11 Best Drugstore Heat Protectant Sprays To Use Before Styling
Protect your hair from heat styling tools with these affordable products.
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Martine is a certified trichologist with over 7 years of experience and a California licensed cosmetologist. She is also an established senior stylist with over 36 years of experience. Her interest in healthy hair and lifestyle led her to t... more
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When you need your hair to be on-fleek, all you need is to buy yourself the best drugstore heat protectant spray. You should do that before you start styling your hair in order to save your hair from overheating and ultimately getting damaged. Instead of visiting the salon, you just need to choose products that are effective and simple to use. Start with some free-flowing tutorials on the internet. Whether you use a dryer, curling iron, or any such tool, begin with one of these 11 best drugstore heat protectant sprays at affordable prices.
In This Article
11 Best Drugstore Heat Protectant Sprays To Prevent Hair Damage
Best Sulfate-Free Formula:Pureology Professional Colorcare Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray
Born out of the idea to provide a high-performing vegan product for your color-treated hair, this drugstore heat protectant spray offers 21 benefits in 1 bottle. The multi-tasking leave-in spray not only offers protection from heat from hair styling tools but also instantly detangles your hair, moisturizing and making it silky smooth. Its key ingredients are camelina oil, coconut oil, olive, rose, floral ginger, and cedarwood, which help prevent split ends and damage caused by external factors, and prepare the hair for restyling. The vitamin E present in this eco-friendly heat protectant spray fights color-depleting environmental elements and helps retain the color of your hair. Watch this YouTuber’s honest review to get a better idea about the product and its features.
Pros- Detangles hair
- Preserves hair color
- Adds moisture and shine to hair
- Vegan
- Paraben and sulfate-free
Cons
- Some may find the scent overpowering
Best Lightweight Texture:Redken One United All-In-One Multi-Benefit Treatment
Give your heat-treated hair a new lease of life instantly with this best drugstore heat protectant spray. It provides 25 benefits to help you better manage your hair. Suitable for all hair types, this leave-in spray conditions and nourishes your hair, detangles, and primes hair for styling by ensuring protection from heat damage. The lightweight formula contains coconut oil, lactic acid, vegetable-derived proteins, and viola odorata flower and leaf extract to control frizz, flyaways, and add shine and smoothness to your hair. This video will give you a better insight into the product.
Pros- Instant results
- Lightweight
- Sulfate and paraben-free
- Conditions and nourishes hair
- Safe for color-treated hair
Cons
- Contains artificial fragrance
RememberBest Non-Toxic Formula:artnaturals Argan Oil Thermal Shield Hair Protection
Image: Artnaturals When a hair protector spray like this one is created out of natural ingredients, you get more care for your hair out of it. This weightless mist provides protection from heat up to 450°F. It also works as a leave-in conditioner and moisturizes your hair to protect it from dryness and damage. The cruelty-free heat protectant spray is infused with argan oil, which is known to have restorative properties to give you beautiful, natural-looking hair. Its delicate and balanced formula with peach extract, anise fruit extract, Irish moss extract, proteins, and vitamin E helps repair dry, brittle, and damaged hair from blow drying, sun exposure, and flat ironing. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product.
Pros- Safe for all hair types
- Moisturizes
- Promotes hair growth
- Non-toxic
- Cruelty-free and vegan
Cons
- Some may find the consistency too thick.
Best For Hair Loss:Hair Food Coconut & Argan Oil Heat Protection Blend
Image: Hair Food Feed your hair the best nutrients with this heat protection blend and protect it from heat damage of up to 450°F. Infused with coconut and argan oil, this sulfate and paraben-free product is a good drugstore heat protectant spray that works for all hair types— straight, wavy or curly, and fine or thick hair. This argan oil is enriched with fatty acids and strong antioxidants like vitamin E, which helps ensure reduced hair breakage, split ends, and prevents hair loss while moisturizing the hair. To add to the goodness, it leaves the hair smelling delicious.
Pros- Adds shine to the hair
- Rich in antioxidants
- Protects from hair loss
- Dye-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
- May not be suitable for extremely frizzy hair
Best For C Hair:Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant
Give yourself complete liberty to try countless hair styles with this award-winning product that gives thermal protection. This heat protectant spray for curly hair protects hair from damage due to heat of up to 425°F caused by flat irons and blow-drying. It is a lightweight formula enriched with shea butter, vitamins A and E, and essential fatty acids that help increase the natural shine of your hair and reduce frizz. It conditions and nourishes your hair so you have stronger and healthier strands. Use the Cantu Shea Butter Heat Protectant before you style your hair, and your hair will thank you.
Pros- Lightweight
- Tames fly-aways
- Smoothens hair
- Strengthens hair
- Suitable for 4c curls
Cons
- Contains sulfates
CautionBest Nourishing Formula:TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In-Spray
This TRESemmé heat protecting spray is an ingenious product developed to protect your hair from styling tools that involve heat. It boasts a thermal recovery system and is formulated with a moisture-locking vitamin complex (vitamin E, H, and C) and heat-activated formula. This helps guard your hair against heat and friction and enhances your hair’s flexibility to reform. Ideal for those who style regularly, it makes your hair soft and shiny and holds its shape without any damage— perfect for any hairdo.
Pros- Nourishing formula
- Helps hair regain its original, healthy form
- Protects against heat and friction
- Restores vibrance
Cons
- May not be suitable for 4c curls
Best Anti-Frizz Formula:Thermal Heat Protector Spray
Keep your hair healthy and strong with the Thermal Heat Protector Spray. This lightweight formula creates a thin but effective protective layer around each hair follicle to minimize breakage and damage, resulting in shiny and radiant hair. It can withstand temperatures up to 230°C/446°F and works on both wet and dry hair, making it perfect for any hair type. Our heat shield also includes shine-enhancing actives so that your hair looks just-styled after each use. For the best protection, apply the spray before heat treatments. This heat protectant spray ensures that your hair can withstand even the hardest styling techniques, from poker straight to corkscrew curls. Make it part of your regular hair care routine to keep your hair looking and feeling its best.
Pros- Controls frizz
- Helps detangles
- Makes hair silky smooth
- Suitable for all hair types
- PETA approved
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Fresh scent
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Phthalate-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Mineral oil-free
Cons
None
Best Gentle Formula:L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray
With the L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleep lightweight heat protectant spray, you can set your hairstyle for 3 days. It is designed to provide 450o heat protection from any heat tool while taming frizz and locking in shine. This little spray controls tame flyaways and conditions your hair for a silky, long-lasting style. As you use your heat tool to style damp or dry hair, section by section, spray it on. It offers support for any hairstyle and enhances hair’s shine, volume, and texture, and curls.
Pros- 450o heat protection
- Humidity protection
- Tames frizz
- Seals in shine
- Smoothing
- Suitable for all hair types
- Dye-free
- Unscented
Cons
- Very slippery if you accidentally spray it on surfaces
Best Pre-Styling:Pantene Pro-V Nutrient Boost Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protection Pre-Styling Spray
Safeguard your hair from thermal styling with the Pantene Pro-V thermal heat protection pre-styling Spray. This pre-styling spray is also known as “Beat the Heat” which protects your hair from heat up to 450oF. This lightweight spray must be used prior to styling to prevent your hair from damage. The micro polymers in this formula, help shield your strands from damage while shielding the heat. This pre-styling spray is loaded with active nutrients that improve hair health and make them shiny.
Pros- Best 450o heat protection
- Spray bottle
- Effective
- Suitable for all hair types
- Alcohol-free
- Unscented
Cons
- The smell can be too sweet.
Best Cruelty-Free Formula:Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist
Dry and damaged hair can now be a thing of the past if you get this protectant mist. Its UV protection formula with marula oil, fire tulip extract, campanulata flower extract, and rice protein provides protection from up to 450℉ of heat from styling tools while adding a frizz-free finish to your hair. This cruelty-free heat protectant spray can restore the health of your hair and protect it from dryness while preserving the hair color. Look like you just walked out of the salon with healthy and beautiful hair with this lightweight yet best drugstore heat protectant spray.
Pros- Protects hair from drying
- Restores the strength of hair
- Locks in hair color
- Sulfate and paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- May weigh down fine hair
Best Paraben-Free:CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray
The CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray offers various benefits including shining, conditioning, smoothening, breakage control, etc. It offers you 450o heat protection. It includes an easy brush glide formula that is a perfect tool for all your smooth and sleek styles. This hair spray is perfect for all hair types and is especially recommended for casual wear.
Pros- Lightweight
- Pleasant scent
- Suitable for all hair types
- Paraben-free
Cons
- May be sticky
Reading about so many heat protectant sprays and having to make a choice can be overwhelming. Let us help you with that. Find out how to pick a heat protectant spray for your hair in our next segment.
What Should I Look For In A Heat Protectant Spray?
- Maximum hair protection
While purchasing a heat protectant spray, ensure that you choose one that provides maximum protection. To do so, you can check the label for the ingredients and pick one that includes silicones. There are 2 types of silicones that are commonly found in these sprays — cyclomethicone and dimethicone. They guard your hair against heat damage by coating your hair with a layer of moisture to ensure your hair does not get dry and remains smooth.
- Keratin product
Keratin is your hair’s best friend. This hair protein strengthens and boosts hair growth. They are usually present in many hair care products mostly in the form of hydrolyzed keratin. It reduces hair breakage and retains moisture in the hair. Thus, look for keratin in your hair spray.
- Anti-frizz
When you style your hair regularly with blow dryers, flat irons, curlers, and other hair styling tools, it makes your hair frizzy. Hence, it is crucial to pick a heat protectant that can control frizz.
- Chemical-free formula
It is better to invest not just in the lightweight and non-greasy formula for your hair but also sulfate and paraben-free ones. Parabens and sulfates can make your hair dry and brittle. Since most hair protectant sprays are leave-on, it is safe to use ones that are free of these irritants.
- Other ingredients
While some heat protectant sprays have silicones, some also have water-based polymers like polyquaternium and acrylate copolymer that condition your hair and reduce flyaways and static. You can also choose products with humectants like panthenol as they retain moisture in the hair. Other ingredients to look for are natural oils or extracts like aloe vera as they protect your hair cuticles.
We are sure that you are confident now about how to choose the right heat protectant for your hair. Now, let’s look at how to use one.
How To Use A Heat Protectant Spray?
- Start by damping your hair or let it stay dry. You can use the spray either on damp or dry hair as per the instructions given on the label of the product.
- Divide your hair section by section and spritz your hair with the spray by holding it a foot away from your head.
- Make sure you cover the entire surface area.
- Comb through your hair to spread it evenly.
- Now use the hair styling tool of your choice.
The Bottom Line
You may not think much about the damage that hairstyling tools can cause when you see your hair look all beautiful and bouncy. However, the damage becomes more visible as time passes by after repeated styling. While styling can make your hair look flawless, it is also important to take precautions to avoid any possible damage from hair styling tools as they use high temperatures. Your hair deserves the best care; therefore, do not compromise on choosing the best drugstore heat protectant spray. The Pureology Professional Colorcare Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray is ideal for people with extremely dry hair. It offers hydration and helps nourish the drier strands. The Redken One United All-In-One Multi-Benefit Treatment is known for its lightweight formula and works wonders on oily hair. It nourishes individual strands without adding excess grease to them. The TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray has the best hold and offers a shinier finish which elevates any hairdo. These sprays are a prerequisite to prep your hair to fight heat damage and protect your hair in the long run.
Infographic: Tips To Choose A Drugstore Heat Protectant Spray
Heat styling can now be a regular part of your hair care routine with a heat protectant spray at hand. There are several such sprays available on the market, and if you are confused which one to pick, check out the infographic given. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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Why Trust StyleCraze?
Kirtana Divakar, the author of this article, is a hair care enthusiast who loves to style her hair. However, excessive use of heat styling tools can damage your precious mane. So, she researched the formulations and working of heat protectants to curate this list of the best drugstore heat protectants for her readers. She also sifted through multiple user reviews to shortlist the products that provide maximum protection at the best price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does heat protectant spray really work?
Yes, heat protectant sprays help reduce the amount of damage caused by styling tools while also retaining healthy moisture in the hair strands.
Does heat protectant spray make your hair greasy?
No, it does not make your hair greasy. But if you use a lot of it, it can weigh your hair down. Therefore, use the right amount and your hair won’t be greasy.
Is heat protectant spray good for hair?
Heat protectant spray works just like sunscreens. They create a protective barrier over your hair cuticles to protect them from the heat produced by the styling tools you use.
Can you use heat protectant spray on dry hair?
You can apply heat protectant spray on dry or damp hair. However, this also depends on the instructions given on the label. So, make it a point to read the label before deciding.
Should I let the heat protectant dry?
Yes, you should let the heat protectant dry after applying it to your hair. If you use a professional flat iron on your hair before the heat protectant dries, it will sizzle when it comes in contact with it.
Do you put a heat protectant spray before or after applying other hair products?
A heat protectant is usually applied after putting on other hair care products like serums, gels, oils, etc. but before heat-styling your hair. This is done to protect the tresses from damage and dullness.
How much heat protectant spray can you use?
Using too much heat protectant spray might not be good for your hair. People with thinning hair should completely avoid applying a heat protectant spray, as it can build up on the strands and weigh the hair down.
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