Contents
- View The Best Heat Protectant for Hair Below
- 1. Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-in Conditioner Hair Treatment
- 2. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense
- 3. L’Oréal Paris BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream
- 4. CHI Silk Infusion
- 5. Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray
- 6. Not Your Mother’s In A Heart Beat Blow Dry Accelerator
- 7. Alterna Haircare Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant
- 8. Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant
- 9. HSI PROFESSIONAL Argan Oil Heat Protector
- 10. ArtNaturals Thermal Hair Protector Spray
- Heat Protectant for Hair Buyer’s Guide
- Your hair is more complex than you may think
- Hot tools can be dangerous
- Heat protectants have several uses
- The benefits of heat protectants are boundless
- Keep your eye out for all-natural products too
- You may need a special heat protectant for textured hair
- Do hair heat protectants really work?
- What is the best heat protectant for hair?
- What products protect hair from heat damage?
- Conclusion
You need the best heat protectant for your hair if you want to avoid dryness and split ends. And, who doesn’t want to avoid that? The best hot tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners can save the day for flat or frizzy hair. But, your favorite styling tools can be tough on your lovely locks if you’re not careful!
In the same way that you apply sunscreen to protect your skin, you should invest in the best heat protectant for your hair.
Trust us – your hair will thank you!
It is extremely important to protect your hair from heat damage caused by the best hot tool styling tools. You may want to think about using a heat protection product!
View The Best Heat Protectant for Hair Below
1. Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-in Conditioner Hair Treatment
The best for all types of color-treated hair, this leave-in hair treatment spray with 21 important benefits will detangle, protect from heat damage, and give your hair a shiny and smooth finish. You can even use the spray as a leave-in conditioner, which will help prevent frizz and dryness!
Your hair care routine just got much simpler with this 3-in-1 hair treatment. First, the spray will prepare your wet or dry hair by detangling it, which will make blow-drying a breeze. The leave-in conditioner spray will also protect your hair from temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, this hair treatment will give your look a smooth finish by securing moisture, preventing frizz, and boosting shine.
Pros:
+ 21 important benefits
+ 3-in-1 hair treatment
+ For damp or dry hair
+ For all types of color-treated hair
+ 100% Vegan
Why We Liked It – So many benefits from just one product make styling and protecting your hair simple and easy. Plus, this 3-in-1 hair treatment is 100% Vegan and sulfate-free, meaning your hair won’t start to fade from harsh chemicals.
2. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense
Your hair won’t feel bogged down with this weightless dry aerosol spray with argan oil. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense will shield your hair from damage from temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and leave your hair feeling silky smooth with shine.
You can add this spray to any best hair care routine with ease. Spray on your damp hair to protect it from heat damage, or you can also use the spray on dry hair if you need to use a hot tool for touch-ups with added shine.
You’ll also enjoy the signature scent of Moroccanoil heat protect spray, which features notes of fiery amber, luscious florals, and the like!
Pros:
+ For all types of hair
+ Features argan oil and panthenol
+ Protects while it smooths frizz
+ For damp or dry hair
+ Weightless formula
Why We Liked It – The weightless formula means that your hair won’t feel weighed down by this spray. Plus, you can use it for touch-ups on dry hair, so that your look will last!
3. L’Oréal Paris BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream
Protect your hair against damaging high temperatures and tame your frizz at the same time with this smoother cream by L’Oréal Paris. If you struggle to brush your hair after you wash it, you’re going to want to add the best smoother cream to your styling regimen to helps with stubborn knots and tangles.
This smoother cream is the best first step in any styling routine. The formula is also lightweight, which means your hair won’t feel weighed down by the product. Apply this smoother cream with hair protectant to your damp hair, and your locks will be shiny and smooth in no time!
Pros:
+ Smooths and protects hair
+ Lightweight formula
+ Tames tangles
+ Works with short, medium or long hairstyles
+ Offers a smooth and shiny finish
Why We Liked It – This smoother cream is easy to use and is the best for getting rid of pesky tangles as it protects. Don’t worry about pulling and tugging on your hair to remove knots: the product does the work for you!
4. CHI Silk Infusion
This leave-in treatment uses the heat from your styling tools to nourish and protect your hair. It will also protect your hair from pollution in the environment, which can be damaging to it in the long run.
The formula is lightweight, which will make it easy to style your hair. The best natural ingredients, such as silk, wheat, and soy proteins, will penetrate deep into your mane to nourish it and make it shine. These ingredients will also help moisturize your hair and get rid of pesky frizz.
CHI Silk Infusion works with all hair types and can be used on damp or dry hair.
Pros:
+ Works with all hair types
+ For damp or dry hair
+ Natural ingredients like silk, wheat, and soy proteins
+ Protect against pollution in the environment
+ Works with heat to protect hair
Why We Liked It – Instead of working against heat, this leave-in hair treatment works with it. It is the best base and offers protection against the environment. This is the best treatment to nourish and protect your hair while making it shine!
5. Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray
This is another product that aims to work with heat instead of against it. This heat protector spray will reduce your blow-dry time while it protects, meaning you won’t need to expose your hair to hot temperatures for an extended period of time.
The lightweight heat protector spray also fights frizz and promotes shine. You can use this protection spray on dry hair, as long as you let it dry before using any hot tools. You can start blow-drying right away on damp hair.
Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray uses all-natural products and is Vegan, which will leave your hair feeling silky smooth!
Pros:
+ Cuts down blow-dry time
+ Fortified with sea minerals and vitamins
+ Combats frizz
+ For damp or dry hair
+ 100% Vegan and natural
Why We Liked It – The folks at Sun Bum live at the beach and are experts on protecting hair from heat damage. The sea minerals and vitamins will leave your hair silky smooth to the touch without the extra weight!
6. Not Your Mother’s In A Heart Beat Blow Dry Accelerator
Does your hair ever feel heavy after applying a product and then drying it? It’s not the best feeling! Not Your Mother’s In A Heart Beat Blow Dry Accelerator’s lightweight formula will minimize your blow-dry time to help cut down on heat damage, all while providing thermal protection to your hair.
Resist the frizz and humidity with this heat protection spray as it softens and gets rid of knots. For the best beauty routine, apply the spray before you blow-dry and watch it work its magic.
Their formula is also paraben-free, which is gentle on your hair.
Pros (short points – x5 pros):
+ Helps smooth out tangles
+ Cuts down blow-dry time
+ Fights frizz and humidity
+ Thermal protection
+ Paraben-free formula
Why We Liked It – This heat protection spray is definitely not something you’d find in your mother’s medicine cabinet. Say goodbye to that signature helmet hair that all of our moms sported at least once in their lives! We also love this company’s focus on lightweight, and paraben-free heat protect spray.
7. Alterna Haircare Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant
If hot styling tools already damage your hair, you may want to invest in a heat spray, which also repairs. This heat protectant is living proof that you don’t need to use a lot of different products for a really great end result. The Alterna Haircare Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant will offer you heat protection, strengthen your strands, and repair damaged hair.
The special spray formula will save your hair from temperatures of up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit and is especially good for hair that is damaged by harsh chemical treatments.
Pros:
+ Repairs as it protects
+ Breakage protection
+ Strengthens as it smooths
+ Thermal protection
+ Holds in moisture to prevent dryness
Why We Liked It – This thermal heat protectant spray will give you soft and silky smooth results as it protects! Plus, if your hair is already damaged with breakage, it will help to repair it.
8. Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant
If you’re looking for a hair protectant solution for textured locks, you’ve come to the right place. Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant uses a special formula made for wavy, curly, and coiled hair. This protectant is essential for those of you who use flat irons often! This spray will protect your hair from hot styling tools that can reach temperatures of up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
The protectant also locks in moisture and tames frizz as well as flyaways. Enjoy silky smooth hair without that heavy, oily feeling you may find in other protectants!
Pros:
+ Works with textured hair
+ Spray that moisturizes as it protects
+ Protects against damage
+ Manages frizz without product build-up
+ Made with shea butter
Why We Liked It – Sometimes, it can be tricky to find a heat protectant spray that works for textured hair. Cantu products are all about protecting those precious curls, and a smart beauty routine starts with this protectant for hair.
9. HSI PROFESSIONAL Argan Oil Heat Protector
This thermal protectant is made with all-natural ingredients, namely argan oil, which will leave your hair feeling silky smooth! It also protects hair from temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and can be used as a leave-in conditioner.
This vitamin-rich spray will defend against heat damage while it cuts your beauty routine in half as it detangles and moisturizes your strands. HSI PROFESSIONAL’s special formula also speeds up drying time, leaving your hair less exposed to those high temperatures.
There are no sulfates, parabens or phosphates in this spray for hair, living proof that you don’t need a lot of chemicals to defend your hair from heat. It also fights against frizz while it nourishes!
Pros:
+ Can be used on natural or human hair extensions
+ All-natural formula with argan oil
+ Can be used as a leave-in conditioner
+ Safe for colored hair
+ Lightweight formula
Why We Liked It – An easy beauty routine means fewer products. This argan oil heat protector can be used to protect your hair, and as a leave-in conditioner, giving you silky strands in no time!
10. ArtNaturals Thermal Hair Protector Spray
If you’re worried about losing hair, hair protectants with argan oil like this one are the way to go! This incredibly nutrient-rich oil will strengthen your strands while it stimulates your scalp. ArtNaturals’ hair protector uses this amazing oil along with other natural ingredients to give you the best protection and growth.
The spray can also be used as a leave-in conditioner, which will help prevent damage and breakage. This heat protectant cuts down on drying time, works with all hair types, and encourages repair. Watch as it makes your hair shine!
The spray shields against temperatures as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and is also really lightweight, acting as a protection against heat damage.
Pros:
+ Works with all hair types
+ Lightweight formula
+ Non-toxic ingredients
+ Can be used as a leave-in conditioner
+ Encourages growth and repair
Why We Liked It – ArtNaturals is on a mission to take the chemicals out of hair care. Their 100% non-toxic hair protectant boasts all-natural ingredients and will leave your hair feeling silky and shiny!
Heat Protectant for Hair Buyer’s Guide
Let’s talk about hair! Styling your mane can be a fun way to play around with your overall look. You can easily experiment with voluminous curls with shine one day and pin-straight the next without a lot of effort thanks to curling irons and hair straighteners. Okay, maybe it’s not so easy for every type of hair out there, but there are a ton of options these days that make styling fun!
If you’re a fan of using hot tools, you must invest in the best heat protectants. Tools like blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can do some severe damage to your strands if you’re not careful, and who wants that?! Without the proper products, it can take a really long time to repair damaged hair. This is one of the reasons why using the best hair protectant is so important.
If you are a GHD enthusiast, you may wish to purchase a GHD heat protectant spray, which can be found easily online.
There are so many different heat protection options to choose from, that it may seem difficult to know which one is the best without doing your research. The products above are living proof that there are plenty of different choices for all types of hair.
Let’s take a closer look at why you need to invest in the best heat protectants.
Your hair is more complex than you may think
Your hair itself is more complex than meets the eye. Each strand is made up of layers, all of which can be easily damaged by heat. The two most important are the inner cortex and outer cuticle. The outer layer is explicitly where exceptional shine lives.
The inner cortex is filled with a protein called keratin as well as water molecules (remember that the human body is made up of 60% water!). The outer cuticle is the outermost layer, and if your hair is healthy, it provides the shine we all know and want.
When you get split ends, it means that the outer cuticle has been worn down and is basically falling apart. This leaves the cortex unprotected and vulnerable to breakage. If you do heat styling a lot, this damage and breakage can appear much more quickly without added protection!
Hot tools can be dangerous
A blow drier is almost sacred to any good hair routine. After you wash and condition your hair, your next step will likely be to dry it. Blow drying can be a lot faster and more convenient than letting your hair air dry, and it can give you a lot more control when you go to style it. Heat styling is one of the best ways to manage hair, after all!
This is all great news, but using a hairdryer without protection can be really damaging after extended use. You may even start to find split ends and breakage if you’re not careful. The same goes for straighteners and curling irons. All of that heat just isn’t good for unprotected hair.
Heat styling tools can reach temperatures of over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s about as hot as your oven if you’re as into baking as you are into styling your hair. Now that’s really hot! When you think of it like that, it’s easy to see how damaging using hot tools without protection can be.
Heat protectants have several uses
The main goal of any heat protectant is to, well, protect from heat. These products essentially create a barrier between your hair and heat styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners.
Plus, the good news is that many of the best hair protectants come with some extra advantages! In addition to protecting against damaging heat, these products can work as a leave-in conditioner, detangler, and styling tool.
The benefits of heat protectants are boundless
Now, no need to put your heat styling tools under lock and key. We know how helpful they can be when styling your hair, and we don’t want you to live without them! We just want you to start using the best hair protectants to ensure that you don’t damage your hair.
Heat protection spray acts as a barrier between your hot tools and your hair, similar to the way sunscreen protects your skin from the sun. And, do you remember the outer cuticle we told you about? Heat protectants enter into the cuticle in order to smooth out that layer, which will give you a smooth and frizz-free look.
The best heat protectants also work to add even more moisture to the inner cortex. Your hair naturally craves moisture, so the more you add to it, the better it will look and feel. Protectants also work to keep that added moisture there, by forming a protective layer on the outside of your strands.
If you color your hair as well as use heat styling tools, you’re even more at risk for damage. Harsh chemicals and bleaches strip hair strands of their natural moisture and can cause the outer cuticle to break down. All of you hair dye fans are definitely in need of the best heat protectant!
Important ingredients in heat protectant sprays
Don’t feel overwhelmed by long lists of ingredients and additives. The best heat protectants contain a few specific components that you’ll want to pay attention to.
Silicone will help the outer cuticle of your hair lie flat, ensuring that it doesn’t frizz. However, be careful here. If you have naturally oily hair, then you may want to find a product with little to no silicone. If you’re looking for something all-natural, you’ll want to stay away from this ingredient as well.
PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer will help smooth the outer cuticle of your hair as well. This element will help to detangle your hair as it protects, and the ingredient will help to repair already damaged hair.
Hydrolyzed wheat protein will nourish your hair. Like keratin, the naturally found protein in your inner cortex, the wheat protein, will soften your hair. It promotes smoothness and will help to give your hair that shine you want.
Keep your eye out for all-natural products too
Some of you may be cringing at the mention of a chemical like silicone. If you’re all about putting only natural ingredients on your body, you’re in luck! There are several options to add to your beauty routine, which will help defend your precious hair from heat damage.
All-natural products are the way to go, and thankfully there are plenty of heat protectants out there with a focus on staying chemical-free. These types of protectants usually feature a combination of argan, coconut, and/or olive oil. All of which are fabulous for preventing damage and breakage!
Like many other beauty products, natural ingredients are gentler on your body, including your hair. There are so many benefits to using heat protectant sprays without non-toxic additives. One of the benefits of using a heat protectant is the ability to repair damage caused by harsh chemicals, so why add on more to your strands? Read the ingredient list carefully so that you know exactly what you’re putting on your hair.
You may need a special heat protectant for textured hair
Sometimes textured hair just needs special attention. Let’s face it; those beautiful curls deserve special attention! And, luckily, there are some great options out there for those of you with wavy, curly or coiled hair. Those of you with curly hair may even use hot styling tools even more often than those with straight hair. Hey, the versatility that comes with having curly hair is one of the best things about it!
It’s important to look out for a lightweight formula that won’t weigh your curls down with extra oil. Remember to look out for all of the other best advantages as well. You’ll be able to find 2-in-1 formulas with extras like a leave-in conditioner and detangler for textured hair too.
Do hair heat protectants really work?
The answer here is a resounding yes. Heat protectants really work! The most important thing to remember is that protectants add an extra layer of protection between your hair and extremely hot temperatures. Your hot tools may be a lifesaver, but they do promote breakage and can destroy your hair over time. If you want to avoid dryness, brittleness, and split ends, you must use a heat protectant in your hair.
You may be wondering how heat protectants work. In recent years, clinical studies have shown that hair treated with a heat protectant was up to 20% less damaged than nontreated hair.
Simply put, heat protectants form a light film around the hair strand, which can help eliminate damage, distribute heat more evenly and retain moisture. Moisturized hair equals happy hair!
What is the best heat protectant for hair?
The best protectant for you will depend on the type of hair you have. There are different products that are specially made for textured hair, and others that can work with all types.
You’ll have to think about your specific needs before buying. Do you want the best formula that can work with both damp and dry hair? Maybe you want something toxic-free or Vegan? Do you have short or long hair, and do you color it? What is your hair like, is it textured? These are all important questions to consider before making a purchase.
Consider investing in a heat protection spray, cream, or serum that can replace some of the other products you already use. You now know that many heat protection products can be used as a detangler and/or a leave-in conditioner, which will make your beauty routine a lot less time-consuming.
Remember to always look at the ingredients used in your heat protectant sprays before buying. This is especially important if you want to stay away from products heavy with chemicals. Again, keep your eye out for ingredients such as silicone, PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, and wheat protein. These are the best elements to have in heat protection sprays.
What products protect hair from heat damage?
If you want to protect your hair from damage (who doesn’t?), spray and cream heat protectants are the best products on the market.
Add a heat protectant cream or spray to your hairstyling routine to fight back against damage. Remember: the best blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons can reach temperatures over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll want an extra layer of protection between all of that heat and your beloved hair.
Above you’ll find ten excellent products for all of your heat protectant needs! Read the descriptions carefully and consider what you’re looking for, and you’ll be ready to protect your hair in no time.
Conclusion
We all love our blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons, but these hot tools can be tough on your hair. Overall, your best defense against damaging hot tools is a quality heat protectant! Heat protectant sprays and creams are living proof that you can use hot tools without sacrificing the health of your hair.
The best way to protect your hair from the high temperatures that come with using heated styling tools is to introduce a heat protectant for your hair into your beauty routine. There are so many options to choose from, so you’ll need to do a little bit of research to choose the best option for your unique hair. Read our tips and tricks above, and then check out our list of 10 options that we love.
Add a heat protectant to your beauty regime and say goodbye to brittle and damaged hair, and hello to silky, smooth, and shiny locks that you’ll be proud of!
Expert tip
Hair protectants can help to protect your hair from high temperatures, but it is a good idea to give your hair a break from hot styling tools every once and a while. Several air-dry hairstyles are fun and easy and gentle on your strands. If your hair is severely damaged, consider getting a trim to cut off all those split ends. The beautiful thing about hair is – it grows!
Did you know?
Argan oil comes from a tree that has existed in Morocco for over one-million years! As you can imagine, this oil is extremely expensive. And, for a good reason: it takes a massive amount of nuts to make a very small amount of oil. In Morocco, the oil is used in cooking as well as cosmetics.
