Heat protection spray is something I like to use as part of my hair care routine, as I have very thick hair which takes forever to dry naturally. As a result of this, I use a hairdryer each time I wash it, and occasionally I'll straighten it if I'm going out, so I'm very conscious of my hair breaking and getting damaged due to excessive heat.

I'd never tried this particular heat protector before, but was forced into purchasing it because of a very poor choice in my local Morrisons. That'll teach me to not "stock up" on things as and when I see them in Boots! I can't remember exactly what it cost me at the time, but looking around online you can expect to pay around £4.69 for a 300ml bottle of this from the likes of Boots, Superdrug, and the supermarkets. I think this is reasonably priced, because anything cheaper than this would make me doubt the effectiveness of it.

The main reason I was drawn to this particular spray, was because of its promise to protect hair from damage from heat up to 230 degrees. This seems reassuring when you think that most straighteners use temperatures in this region these days. It also claimed to leave hair frizz-free and seal in shine, so apart from protecting my hair I was hoping it would also improve the day to day look of it.

The spray is a trigger spray, which I quite like because it allows me to control it a little easier than a traditional aerosol. The trigger is nice and big so I can grasp it easily whilst trying to spray the back of my head at awkward angles. The advice for usage is to spray liberally on towel dried hair, which I do, and then style as usual.

In use, the spray feels quite light and I don't feel like I'm weighing my hair down with heavy styling products. This is important to me because although my hair is quite dry, it can become quite greasy at the roots if it's overloaded with products. The fragrance is very pleasant, being quite feminine and almost fruity, but this is irrelevant really because it soon disappears after applying the spray.

In terms of protecting my hair, I do feel that this offers a bit of reassurance that breakage will be minimised due to the protection from high heats. I haven't noticed those little tufts of broken hair sprouting from my roots as much as I usually would, and to me this is a good indication that my hair is being damaged less. However, I can't say my hair looks any less frizzy, nor does it shine more than it usually does, so I was a little disappointed with the outcome of it from a vanity point of view. I was at least hoping it might smooth my hair a little so I don't look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards by the time I get to work.

In summary, I am happy to use this spray until it runs out, and feel reassured that it is safeguarding my hair from further damage. However, I'm a bit disappointed with the fact it doesn't make my hair look any different, and certainly doesn't eliminate or even reduce frizz. I won't be in a hurry to buy it again, but it's ok for emergencies.

(Review may also appear on Ciao under the username Gingerkitty)