PROCESS FOR REDUCING HAIR DAMAGE UPON EXPOSURE TO HEAT

A process for reducing hair damage upon exposure to heat is provided, including: providing a cosmetically acceptable aqueous carrier: selecting a heat protectant, wherein the heat protectant is selected based on its ability to impart thermal protection to hair from exposure to heat, wherein the heat protectant is selected to be a functionalized dextran polymer, comprising a dextran polymer functionalized with moieties selected from (i) tertiary amine groups: (ii) quaternary ammonium groups; and (iii) combinations thereof; providing the selected heat protectant; combining the cosmetically acceptable aqueous carrier and the heat protectant to form an aqueous thermal protectant formulation; providing hair; applying the aqueous thermal protectant formulation to the hair to provide protected hair; providing a heat generating hair care appliance; and exposing the protected hair to a temperature of 50 to 300 C using the heat generating hair care appliance for 1 to 30 minutes.