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This oil-based heat protectant is great for day two hair when you want to add a little more moisture. It’s suitable for all hair types, including extensions and chemically treated hair, according to the brand. All you need to do is spray it five to six inches away from dry hair before styling. You can also use it again after you style your hair for added shine and smoothness or if you want to add more of the fragrance to your hair.
Kérastase Discipline Fluidissime Anti-Frizz Spray
Dominic Burg, PhD, chief scientist, hair biologist, and trichologist at Évolis Professional, explains that heat protectant works by "coating the proteins in your cuticles, helping them to resist thermal damage." Protect against heat damage, knots, and dryness with this leave-in conditioner that simultaneously preserves hair color. If you often reach for your flat iron, try this sweet-smelling spray, which can be applied to dry hair, says Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Minimalist SPF 30 Hair Serum
Rich in sandalwood, cassis and marcuja oils, it smells like an expensive blow-dry in a bottle and contains heat-activated polymer technology to really restore and protect hair. Plus, you can use it after heat-styling to boost shine and tackle frizz or flyaways. It’s expensive, yes, but it’s a great all-rounder that will really up your haircare game. Each product below is a little different, but the core goal of protecting your hair against heat damage remains the same.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist
If you tend to use your hair straighteners to create sleek, straight hairstyle then this heat protectant spray from L'Oréal Paris is a great option. It offers heat defence for up to 230 degrees, but also claims to lock straight styles in place for up to three days thanks to the addition of a humidity protector which keeps flyaways at bay. You can't mop without sweeping first, brush without flossing, and you can't put major heat on your hair without protecting it first. Now, we'll admit there have been times when we've skimped on heat protectant or blasted the blow-dryer while our strands were soaking. With no barrier between your hair and temperatures that range anywhere between 300 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit, you're essentially cooking your hair — with no oil, to boot.
Although this is an effective heat-protectant cream for all hair types this Kérastase primer provides plenty of moisture without disrupting your natural curl pattern. Formulated with a pro-keratine complex full of protein and amino acids, as well as ceramides, and plant sap, it works to strengthen and support the hair structure and smooth signs of damage. The texture is almost milky, making it easy to work through the hair, and doesn’t leave any residue behind.
We’ll admit that we were a little skeptical about applying a thick serum to our hair (they have a reputation to be a bit sticky), especially given the fact it can be used on wet or dry hair. But whichever way we spritzed this Amika protectant—damp, dry, or somewhere in between—it never left a tacky, sticky residue. It’s no surprise the styling product that worked best to bring our hair back from the brink of dehydration relies on a foundation of argan oil to get the job done. We asked hairstylists about some of their favorite heat protectants, so you know they’re expert-recommended. You’ll find top-rated hair brands like Living Proof, Mizani, Sun Bum, and Moroccan Oil. Gisou is famous for their honey-based lip oil, but their unsung hair care collection is likewise worth the investment.
For a solid affordable option we've tested, the CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray can be used everyday without the threat of build up, and only costs $12. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something. For more of the Cut’s favorite fashion, beauty, and home finds, sign up for the weekly Cut Shop Newsletter. Another one of the spray’s more salient features is its intoxicating, garden-fresh scent which leads noses to it like a cartoon to a pie on a windowsill. The only downside is a more noticeable fragrance meant we had to opt for an unscented body lotion while wearing it.
In the Lab, products are evaluated on real human hair swatches using technical instruments and they are also distributed to consumers for at-home use feedback, including ease of application, effects on hair and overall satisfaction. In addition to protecting against heated styling tools, it also contains UV protection to prevent color fading, even if you spend lots of time outside. It’s not a liquid texture—think of it more like a light, milky serum—but it comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to apply and distribute. It's not as hydrating as some of our other picks, especially for if you have damaged ends, but it's still a worthwhile buy. It didn’t cause tangles by any means, but it didn’t make brushing out the hair as seamless as other, more creamy heat protectants.
11 Best Heat Protectants of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - The Cut
11 Best Heat Protectants of 2024, Tested and Reviewed.
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Heat Protectant Spray
Without further ado, read on to discover the best heat protectants to add to your routine. For the sake of your hair's health, you should use a heat protectant anytime that you are using heat. But if you forget to use one on occasion, your hair is not going to fall off, says Walker. Iudina also suggests looking for formulas with protein, like spirulina protein, which “works great for frizz control and smoothness,” she says.
It feels silky initially, but when rubbed into my hands it develops some grip that adds texture when I apply it to my hair. I was a bit concerned initially, as I smelled burning hair and there was an audible sizzling when the hot iron touched it, but seeing the effect it had on my styled hair I could see it did its job." Frizzy hair, do, care – and that's where the Color Wow Dream Coat Anti-Humidity Hair Treatment comes into play.
However, there is one product that stylists are unanimous on the importance of and that’s using a heat protectant spray. Yes, if you blow-dry your hair at home or use hot tools for styling then using the best heat protectant spray that you can find will do wonders for preserving your hair health and preventing future damage. This Bumble and Bumble formula, which has a 4.7-star average rating from over 1,600 reviews at Ulta, has six oils to hydrate and protect hair from heat and UV damage, according to the brand. Reviewers say it doesn’t leave behind residue at the roots and has helped hold styles for longer periods of time.
The brand behind some of our favourite styling tools has a collection of styling products that shouldn’t be overlooked, including this gem. It’s so lightweight that we didn’t even feel it in the hair, like an invisible shield that we only noticed once we were wondering what was making our hair so soft and smooth. This would especially suit those with fine hair strands, as it won’t weigh hair down like heavier products can.
Of course, there’s actual rhyme and reason (a.k.a. science) that goes into how these magical products work, but there are definitely some heat protectants out there that are better than others. To help narrow down the best heat-protectant sprays out there, we asked Potempa, Williams, and several other hairstylists to share their go-to products. Each stylist had not one, but multiple favorites, which work across a range of hair textures and styling needs. Specifically formulated for wavy, curly, and thick hair, this gentle but nourishing formula doesn't contain any of the bad stuff—sulfates, parabens, dyes, or mineral oils—that dry natural strands. Instead, it's infused with moisturizers like coconut and argan oils to protect and hydrate hair at the same time.
This one from Verb is a true multi-tasker—not only does it protect strands against heat of up to 428 degrees, but it also doubles as a shine spray, thanks to peach and rosehip oils that hydrate, and squalane to smooth and protect. In addition to protecting your strands from hot tools, this heat protectant spray promises to eliminate frizz, repair split ends, and add shine. Containing a blend of oils including almond, argon, sacha inchi, and mongongo, regular use can help promote healthy hair and scalp. As the name implies, this heat protectant spray particularly helps to smooth and straighten hair. Although it was designed with curly and natural strands in mind, the serum works on all hair types. Cobello swears by this heat protectant spray which offers way more than just temperature protection.
The same can be said for creams—separate your hair into even sections and apply it liberally. Be sure you wait for it to fully absorb into your strands before going over it with your hot tool. You can usually tell by touching your hand to your hair and noticing if there’s a significant amount of residue. Even better, the protein-rich castor oil in the formula keeps working as the cream continues to sink into strands to repair frazzled ends and prevent new ones from starting. Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. In pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati.
Per Ishimoto, this heat-protectant hair spray "helps to cut hair drying time while protecting hair from heat damage." He continues, telling INSIDER, "hydrolyzed silk & quinoa will keep hair looking healthy and damage-free." Even if you're using the lowest setting on your hair dryer or straightener, your hair is bound to sustain some heat damage — in which case the best heat protectant spray is a basic necessity. Just because you use it on damp hair ahead of your weekly blowout, doesn’t mean the protection lasts through day two styling.