Often a straightening serum will also give you thermal protection. However, some products will only act as a hairspray to help to retain the hold for longer, meaning that you need to use two different products to get both the benefits – it depends on the products you choose. We recommend using them every single time you straighten your hair, and similarly when you blow-dry or curl it to protect your hair from damage and keep your style healthy for longer.

Heat protection for your hair often comes in the form of a silicone-based spray. You spritz it onto your hair before you style it and it forms a protective barrier around the strands of your hair. It traps moisture and infuses your hair with nourishing vitamins and fatty acids to give you a healthy sheen. They work on wet or dry hair, but you should only be straightening dry hair. We would always advise using a heat protection product before blow-drying your hair or straightening it.

Most straightening serums are designed to be applied before you style your hair for this very reason. Many also help you to retain your straight hair for longer and can be applied after you have straightened it as well to maximize hold for longer.