There’s no doubt that coloring your hair and using hot tools frequently contributes to hair damage, leaving it looking dull and frizzy.1 However, applying a heat protectant spray, oil, or cream can help repair and prevent this damage, even on color-treated hair. “Heat protectants act as a protective barrier between your hair and a hot tool, protecting it from burning, drying out, and becoming dull,” explains celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown. “It will also help smooth the cuticle and leave hair looking shiny and healthy.”
So which one is right for you? We spent hours researching and testing the top-rated options to find the best heat protectants for hair. We had a group of testers with different hair types and concerns each use a heat protectant in their hairstyling routine consistently over the course of two weeks, evaluating it based on application, absorption, efficacy, hair feel, and overall look. We then analyzed our findings and compiled this list of the best heat protectants on the market. From sprays and creams to options for fine hair and tight curls, we’re sharing the heat protectants that are officially Byrdie-approved.
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Considering how well Olaplex does hair-strengthening products, we can’t say we’re surprised by well this nourishing and protecting serum performed during our test. After applying one pump to damp hair and then styling, we noticed how well it smoothed strands, helped tame frizz, and created shine. The ultra-lightweight serum consistency is easy to distribute evenly through the hair, it absorbs within seconds, and it leaves absolutely no residue behind. After heat styling, hair was left feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and not weighed down.
As for the formula, it contains red algae extract, which bonds to the hair to block pollutants and delivers antioxidants to the cuticle. It also contains the brand’s patented bonding technology that works to repair severe damage, leading to smoother, more healthy-looking hair. If you’re looking for an incredibly lightweight hair serum that will provide heat protection, help tame frizz, and enhance shine, we absolutely recommend this one from Olaplex.
Best for Frizz-Reduction: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème
Frizz got you down? You can count on this protective blow dry cream to keep hair smooth, shiny, and flyaway-free. Designed for all hair types from straight and fine to thick and curly, the formula counts on a trio of nourishing plant oils (read: rosehip, argan, and coconut) to seal in moisture, prevent damage, add shine, and prevent pesky frizz before it starts. Plus, it protects hair from heat styling up to 450 degrees, making it the perfect companion for use with your hot tools.
We loved how well it absorbed into damp hair and worked to smooth fried ends, reduce frizz, and enhance shine. Though the brand recommends using a dime-size to a quarter size-amount, we recommend starting with just a dime-size amount and slowly adding more if needed—the formula is lightweight and residue-free in the hair, that is, unless you over-apply. All-in-all, we’re really impressed with this heat protectant, and we recommend it to anyone who prefers cream formulas and needs to tame frizz—regardless of your hair type.
Best for Shine: Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum
If you’re simply looking for a serum that guards it from heat damage and adds shine, this is a great option for you. The formula isn’t as moisturizing as other options (though it does contain sea buckthorn, which contains nourishing fatty acids), but we love how lightweight it feels and how easy it is to distribute through the hair. It’s a great option if you use heat tools at high temperatures because it protects your hair against heat of up to 450 degrees. We also appreciate that it can be used on damp or dry strands, making it convenient for restyling or touch-ups.
Once you apply it, it feels totally weightless in the hair, and it won’t transfer onto your hands as you’re styling. It helps to tame a bit of frizz and add a nice amount of shine, making it a fitting option if you have dull strands. Though we do wish that it felt a bit more hydrating like other serums and creams, it remains a great choice for people with fine hair or those that don’t need an extra boost of moisture.
Best Spray: Verb Glossy Shine Spray with Heat Protection
Heat protectant sprays are really convenient and easy to apply, especially if you don’t like the feeling or hassle of applying hair products with your hands. Plus, spray formulas tend to be more lightweight than creams and serums. We love this one because it’s multi-tasking—not only does it protect strands against heat of up to 428 degrees, but it also doubles as a shine spray. The formula relies on peach and rosehip oils to hydrate and increase shine, as well as squalane to add moisture and prevent future damage.
We found that it worked wonderfully on a variety of testers with different hair types. It was lightweight enough not to weigh down fine hair, and it was hydrating enough to help smooth and nourish dry lengths and ends on straight and curly hair. We also love that, in addition to shielding against heat damage and adding shine, it gave the hair some serious bounce. If a spray formula appeals to you, this one is a fantastic choice.
Best Cream: Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream
Heat-protectant creams can sometimes feel heavy in the hair, but this one truly doesn’t. It has a weightless, silky texture that’s easy to distribute, and we love that a little bit goes a long way. It doesn’t feel greasy or overly slippy when you apply it, making it a great option for a wide range of hair types. After applying it to damp hair and then blow drying, we noticed a significant increase in shine, a real improvement in smoothness, and a reduction in frizz. One of our testers was so impressed by the shine, she mentioned that she was even able to skip her usual hair oil application after drying, while another tester shared that it helped to speed up her drying time.
If you’ve struggled to find a cream formula that will guard your hair against heat damage without weighing it down or making it look greasy, we suggest checking this one out. And if you like light, floral, musky scents, you’ll love how this formula smells in your hair.
Best for Coily Hair: Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray
If you have coily or natural hair, then chances are you might have dry hair and dryness at your scalp. Because of this, you want to reach for a heat protectant that’s hydrating without looking greasy or weighing down your strands. This spray is a great option for you because you can easily spray it at your roots and lengths for an even coat of protection, and it will provide some hydration thanks to the inclusion of rose water in the formula, but it won’t look or feel heavy. And since people with coily hair usually need to use heat tools at pretty high temperatures in order to achieve their desired style, we love that this formula protects against heat of up to 450 degrees. Plus, it also contains UV filters to protect your hair from the damaging effects of the sun.
While not as rich or hydrating as a cream by nature of the spray formula, we did find that it provided a bit of moisture. Dry ends felt smoother and more hydrated after using this spray, but not in a way that altered the texture or finish of the hair—we appreciate that it doesn’t wilt or flatten coils. And lastly, we really like that it has a light, fruity-floral scent that’s pleasant but not overpowering.
Best for Curly Hair: Kérastase Résistance Ciment Thermique Blow Dry Primer
Although this is an effective heat protectant cream for all hair types, we especially love it for people with curly hair. Because curly hair tends to be dry, it craves products that provide it with sufficient moisture—while not weighing down or disrupting the curl pattern. Formulated with a pro-keratine complex full of protein and amino acids, as well as ceramides, and plant sap, it works to strengthen and support the hair structure, provide moisture, and smooth signs of damage. The texture is extremely lightweight and almost milky, making it easy to work through the hair, and it doesn’t create a greasy feeling or look heavy on strands.
Just a dime-size amount works to shield against heat damage, tame frizz, and flyaways, and nourish and soften strands. The formula is fantastic—the only thing we wish we could change is how strong the floral scent is. But considering that the fragrance doesn’t linger in the hair, we can easily look past this, and we really recommend it—especially for curly-haired consumers.
Best for Straight and Wavy Hair: Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray
If you have straight or wavy hair and you’re looking for a heat protectant to shield your hair against damage while remaining pretty much undetectable on your strands, we recommend checking out this spray from Living Proof. The incredibly lightweight mist is easy to distribute, and it doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue or a greasy finish. It’s formulated with amino-rich beet root extract as well as other plant extracts to nourish the hair, and it also contains glycerin to condition and hydrate. We love how easy it is to apply and how well it smooths the hair and promotes a bouncy, light result. It also softens strands and adds shine.
While the brand claims that it helps to detangle, we didn’t experience that. It didn’t cause tangles by any means, but it didn’t make brushing out the hair as seamless as other, more creamy heat protectants. Overall, it’s a great heat protectant spray that’s suitable for all hair types, though we especially recommend it for straight and wavy hair due to its lightweight and non-greasy formula.
Best for Fine Hair: Gisou Heat Protecting Spray
People with fine hair know that finding truly lightweight and non-greasy hair products is essential—otherwise, they’ll end up with oily-looking, weighed-down hair. Sprays are typically a good option for those with fine hair because they tend to be lighter than creams or serums, and we like this one in particular because of its ultra-light formula and fine mist. Rather than drenching hair in product, the mister on it does a nice job of evenly distributing the right amount of the formula. It contains propolis, a nutrient-rich, resin-like substance made by bees that helps to fortify the hair. After applying it to towel-dried strands and heat-styling, it helps smooth and soften the hair, which increases shine and decreases frizziness. While it’s definitely a bit expensive compared to similar options on the market, we think it’s an excellent choice for people with fine hair who struggle to find heat protectants that feel lightweight enough for them while still delivering on their claims.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer
If you have color-treated hair, then preventing even more damage to your strands and protecting your new hue from fading is probably a priority for you. This is the perfect heat protectant for colored hair because, in addition to protecting against heat and containing a blend of nourishing oils that condition the hair, it also contains UV filters.? Why does this matter? Because the sun can fade your color, so using a product that has UV protection can help you keep youryou hair in prime condition.
We love that although it’s not a fully liquid texture—think of it more like a light, milky serum—it comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to distribute. It’s not heavy or greasy in the hair, and it works to smooth, soften, and significantly reduce frizz. We wish it was a bit more moisturizing, especially for dead ends, but considering how lightweight it is, how well it guardsgaurds against heat damage and frizz, and the fact that it provides UV protection, we still strongly recommend it.
Best Smoothing: Oribe Balm D’Or Heat Styling Shield
Formulas that protect the hair from heat damage while lending other benefits earn extra points in our book, and this is one of them. The lightweight, cream texture is meant to be applied to damp hair before heat-styling to protect strands from temperatures up to 450 degrees. The formula also contains the brand’s signature antioxidant complex, plant collagen, a blend of nourishing oils, and lemon peel extract to protect hair from oxidative stress, moisturize, help seal the cuticle, and add shine.
During our test, we were pleased by how smoothly it glided through the hair, making it easy to brush out. We also appreciated that after evenly distributing it through the hair, there was no smoke, sizzling, or other signs of burning when using hot tools. Despite being a cream formula, it felt incredibly lightweight and never made hair look greasy or weighed down, rather it added a noticeable shine and smoothness to styled hair. And if you like hair products that give your hair a light fragrance, this one contains the brand’s iconic Côte d’Azur scent which lingers for a few hours.
Final Verdict
Our favorite heat protectant is the Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. It’s lightweight and fast-absorbing, it adds shine and softness to the hair, and it protects against damage while helping to repair it. But if you prefer a spray formula that you don’t have to apply with your hands, we recommend the Verb Glossy Shine Heat Protectant Spray—it’s residue-free and makes the hair super bouncy.
How We Tested
In order to determine which heat protectants are best, we did extensive research and tested nearly three dozen top-rated options. We had a group of testers with various hair types and concerns each use a heat protectant in their hairstyling routine over the course of two weeks, evaluating it based on application, absorption, efficacy, hair feel, and overall look. We then assigned each product a star rating in each category, and those that ranked the highest overall appear on this list.
What to Look for When Buying a Heat ProtectantFormula and Application Method
A large chunk of heat protectants are sprays, which, when applied correctly, won’t weigh down normal or fine hair. They’re also great for anyone who prefers being able to spritz on a product rather than applying it with their hands. Our favorite spray is the Verb Glossy Shine Heat Protectant Spray. If you have thick or curly hair, or you prefer more moisturizing formulas, you may want to opt for a cream formulation—like the Shu Uemura Netsu Blow Dry Cream—and take some time to work it into your hair before you turn on the hot tools.
Humectants
While they’re more often thought of as a skincare ingredient, humectants—hydrating ingredients that attract moisture—can be super beneficial in hair care and are especially good to look for in a heat protectant, says Brown. After all, more moisturized hair equals healthier hair. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are two good ones to look for. The Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray is a great option because it contains glycerin.
Strengthening Ingredients
According to Brown, it’s also a good idea to look for strengthening ingredients in a heat protectant—they’re an added layer of defense against any heat-induced damage. Things such as amino acids, keratin, and wheat protein are all good options. The Kerastase Ciment Thermique Blow Dry Primer is packed with amino acids and keratin—so we recommend it if you have, particularly damaged hair.
FAQHow should you use a heat protectant?
John Pulitano, hairstylist and creative director of Headcase Hair, recommends using heat protectants as the first step of your hair care routine post-wash. “Spray liberally onto damp hair before using any other styling products, such as volumizer or smoothing lotions, and then continue with your styling routine,” he says.
To use a heat protectant on dry hair, “Be sure to apply it thoroughly, as well,” he says. “I like to hold the product about 30 centimeters [about a foot] away, so I can get a nice even coating but no stickiness.”
How important is using a heat protectant?
If you’ll be doing any sort of heat styling, whether blow drying or using hot tools, Pulitano considers heat protectants to be an essential step in your routine—“especially for colored and damaged hair types. But really, every single person should be using one.” He recommends reaching for products that are lightweight and won’t leave a sticky residue in your hair.