11 Best Drugstore Heat Protectant Sprays To Prevent Hair Damage

1. Best Sulfate-Free Formula: Pureology Professional Colorcare Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray

Born out of the idea to provide a high-performing vegan product for your color-treated hair, this drugstore heat protectant spray offers 21 benefits in 1 bottle. The multi-tasking leave-in spray not only offers protection from heat from hair styling tools but also instantly detangles your hair, moisturizing and making it silky smooth. Its key ingredients are camelina oil, coconut oil, olive, rose, floral ginger, and cedarwood, which help prevent split ends and damage caused by external factors, and prepare the hair for restyling. The vitamin E present in this eco-friendly heat protectant spray fights color-depleting environmental elements and helps retain the color of your hair. Watch this YouTuber’s honest review to get a better idea about the product and its features. Pros

Detangles hair Preserves hair color Adds moisture and shine to hair Vegan Paraben and sulfate-free

Cons

Some may find the scent overpowering

2. Best Lightweight Texture: Redken One United All-In-One Multi-Benefit Treatment

Give your heat-treated hair a new lease of life instantly with this best drugstore heat protectant spray. It provides 25 benefits to help you better manage your hair. Suitable for all hair types, this leave-in spray conditions and nourishes your hair, detangles, and primes hair for styling by ensuring protection from heat damage. The lightweight formula contains coconut oil, lactic acid, vegetable-derived proteins, and viola odorata flower and leaf extract to control frizz, flyaways, and add shine and smoothness to your hair. This video will give you a better insight into the product. Pros

Instant results Lightweight Sulfate and paraben-free Conditions and nourishes hair Safe for color-treated hair

Cons

Contains artificial fragrance

3. Best Non-Toxic Formula: artnaturals Argan Oil Thermal Shield Hair Protection

When a hair protector spray like this one is created out of natural ingredients, you get more care for your hair out of it. This weightless mist provides protection from heat up to 450°F. It also works as a leave-in conditioner and moisturizes your hair to protect it from dryness and damage. The cruelty-free heat protectant spray is infused with argan oil, which is known to have restorative properties to give you beautiful, natural-looking hair. Its delicate and balanced formula with peach extract, anise fruit extract, Irish moss extract, proteins, and vitamin E helps repair dry, brittle, and damaged hair from blow drying, sun exposure, and flat ironing. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product. Pros

Safe for all hair types Moisturizes Promotes hair growth Non-toxic Cruelty-free and vegan

Cons

Some may find the consistency too thick.

4. Best For Hair Loss: Hair Food Coconut & Argan Oil Heat Protection Blend

Feed your hair the best nutrients with this heat protection blend and protect it from heat damage of up to 450°F. Infused with coconut and argan oil, this sulfate and paraben-free product is a good drugstore heat protectant spray that works for all hair types— straight, wavy or curly, and fine or thick hair. This argan oil is enriched with fatty acids and strong antioxidants like vitamin E, which helps ensure reduced hair breakage, split ends, and prevents hair loss while moisturizing the hair. To add to the goodness, it leaves the hair smelling delicious. Pros

Adds shine to the hair Rich in antioxidants Protects from hair loss Dye-free Paraben-free

Cons

May not be suitable for extremely frizzy hair

5. Best For 4C Hair: Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant

Give yourself complete liberty to try countless hair styles with this award-winning product that gives thermal protection. This heat protectant spray for curly hair protects hair from damage due to heat of up to 425°F caused by flat irons and blow-drying. It is a lightweight formula enriched with shea butter, vitamins A and E, and essential fatty acids that help increase the natural shine of your hair and reduce frizz. It conditions and nourishes your hair so you have stronger and healthier strands. Use the Cantu Shea Butter Heat Protectant before you style your hair, and your hair will thank you. Pros

Lightweight Tames fly-aways Smoothens hair Strengthens hair Suitable for 4c curls

Cons

Contains sulfates

6. Best Nourishing Formula: TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In-Spray

This TRESemmé heat protecting spray is an ingenious product developed to protect your hair from styling tools that involve heat. It boasts a thermal recovery system and is formulated with a moisture-locking vitamin complex (vitamin E, H, and C) and heat-activated formula. This helps guard your hair against heat and friction and enhances your hair’s flexibility to reform. Ideal for those who style regularly, it makes your hair soft and shiny and holds its shape without any damage— perfect for any hairdo. Pros

Nourishing formula Helps hair regain its original, healthy form Protects against heat and friction Restores vibrance

Cons

May not be suitable for 4c curls

7. Best Anti-Frizz Formula: Arvazallia Heat Protectant Plus With Argan Oil

Pick your blow-dryers or flat irons without any fear when you’re using this heat protectant spray. It adds a healthy shine to your hair by sealing and protecting it from heat damage. It uses a two-layer protection technology to repair hair damage and protect the hair from breakage and split ends. Formulated with argan oil, it moisturizes your tresses and gives them a soft texture. Effective for all hair types, it helps eliminate frizz and makes your hair more manageable. Pros

Anti-frizz Helps detangles Makes hair silky smooth Suitable for all hair types Improves hair flexibility

Cons

Contains artificial fragrance

8. Best Ultra-Gentle Formula: Truss Miracle Amino Thermal Protector

Just like how you put on oven mitts before grabbing a hot pan, you should use the best drugstore hair protectant like this one before using styling tools to protect your hair from heat damage. It has an ultra-gentle formula that softens your hair from roots to ends and adds a beautiful shine to tresses. This dry heat protectant spray provides intensive repair with its amino acids and keratin proteins and makes your hair color more vibrant. Suitable for all hair types, it heals your hair and makes it healthy by increasing its elasticity. It locks moisture in your strands and protects them from humidity ruining your hairdo. Pros

Locks hair color Increases elasticity Protects hair from humidity Moisturizes hair Detangles Silicone-free

Cons

May not be suitable when the hair is oily

9. Best For Color-Treated Hair: Matrix Total Results Length Goals Extensions Perfector

Save yourself the regret of using the wrong product on your extensions with this professional leave-in hair treatment at home. This is one of the best drugstore hair heat protectants out there that makes blow drying a cinch by helping you detangle your hair faster. It is a blend of coconut oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and phenoxyethanol that add a burst of shine to the extensions to make them look healthy. This heat protectant spray adds a smooth texture to your hair and also helps maintain and revive hair extensions and wigs of all brands to keep them moisturized. Pros

Ideal for extensions Ultra-gentle formula Adds shine to the hair Eases blow-dry Safe for color-treated hair Sulfate-free

Cons

Contains alcohol

10. Best Cruelty-Free Formula: Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist

Dry and damaged hair can now be a thing of the past if you get this protectant mist. Its UV protection formula with marula oil, fire tulip extract, campanulata flower extract, and rice protein provides protection from up to 450℉ of heat from styling tools while adding a frizz-free finish to your hair. This cruelty-free heat protectant spray can restore the health of your hair and protect it from dryness while preserving the hair color. Look like you just walked out of the salon with healthy and beautiful hair with this lightweight yet best drugstore heat protectant spray. Pros

Protects hair from drying Restores the strength of hair Locks in hair color Sulfate and paraben-free Cruelty-free

Cons

May weigh down fine hair

11.Best For Daily Use: Ion Styling Heat Protecting Smoothing Spray

Give your hair a good dose of this drugstore heat protection spray before you take on your styling tool. Ingredients like vitamin E, neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, limonene, not just provide protection to your hair from damage due to heat styling but also bring down your blow-dry time. The lightweight spray is paraben-free and has a mild fragrance. It leaves your hair healthy, smooth, and shiny after detangling it to improve its manageability. Pros

Lightweight Detangles hair Reduces blow-dry time Smoothens hair

Cons

Contains artificial fragrance

Reading about so many heat protectant sprays and having to make a choice can be overwhelming. Let us help you with that. Find out how to pick a heat protectant spray for your hair in our next segment.

What Should I Look For In A Heat Protectant Spray?

Maximum hair protection

While purchasing a heat protectant spray, ensure that you choose one that provides maximum protection. To do so, you can check the label for the ingredients and pick one that includes silicones. There are 2 types of silicones that are commonly found in these sprays — cyclomethicone and dimethicone. They guard your hair against heat damage by coating your hair with a layer of moisture to ensure your hair does not get dry and remains smooth.

Keratin product

Keratin is your hair’s best friend. This hair protein strengthens and boosts hair growth. They are usually present in many hair care products mostly in the form of hydrolyzed keratin. It reduces hair breakage and retains moisture in the hair. Thus, look for keratin in your hair spray.

Anti-frizz

When you style your hair regularly with blow dryers, flat irons, curlers, and other hair styling tools, it makes your hair frizzy. Hence, it is crucial to pick a heat protectant that can control frizz.

Chemical-free formula

It is better to invest not just in the lightweight and non-greasy formula for your hair but also sulfate and paraben-free ones. Parabens and sulfates can make your hair dry and brittle. Since most hair protectant sprays are leave-on, it is safe to use ones that are free of these irritants.

Other ingredients

While some heat protectant sprays have silicones, some also have water-based polymers like polyquaternium and acrylate copolymer that condition your hair and reduce flyaways and static. You can also choose products with humectants like panthenol as they retain moisture in the hair. Other ingredients to look for are natural oils or extracts like aloe vera as they protect your hair cuticles. We are sure that you are confident now about how to choose the right heat protectant for your hair. Now, let’s look at how to use one.

How To Use A Heat Protectant Spray?

Start by damping your hair or let it stay dry. You can use the spray either on damp or dry hair as per the instructions given on the label of the product. Divide your hair section by section and spritz your hair with the spray by holding it a foot away from your head. Make sure you cover the entire surface area. Comb through your hair to spread it evenly. Now use the hair styling tool of your choice.

You may not think much about the damage that hairstyling tools can cause when you see your hair look all beautiful and bouncy. However, the damage becomes more visible as time passes by after repeated styling. While styling can make your hair look flawless, it is also important to take precautions to avoid any possible damage from hair styling tools as they use high temperatures. Your hair deserves the best care; therefore, do not compromise on choosing the best drugstore heat protectant spray. These sprays are a prerequisite to prep your hair to fight the heat damage and protect your hair in the long run.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Kirtana Divakar, the author of this article, is a hair care enthusiast who loves to style her hair. However, excessive use of heat styling tools can damage your precious mane. So, she researched the formulations and working of heat protectants to curate this list of the best drugstore heat protectants for her readers. She also sifted through multiple user reviews to shortlist the products that provide maximum protection at the best price point. Does heat protectant spray really work? Yes, heat protectant sprays help reduce the amount of damage caused by styling tools while also retaining healthy moisture in the hair strands. Does heat protectant spray make your hair greasy? No, it does not make your hair greasy. But if you use a lot of it, it can weigh your hair down. Therefore, use the right amount and your hair won’t be greasy. Is heat protectant spray good for hair? Heat protectant spray works just like sunscreens. They create a protective barrier over your hair cuticles to protect them from the heat produced by the styling tools you use. Can you use heat protectant spray on dry hair? You can apply heat protectant spray on dry or damp hair. However, this also depends on the instructions given on the label. So, make it a point to read the label before deciding. Should I let the heat protectant dry? Yes, you should let the heat protectant dry after applying it to your hair. If you use a professional flat iron on your hair before the heat protectant dries, it will sizzle when it comes in contact with it. Do you put a heat protectant spray before or after applying other hair products? A heat protectant is usually applied after putting on other hair care products like serums, gels, oils, etc. but before heat-styling your hair. This is done to protect the tresses from damage and dullness. How much heat protectant spray can you use? Using too much heat protectant spray might not be good for your hair. People with thinning hair should completely avoid applying a heat protectant spray, as it can build up on the strands and weigh the hair down.

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