10 Best Heat Protectant Sprays For Natural Hair: Top Picks Of 2023
Heat style your hair using the right hair care essentials without damaging the strands.
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... more
If you have been looking for the best heat protectant spray for natural hair, here is where you can choose the one that is crafted according to your needs. Hairstyling has become an inseparable part of our hair care routine, and be it curling iron or straighteners, and each does its part in stripping off oils from your hair. Using them on your hair without protection can cause irreversible damage, and hence you need to use the protectant spray before each styling. Here is a list of the 10 best protectants that will keep your natural hair safe no matter how often you use the heated tools on them.
In This Article
10 Best Heat Protectants For Natural Hair
1. Best Lightweight:L’Oreal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray
TheHeat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray from L’Oreal Pariscan shield the hair from heat damage up to 450° F. It is ultra-lightweight and does not weigh down or feel greasy on your hair. It also reduces frizz, hydrates your hair, and seals in shine for up to three days. The leave-in spray has an irresistible floral, fruity, and sweet scent that lasts all day. This formula is specifically made for long and straight hair. Need more information? Watch this video to make an informed decision about the product.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Pleasant scent
- Value for money
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Dye-free
Cons
- May feel sticky
2. Best For All Hair Types:Sun Bum Heat Protector
TheSun Bum Heat Protector makes your hair dry faster by decreasing the blowdrying time. It contains nourishing ingredients like Tahitian noni and giant sea kelp extracts that protect your hair against thermal heat that causes hair damage and breakage. The two-phase formula delivers a lightweight nourishing blend enriched with vitamins and sea minerals to shield your hair from harmful UV rays and frizz-causing humidity.
Pros
- Lightweight
- For all hair types
- Pleasant fragrance
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
None
3. Best Non-Greasy:Silk Elements MegaSilk Olive Heat Protection Spray
If you have super dry and coarse hair, the Silk Elements MegaSilk Olive Heat Protection Spray is the holy grail product for you. It is infused with moisturizing ingredients like olive fruit oil and hydrolyzed silk protein, which nourishes and fortifies your hair strands. The formula protects your hair from heat styling while eliminating frizz and flyaways, leaving your hair silky, soft, and shiny. If you need further convincing, check out this YouTuber’s review.
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Non-greasy
- Alcohol-free
- Value for money
Cons
- May weigh the hair down
4. Best Non-Sticky:Pura D’Or Argan Oil Heat Shield
If your hair feels super frizzy and unmanageable, trythePura D’Or Argan Oil Heat Protection Shield that doubles as a leave-in conditioner that detangles your hair. The formula is lightweight yet effective enough to stand up against intensive heat damage for up to 450°F. This spray is infused with argan oil, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, to strengthen, hydrate, and energize your hair, leaving it soft, healthy, and smooth. The formula traps in moisture, restores, luster, and makes your hair bouncier. The brand also offers a full refund in case you are not satisfied with the product.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Non-sticky
- Non-oily
- Non-greasy
- Absorbed quickly
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Unpleasant scent
5. Best Long-Lasting:Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray
The all-natural Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray is a must-have in your vanity. It provides intense heat defense and protects the natural curl pattern of your hair. It also eliminates frizz and induces a natural boost of shine. This spray has a blend of essential oils like almond oil, argan oil, and mongongo oil that deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and reverses hair damages.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Pleasant fragrance
- Natural ingredients
- Preservative-free
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Contains alcohol
6. Best Vegan:Junior Labs Straight Silk Spray
If you are looking for a salon-grade formula, the Junior Labs Straight Silk Spray is your go-to heat protectant. It is an effective detangler and can shield your hair from heat damage up to 450°F. This spray is formulated to be friendly with hair extensions and keratin treatmeIt is an effective detangler and can shield your hair from heat damage up to 450°F. nts. It is infused with the moisturizing Moroccan argan oil, which is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids. The heat spray decreases the drying time by half and leaves your hair looking shiny, frizz-free, and healthy. You can check this video out if you need to know more about the product.
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Color-safe
- Salt-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- Phosphate-free
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Alcohol-free
- Synthetic color-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- GMO-free
Cons
- May make your hair coarse
7. Best Dye-Free:Hair Food Heat Protection Blend
Image: Hair Food Enjoy styling to your heart’s content with the air Food Heat Protection Blend that suits all hair types, whether wavy, curly, straight, thick, or thin. The formula forms a protective shield over your hair, leaves a healthy shine, and prevents heat damage up to 450° F. It is fortified with coconut milk and argan oil to hydrate, nourish, and revitalize your strands. The heat protection spray also has a delicious, sweet, and refreshing scent of coconut that leaves your hair smelling heavenly.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Non-greasy
- Non-sticky
- Pleasant fragrance
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Dye-free
Cons
- May dry the hair out
8. Best Gluten-Free:CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray
Theron Guard Thermal Protection Spray was launched by the design house of CHI. The easy brush glide formula leaves your hair feeling super-smooth and sleek while providing superior heat protection. It is lightweight and does not leave any residues or buildup. This spray also seals your cuticles to prevent any future hair damages and breakage. This product will make your hair look shiny, silky, and healthy by delivering vitamins, proteins, and essential moisture.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Pleasant fragrance
- Long-lasting
- Fast-drying
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
- May feel sticky
- May cause dryness
9. Best Hair Damage:Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant
The Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield protects your hair from heat damage for up to 425° F. It is specifically formulated to protect and fortify textured and natural hair. The shea butter in this formula hydrates and protects your hair from damage. It also reduces frizz, improves manageability, adds shine, induces volume, and makes your curls bouncy. Its regular use smoothens your hair and enhances your curl pattern for a more defined look.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Pleasant fragrance
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May leave hair stiff and sticky
10. Best For Hair Elasticity:AG Hair Care Spray Gel
The AG Hair Care Spray Gel acts as a setting spray and thermal protector. It creates a long-lasting hold and induces a natural shine. This spray is infused with keratin and silk proteins that strengthen and nourish your strands, while the rice amino acids fight frizz and improve hair elasticity. The PVP copolymer in this formula repels humidity and leaves your hair fuller. It also has bio fermented tomato fruit extract that shrinks your hair cuticles and encourages textures and curls.
Pros
- Non-sticky
- Lightweight
- Smells good
- No residue
Cons
- Makes the hair crunchy
With so many excellent styling tools on the market, hairstyling has become routine. However, whether you curl your hair or straighten it, the styling tools may strip off your hair’s natural oils with constant heat damage. So, a heat protectant acts as a shield on your hair to prevent the loss of oil and nourishment from your hair. Therefore, you must opt for lightweight, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and non-greasy heat protectants that don’t make your tresses sticky or dry after heat styling.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a hair care and styling ensthusiast and loves trying out different hair care products. She went through hundreds of online reviews and user feedback to compile a list of the best hair protectants for natural hair. She researched these products thoroughly to ensure that they fit your hair care routine and protect your hair against thermal heat that causes hair damage and breakage. These products are lightweight, and suitable for all hair types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does heat protectant work on natural hair?
Yes, heat protectants help recover and protect natural hair from styling tools, and maintain its health.
Can you use hair oil as a heat protectant?
Yes. You can use argan, almond, coconut, and avocado oils as heat protectants.
How often can I straighten my natural hair without damaging it?
Overheating your hair can be damaging, so do not straighten your natural hair more than once weekly to keep it healthy.
Why is my natural hair stiff after flat ironing?
Natural hair becomes stiff and rough if you flat iron dirty, greasy hair. So, always flat iron, clean and conditioned hair for the best results.
Do you put heat protectants on wet or dry hair?
You can apply heat protectants on both wet and dry hair.
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