Byrdie / Kelsey Clark
Color and heat styling contribute to hair damage, leaving hair looking dull and frizzy. Applying a heat protectant spray, oil, or cream can repair 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.”
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Living Proof Restore Instant Protection a multi-tasking styling product that can go on wet or dry hair, making it ideal for second-day heat styling. For a more affordable pick, consider Pantene Pro-V Nutrient Boost Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protection, a powerful formula that contains a blend of humectants and works on heat up to 450 degrees.
We spent hours researching the top-rated and best-reviewed options to find the best heat protectants for hair, then sent them to our testers. After several weeks of use, testers rated each product on how easy it was to apply, how well it protected their hair from heat styling, and the overall texture, feel, and finish of their hair. We combined these results with our research and stylist-recommendations to compile this list.
Ahead, find the best heat protectants for all types of hair.
Best Overall
Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray
Ulta
Lightweight
Provides UV protection
In an aerosol can
We love the heat protection this lightweight spritz delivers, but we also love its versatility. It can go on wet or dry hair (the ideal option when you want to use your straightener for a quick touch-up on second-day hair)—plus, it even works as a UV protectant, too. Also nice: It delivers mirror-like shine, no matter which way you use it.
Active Ingredient: Octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPMA) | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $29
Byrdie / Ashley Rubell
What Our Testers Say
"After using this product, there was an instantaneous shift in how healthy and shiny my hair looked." — Ashley Rubell, Product Tester
Best Budget
Odele Leave-In Detangling Tonic
Odele
Multi-tasking formula
Light, naturally-derived fragrance
Affordable
Nozzle can be hard to spray
This is the hero SKU from one of team Byrdie’s fave haircare brands to launch as of late. TBH, we didn’t realize that it even protected against heat until we read the fine print, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn it does. Plus, it guards not only against heat but also damage from environmental factors, and, per the name, works miracles when it comes to untangling even super stubborn snarls. And the price/value you’re getting can’t be beaten.
Active Ingredient: Amino acids, plant proteins | Hair Type: All | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $11
What Our Editors Say
"I can feel good about using this clean formula daily on my toddler's curly hair. It works great on tough knots, too!" — Jill Di Donato, Senior Commerce Editor
Best Drugstore
Pantene Pro-V Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protectant
Lightweight
Affordable
Mist could be finer
Maybe you use hot tools daily and go through protective products like water, or maybe you just don’t like to spend big bucks on your haircare routine. Either way, this drugstore staple is a great choice. Mist it all over pre-styling and let the protective polymers in the formula do their thing, protecting hair from temps up to 450 degrees.
Active Ingredient: Vp/methacrylamide/vinyl imidazole copolymer | Hair Type: Fine, thin | Size: 6.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $16
Best for Dry Hair
Oribe Balm D’Or Heat Styling Shield
Amazon
Has UV protection
Decreases frizz
Moisturizing
Expensive
Not only does this option protect hair from up to 450 degrees, but it also helps control frizz and add back moisture to dry hair, says Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She also lauds it for containing good-for-your-hair ingredients (biotin, maracuja oil), but also working well either on its own or layered with other products.
Active Ingredient: Biotin, maracuja oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 3.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $45
Best for Thick Hair
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer
Ulta
Decreases frizz
Provides UV protection
May weigh down finer hair
As the name suggests, this product is packed with rich oils (coconut, argan, and macadamia, to name a few) to hydrate and soften super thick or coarse hair. It also works well to tamp down frizz and guards against both heat and UV damage, all without leaving behind any kind of unwanted residue.
Active Ingredients: Shea butter, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia integrifolia seed oil, coconut oil | Hair Type: Straight to curly | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $25
What Our Testers Say
"I’d consider Bumble and bumble's Invisible Oil a hero product for fine, dry, and frizzy hair like mine. It’s surprisingly moisturizing given its lightweight, absorbent texture, and it will not weigh your hair down." — Kelsey Clark, Product Tester
Best for Fine Hair
Kerastase Résistance Ciment Thermique Blow Dry Primer
Kerastase
Promotes healthy hair
Strengthening
Lightweight
Expensive
“This cream-based heat protectant is a must when styling finer or damaged hair,” says Aguirre. “The pro-keratin complex, a blend of protein and amino acids, helps promote healthy hair,” she says. And even though it’s a cream, it won’t weigh down your hair.
Active Ingredient: Pro-keratine complex, ceramides | Hair Type: All, especially good for fine hair | Size: 5.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $39
Best for Relaxed Hair
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant
Sephora
Lightweight
Moisturizing
In an aerosol can
Although rich argan oil is the key ingredient here, this aerosol spray is surprisingly dry and weightless, which makes it a great pick for relaxed hair. It contains conditioning panthenol, too, and boasts a lovely signature scent that’s so good it'll make you reach for the product daily.
Active Ingredients: Argan oil, octylacrylamide/acrylates/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer | Hair Type: All | Size: 6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $30
Best for Curly Hair
Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray
Decreases frizz
Affordable
Can leave behind a residue
No matter whether you’re blow-drying and straightening your naturally curly texture or are using an iron to add definition to your curls, heat protectants are especially important for those with curly hair. Enter this pick, which relies on a combo of organic oils to shield hair from heat, add shine, and smooth out frizz.
Active Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, sacha inchi oil, argan oil, mongongo oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $10
Best for Frizz
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème
Sephora
Works for all hair types
Smooths, hydrates, and boosts shine
Clean, natural formula
May leave behind slight residue
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 oily, the formula counts on a trio of nourishing plant oils (read: rosehip, argan, and coconut) to seal in moisture, prevent damage, 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.
Active Ingredient: Rosehip, argan, and coconut oils | Hair Type: All | Size: 4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $26
Best for Colored Hair
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray
Protects color
Moisturizing
Strong smell
Water is hair color’s worst enemy, but heat is a close second. (Not to mention that the more heat-damaged your hair is, the less it'll be able to absorb color evenly.) This spritz packs a whopping 21 benefits, including, of course, color preservation and heat protection, and works great for all hair types and textures.
Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, camelina oil, olive oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $30
Best for Damaged Hair
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
Sephora
Repairs broken bonds in hair
Protects color
Expensive
Heat protectants are a must for preventing future hair stress, but if the damage has already been done and your hair is in need of some extra TLC, reach for this reparative and heat-protecting oil. Like all of the Olaplex products (which Byrdie editors rave about, BTW), it works by targeting and repairing the broken protein bonds in the hair. In short, hair is left smoother, softer, shinier, stronger, and with more vibrant color.
Active Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grape seed oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Price at time of publish: $30
What Our Testers Say
“The product excels at taming flyaways, whether you're leaving your hair down or styling it in a slicked-back ponytail.” — Melony Forcier, Product Tester
Best for Blow-Outs
Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
Amazon
Multi-tasking formula
Sophisticated scent
Adds shine
Expensive
Aguirre also loves this option from Oribe, calling it a “game-changer,” especially for unruly hair. It protects from heat damage and helps you create an incredible-looking blowout at the same time, even if you’re blowing out curly hair, she says.
Active Ingredient: Rosehip fruit oil, avocado oil, argan oil | Hair Type: All, except fine | Size: 5.9 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $69
Best Multi-Tasking
LolaVie Glossing Detangler
LolaVie
Multi-tasking formula
Light, naturally-derived scent
Lightweight
Expensive
There’s arguably no celebrity whose name is more synonymous with "good hair" than Jennifer Aniston. It’s part of the reason why we jumped at the chance to try her haircare line, including this hero product. It’s an ideal choice for those who like to score multiple benefits from one product; it acts as a shine enhancer, smoothing detangler, styling primer, and heat protectant, all in one. The formula is 99% naturally derived (the heat protection comes from a vegan thermal shield) and touts a subtle citrus scent and super chic packaging, too.
Active Ingredient: Vegetable ceramides, glycerin | Hair Type: All | Size: 5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Price at time of publish: $25
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Living Proof Restore Instant Protection a multi-tasking styling product that can go on wet or dry hair, making it ideal for second-day heat styling. For a more affordable pick, consider Pantene Pro-V Nutrient Boost Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protection, a powerful formula that contains a blend of humectants and works on heat up to 450 degrees.
Meet the Expert
- Shelly Aguirre is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She specializes in precision cuts as well as extensions and is known for helping teach her clients about the best ways to embrace and style their own hair texture.
- Alex Brown is a celebrity hairstylist and Chicago-based salon owner, who also divides her time between NYC and Los Angeles. A former assistant to Jen Atkin, Alex has styled hair across the world, and her celebrity work includes Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Culpo.
- John Pulitano is a hairstylist and the co-owner and creative director of Headcase Hair, a salon in Sydney, Australia. He’s been working in the fashion space for over a decade, and you can find his work in various magazine editorials, advertorials, and on the runways of all the international Fashion Weeks.
What to Look For
Application Method
Most heat protectants are sprays, which, when applied correctly, won't weigh down normal or fine hair. If you have thick or curly hair, you may want to opt for a cream formulation—like the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream—and take some time to work it into your tresses before you turn on your blow dryer.
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.
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.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered dozens of heat protectants for this roundup as well as insights from our testers to compile this list. Our testers evaluated products on efficacy of protection, as well as the product's texture, feel, and finish.
