15 best heat protectant sprays to defend your hair from damage
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Playing a crucial role in keeping your hair healthy, strong, and smooth, heat protectant sprays are the most important of all the haircare products. Whether you're creating bouncy waves with your hair dryer, or a sleek style with hair straighteners, spritzing a trusty heat protectant is an essential first step before picking up any kind of hot styling tool.
"Think of a heat protectant like a coat of armour for your hair," explains ghd global ambassador, Patrick Wilson. “Coating each individual strand, these clever formulas help the hair to lock in moisture, and seal off the cuticle from getting damaged.”
By shielding the hair from direct contact with heat – and sealing in moisture – these miracle sprays and mists help to prevent dryness, damage, and breakage. The result? Sleek hair that looks and feels much smoother, has serious shine, and takes far less time to detangle, dry, and style. After all — there's no point sleeping on a silk pillowcase or massaging a hair oil into your scalp every week if you're going to continually singe your strands every time you use your curling wand.
I'll be honest: I never used to apply heat protectant. I found it a chore – an extra step I could do without. That was, until, I started testing the best new releases that actually made a difference. Ahead, the products that changed my mind.
Meet the experts:
| Lewis Pallett | Celebrity Hair Stylist and Colourist. |
| Patrick Wilson | ghd's Global Ambassador. |
How we tested heat protection sprays:
In order to decide which heat protectant sprays deserved to be included in this edit, we put the top contenders to the test on the many different hair types, textures, and lengths of our GLAMOUR UK team.
For every product, we scrutinised how quickly the spray dried, how it smelt, and whether or not it left the hair feeling overly tacky. Then, we assessed how effective they actually seemed to be at reducing heat damage — and whether or not they lived up to any of their other key benefits or claims.
Read more about how we test here.
Ahead, the best heat protectant sprays for keeping your hair healthy.
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray
- Key ingredients: Polymers and conditioning agents.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 120ml.
- Additional product benefits: Smooths and adds shine; Suitable for all hair types; Doesn't leave hair sticky or greasy.
- Tested by: Sophie Cockett.
ghd bodyguard creates two levels of heat protection between the heat of a styling tool and the hair, using polymers and conditioning agents. The bodyguard heat spray coats each strand of hair for a smoother-looking finish that's ready for styling — and best of all, it's completely weightless, and doesn't leave behind that telltale sticky residue that can make your hair look and feel far more greasy. Suitable for all hair types and heat styling methods, it's a great all-rounder.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray
- Key ingredients: Lactic acid and coconut oil.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 150ml.
- Additional product benefits: Nourishes and strengthens; Conditions and detangles strands; Safe for coloured hair.
- Tested by: Samantha Reynolds.
Not just a heat protectant, this leave-in conditioner spray will make a worthy addition to anybody's haircare routine — regardless of their hair type or texture. A multi-tasking formula, expect 25 benefits in just one bottle — most notably that it'll truly condition and nourish your strands. Plus, it'll also improve manageability by making tangles easier to tackle, smooth split-ends and reduce dryness, and prime every single strand for styling.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant
- Key ingredients: K18Peptide™, ResiliCore, and plant-derived ceramides.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 118ml.
- Additional product benefits: Actively strengthens and protects; Doubles as a leave-in conditioner; Feels weightless and natural.
- Tested by: Georgia Lockstone.
This seriously high-performing heat protectant spray boasts ResiliCore™ heat-shielding technology — which penetrates deep into the hair's inner cortex, and fortifies it from within. Seriously lightweight, its sealed finish prevents frizz and prolongs your style, while panthenol and plant-derived ceramides help prevent moisture loss and leave you with enviously smooth and shiny locks. Best of all, the serum-to-spray formula is even infused with the same iconic K18Peptide™ found in the brand's famous leave-in mask — so, it's a great pick for anyone seeking to seriously restore and strengthen hair that's been damaged.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Space NK discount codes.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
- Key ingredients: Heat‑activated polymer blend, glycerin, and chamomile and calendula extracts.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 200ml.
- Additional product benefits: Repels moisture; Leaves hair glossy and shiny; Effects last for 3-4 washes.
- Tested by: Elle Turner.
A heat protectant and styling product in one, the Colour Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray essentially creates a raincoat for your hair — repelling moisture and humidity for up to three shampoos. The result? Sleek blow-drys with long-lasting gloss and shine — even for keratin-treated curls, dry and damaged locks, and fragile colour-treated tresses. Made with all types of frizz-prone hair in mind, it's a suitcase essential if you're heading somewhere hot and humid this summer.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
- Key ingredients: Moroccan argan oil and silicone.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 175ml.
- Additional product benefits: Smooths and adds shine; Speeds up drying time; Really luxurious scent.
- Tested by: Shani Cohen.
Infused with Moroccan Argan oil that is super repairing and moisturising to split ends, and silicone for sleekness and smoothing, this serum spray leaves you shining. For Lewis, Oribe is “worth every penny”. The formula is lightweight, easy to evenly distribute into the hair, smells incredible, and gives a moisture-boost whilst protecting your strands. And with 600+ five-star reviews, it's clear that customers agree.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these SpaceNK discount codes.
- Key ingredients: Baolyzed Amino Complex™, blue sea kale, kelp, and red algae.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 190˚C.
- Size: 150ml.
- Additional product benefits: Conditioning and nourishing formula; Strengthens strands and reduces breakage; Suitable for all hair types.
- Tested by: Denise Primbet.
Lightweight yet oh-so-luxurious, this leave-in conditioner is a must-have for strong, smooth, and glossy locks — and it also provides both heat and UV protection. It's powered by a Baolyzed Amino Complex™ which penetrates the hair shaft to boost the strength and elasticity of damaged fibres — while nutrient-rich humectants like blue sea kale add hydration, smoothness, and shine.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Purpose Hair Spray
- Key ingredients: AntiFadeComplex, Keravis™, coconut and olive oil.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 200ml.
- Additional product benefits: Protects colour and bleach; Also a leave-in conditioner; Detangles and preps hair for styling.
Delivering 21 benefits that work together to prime, protect, and perfect colour-treated hair, there's a lot to love about this brilliant spray. Keeping your colour vibrant for longer, the unique AntiFadeComplex protects the hair from environmental aggressors and heat damage caused by styling tools, while the vegetable-based protein Keravis™ helps to strengthen strands and prevent split-ends. Finally, it's also enriched with a blend of natural oils that smooth and condition — without weighing down your hair.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
Beauty Works 10 in 1 Miracle Heat Protect Spray
- Key ingredients: Argan and macadamia oils.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 250ml.
- Additional product benefits: Smooths hair; Softens and detangles strands; Adds serious amounts of shine.
Essentially a heat protectant, shine spray, and hair styling product in one, this best-selling spray is pretty hard to beat. Fortified with Argan and macadamia, this nourishing formula works to replenish lost oils and prevent split-ends — all while also detangling your tresses, enhancing natural body, and leaving behind that all-important mirror-like shine.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer
- Key ingredients: Coconut oil, Argan oil, grape seed oil, macadamia nut oil, sweet almond oil, and safflower seed oil.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 250ml.
- Additional product benefits: Hydrates and nourishes; Detangles; Has a sweet and fruity scent.
This heat protectant fluid is essentially a leave-in conditioner that's particularly famous for working wonders on dry and brittle strands, and coarse curls and coils. Infused with a weightless blend of six nourishing oils, the formula helps to soften and detangle strands, smooth flyaways, and — most importantly — protect against damage caused by heat and UV filters.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
Olaplex Volumising Blow Dry Mist
- Key ingredients: Pea peptides, jackfruit, and Bis-Aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 150ml.
- Additional product benefits: Delivers body and bounce; Adds shine; Smooths and strengthens strands.
Designed to speed up drying time, protect against heat damage, and leave you with enviable blowouts that boast heaps of body and shine, this mist is hard to beat. Alongside the patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology that protects and repairs, the formula is packed with advanced polymers and jackfruit polysaccharides that help with smoothness and shine, and pea peptides that plump and hydrate every single strand. Sulphate and paraben-free, it's a mist that contains only the good stuff.
Hair by Sam McKnight Save The Do Heat Protection Spray
- Key ingredients: Flexan, crodasone, provitamin B5, hibiscus, and fire tulip extracts.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 150ml.
- Additional product benefits: Conditions and nourishes; Hydrates; Primes the hair for styling.
If your fine hair quickly falls flat after it's styled, this heat protection spray should help give it a little extra hold. Great for prep, it provides a protective shield around each strand to keep thermal damage at bay — while conditioning ingredients like hibiscus and fire tulip extracts provide nourishment, and leave you with enviably shiny hair. It's also been designed to help the hair retain its shape and hold for a little longer.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
ARKIVE The Prologue Hair Primer Spray
- Key ingredients: Baobab oil and protein.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 230˚C.
- Size: 200ml.
- Additional product benefits: Detangles and preps hair for styling; Smooths and adds shine; Refreshing fruity aroma.
Adam Reed has nailed every product in his product line – and the Prologue Primer is no different. A styling spray and heat protectant combined, it preps the hair for thermal styling, while also providing memory hold — making it a great option if you want defined curls that last all day. It smells absolutely stunning, too – a big focus for Adam – and the affordable price tag is a bonus.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Aveda Heat Relief Thermal Protector and Conditioning Mist
- Key ingredients: Organic sunflower and jojoba oils.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 100ml.
- Additional product benefits: Lightweight formula; Softens strands; Gorgeous natural scent.
This weightless mist will instantly get to work arming the hair against oncoming heat styling — so as to minimise damage. Plus, it also really conditions the hair, helps with detangling, and leaves hair with a mirror-shine finish. Boasting a 97% naturally derived formula, it's a must-have addition to the haircare routine of anyone who likes to steer clear of synthetic ingredients.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni.ART Pli Shaper
- Key ingredients: Polymers and conditioning agents.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 190ml.
- Additional product benefits: Primes hair for styling; Enhances shape memory; Provides root-lift and volume.
The ultimate thermo-modelling spray, this is the heat protectant to pick if you've got the kind of hair that struggles to hold onto any body and bounce for very long at all after styling. With its impressive heat memory, and natural feel that leaves strands soft and never crispy, its the ultimate styling primer for achieving long-lasting bouncy curls with your Dyson Airwrap or Shark FlexStyle.
Bumble and Bumble Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist
- Key ingredients: Honey Protective Complex.
- Maximum heat protection: Up to 232˚C.
- Size: 125ml.
- Additional product benefits: Lightweight and non-greasy; Adds shine and softness; Gorgeous honey scent.
Not designed to be used on damp hair, this nifty mist is a must-have for touch-ups with classic hair styling tools like flat irons, heated rollers, wavers, and curling irons. It repairs and prevents damage by fortifying the hair fibres to reinforce their internal structure — and the clever Honey Protective Complex restores glow, and leaves behind a truly delicious scent.
Save when you shop for the best heat protectant sprays with these Sephora discount codes.
Your heat protectant FAQs, answered:
How do you use heat protection spray?
In order for your heat protection spray to form a proper barrier between your hair and hot styling tools, you'll need to do more than just a quick spritz over the top of your head. “A good technique is to hold the spray bottle in one hand, and grab your hair with the other, and basically lift and drop each section while continuously spraying," Lewis explains.
It doesn't matter whether you're styling freshly-washed hair from scratch, or just doing a quick touch-up on day two or three, the spray has to be applied whenever you use even the smallest amount of heat. And remember to spritz it before you go in with any products like styling cream or mousse. “Everybody needs to be using some kind of heat protection spray — regardless of their hair type," Lewis adds.
But remember — although coating every single hair is definitely the aim, you'll need to wait for the formula to fully dry before getting out the straightener or curling tong if you want to avoid damage. In a hurry? A gentle blow-dry will speed up the process.
What ingredients should you look for in an effective heat protection spray?
“First and foremost, you want to specifically look for protecting polymers,” explains ghd Global Ambassador, Patrick Wilson. “These are the heroes that form that smooth, protective barrier, stopping those cuticles from lifting and giving you that sleek finish we all adore.”
Next up: conditioning agents. Designed to attract and retain moisture, natural humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera are often present in heat defence sprays thanks to their hydrating properties. “Conditioning agents are essentially the nurturing side of the equation,” Patrick adds. “Keeping your hair hydrated and supple, they work together with those all-important polymers to give you a smooth, healthy, and heat-protected mane.”
Strengthening ingredients like amino acids and keratin are also worth looking out for if you're dealing with damaged hair, as they can really help prevent breakage, and are also rich in nourishing antioxidants. Had your hair coloured or bleached? “Don’t forget to look for protection from UV rays in your heat protectant formula, as this will help protect your tresses from fading and discolouration,” Patrick adds.
Is it better to use heat protectant spray on wet or dry hair?
Many heat protectant sprays are suitable for use on both dry and wet hair — but if you're buying one specifically for styling and touch-ups with a hair straightener, curling tong, or mermaid waver, you might want to pick a thermal protection spray that's been designed with dry styling in mind.
As well as providing heat protection for high temperatures (up to around 230˚C), the best heat protectants for hot styling tools are lightweight, fast-drying, and leave behind no build-up — generally formulated more like a fine mist or aerosol than an overly ‘wet’ spray. They'll also often include conditioning agents like panthenol and Argan oil to add shine and smoothness, and reduce friction.
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