A weightless, invisible leave-in foam that protects against heat and mechanical styling tools up to 232˚C / 450˚F — and doubles as a leave-in treatment that smoothes, detangles and conditions for all hair types.
The Moda Team Review
Most heat protectants are one thing: a barrier. Heated Defense is two things: a barrier and a treatment. The foam texture is the first thing clients notice — it absorbs into damp hair immediately and becomes invisible, leaving no residue, no weight, and no greasiness. One to three pumps covers short to long hair. Apply before your styling products, not after, and it creates a weightless shield that everything else sits on top of.
What separates it from a standard heat spray is the Copolymer technology underneath the foam. VP/DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer selectively binds to regions of the hair that are already damaged — the areas most vulnerable to heat — and strengthens and protects them specifically. Polyquaternium-55 smoothes the cuticle surface and forms the weightless protective shield. Hydrolyzed Quinoa delivers the heat protection mechanism while maintaining moisture. The result is hair that is better protected where it needs it most, smoother to style, and in better condition after styling than before.
Why Moda Carries This
As a White Haven Kevin Murphy salon, Heated Defense is the heat protectant we recommend most broadly because it genuinely works for every hair type and every styling method. Fine hair that can’t carry product weight, thick hair that needs detangling before a blow-dry, colour-treated hair that needs both heat and mechanical protection — one product covers all of it. The invisible foam format means it integrates into any existing routine without disrupting it.
Key Active Ingredients
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Hydrolyzed Quinoa: Delivers heat protection and helps maintain moisture during heat styling — the primary mechanism behind the 232˚C / 450˚F protection rating.
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VP/DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer: Selectively binds to damaged regions of the hair shaft to strengthen and protect the areas most vulnerable to heat damage.
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Polyquaternium-55: Smoothes over the surface of the hair and provides a layer of conditioning while forming the weightless, invisible protective shield.
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Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil — Organic: Supports the hair’s natural defence against future damage by providing essential moisturising agents.
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Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil: Works alongside Jojoba to maintain moisture and support the hair’s protective lipid layer.
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Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein: Adds conditioning and strengthening support within the foam formula.
Moda Pro Tip
Apply Heated Defense before your styling products, not after. It needs to sit between the hair and whatever you apply on top — that is what creates the protective barrier. One pump for short hair, two for mid-length, three for long or thick. Rub between your palms first so the foam distributes evenly, then work through damp hair section by section. Do not spray directly onto the hair and expect it to distribute — the foam format requires manual distribution for full coverage.
Not the Right Fit If...
If your hair is not heat-styled at all — air-dry only — Staying Alive or Everlasting Colour Leave-In may serve you better as a leave-in treatment without the heat protection overhead. Heated Defense can be used on air-dried hair for the leave-in conditioning benefit, but if heat is not a factor, a product designed specifically around moisture and repair will do more for you.
How To Use
- Apply 1–3 pumps to damp hair, adjusting for hair length.
- Rub between palms, then work through hair evenly.
- Apply before any other styling products.
- Style with blow-dryer, straightener, curling iron or any hot tool as normal.
- Do not rinse — leave-in product.
