If you are regularly styling your hair using heat, you are also damaging it. Blow drying, curling and flat ironing causes hair to weaken and dry out. Adding one of the best heat protectants for hair to your routine can help to strengthen those locks, preventing breakage when your beautiful mane is being styled under heat.
Heat protectants come in sprays, creams and serums. Applying it to your hair seals in moisture and creates a barrier that withstands high temperatures when styling. The end result? Less breakage and healthier hair.
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Not sure which heat protectant product is right for your hair type? Not to worry! StudyFinds compiled a list of the top five heat protectants for hair from ten expert websites. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Heat Protectants for Hair, According to Experts
1. Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème
Briogeo Hair Care aims to tame the frizz with its heat protectant. “Made with rosehip oil, this cream provides fatty acids to help keep your hair frizz free,” according to The Cut.
Harper’s BAZAAR calls it ‘Best For Curls’, noting “this silicone-free cream shields your hair against heat up to 450 degrees, while also boosting shine and calming frizz.”
People adds, “the gel-cream formula worked well at holding our hairstyle and resulted in bouncier and more voluminous strands once styled. The hydration benefits were also as long-lasting as the product claims and left hair with a vibrancy we wouldn’t otherwise notice without it.”
2. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer
This product by Bumble and bumble is a reviewer favorite for color-treated hair. Byrdie suggests to “think of it more like a light, milky serum—it comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to distribute. It’s not heavy or greasy in the hair, and it works to smooth, soften, and significantly reduce frizz.”
Cosmopolitan adds, it “features six powerful oils (think: coconut, argan, macadamia nut, sweet almond, safflower seed, and grapeseed) to help prevent breakage from heat styling.”
The Cut points out, it “provides intense moisture (which is especially vital for those who regularly color their hair), has UV filters to avoid sun damage, provides heat protection, detangles, softens, and protects color from fading for up to 16 washes.”
3. Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Olaplex is known for its line of hair strengthening products. This heat protecting serum is no different. “Not only does the serum repair hair, but also protects it through the use of antioxidants, so damage doesn’t happen in the first place,” notes Good Housekeeping.
“Aside from being a heat protectant, it also protects against stressors like pollution and adds shine,” points out Marie Claire.
People adds, “the formula also doubles as a detangler and an anti-static formula that helps prevent breakage and tames flyaways and frizz. Plus, it also sets hairstyles so it can extend the life of your blowout or wavy look.”
However, some reviewers did point out that the scent may be a bit strong for sensitive noses.
4. Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
“Oribe’s hair care line is known for its stunning results and their Oribe Signature Complex which defends hair from oxidative stress, photoaging, and the deterioration of natural keratin which is caused by using high heat on your hair,” according to Glam.
Vogue describes the brand’s heat styling spray as “an ultrafine mist to use section by section while smoothing hair with a round brush and blow dryer.”
Suitable for all hair types, “this mist helps speed up drying time and cut down on damage time, so you can blow-dry and diffuse faster and safer,” notes Cosmopolitan. One big drawback? It’s expensive. So, consider this one a splurge purchase.
5. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream
Rounding out our top five, is this cream from Shu Uemura. “It has a weightless, silky texture that’s easy to distribute, and we love that a little bit goes a long way. It doesn’t feel greasy or overly slippy when you apply it, making it a great option for a wide range of hair types,” according to Byrdie.
“This blow dry primer cream provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit with reworkable and re-touchable hold,” notes Hair.com.
“In addition to its hydrating and heat-protecting properties, the cream helps decrease the look of frizz and promotes an overall shiny finish. It also features a light scent that isn’t too overpowering and dissipates quickly,” adds People.
Pro tip: This product works best on wet hair.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Hair Dryers
- Best Curling Irons
- Best Flat Irons
- Best Curl Cream
- Best Leave-In Conditioners
- Best Hair Masks For Dry Hair
Sources:
- The Cut
- Harper’s BAZAAR
- People
- Byrdie
- Cosmopolitan
- Good Housekeeping
- Marie Claire
- Glam
- Vogue
- Hair.com
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.