Looking for the best heat protectant for hair?

Love styling your hair but afraid of heat damage? Use a heat protectant! As the name implies, a heat protectant product helps shield your tresses from damage. This is important when you’re using heat styling tools such as flat irons and blow dryers. It usually works by creating a barrier between the heat being emitted from the styling tool and your hair. When you are looking for the best heat protectant for hair, pay close attention to the ingredients.

We’ve rounded up below some of the top heat protectants in the market.

1. Organix Flat Iron Spray

One of the best heat protectants for flat iron, the Organix Flat Iron Spray is good not only for sealing but also protecting your hair from damage due to heat styling. Sulfate and sodium-free (SLS), the spray also contains a blend of natural oils (from coconut and avocado) which easily smoothes the cuticle making your hair straight and strong with an added glow. It leaves your hair looking healthier and with lots of body and bounce.

>> Check out the Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray

Whether you are a fan of flat ironed hair or just trying it out for the first time, the product will leave your hair feeling more luxurious and relaxed. Even if you have natural hair (haven’t been permed or relaxed), it works just as well. Unlike other products in the same category which tend to have a harsh smell, the Organix Spray has a great smell that leaves you feeling comfortable since it is not irritating or not oozing of chemicals.

2. CHI 44 Iron Guard

Got natural black hair? Consider using the CHI 44 Iron Guard. It’s gotten good reviews from women with thick African American Hair (some relaxed or some are transitioning to natural); they attest to how well this product works on black hair. This is why we think this is the best heat protectant for black hair from the CHI line.

>> See reviews, ratings & price

When used on natural hair, there is minimal or no breakage at all. This is because when you spray it, it makes your hair wet so that when the curler or straightener touches it, it dries up leaving your dry and straight. This is a must have for anyone who wants to leave her hair feeling and looking healthy.

Even if you have fine hair, you can be rest assured that the product won’t weigh you down at all since there is no buildup, stickiness or residue left behind. This is one of the best thermal protection sprays you can apply right before you use your flat iron.

3. HSI Professional Thermal Protector

This Thermal Protector 450 with Argan Oil heat protectant is infused with vitamins A, B, and C and is the go-to product for women who are keen on styling their hairs with hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons or any other heat styling tools.

>> Check user reviews & pricing discounts

The Argan oil is known to penetrate the hair shaft so as to provide deep and nourishing moisture that keeps hair hydrated with everyday styling. As asserted by many satisfied users, this heat protection spray can be termed as the ultimate guardian angel for the tresses, whether you’ve got hair extensions or just your own hair.

By simply spraying it generously from your hair roots to the tips prior to having your hair styled, you hair will be protected from the intense heat, will stay frizz free and hydrated. It helps reduce your styling time by as much as fifty percent, leaving your hair shiny and healthy without residue, weight or grease.

4. Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique

The Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique heat protectant cream prides itself as one of the few products in the market that nourishes moisturizes and softens hair, giving it that highly sought-after shine from the roots to tips.

>> See ratings & price on the Kerastase

By using a combination of ingredients such as Royal Jelly Extract (which is known to provide hair nutrition with proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) as well as Gluco-Seek, the product provides more than adequate heat styling protection as well as supple and soft supple brilliance in the process, improving your hair straightening performance and drying experience.

The product is indicated for use on dry to the very dry hair. It is best used on wet hair before blow-drying or on dry hair before you flat iron.

5. Aveda Brilliant Damage Control

Not just a good heat protectant for natural hair, the Aveda Brilliant Damage Control also works as hair detangler. A good foundation for any hair style, it is ideally used as a pre-styling tool that protects your hair from damage caused by frequent sun exposure, heat styling, and combing.

>> Check pricing & availability of the Aveda

As one of the few products which can be used on all hair types, it protects hair against thermal damage and also reduces breakage resulting from frequent combing. Not only does it effectively protects against UV damage, it has Aloe Barbadensis which is well known for its soothing properties.

Smells nice and won’t leave your hair greasy. It adds volume to your hair and leaves it looking beautiful and healthy. It’s also worth mentioning that the product is also easy to hold in your hand since it’s not awkwardly shaped.

6. GHD Heat Protect

If you’re looking for the best heat protection spray for fine hair, the GHD Style Heat Protect is a good option to use on both dry and damp hair.

>> See user reviews, price & availability

It creates an invisible shield against everyday damage with its uniquely formulated GHD Heat Protection System. It can easily be layered with other styling products to assist the user in creating the result he/she desires.

People have mixed reactions to its sweet smell. Some find it a welcoming change compared to other heat protectants, whereas others find the smell too overpowering.

The product is also easy to use and is ideal for any type of hair, leaving it all soft and shiny. This is a wonderful purchase for anyone who is keen on getting a top of the range product at an affordable and reasonable price point.

7. Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Heat Protector

Aware that fine hair naturally has up to fifty percent less protein than thick hair, this spray is a specially designed for fine hair. The Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Heat Protector Spray has micro-polymers which not only help shield strands but also protects against inherent heat damage from styling.

>> Get the Pantene Pro-V Heat Protection & Shine Spray

Since it is gentle enough for permed or color treated hair, this makes the Pantene as our top pick for the best heat protectant for fine hair. With this product, you can be rest assured that you can style with lots of ease and get to experience that lustrous shine that’s accompanied with a healthy, soft finish.

The well thought out formula reduce friction, defend against future damage and enhance shine. This spray helps users create a style that’s full of glossy shine and softness while still protecting your fine hair from any instance of heat damage.

8. Shea Moisture Heat Shield Cream

This is a nourishing, natural styling cream that instantly absorbs so as to add some significant luster, provide an unmatched smooth finish, eliminate frizz while still providing protection against damaging heat from styling tools. With an exclusive blend of marine botanicals and oils, the product enriches and conditions hair making setting and styling easier.

>> Check out the Shea Moisture Age-Defy & Color Protect Heat Shield Cream

Using a proprietary blend of Red Algae and Kelp (called Zanzibar Marine Complex), the product is very rich in polysaccharides which are known to moisturize and protect your hair. This smoothing product is ideal for all hair types and contains other ingredients such as marine minerals which are known to support and fortify hair structure. Easy to use and with a terrific smell, this is one of the best heat shield creams in the market, significantly enhancing your styling experience. Made with ingredients derived from nature, it is bound to leave your hair looking healthy, shiny and well nourished.

9. Paul Mitchell Heat Seal

Made of panthenol, natural oats protein, as well as the activated moisturizing blends of the Hawaiian Awapuuhi, the Paul Mitchell Heat Seal is one of the best heat protectants for flat ironing hair.

>> Get more product info & pricing details on the Paul Mitchell

Ideal for all hair types, this product helps protect hair from damage caused by straighteners, tongs, irons and blow dryers. It also gives you a longer lasting style, whether it’s a wave or a smooth curl. By simply increasing the body of your hair and enhancing the shine, it ensures that you get a look that’s not only comfortable and easy to maintain but also quite unique.

For those who have fine limp hair, this is one of the few products that will give you hair a significant lift that’s bound to hold all day without weighing it down. It also has a great and inviting smell with just the right protection and hold that you’ve been looking for.

10. Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer

The Tresemme Thermal Creations protects against friction and heat so as to keep your hair incredibly soft and shiny. As a thermal spray for hair, this is a fantastic tool for those who want to instantly transform their hair irrespective of the texture by simply enhancing the flexibility of the strands so as to reform and hold shape accordingly.

>> See reviews, ratings & price on the TRESemme Leave-in Spray

Having been formulated to effectively work with heat styling appliances, it doesn’t leave your hair looking greasy and oily. Further to the above, it is also very lightweight and won’t hold anything unwanted. Being vitamin-enriched, it leaves your hair not only feeling, but looking healthy and nourished. The product has a terrific smell and doesn’t leave any residue. It also doesn’t leave your hair sticky nor weigh it down and leaves you with a beautiful bounce and shine as well. Whether you are a professional hair stylist or an individual user who is keen on keeping her hair healthy, this is one great product worth trying out.

I’ve listed down 10 options, but if you’re still confused as to which hair heat protectant to get, then read on to find out the various types available and which one is good for your hair type.

Different Types of Heat Protectants

One the main ingredients all protectants have is silicone which coats the hair, thereby preventing it from reverting while styling and also supplies a protective defense against the negative effects of heat. They have dimethicone and Cyclomethicone which assist in adding shine to your hair, allow moisture to easily absorb into the hair shaft and ease the detangling process. It is important to note that the above-mentioned silicones are FDA approved.

These protectants are available in different formats. These include but are not limited to Spray, Serum or Cream forms. Due to their forms, each of the protectants tends to work better with different types of hair.

Heat Protectant Spray

Most of the spray protectants are usually water based and offer an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage. They also give you the no-product feeling when used. They are usually quite ideal for fine and long hair as well as thick, coarse and kinky hair, depending on the brand.

Creams

Cream based protectants, on the other hand, are usually made of oils that are resistant to water. It allows the cream to form a thick barrier on the cuticle layer of the hair and creates a protective barrier for bad things such as heat. However, because these oils tend to be heavy, they can weigh the hair down. That’s why they must be combined with other synthetic products such as silicones. They are usually ideal for thick and coarse hair.

Oils and Serum

Serum-based oils are quite similar to cream based protectants; the only difference is that they tend to have either some Aloe or Olive Oil additions. They also work by creating a barrier between the hair and the heat appliances. The main advantage is the nutrients coming from the additional ingredients. You won’t get any greasy residue usually associated with most creams. They’re typically ideal for all types of hair.

Be wary of experimenting and using DIY heat protectants using natural oils, as it may potentially cause more harm than good. This article from NaturallyCurly sums it up well.