse hair and less oil if you have fine or thin hair.^{[2]
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- The ratio of oil to water for the spray is 4 to 6 drops for every ounce (30 ml) of water. You can adjust the recipe to make as much or as little of the protectant spray as you need.
- You can substitute other oils for the avocado. Sunflower, argan, and macadamia nut oil are other options to consider.
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After you’ve added the oil, shake the bottle vigorously to combine the water and oil. The spray may separate while you’re storing it, so be sure to shake it well before each use.^{[3]
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Spray the mixture over your hair before heat styling. When you want to use the hair protectant spray, lightly mist it over your hair.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} Use your fingers or a comb to work the spray through your hair so you know all of the strands are coated. Next, style your hair with your favorite heated tool, such as a curling iron, flat iron, or blow dryer, as usual.^{[5]
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- You can use the spray on wet or dry hair.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Conditioner-Based Spray

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1
Fill a spray bottle with water. Pour 1 cup (237 ml) of distilled water into a spray bottle. Make sure the bottle is large enough that there is approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of space at the top of the bottle.^{[6]
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- You can use a plastic or glass spray bottle for the hair protectant spray.
2
Add the coconut oil and almond oil. With the water in the bottle, mix in 1 tablespoon (13 g) of melted coconut oil and 4 drops of almond oil. It usually helps to use a medicine dropper to add the oils to the bottle.^{[7]
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- You can substitute argan or grapeseed oil for the almond oil if you prefer.
3
Mix in some hair conditioner. When the water and oils are mixed in the bottle, squeeze a quarter-sized amount of your favorite conditioner into the palm of your hand. Carefully transfer it into the bottle with the other ingredients.^{[8]
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- You can use whatever conditioner that you like, but be sure that it contains silicones. They are the ingredients that help coat your hair to protect it.
4
Shake the bottle to blend all of the ingredients. Once all of the ingredients are in the spray bottle, mix them together by shaking the bottle well. The spray may separate when you’re storing it, so remember to shake it before each use.^{[9]
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- Don’t be concerned if the mixture has some lather or suds after you shake it together. That’s entirely normal. The spray will settle into a milky liquid once it has time to sit.
When you’re ready to use the spray, hold the bottle approximately 6 inches (15 cm) from your head and mist it over your hair evenly. Work the spray through your hair with your fingers, and heat style as usual.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Essential Oil Spray

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1
Pour half of the water into a spray bottle. To mix the hair protectant spray, add ½ cup (118.5 ml) of distilled water to a spray bottle. Make sure that the bottle can hold at least 10 ounces (296 ml) so there’s room to add the rest of the ingredients.^{[11]
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- Because the hair protectant spray contains essential oils, use a glass spray bottle to hold it. Essential oils can break down more quickly in a plastic container.
2
Add all of the remaining ingredients. With half of the water in the spray bottle, mix in 1 teaspoon (4.5 g) of fractionated coconut oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sweet almond oil, and 2 teaspoons (10 g) of hair conditioner. Next, add 5 drops of clary sage essential oil and 5 drops of geranium essential oil.^{[12]
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- You can use whatever conditioner you usually use on your hair.
3
Top the mixture off with remaining water and shake well. With all of the other ingredients in the spray bottle, add the remaining ½ cup (118.5 ml) of distilled water. Shake the bottle well to blend all of the ingredients.^{[13]
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- Shake the hair protectant spray before each use in case the oils have separated from the water.
To use this heat protectant, apply one spray to your hair. Use your fingers or a comb to work it through your tresses until all of your hair is coated. Style your hair with your curling iron, flat iron, or blow dryer as usual.^{[14]
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Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

Proper hair maintenance takes effort. "The mistake people make is not taking care of their hair the way they do their skin or their body. It’s so important to hold on to the health of your hair, because unlike our skin, once you lose that health and your hair’s damaged, it’s damaged until you cut it off."

Expert Q&A

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Question

Do heat protectant sprays really work?

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Michael Van den Abbeel is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting, styling, and coloring hair for over 17 years. Michael loves showing his clients how to wash and wear their hair easily and effortlessly. Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar is recognized as a Diamond Top Tier level Wella salon.

Michael Van den Abbeel

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Heat styling can damage your hair even if you use a hair protectant spray. It’s best to limit your use of heated styling tools to once or twice a week.

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Question

Can I just make the spray with water and coconut oil?

Community Answer

Yes, it'll be fine.

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Question

Can I use shampoo if I do not have immediate access to conditioner?

Community Answer

You shouldn't. Shampoo strips the natural oils out of your hair, meaning it dries it out.

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