8 Best Heat Protectant Products

Key ingredients: This product contains a fabulous mix of argan oil, silicone, and ceramides. Plus it doesn’t include the nasties.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Yes

Application: If you have thin hair, follow the manufacturer’s suggestion of using sparingly from mid-shaft to ends on damp hair. If you have thicker hair, you can use a little more.

Package size: It’s a seriously sexy 5.9-ounce black spray bottle.

Of course you’re going to pay for it – through your teeth. This incredible heat protectant costs nearly $70. That means it costs more per ounce ($11.70) than most drug store bottles. But, oh, you’re going to want to pay it.

There are some people that will pay anything to look their best every day. If you won’t or can’t afford that, then you should turn away before you read more… this product will leave you begging for it. If you can handle the price, you’ll soon find out why so many stylists recommend it.

One of most impressive aspects of this heat protectant is that it seriously works with just about every head of hair. No really. If you have thick, curly hair, you should use this. Have hair that’s too thin and scraggly for most products? You want this. Chemically-treated or damaged hair? This is also for you. Now, that’s not a guarantee, but users across the board have experienced terrific results whether they use it only for blow-drying, or with other heat stylers as well.

Inside, there aren’t any parabens and it’s vegan-friendly. It adds serious softness and dries hair faster, even while offering UV protection. But, oh that price. If only it were more affordable. Then again, it’s still cheaper than going to the salon for amazing hair every third day because this bottle really does last for ages.

Bottom line: If you can afford it, you want it. This heat protectant really is the business. We wish we had more complaints than the price, but it’s difficult to find any negatives. And even the price can be justified by the length of time it lasts and the value for money.

Key ingredients: There are some lovely seed oils in here, but also some alcohol.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Yes

Application: The manufacturers suggest spraying it directly onto towel dried hair and then heat styling as desired. Well, we think it’s actually better to spray it on your hands and then to spread it through your hair. It isn’t too sticky, so you won’t need to work to get it off your hands. You don’t need a lot to get the benefits of it.

Package size: It’s a 4.2-ounce pump spray bottle.

The MSRP is close to $30, but you shouldn’t pay that much. Likely, you’ll find this under $15. At $14, it’s a whopping $3.33 per ounce, which still isn’t the most expensive, but it may not be for everyone. But, really, a little goes a long, long way on this, so it’s worth it.

If you’ve already managed to damage your hair, but you can’t get enough of your hair dryer or flat iron, you will need to get your hands on a bottle of this. And, it’s one of the few heat protectants that works amazingly well with curling irons too.

Sound too good to be true? It isn’t – at least not for most users. The protective barrier of this product wraps itself around the hair shaft to lock in moisture and prevent splitting and snapping. You’re left with super soft, smooth hair which looks and smells amazing. And, better yet, it doesn’t leave a residue in your hair, which many of these products often do.

On the downside, this is one of the pricier options and while it almost always arrives before promised, it’s not always well packaged – which you should expect given the price point. But, since a little really does get the job done, the value for money is definitely there.

Cost: 

Bottom line: If your hair is already damaged or you often chemically manipulate it, you’ll need something of this magnitude to repair it. And, besides working well on curly hair that’s straightened into place, this is one of those products that work with a curling iron too. It’s an amazing product and one you probably want on hand during the winter months when the frizz sets in.

Key ingredients: The argan and jojoba oils make your hair sleek and consistently rejuvenate your hair.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Yes

Application: This is meant to be sprayed onto damp hair before use with a hair dryer; it won’t work if you don’t add heat.

Package size: It’s a 6.8-ounce bottle – and it’s a seriously gorgeous one at that. Really, you’ll be proud to have it on your bathroom counter. There are smaller, 1.7-ounce bottles which you’ll need if you travel often. Additionally, multi-packs and a 3.4-ounce bottle are available from Amazon.

The MSRP is $33. If you pay that much, you’re totally overpaying. You’ll find it on Amazon for a little more than $17 which works out to roughly $2.50 per ounce. That’s not the most expensive, but it’s starting to approach that point.

Not everyone spends hours with a flat iron, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need protection from the heat of the hair dryer. If that’s you, this heat protectant might just change your life. It will cut your drying time by as much as half – and still leave your hair looking sleek and smooth. Basically; your hair will feel and look amazing. And, some users report it working as a detangler as well – which is a real bonus for those with long hair.

We also love that it does a good job de-frizzing even the most damaged and chemically treated hairs. Part of the reason, however, is that this oil-rich formula may leave your hair feeling a little greasy if you over apply it. We caution against that.

The packaging, besides the beautiful bottle, allows you to order with confidence. And, if you love the coconut smell associated with hot summer beaches, you’re going to fall all over this – whatever the price.

Cost: 

Bottom line: It’s expensive, but it seriously works as a blow dry spray. If you have long, thick, or damaged and dry hair, you probably shouldn’t go another day before you get your hands on this spray. It’s that good.

Key ingredients: A whole mix of almond, macadamia, coconut, and seed oils. All of it will allow your hair to retain plenty of moisture.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Well, probably. They only test on animals when required to by law – which typically means they must do so to sell their products in China. And this product is likely to be one that is animal tested.

Application: Although the folks at Bumble and Bumble say to apply this to damp hair, you can use it at almost any time. Indeed, it does well to keep curls frizz-free when applied to wet hair and will tame the flyaways on drier hair. You can really play with this product to figure out what suits you best.

Package size: It’s an 8.5-ounce pump spray bottle.

This isn’t the cheapest; usually you’ll pay between $26 and $30 on Amazon. That works out to more than $3 per ounce. If it works for you, you’ll pay it gladly.

In addition to the six incredible oils that lock in moisture on this product, you are going to get a lot of benefits from it. The UVA and UVB protection is a nice bonus, but we’re especially fond of the detangling abilities at hand here. And, though many heat protectants claim to de-frizz, not all of them work on curly hair – but this one does.

Yes, if you have curly hair, this is perhaps the best heat protectant for you; it really does the job and you won’t need to layer it on to feel the soft smoothness that others do with their straight hair. And, at the same time, it’s not too strong for thin or damaged hair either.

One of the biggest drawbacks is the scent. There are those that love it, but there are many that absolutely cannot tolerate it. If you have a sensitive nose, you may want to be careful. Then again, if you have difficult-to-manage curly hair, you probably won’t care what it smells like; this will soon be part of your daily routine.

Bottom line: If you have curly hair, you’re going to want this – and the price isn’t going to scare you away. But, that’s not to say that only those with curls or serious frizz can make the most of it; this product is rather versatile and can be applied no matter how wet or dry our hair is for the protection you need under any heat.

Key ingredients: Moroccan argan oil is the hero in this mix.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Nope. The parent company is L’Oreal which is notorious for animal testing. That’s a bummer.

Application: Use a light spray only and give it a moment before adding heat.

Package size: 6-ounce spritzer bottle. You might be able to find bulk packaging, but you’ll probably be better off with Amazon’s subscribe and save deal.

If you buy this once-off, you’ll pay a little more than $4.25 for the bottle. That works out to less than 75 cents per ounce. Now, if you go for the subscribe and save option, it’s closer to $4 for the bottle – and that’s pretty darn good.

For a start, it’s difficult to find such a quality product at this price and we absolutely love that. Really, it’s such a good deal. But that doesn’t make it a perfect product; it’s definitely not for everyone. We’re disappointed that there is a fair amount of alcohol in this product. So, even though it’s great at protecting your hair from heat styling, it’s contributing to other damage.

But, it does do an amazing job of creating a straight, smooth, sleek look with a soft, natural feel – as long as you use it properly. Here, that means being careful not to over apply this product. If you do, you’ll be disappointed with the sticky effect.

Then again, this product will definitely last overnight to save you time in the morning. The manufacturers claim it is good for 48 hours, but it probably only manages that duration for the minority of users. And, users are split on the de-frizzing efficacy of this heat protectant. We don’t suggest it for chemically straightened or curled hair, but for everyone else, you should probably give it a try at least once because it’s affordable enough to experiment with.

Bottom line: The price is good, as well as the quality, considering the price makes this a winner. There are some drawbacks to this heat protectant from Garnier, but when it works, it really gets the job done. We don’t suggest it for chemically straightened or curled hair, but for everyone else, you should probably give it a try at least once because it’s affordable enough to experiment with.

Key ingredients: Brazilian coconut oils along with hydrolyzed keratin make this a protein, heat protecting spray.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Yes

Application: The manufacturer suggests using this on dry hair before using with your flat iron. There are those that find it even works miracles before blow drying – but not everyone experiences this. Because of the bottle design, you should run a comb through your hair after applying the product and before applying heat.

Package size: It’s a 6-ounce pump spray bottle.

Depending on where you pick it up, you should pay a little less than $10 for the bottle. That works out to something around $1.60 per ounce. That’s not bad; it’s not the cheapest, mind you, but really not bad at all.

This heat protectant is filled with a lot of good-for-your-hair ingredients to keep each strand healthy and oh-so-soft. No, really! You should expect to touch your hair all day after using this heat protectant spray. Others will do it too because your hair will appear so smooth with just a glimmer of extra shine.

But, the interesting thing about this particular product is that it’s designed to work with flat irons to create strong, straight hair. You shouldn’t turn to this Organix spray if you use your flat iron to create curls; the ingredients are relaxers as much as they protect from the heat.

And, we need to warn you that the bottle on this isn’t everything it could be. The shape makes it difficult to spray from a distance; and if you spray too close, you’ll end up with oily patches. If they improved the bottle, we would eagerly move this flat iron spray up the list.

Bottom line: You know you’re getting quality products with Organix, and this isn’t an exception. While there are some design flaws, the product works amazingly with flat irons to create the softest, sleekest hair you’ve ever had. If that’s what you’re after, you definitely need to give this product a try.

Key ingredients: We love the wheat proteins, but aren’t such fans of the alcohol.

Paraben-free? Yes

Animal-friendly? Yes!

Application: CHI suggests spreading this evenly over your dry hair and then taking the flat iron to it, but so many users find it helps before blow drying. Perhaps play around, but if you’re like most users, it’s going to be an all-rounder for you. It can also go on wet hair prior to drying.

Package size: It’s a bright, 8-ounce pump spray bottle. There’s also a 2-ounce size for travelers

The cost per ounce works out to $2 when you pay the $16 that you’ll usually find the 8-ounce bottle for. That’s on the good side; not extremely cheap, but reasonable.

One of the things we love most about this particular heat protectant from CHI is that you can buy small bottles and big bottles. That makes it especially useful if you make short trips frequently. But that’s not all; it’s an all-rounder which means that you can use it with the hair dryer and curling iron as much as with the flat iron it was designed for.

For the most part, it works on many different types of hair, including dyed and damaged hair. Most people find it to be as lightweight as the manufacturer claims it to be, making it appropriate for thin as well as thick hair. That said, there are those that do experience some residue in their locks which means that you may want to test it out at home before taking it out on the road with you.

However, this offers serious heat protection and helps to seal the cuticle to prevent damage. We really appreciate that, although we’re not big fans of the alcohol in the product. But ya win some, lose some, right?

Bottom line: It’s not everyone’s favorite, though this heat protectant has serious protective properties and works across heat sources and hair types. There are those that love the smell and those that hate it, but its versatility makes it the perfect traveling companion.