14 Best Heat-Protectant Sprays Of 2024, According To A Cosmetologist
Seal in moisture and safeguard your tresses from dangerous heat styling tools.
Lindsay Loo is a cosmetologist who has spent 10 years behind the chair in a storied salon in Chelsea. She is a certified Wella Master Color Expert and also has experience backstage at New York Fashion Week. She has a private studio and loves to make her clients feel amazing and welcomed.
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Experience: 5 yearsSakshi Bahal is a commerce writer with a master's degree in English Literature from Calcutta University. She was a part of the editorial team of her school magazine. Her love for writing inspired her to take up literature and follow that up with creative writing after completing her education.
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Experience: 3 yearsRajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
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There is no denying that we all love to straighten, curl, or get beachy waves using heat-styling tools. But frequent use of these tools may cause dry, brittle, and damaged hair. You need the best heat protectant spray to protect your hair from any potential damage. When you are using styling tools, your hair is exposed to high temperatures that destroy all the vital proteins of your hair. So, to help you prevent this issue and to keep your hair healthy and damage-free, we have curated a list of the 14 best heat protectant sprays. Keep reading!
In This Article
What Is A Heat Protectant For Hair? How Does It Work?
A heat protectant is a leave-in spray formula that you apply to your hair before heat styling with a hot tool. It minimizes the damage caused by high temperatures from styling tools like curling irons, hair straighteners, and blow-dryers.
The product acts as a barrier between your hair and the styling tool. It seals in moisture and controls frizz. The nourishing formula smoothens your hair cuticles and adds shine and softness. Many heat protectants also contain anti-humidity ingredients that keep your hair sleek in highly humid conditions. Some also contain UV filters to protect your hair against sun damage.
Get your hands on a heat protectant spray to keep styling your hair without fretting. Take a look at the top heat protectant hair sprays below.
Top Heat Protectant Sprays Of 2024
1. Best For Detangling:Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
The Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray softens, smooths, and detangles your hair and shields it from thermal stress during blow-drying. It decreases your blow-dry time by up to 50%. The thermal protection provided by this blow-dry spray keeps your hair safe in temperatures as high as 428ºF. It helps in breakage and damage prevention caused by frequent use of heat styling tools. It also eliminates frizz and resists humidity to keep your hair healthy for a long time. Take a look at this video to get more information on the product and the reviewer’s experience of using it.
Pros
- Offers thermal protection up to 428ºF
- Minimizes drying time by 50%
- Lightweight
- Eliminates frizz
- Resistant to humidity
- Detangles the hair
- Softens the hair
- Long-lasting
- Smoothens the hair
Cons
- None
"This product has made my hair smoother than before. It works well on my coarse hair and leaves it soft and manageable without a heavy residue. It has a subtle scent that is not too overwhelming and does not trigger nose sensitivities. I use it consistently before straightening my hair and it hardly disappoints."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 3,348 Amazon users have vouched for this amazing product.
2. Best For All Hair Types:Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray
The Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray guards your hair against harsh styling damage and holds your hairstyle. It works against curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers, keeping your hair soft, shiny, and safe from friction and heat. This heat-activated formula contains a moisture-locking vitamin complex to enhance hair flexibility.It delivers professional, salon-quality results without causing a dent in your pocket.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types and textures
- Thermal protection up to 450ºF
- Holds hairshape
- Enhances hair flexibility
- Softens thehair
- Adds shine
- Affordable
Cons
- None
Pro Tip3. Best Long-Lasting:Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Holding Spray
The thermal holding spray from Redken protects your hair from high heat styling tools and ensures style longevity. It imparts shine to your hair and defends against frizz with lasting flexible hold. The frizz control spray effectively gives a silky smooth finish to your hair after heat styling. It beautifully holds the curls and adds a sleek shine to straight hair for long-lasting styles. Moreover, it can be used on dry or damp hair and is safe to be used on color-treated hair. If you’re still on the fence, check out the unbiased and honest reviews on Amazon to learn about the reviewer’s experiences.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Offers thermal protection up to 450ºF
- Tames frizz
- Lightweight
- Imparts shine
- Non-sticky formula
- Long-lasting hold
Cons
- May leave behind a stiff residue
- May have an unpleasant smell
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With 324 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray Best For Detangling | Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray Best For All Hair Types | Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Holding Spray Best Long-Lasting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | All | Damaged | - |
| Dimensions | 1.56 x 2.38 x 8.13 inches | 6 x 6 x 10 inches | 2.1 x 2.1 x 7.72 inches |
| Weight | 8.8 Ounces | 3.6 Pounds | 8.5 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 3,348 | 70 | 324 |
| Price | $33.59 | $41.88 | $26 |
4. Best For Damaged Hair:Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Leave-in Heat Protection Spray
The Alterna Caviar Leave-in Heat Protection Spray is designed to protect your hair from heat damage caused by styling tools and works to enhance the elasticity of damaged hair. It strengthens and protects your hair while sealing the cuticles, promoting repair and preventing further damage. It creates a protective barrier around your hair strands to avoid breakage, split ends, and frizz. This damage control product detangles and styles your hair easily while it conditions and adds slip. This video offers a more detailed explanation of the product and a tester’s experience of using it.
Pros
- Offers thermal protection upto 450ºF
- Softens the hair
- Strengthens the hair
- Eliminates frizz
- Prevents breakage and split ends
- Detangles hair
Cons
- Expensive
5. Best Silicone-Free:Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray
The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray makes your hair soft and smooth and provides a thermal barrier to protect it against heat damage. It contains a patented Healthy Hair Molecule that smoothens and protects the hair and does not weigh it down. This silicone-free formula is non-greasy and keeps your hair free of sticky or stiff residue. This versatile product can be used on dry or damp hair before curling, ironing, or blow-drying. Further, it is free from animal-testing, silicone, and paraben.
Pros
- Offers thermal protection upto 450ºF
- Silicone-free
- Lightweight formula
- Does not weigh the hair down
- No sticky residue
- Safe on chemically and color-treated hair
- Silicone-free
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Strong smell
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has garnered over 81 positive reviews on Amazon, and the number continues to grow.
6. Best Protein-Rich Formula:Blowpro Heat Is On Protective Daily Primer
The Blowpro Heat Is On Protective Daily Primer features a pure protein blend formula that detangles and strengthens your hair while guarding against heat damage. It has been nicknamed as “liquid oxygen” for its nourishing properties. This protein-rich formula ensures replenishment of vital moisture to the hair, making heat styling safe and fun. It conditions and detangles the hair effectively without weighing it down.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Detangles the hair
- Strengthens the hair
- No greasy residue
- Adds shine
- Makes the hair manageable
Cons
- Expensive
Pro Tip7. Best For Color-Treated Hair:Flawless by Gabrielle Union – Shine Enhancing Heat Protection Hair Spray
If you are someone who uses styling tools regularly on your curly hair, then the Flawless Shine Enhancing Heat Protection Spray is the best friend that your hair needs. It provides heat protection to the hair upto 428ºF and imparts a healthy shine, giving you smooth, lustrous hair. It is infused with rice oil Complex, passion fruit seed oil, acai palm oil, Brazilian bacuri butter, lilac leaf extract, and coconut oil. Its potent blend that shields your hair from heat damage and maintains its overall health. This powerful combination shields your hair from heat damage and helps maintain its overall health and color preservation.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Pleasant scent
- Suitable for colored and treated hair
- Ideal for curly and wavy hair types
Cons
- May feel sticky to touch
8. Best Lightweight Formula:Rene FurtererLissea Thermal Protecting Smoothing Spray
The Rene FurtererLissea Thermal Protecting Smoothing Spray protects the hair against heat damage. It makes frizzy and unruly hair more manageable. This leave-in formula is enriched with a thermal protecting complex that guards your hair against heat styling tools and humidity. The lightweight spray smoothens the hair and tames frizz and makes it soft, shiny, and sleek. For best results, blow-dry your hair after spraying this product on towel-dried hair.
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Offers thermal protection up to 428°F
- Tames frizzy hair
- Provides anti-humidity protection
- Softens the hair
- Adds shine
Cons
- Expensive
9. Best Sun Protection:Leonor Greyl Paris Heat Protecting And Detangling Styling Milk
The Leonor Greyl Paris Lait Luminescence Biphase Heat Protecting And Detangling Styling Milk is a leave-in, detangling hair spray designed for very dry, thick, or frizzy hair. It has incredible smoothening properties that make your hair significantly shiny and manageable and safeguard it from the damaging effects of using a hair dryer. It is enriched with natural ingredients, such as botanical oils and plant extracts,to make your hair look glossy and polished. It also protects your hair against sun damage with the UV filters.
Pros
- Adds shine
- Makes the hair manageable
- Enriched with UV filters
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
Cons
- Expensive
- Not suitable for all hair types.
Caution10. Best Vegan:Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray
The Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray is formulated using Tahitian Noni and Giant Sea Kelp extracts that protect your natural hair from heat damage and help it dry quickly. This nourishing formula works to eliminate frizz and make your hair soft and healthy-looking. It reduces blow-dry time and prevents breakage or damage caused by styling tools.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Anti-breakage formula
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Sulfate-free
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- Might make the hair greasy.
- Might leave a residue.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 346 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
11. Best Volumizing:Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat Protection Spray
This humidity-resistant hairspray is a leave-in treatment that protects your hair from drying and damage caused by flat irons and hair blowers. It creates a protective layer around each hair strand and optimizes the effect of heat on the strands. It also seals the cuticles with conditioning properties to give you silky, smooth, and healthy hair. It claims to detangle your hair and impart a luminous shine to it.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Adds volume
- Improves hair texture
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Might feel greasy.
12. Best Frizz-Control:HSI Professional Argan Oil Thermal Protector
A few spritzes of the HSI Professional Thermal Protector will give you vibrant, silky, and shiny hair and ensure it remains tangle-free. It is lightweight and protects your smooth hair from heat exposure up to 450°F. This hairspray can be used as a conditioning serum to achieve salon-like hair. It is infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and vitamins that hydrate, detangle, and nourish your locks. This professional-grade spray diminishes hair damage by creating a protective layer between your hair and the heat styling tools. It makes the tresses healthy and manageable.
Pros
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Adds vibrancy
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Controls frizz
- Suitable for all hair types
- Phosphate-free
- Safe on color-treated hair
Cons
- Strong smell
- May dry out the hair.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Almost 7,133 happy users have mentioned the value and quality of this product.
13. Best For Split Ends:Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
If you are looking for a styling product that offers salon-style hair, this is the ideal one. It is ultra-lightweight and smoothens even the most unruly of hair. It contains UV absorbing molecules that offer UV protection while adding shine to your locks. This hairspray forms a sheer layer with its exclusive silicone complex that provides smoothing and thermal protection.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Offers hair smoothness
- Repairs split ends
- Adds body to the hair
- Strengthens the hair
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Sodium chloride-free
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Safe on color and keratin-treated hair
Cons
- Expensive
- May make the hair greasy.
14. Best Antioxidant-Rich:L’ange Hair Rival Heat Shield
The L’ange Hair Rival Heat Shield protects your hair against damage caused by heat styling tools and harmful UV rays. It is formulated with antioxidant-rich botanicals and keratin that nourish and strengthen the hair and lock in moisture. The mixture of essential oil moisturizes chemically-treated hair, restoring its original health. By replenishing moisture and essential nutrients, the heat shield promotes resilience and prevents excessive dryness and brittleness. This lightweight formula offers a boost of moisture and provides lasting hold while making hair manageable, soft, and lustrous.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Paraben-free
- Ideal for all hair types
- Keratin-infused
- Gives radiant looking hair
Cons
- May dry out the hair
The Bottom Line
Frequent hair styling like curling and straightening using heat styling tools can damage smooth strands and make them dry and brittle. You must invest in the best heat-protectant sprays that protect your hair while styling to keep it alive and healthy. These professional-grade sprays offer a glossy shine and act as a barrier and seal the moisturization of the hair to protect it against damage. Apart from preventing heat damage, each of these products has its own special features to make your experience smoother. If you want heat protection along with long-lasting hold and frizz control, you can add the Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray to your styling routine. The Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Leave-in Heat Protection Spray is a heat protectant product ideal for those whole have weak hair as it strengthens and seals the hair cuticles before styling. The Versatile Blowpro Heat Is On Protective Daily Primer is a good option for those looking for a protein-rich formula that keeps your hair moisturized and nourished. These can be used to detangle the hair and are long-lasting and paraben-free. However, some products have unpleasant fragrances and may not suit all hair types. So, check closely and select the ones best suited for your hair type and enhance your hair health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is heat protectant hairspray necessary?
Heat styling can damage your hair in many ways, making it rough, dry, and brittle. A heat protectant spray can address these issues by strengthening and protecting your hair against the heat damage.
Do you put heat protectants on wet or dry hair?
When blow-drying your hair, apply heat protectant on towel-dried, damp hair. It should be applied to dry hair when using a flat iron.
Can a leave-in conditioner be used as a heat protectant?
A leave-in conditioner might protect your hair from heat styling tools sometimes, but excess of it can cause buildup, making your hair look dull and limp.
Should you let the heat protectant spray dry before straightening your hair?
Follow manufacturers instructions.
Can I use a heat protectant every day?
No. Use a heat protectant whenever you are heat-styling your hair. Skip heat-styling the hair daily to prevent turning the hair dry and brittle.
Do you put heat protectant before or after oil?
Use a heat protectant after applying oil to the hair to lock the healthy ingredients inside the hair shaft and create a barrier between the hair and the heat tool.
How long does heat protectant last in hair?
The effect of a heat protectant can vary but, on average, it lasts for four hours in the hair.
Can you use olive oil as a heat protection spray?
Yes. Olive oil has a high smoke point that makes it a good heat protection spray.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author of this article, Sakshi Bahal, is a hair care enthusiast who loves trying out different products. She has checked online reviews of heat protectant sprays for different hair types and curated StyleCraze’s list after checking the pros and cons of the products. Not only are these heat protection sprays lightweight and long-lasting, but they also aid in detangling the hair and eliminating frizz.
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Read full bio of Sakshi Bahal
Read full bio of Rajeshwari Das
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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