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. 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 2022
1. Best For Detangling:Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
The Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray softens, smooths, and detangles your hair prior to 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 prevent damage and breakage 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. Pros
Offers thermal protection up to 428ºF Reduces drying time by 50% Lightweight Eliminates frizz Resistant to humidity Detangles the hair Softens the hair Long-lasting Smoothens the hair
Cons None
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
3. Best Long-Lasting:Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Holding Spray
4.2 BUY ON AMAZON | $19.99 The thermal holding spray from Redken protects your hair from high heat styling tools. It imparts shine to your hair and defends against frizz with lasting hold. The 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. 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
4. Best For Damaged Hair:Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Leave-in Heat Protection Spray
The Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-in Heat Protection Spray strengthens and protects damaged hair from heat damage caused by styling tools. It also seals the hair cuticles to help repair and prevent damage. It creates a protective barrier around your hair strands to avoid breakage, split ends, and frizz. This product detangles and styles your hair easily while it conditions and adds slip. This video offers a more detailed explanation of the product. 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 touchably soft and smooth while protecting 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. 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
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
7. Best For Color-Treated Hair:Flawless by Gabrielle Union – Shine Enhancing Heat Protection Hair Spray
4 BUY ON AMAZON | $9.97 If you are someone who uses styling tools regularly on your 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. 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 makes frizzy and unruly hair more manageable while protecting against heat damage. 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. 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.
10. 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 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 Vegan Paraben-free Gluten-free Cruelty-free Sulfate-free Pleasant fragrance
Cons
Might make the hair greasy. Might leave a residue.
11. Best Volumizing:Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat Protection Spray
This humidity-resistant hairspray 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 hits of the HSI Professional Thermal Protector offers you vibrant, silky, and shiny hair. It is lightweight and protects your 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 spray creates a protective layer between your hair and the heat styling tools, making it healthy and manageable. Pros
Safe for color-treated hair 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.
13. Best For Split Ends:Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
If you are looking for a 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 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
4.2 BUY ON AMAZON | $19.8 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. The mixture of essential oil moisturizes chemically-treated hair, restoring its original health. This lightweight formula 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
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. 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? Yes. Apply the heat protectant spray evenly on your tresses. Let the product dry for about five minutes before straightening the hair. 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 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.
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