When styling your hair using heat styling tools such as a curling wand, blow-dry, or a flat iron, the best heat protectant spray is important because you are putting your hair in danger that may lead to damaged hair or looking and feeling dry. The best heat protectant spray works as a heat protection solution to avoid the tools stripping off your hair moisture and making your hair more manageable. Therefore, having a nice hold can maintain all styles securely. Heat protectant sprays will add moisture to your hair and form a protective barrier that will minimize moisture loss when you apply heat to your hair shafts, and this prevents any hair damage and breakage.
Anyone who applies any heat such as blow-dry, curling, or straightening to their hair needs a heat protectant spray to avoid damage and the people looking for a better hold and shape. However, there are plenty of heat protectant sprays on the market, and we have listed the best sprays to enhance your styling while offering your hair maximum protection. Read this article to find out the best heat protectants for different hair types with their pros, cons and a detailed buying guide to help you in the decision-making process.
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Best Heat Protectant Spray
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Best Heat Protectant Spray - Reviews
Bumble and Bumble primer spray pack rich natural oils such as argan, coconut, and macadamia effective for smoothing and hydrating the thick or coarse strands. The heat protectant is also effective for smoothing out frizz and shielding your hair against UV and heat damage without leaving any build-up or unwanted residue.
Bumble and Bumble is a necessary beauty and hair care product against hot tools like a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron. While offering a protective layer against heat, it also gives a glass shine look too dull hair tames any frizz. The heat protectant mist can also be used on all hair types as it quickly absorbs into the hair and does not leave a greasy residue that might boost frizz.
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Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is a repair oil for any thermal damage that can also work as a heat protectant spray as it targets the broken protein bonds in your strands. Using this heat shield will result in soft, shiny, and strong hair that will give off a vibrant color because of the rich oil that repairs and offers a protective layer on damaged and dry hair.
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil heat protectant protects against heat damage to temperatures of up to 232°C while maintaining a fine and healthy shine. The beauty and hair care product has a frizz-free formula that will leave your strands looking healthy and glossy while minimizing flyaways.
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Living Proof Restore Instant Protection Spray is a lightweight heat protectant that is versatile; hence can be applied on both dry and damp hair, making it an ideal straightening option for the second day. The lightweight spray is an important part of your hair care as it is also a UV protectant shield and is a protective layer against hot tools and adds shine.
Living Proof shield gives off a healthy shiny mirror final look no matter the method you use it as, and the formula is made without parabens, phthalates, or mineral oil. The heat protectant prevents tangles and doesn't harden your hair, and it always leaves your hair feeling smooth, soft, and healthy.
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CHI 44 Iron Guard, Thermal Protection Spray, is a superior protection spray that works to protect your hair from any breakage and thermal damage. It contains a lightweight weightless formula that guarantees that a user will not experience any build-up and seals the cuticle, preventing further damage to your hair. It is the best heat protectant spray for a blow-dry prep because it will not weigh your hair down, which is especially important for individuals with fine hair.
CHI 44 Iron Guard heat protectant is one of the best heat protectants because it contains a key silk protein that adds moisture and shine to your strands while making them soft and strong. It shields your hair from heat damage and seals cuticles to ensure your damaged hair is free from more breakage, allowing you to style your hair freely.
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Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Hair Spray is the best heat protectant spray for anyone who is a Morrocan Oil fan and is looking for high thermal protection for their colored and relaxed hair. The heat protectant offers thermal protection of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and blocks any heat damage that may be caused by hot tools like a blow dryer, curling iron, or flat iron, to name but a few. The dry spray application makes it easy to use for touch-ups, and it leaves your hair strands with a natural movement.
Moroccanoil hair spray protects your hair thanks to a formula infused with the conditioning panthenol and argan oil that refreshes your hair instantly just after a few sprays and makes your hair smooth and healthy with a shine. The beauty product is an award-winning hair product and is in the form of a no-hold spray that blends perfectly into any existing style method and protects your hair from any hot tool. It is recommended to use it at about 6 inches away if you have damp hair and then blow-dry or comb your hair thoroughly.
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What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Heat Protectants
1. Ingredients
The best heat protectant spray should have safe ingredients that will encourage your hair to grow healthily because the hair is protected. You should choose ingredients based on the needs of your hair, as heat protectants usually include chemical and natural combinations. It's important to avoid sprays that contain parabens, sulfates, or any cheap fillers since the product is a leave-on and may react with your scalp.
The two main protectant ingredients, which are also FDA approved, meaning they are safe for humans to use, are silicones (Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone) or water-based polymers (polyquaternium and acrylate copolymer,) and they protect your hair. Other safe ingredients you should look for in heat protectants are natural proteins or natural oils such as argan oil, shea butter, and olive oil, as they will boost the healthy growth of your hair by sealing the hair's cuticle. Additionally, humectants like Propylene Glycol attract moisture and lock it in your hair, and amino acids such as keratin strengthen your hair.
2. Hair Type
A heat protectant is responsible for protecting your hair strands against direct heat exposure, but all heat protectants cant work the same on different hair types. Most heat protectant sprays are customized based on different hair types making it necessary to choose one based on your hair type. Therefore, for every hair type, there are specific sprays that will work the best and might not work as well for another hair type.
If you don't know your hair type, you should either look for a professional stylist that will guide you in testing your hair or check for online quizzes that will help you know which hair type you fall under, whether the curly hair, fine hair, dry hair or frizzy hair.
3. How the Protectant Feels on the Hair
You should research how the hair protectant felt on people who used the same to avoid getting a product that will not fulfill your hair completely. Some products increase the body or retain the body of your hair while others improve the texture of your hair, and others make your hair shinier, healthier, and softer.
Depending on what you are going for, ensure you choose the best heat protectant to give you the specific results. Also, look for a lightweight spray formula that will not feel heavy on your hair or leave any residues on your strands. For color-treated hair, opt for heat protectants that have clearly stated they are safe to use on your colored hair, and this is because color-treated hair may need extra attention because of the quick moisture loss that may not be necessary for other hair types.
4. Heat Styling Frequency
How much frequently you use your heat styling tools should determine the heat protectant spray you opt for. If you style your hair regularly, you should opt for a heat protectant that can withstand high temperatures, and also, the styling product should be gentle to avoid any breakage and split ends.
5. Maximum Hair Protection
All of the best heat protectant sprays will handle different amounts of heat, with some being able to handle high temperatures while some can handle moderate temperatures. Before making your purchase ensure the heat protectant, you are interested in can handle a minimum of 200 degrees celsius of heat to avoid any disappointments.
Additionally, to ensure you get the best out of your heat protectant, ensure that your product has silicones in the ingredients because they help coat and guard your hair against heat damage. The most common silicones include Cyclomethicone, which coats your hair with a moisturizing film, and Dimethicone keeps your hair smooth and prevents moisture loss.
6. Applicator Type
The type of applicator in your spray determines how well the heat protectant will be applied to your hair. The best applicator is the spray nozzle that will dispense the protectant evenly in a light mist, and this will help all your hair strands to get evenly coated without necessarily getting your strands damp. Also, for some hair types, the best applicator would be dry spray from an aerosol spray as spray nozzles may wear down the hair with the product.
7. Convenience and Duration
When a heat protectant spray is convenient, you can apply it to damp and dry hair where some products usually need one or the other. People who frequently wash their hair should opt for a spray that works well with damp hair. On the other hand, if you don't wash your hair often but need to spray to touch up your look and style, then go for a spray that will be easily applied on your hair when it's dry that will need no drying time.
In addition to convenience, check to see the lasting capacity of the heat protection spray you are interested in. Some products may last for 24 hours, while others may last up to 72 hours or even your next hair wash day, and choose this depending on your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best heat protectant in the current market?
According to our review, the best heat protectant is the Bumble and Bumble Invisible Protective Primer Spray, and we have stated the reasons above.
2. Can you use a leave-in conditioner as a heat protectant spray?
Leave-in conditioners don't offer the same heat protection as the best heat protectant spray. Still, they may leave-in conditioners usually provide a protective layer to your hair from heat damage. If you have dry hair, then a leave-in conditioner can help you prevent split ends from hot tools styling and prevents your ends from getting burnt and dry. A leave-in conditioner should be used together with heat protection to maximize the benefits to your hair.
