17 Best Heat Protectant Sprays 2021 to Protect Your Tresses

When using hot tools to style your hair, it is critical to have the best heat-protectant spray on hand, no matter your hair type. “I’d highly recommend a heat protectant to anyone who uses a blow dryer or hot tools directly on their hair, to eliminate as much heat damage as possible,” explains celebrity hairstylist Alexander Armand, who sees clients from Marsai Martin to Serena Williams.

Celebrity hairstylist Marissa Marino adds that heat protectants “act as a barrier between the hot tool and your hair and help to lock in moisture,” making them especially necessary for those who bleach or chemically lighten their hair.

While Armand personally reaches for Maui Moisture’s Color Protection Sea Minerals Heat Shield Mist or Kevin Murphy Heated Defense, he believes that in general “a good heat protectant should help smooth and protect the hair’s cuticle as well as effectively retain the natural oils and moisture of the hair.” Furthermore, he recommends looking for ingredients like panthenol and propylene glycol, which serve as humectants to block frizz and retain moisture, while amino acids like keratin provide antioxidants. In short, your protectant should care for your strands too.

In terms of application, celebrity hairstylist Ryan Richman explains that “a spray protectant should be used section by section as opposed to misting throughout the hair before using tools.” Otherwise for other formulas like creams or treatments, he likes to distribute the product through hair using a comb before drying.

Without further ado, these are the hairstylist-approved heat protectants to add to your routine.

R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic

Professional hairstylist and colorist Marwa Bashir’s favorite is the R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic because “it’s lightweight and can be used alone or added to any other products” and “gives the hair a nice shine.”

Oribe Royal Blowout Heat-Styling Spray

Bashir’s other favorite? The Oribe Royal Blowout Styling Spray. “I love this one for anyone trying to fight frizz,” she says. “This packs a ton of hydration into the hair and is super concentrated, so you don’t need to use much for it to work.”

Hairstylist and groomer Brian Fisher is also a fan of this Oribe option, especially while using hot tools. He describes it as an ultrafine mist to use section by section while smoothing hair with a round brush and blow dryer.

Tresemmé Thermal Creations Keratin Smooth Leave-In Heat-Protectant Spray

“The Tresemmé Thermal Creations Keratin Smooth Leave-In Heat-Protectant Spray is a great water-based cocktail to spray on wet hair before drying,” says hairstylist Koni Bennett, who also works with the brand. Ringing in under $10, this is an excellent wallet-friendly pick.

Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow-Dry Cream

“Use throughout wet hair before rough drying,” explains Fisher of the Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream. It works as a primer to protect against frizz and heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Turn Up the Heat by Beyond the Zone Flat-Iron-Protection Spray

Celebrity hairstylist Sandrine Diah’s first pick for heat protectant is this option by Turn Up the Heat because it “is very lightweight, works on dry or wet hair textures, and is free of sulfates, parabens, and gluten.” She says that it “leaves hair soft and manageable and provides luxurious shine!”

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray

“A featherweight conditioning detangler that delivers all the benefits dry, damaged hair needs to look and feel healthier with heat protection up to 400 degrees” is how celebrity hairstylist Ryan Richman describes this product. He also notes that it’s “great for curly or tangled hair that needs a leave-in and heat protectant.”

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil

Olaplex’s coveted hair-strengthening lineup features the No.7 Bonding Oil—a lightweight, concentrated blend of botanical oils to restore damaged hair, improve shine, and provide heat protection up to 450 degrees.

Kenra Professional Silkening Heat Crème

According to Bennett, this “Silkening Heat Crème is a great serum to use before applying heat for styling”—most notably curling irons or flatirons. Powered by nutrient-dense sacha inchi seed oil, this works to reduce the number of hot-tool passes and prevent breakage.

Rōz Santa Lucia Styling Oil

Hairstylist Mara Roszak, who counts Natalie Portman and Cara Delevingne as clients, recommends the Santa Lucia Styling Oil from her own hair-care line. “I use this heat-protectant styling oil on all hair types, on damp hair out of the shower as the foundation to any style before I blow-dry, and after and before flatironing or waving. It helps to create a super-smooth blowout. It’s incredibly lightweight, so the hair isn’t ever weighed down.”

Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray

Crafted for wavy, curly, and coily hair types, the Mizani Heat Screen spray adds a glossy shine and softens hair while protecting against heat damage from hot tools up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

MoroccanOil Perfect Defense Thermal Protection Spray

“Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Spray is a great dry heat protectant. Spray dry strands before using your hot tools, and it protects and adds shine,” says Rubenstein. It’s formulated with argan oil and vitamins to nourish strands up to temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow-Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream

Richman describes this Briogeo cream as “a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray

Those with color-treated hair should look to this vegan-formula Pureology leave-in to not only protect against heat but smooth frizz, add shine, and quench thirsty strands.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer

“Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer is a great leave-in treatment that detangles, conditions, and protects like a dream,” says celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. Crafted specifically for those with dry medium-to-thick hair, this multitasker works to protect against sun damage too.

Redken Extreme Play Safe Heat-Protection and Damage-Repair Treatment

Look to this treatment by Redken for an all-in-one product and leave-in conditioner. You can expect this to not only protect hair from heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit but also prevent split ends and overall strengthen tresses.

Balmain Paris Hair Couture Thermal Protection Spray

Ashley Stewart, a hairstylist and makeup artist who works with stars like Simone Biles and La La Anthony, is a fan of Balmain’s Thermal Protection Spray. “I love this one because it’s a very lightweight formula that doesn’t weigh down the hair. It also smells amazing.”

It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin

The It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In is described by Diah as an amazing multitasker. This “makes hair strong and ready to style and is the perfect sheen enhancer. It’s overall a great product to use!”