If heat styling has your locks looking a little lifeless, you most likely need a heat protector. Designed to shield your hair from the damage caused by heat, these sprays, serums, creams, and mists are miracle workers for saving your strands. When consistently applied before using blow dryers, flat irons, and curlers, these powerful potions will stop your hair from feeling the burn. So, whether you are looking to give dry, dull, and deteriorated tresses back their shine, softness, and bounce, or simply want to protect locks from possible damage, here are the best heat protection products for your hair.
1. Kerastase L’incroyable Blowdry
Sprays and mists aren’t the only types of heat protectors on the market. Kerastase L’incroyable Blowdry is a reshapeable heat lotion and is ideal for both protecting strands and styling them. The lotion provides a long-lasting hold for heat styling and controls frizz for 96 hours in 80% humidity. The impressive product even offers repositionable shape control thanks to its unique formula that reactivates with heat tools so that you can restyle as desired. As well as all those incredible benefits, this legendary lotion also protects hair up to 230 degrees Celsius, meaning that it’ll keep your tresses safe under even the harshest temperatures.
2. Neuma Style Extender
Neuma Style Extender not only protects hair from the damage caused by heat styling tools, but it also restyles locks and restores shine. The lightweight spray is easy to use and can be mist onto dry strands before using a blow-dryer, flat iron or curling wand. Containing a blend of plant extracts and essential oils, this useful product is also designed to maximize color vibrancy and longevity while protecting hair from UVA and UVB. On top of that, this heat protector is made using only renewable, beneficial plant-based ingredients, meaning that it’s good for both your hair and the earth.
3. TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray
The key to creating salon-healthy hair at home is to use a quality heat protector, such as Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray. While this highly effective product will protect your locks thoroughly, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg, making it a great purchase. All you need to do is spray the protective product onto hair before heat styling, and you’ll maintain shiny, incredibly soft strands with ease.
4. Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment
If styling without a heat protector has damaged your hair, you can turn back the clock with Redken’s Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment. Specifically designed for damaged and distressed locks, this targeted product is adept at repairing, strengthening, and fortifying hair. The award-winning treatment will even reduce breakage by 75% and help banish split ends. This product also provides protection from damage caused by hot styling tools, chemicals, and brushing.
5. Ouidad Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel
Created by the curl experts, Quidad, this Climate Control Heat, and Humidity Gel is an award-winner for its de-frizzing powers. Perfect for taming unruly locks and smoothing strands, this gel is effective yet lightweight. Its formula, which is packed with heat-activated wheat protein, vitamins, and plant extracts, also protects against heat and humidity to ensure healthy and fuzz-free curls in any weather.
6. Vidal Sassoon Pro Restoring Repair Heat Protect
The best heat protectors not only offer your hair defense from harsh conditions, but they also help to style it, reducing the need for extra products. This Vidal Sassoon Heat Protect and Shine Spray is one such multi-purpose product. Not only will it protect against heat and styling damage but it will also provide locks with extra shine and help to hold your style in place. On top of that, this spray will also nourish and condition strands to help repair past damage.
7. John Frieda Frizz Ease Heat Defeat Protecting Spray
This protective styling spray from John Frieda is perfect for preventing breakage thanks to its ThermaGuard Complex that seals strands to protect against heat damage. Its formula, which contains jojoba oil and humectants, also smoothes hair and replenishes moisture for conditioning and straightening that lasts up to 24 hours. To maintain your straight style, this handy product will also defend against humidity and keep hair hydrated throughout the day.
8. ORIBE Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
While this Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray may set you back a little more than other heat protectors on this list, it’s worth the splurge. Created by Oribe, which is known for its high-quality haircare products, this spray is the perfect option for creating the ultimate blowout. Not only will it smooth even the unruliest of hair types, but it will also protect strands from heat damage, speed up drying time, repair split ends, and more.
9. Nexxus Promend Heat Protecting Mist
If you have split ends, a heat protector, such as Nexxus Promend Heat Protecting Mist, is a must. Part of a three-step system that is designed to repair and prevent split ends, this product forms a protective barrier, shielding your hair and preparing it for heat styling. It can even be used on dry tresses, making it ideal for days when you need to touch up your style without washing your hair.
10. Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultime Crystal Shine Heat Protection Spray
Not only is Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultime Crystal Shine Heat Protection Spray formulated with liquidized crystals, but it also boasts Micro-Fix-Technology. What does that mean? It means that this useful heat protector provides hair with both an incredible shine and high performing micro-polymers to lock in style. So, if you’re looking for a product that will shield your hair from damage while creating shine and offering a firm yet flexible hold, this is the one for you.
11. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer
When it comes to protecting your locks, heat styling isn’t the only element that you need to think about. UV can also damage tresses, causing protein loss and color changes. Thankfully, Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer is designed to protect locks from heat as well as UVA and UVB rays.
12. Matrix Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray
Not only will Matrix Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray protect your locks from heat and UV, but it’ll also help set your style. So, if you want to create curls that last all day without damaging your hair, then this is what you need. Unlike some other products, this setting spray leaves strands soft and touchable without any crunchiness.
13. Redken Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist
No matter how you like to style your hair, Redken’s Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist is an excellent heat protective spray to use. If you want to use a curler or flat iron, simply spray the product onto dry hair section by section. When using hot rollers, try spritzing Hot Sets 22 onto damp strands first. Either way, you’ll have great results and a style that stays in place.
14. Joico Ironclad Thermal Protectant Spray
Joico Ironclad Thermal Protectant Spray provides the perfect heat defence for frizzy-haired ladies. As well as shielding strands against damage, this spray also keeps frizz and static at bay for an incredible 72 hours. On top of that, this product’s impressive formula also contains some of the most powerful reconstructive technologies known to hair.
15. L’Oreal Paris Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray
Breakage and split ends aren’t the only problems that can be generated by heat styling. Colour fading is another annoying issue that can arise when you subject your locks to the harsh conditions of heat. To keep your colour radiant and prolong its life, use L’Oreal Paris Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray. Specifically designed for colour treated hair, this heat protector will defend your hair fibre to preserve your colour.
FAQs
What is a heat protection spray?
Heat protection is a spray, mousse, or cream that you apply to wet or dry hair before heat styling with a blow dryer, flat iron, or curlers. It puts a physical barrier around the hair shaft. This barrier, often made from oils and good silicones, helps add and keep moisture while physically protecting the strands from direct heat and subsequent damage. It can also help dry your hair faster when applied to wet hair before blowdrying and extend your style's longevity.
What is the best product for heat protection?
Some of the best heat protection products include Kerastase L’incroyable Blowdry, Neuma Style Extender, and TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray.
Do hair heat protectants really work?
Yes, heat protectants do work. Of course, like any product, some are made better than others, but there are a lot of excellent products available. Keep in mind that while they help protect your hair from heat damage, they can’t protect it 100%.
Should I let heat protectant dry?
You don’t need to let heat protectant dry if you’re using it before blow-drying. However, if you’ve applied it to dry hair before flat ironing, you should let it dry. Flat ironing is much more direct heat, so you need to give the spray or mousse time to settle in before commencing.
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