- Vogue’s Favorite Heat Protectants
- In This Story
- Best for Detangling: Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray
- Best for Dull Hair: R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Oribe Royal Blowout Heat-Styling Spray
- Best Lightweight Oil: Rōz Santa Lucia Styling Oil
- Best Conditioning: Davines Melu Hair Shield
- Best Lightweight: Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
- Best for Natural Hair: Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray
- Best for Preventing Sun Damage: Ceremonia Guava Rescue Hair Heat Protectant Spray
- Best Dry Spray: Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Thermal Protection Spray
- Best Cream: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow-Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray
- Best Botanically-Powered: Philip B Thermal Protection Spray
- Best for Thick Hair: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer
- Best Humidity Resistant : Turn Up the Heat by Beyond the Zone Flat-Iron-Protection Spray
- Best Drugstore: It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin
- Best for Conditioning: Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Leave-In Cream
- Best Reparative: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Oil
- Best for Extra Shine: Color Wow Dream Coat
- Best Multitasking: Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer
- Best Serum: Amika Blockade Heat Defense Hair Serum
- What do heat protectants do?
- How do heat protectants work?
- The Best Way to Use a Heat Protectant
- How to Choose a Heat Protectant
- Meet The Experts
All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.
When using hot tools to style your hair, it’s critical to have the best heat protectant 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 has an array of celebrity clients, from Marsai Martin to Serena Williams.
Without further ado, read on to discover the best heat protectants to add to your routine.
Vogue’s Favorite Heat Protectants
- Best for Dull Hair: R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic, $55
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Oribe Royal Blowout Heat-Styling Spray, $69
- Best for Natural Hair: Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray, $25
- Best for Preventing Sun Damage: Ceremonia Guava Rescue Hair Spray, $22
- Best Dry Spray: Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Thermal Protection Spray, $30
- Best Cream: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow-Dry Protectant Cream, $26
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray, $34
- Best for Thick Hair: Bumble and Bumble Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer, $34
- Best for Extra Shine: Color Wow Dream Coat, $28
- Best Reparative: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Oil, $27
- Best Drugstore: It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin, $21
In This Story
Best for Detangling: Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray
- Why We Love It: “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 Richman describes this product. He also notes that it’s “great for curly or tangled hair that needs a leave-in and heat protectant.”
- Key Ingredients: Beet root extract, artichoke leaf extract
- Best For: Dry, damaged hair
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Spray onto wet hair, section-by-section, before heat styling.
Best for Dull Hair: R+Co Bleu Essential Hair Tonic
- Why We Love It: 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.”
- Key Ingredients: Vegetable amino acids, vegan keratin
- Best For: Hair that’s lacking luster.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Lightly mist onto damp or towel-dried hair, then comb through for even distribution.
Best for Frizzy Hair: Oribe Royal Blowout Heat-Styling Spray
- Why We Love It: Bashir also lovess Oribe’s 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.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E
- Best For: Frizzy hair
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Lightly—seriously, a lot goes a long way—spray on damp hair from mid-shaft to ends.
Best Lightweight Oil: Rōz Santa Lucia Styling Oil
- Why We Love It: Hairstylist Mara Roszak, who counts Natalie Portman and Cara Delevingne as clients, recommends this oil from her 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 flat ironing or waving. It helps to create a super-smooth blowout. It’s incredibly lightweight, so the hair isn’t ever weighed down.” Even Lauren Santo Domingo is a fan; the cofounder and chief brand officer recently name-checked the oil as one of her favorites at Moda Operandi’s recently-launched beauty platform.
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, argan oil, roman chamomile
- Best For: Anyone who prefers a hair oil.
- Type: Oil
- How to Apply: Place a few drops on your palm, rub them together, then apply to hair. Add a few more drops after styling for extra shine.
Best Conditioning: Davines Melu Hair Shield
- Why We Love It: The Davines hair shield is powered by lentil seed extract—an ingredient rich in amino acids to repair fragile strands. Because of its conditioning benefits, this is an excellent formula for those often styling with flat irons and blow dryers.
- Key Ingredient: Lentil seed extract
- Best For: Repairing damage
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Apply to towel-dried hair, then finger comb to distribute evenly.
Best Lightweight: Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
- Why We Love It: If you ask senior beauty writer Kiana Murden what her favorite heat protectant is, there’s one product that remains tried and true for her: Kenra’s blow-dry spray. “There’s little not to love about Kenra’s spray. I was initially drawn to its lightweight claims—an incredibly useful benefit to achieve a bouncy, featherlight blowout,” says Murden. “The formula applies as a generous mist that leaves no greasy residue on the hair shaft. Offering thermal protection up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit, this not only shields my hair from hot tool damage, but staves off frizz and induced puffiness, too. It’s the only heat protectant I’ve ever loved and I will not be switching up anytime soon.”
- Key Ingredient: Dimethicone, argan kernal oil, jojoba seed oil
- Best For: Preventing breakage in the first place.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Spray evenly on damp or dry hair, prior to using heat styling tools.
Best for Natural Hair: Mizani Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray
- Why We Love It: 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.
- Key Ingredients: Rose water, rice protein
- Best For: Natural hair
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Part wet hair into sections and spray evenly.
Best for Preventing Sun Damage: Ceremonia Guava Rescue Hair Heat Protectant Spray
- Why We Love It: Enriched with a blend of guava fruit extract, blue agave, and avocado oil, Ceremonia’s spray touts an array of hair benefits. Whether it’s shielding from UV rays and heat or helping hair retain moisture, this works wonders for a soft, smooth mane.
- Key Ingredients: Guava fruit extract, blue agave, avocado oil
- Best For: Preventing sun damage
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Spray on towel-dried hair, then comb through to ensure even distribution.
Best Dry Spray: Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Thermal Protection Spray
- Why We Love It: It’s formulated with argan oil and vitamins to nourish strands up to temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil, panthenol
- Best For: Those who love a dry spray.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: “Spray dry strands before using your hot tools,” says celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. “It protects and adds shine,”
Best Cream: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow-Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream
- Why We Love It: 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.”
- Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, argan oil, algae extract
- Best For: Adding a little extra shine.
- Type: Cream
- How to Apply: Rub a quarter-sized amount between palms, then apply to damp, freshly washed hair from root to ends.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray
- Why We Love It: This vegan-formula not only protects against heat, but smooths frizz, adds shine, and quenches thirsty strands—oh, and it’s perfect for anyone with color-treated hair.
- Key Ingredients: Camelina oil, coconut oil, olive oil
- Best For: Anyone who likes to play with hair color.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Mist on clean, damp hair before styling. You can also use it on dry hair before swimming or sunbathing for added color protection.
Best Botanically-Powered: Philip B Thermal Protection Spray
- Why We Love It: Philip B’s spray works to prime hair before styling without weighing it down. Its botanically-powered formula not only protects against heat but locks in moisture, tames frizz, and imparts a glossy shine. Bonus: Spritz it on while you’re at the beach for added UV protection.
- Key Ingredients: Mongogo oil, artichoke leaf extract
- Best For: People looking for a multitasking product.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Spritz evenly on damp hair before styling, or spray on dry hair before sun exposure.
Best for Thick Hair: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer
- Why We Love It: “Bumble and Bumble’s primer is a great leave-in treatment that detangles, conditions, and protects like a dream,” says Rubenstein. Making it perfect for those with dry medium-to-thick hair.
- Key Ingredients: Grape seed oil, argan oil, UV filters
- Best For: Thick hair
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Spray on hands, then rake through freshly-washed damp hair. Reapply to dry hair the next day for a quick refresh.
Best Humidity Resistant : Turn Up the Heat by Beyond the Zone Flat-Iron-Protection Spray
- Why We Love It: 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!”
- Key Ingredient: Vitamin E
- Best For: Preventing humidity from destroying your hair.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Lightly spray on damp hair before blow drying.
Best Drugstore: It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin
- Why We Love It: 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!”
- Key Ingredients: Keratin amino acids, aloe vera, sunflower seed extract
- Best For: Creating a smooth finish.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Mist evenly on towel-dried hair.
Best for Conditioning: Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Leave-In Cream
- Why We Love It: Those in search of heavy-duty frizz fighting need not look any further than Kérastase’s heat protecting cream for dry medium to thick hair that needs extra TLC. This leave-in cream deeply conditions through a powerful blend of of plant-based proteins, while niacinamide combats hair fall and prevents breakage through fortifying hair strand’s natural protein structure.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, panthenol, hydrolyzed corn and soy protein, iris florentina root extract
- Best For: Medium to thick hair types; dry hair
- Type: Cream
- How to Apply: Apply a coin sized amount to freshly washed, damp hair, sectioning throughout for even distribution.
Best Reparative: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Oil
- Why We Love It: When I asked Murden for a hair oil reccomendation, she opened a drawer in the beauty closet and handed me K18—now it’s my go-to. The serum is extremely concentrated, so just two drops goes a long way, even for my extra thick hair. The added bonus is it doubles as heat protectant for temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, avocado oil, sunflower oil, C13-15 Alkane, castor isostearate succinate
- Best For: Combatting frizz and flyaways, while enhancing overall shine.
- Type: Oil
- How to Apply: Apply 1-2 drops to to either damp hair before styling, or on dry hair as a finisher. Add more drops as needed.
Best for Extra Shine: Color Wow Dream Coat
- Why We Love It: Who doesn’t want shiny hair? Color Wow’s viral Dream Coat spray makes it easy to achieve the look, imparting a high gloss finish when sprayed generously onto hair before a blowout.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, matricaria flower extract, calendula flower extract
- Best For: Truly shiny hair
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Divide hair into sections, spraying liberally on damp hair. This formula requires tension during blow drying to activate, so using a round brush or brush attachment will yield the best results.
Best Multitasking: Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer
- Why We Love It: For those looking for a boost of hydration for their hair after and in between washes, or just a heat protectant for daily styling—Eva NYC’s primer spray does it all. This multitasker is formulated with essential fatty acids and botanical oils thanks to ingredients like argan and sunflower seed. Fear not, the lightweight spray formula features a quick absorbing texture that won’t weigh down hair.
- Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, argan oil, squalane
- Best For: A daily dosage of hydration for medium to coarse hair textures, with the benefits of frizz control and protection against heat damage.
- Type: Spray
- How to Apply: Apply generously before drying or heat styling—this spray works well with damp or dry hair.
Best Serum: Amika Blockade Heat Defense Hair Serum
- Why We Love It: Amika’s glossy, lightweight serum works well in various scenarios: on freshly washed hair before blow-drying or in-between washes as a protectant before any curling or straightening needs. Best of all, this serum is safe for color and keratin-treated hair of any texture.
- Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn oil, dimethicone, limonene
- Best For: Color or keratin-treated hair who use heated tools daily.
- Type: Serum
- How to Apply: Start with applying 1-3 pumps to damp or dry hair, before heat styling.
What do heat protectants do?
According to celebrity hairstylist Marissa Marino, 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.
How do heat protectants work?
Armand believes “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.
The Best Way to Use a Heat Protectant
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.” For other formulas like creams or treatments, he likes to distribute the product through hair using a comb before drying.
How to Choose a Heat Protectant
When picking the perfect heat protectant, experts agree there are two things to consider: hair texture and desired result. We’ve all stood in front of shelves filled with products, wondering how to differentiate between options promising the similar results. Professional hair stylist Meg Chase reminds us the trick to picking the best heat protectant is to remember the final look you’re after. “If you have hair that is coarser and frizzy, you might want a cream or serum for more control,” says Chase. “Consider the style you’re after [and align your product choice with it]. If you are looking for sleek and straight, you’d want something that also offers smoothing properties. If you’re going for volume, look for that keyword with your heat protection.”
- Type: Travis Speck, senior stylist at New York’s Suite Caroline, encourages you not to stress between too many options, stating that whether its an oil, cream, serum, or spray—it all coats and protects the cuticle. Again, consider the styling result you’re after, and what products will help you to achieve it with your specific hair texture.
- Hair texture: Professional hair and makeup artist Eden Fabbo shares a straightforward approach for picking the right product type for your hair texture: thicker hair can handle heavier products. In comparison, finer hair is best suited for lighter-weight products. “Look for a product that compliments your hair texture. For example, if you have thick, beautiful curly hair, the spray may get lost [amidst hair layers], where a cream can be applied evenly. The same goes for fine hair—a cream applied too close to your roots will appear greasy, so instead, opt for a spray to avoid weighing hair down,” says Fabbo.
- Wet vs. Dry application: Fabbo turns to an aerosol heat protectant for dry hair with light heat styling to keep hair protected without waiting for the product to dry down before using a curling iron or straightener. Fabbo suggests a cream or oil/serum that can be combed through and evenly distributed throughout the hair for freshly-washed, wet hair.
- Temperature: Fabbo and Chase remind us that many blow dry brushes and hot irons can reach temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s important to ensure the heat protectants we choose offer the same amount of protection that matches the heat settings of these styling tools.
Meet The Experts
- Alexander Armand is a celebrity hairstylist based between LA, Atlanta, and New York. His clients include Jhené Aiko, Quinta Brunson, and more.
- Ryan Richman is a celebrity hairstylist based between LA, Nashville, and New York. His clients include Madelaine Petsch, Sarah Hyland, and Melissa Barrera.
- Marwa Bashir is a professional hairstylist and colorist, whose clients include Lily Aldridge, Kimberly Schlapman, and Maren Morris.
- Brian Fisher is a hairstylist and groomer whose clients include Lily Gladstone, Esther McGregor, Stephanie Hsu, and more.
- Mara Roszak is a celebrity hairstylist who counts Natalie Portman and Cara Delevingne as clients. Roszak is also the founder and CEO of Roz Hair.
- Koni Bennett is a professional hair stylist with over 10 years of experience in multi-cultural hair care and styling. Bennett is a NYFW lead stylist, and TRESemmé Global Stylist
- Sandrine Diah is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Latto, Cardi B, and more.
- Marissa Marino is an LA based celebrity hairstylist, whose clients include Selena Gomez, Reneé Rapp, and Olivia Holt.
- *Meg Chase is a professional hairstylist based in Jersey City with over 20 years experience, specializing in styling, editorial, and special occasion. Chase is the co-founder of Sainte Lüx.
- *Edden Fabbo is a professional hair stylist and makeup artist based in Jersey City with over 15 years of experience. Fabbo is the co-founder of Sainte Lüx.
- *Travis Speck is a senior stylist at New York hotspot salon Suite Caroline.