I can't tell that it's protecting anything. But the main reason I'm not crazy about this product is the smell.

I generally like the scent of the Brilliant line (I've used several of the products), but this particular one has an overwhelming patchouli scent that does not fade after drying.

I didn't buy this for anything other than heat protection; but in case you are wondering, I just wanted to mention that I did not notice any change in shine, frizz, or detangling when using this product.

UPDATE: I did notice that the scent was much less obvious when I blow-dried my hair after spraying it on wet hair. You can still smell it, but it's much softer and inoffensive. (My review above was based on spraying it on dry hair, or spraying on wet hair and air-drying, before heat-curling.) I still won't repurchase because I can't detect any protective qualities when using it.

Excellent when used as a finishing spray to add body and movement. Distinctly unimpressive when used for its other intended purpose as a blow dry protector.
The problem? High alcohol content + heat = well, you know the story!

NC25 Chinese, acne prone, w/ frizzy hair in dry desert climate.


Knowing 'cones in face primers causes breakouts on me, I wanted to avoided using any dimethicones in my hair for blowouts.. as I am way too lazy to do that everyday, so I would be sleeping in it for 2 nights.


So when you are trying to avoid cones against heat styling, you're alrdy on a losing battle.. but I'm going to try anyway. Anyhow this is absolutely watery texture, and I cannot see how it provides any effective heat styling protective measures against blow drying, much less flat ironing. Returned it after a week, and going to test Phytofrisant which is at lesat a gel texture.

What I like about this product: faint chamomile smell, gentle to hair, has UV protection so it protects my expensive color job from fading, good detangler, keeps my hair in good condition when I'm in too much of a hurry to use a conditioner after I shampoo.
What I don't like: This makes my fine and thinning hair poker straight with no body in the winter, so it just hangs there and looks like I have even less hair. It's OK for me during the summer (which I guess is when I need the UV protection the most anyway) but during the winter it just makes my hair look blah when I follow the directions, which say "spray liberally on towel dried hair". It makes my hair easy to comb but utterly limp.
Probably will not re-purchase, but it might work fine for you if your hair is different from mine. Reminds me very much of a Back to Basics detangling spray I used to have that was also chamomile based - but that cost a lot less. I may try what some other reviewers have suggested and apply it sparingly using my hands instead of spraying it on.

As far as hairstyle goes, I like a messy look. When I blow dry my hair using Damage Control, I feel like it gets infused in to my hair and I can then create movement in any direction. It's sort of like a cross between a protein treatment and a liquid gel. It's a light hold, but it improves my hairs texture. Love it! I don't know why Aveda SA always try to talk me into buying something else. Always go with your gut.

This product works pretty well. I have been using it for over a year, and I have noticed that my hair isn't getting as damaged from using the blow dryer and the flat iron. The trick is to use it sparingly, otherwise it can weight down the hair. Just a light spritz is all that's needed. I have also noticed that my hair seems a bit shinier when I use it. I have been disappointed in some other Aveda products in the past, but I do like this one.

I have been using this stuff for years and it does work. I decided to stop buying it once because I was trying not to spend so much time and money on beauty products and I seriously got split ends and breaks from blow drying my hair every day.

I spray only 3-4 pumps after showering and then comb it through with a wide tooth comb. It makes for a good detangler, too. Smells nice.

I seriously thought I accidentally purchased the brilliant hairspray instead of the heat protectant. It is like spraying aquanet on your hair from the 1980s if you actually put around 5-6 pumps on your hair. My hair feels like hay, is hard to brush, clumps together, etc. I am amazed that they keep this formulation as it is, as it has so much Specially Denatured Alcohol 40B or 40-2 in it to turn even the most luscious hair into the sahara. Seriously, SDA 40B/40-2 is cheap as dirt and since it is 90% what this product is, it should be around 2.00 a bottle.
Run, don't walk from this product. Is is $h!t as a product, you can do better with Suave or some other cheapy heat protectant. Aveda missed the mark and should be ashamed at the formulation of this product and how not only does it not do what it is supposed to do, it actually damages your hair more to use.

This spray is soooo SHIT it does nothing at all, no smell, no hydration, no shine, barely if at all detangle and even looks ugly. For this price I would expect something exeptional but I've never seen worst.
At least it does't harm hair...
Cheap gliss from schwarzkopf, l'oreal or even complete no-names from your local supermarket are way better

this does absolutely nothing. i could not figure out why my hair was so dry and then i finally put two and two together. honestly, i don't think this protects from "heat damage" at ALL. and that's not something you want to mess around with! nexxus all the way - lifesaver!