12 Best Heat Protectants, Tried and Tested

A winner of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-frizz styler test, this multi-tasking Kérastase mist tames frizz, adds shine and leaves hair feeling soft. Our Lab concluded that the mist stopped frizz on testers' hair for a full day as well as on hair swatches in the Lab’s humidity chamber, and it didn't feel tacky. Containing several ingredients like xylose, protein and silicones, it also protects strands from the heat of styling tools.

But, it is on the pricier side and its oily texture might feel too heavy for some users. Reviews range from people with hair that’s thick, curly, straight, fine and everything in between. The one thing they all have in common is how much they love this product.

Don’t confuse the price for quality. GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler has been buying this product since she was a teenager. “It’s a lightweight spray that does exactly what it needs to do without adding any weight or oiliness.” It’s an easy-to-use spray bottle, and the fine mist makes it easy to apply. It’s recommended to spray on damp or dry hair liberally, about six to eight inches away from your head. If you’re sensitive to scents, some reviewers found it to be quite fruity and floral.

The need for hydration is universal for all hair types and textures. This Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner was evaluated by a panel that included stylists Michelle Hong, founder of NYC The Team, and Becca Mutchler. The results: perfect scores in easy application and near perfect scores for styling and creating softer, shinier hair. Ingredients include avocado oil and hyaluronic acid, which help to lock in hydration.

“It was very lightweight and easy to apply," Mutchler says. "It spread very smoothly in my hand, and didn't feel super thick like normal oils do.” The oil serum hybrid also offers heat protection up to 450° F. Hong doesn’t recommend it for fine hair as it will weigh it down, but “damaged hair will benefit as the cuticle will absorb the oil, nourishing the hair.”

Our Beauty Award winner is a favorite among staffers. This well-balanced formula enriched with silk amino acids and sunflower seed extract has seen its share of satisfied consumers over two decades. Our staffers have used this product and can vouch for its lightweight texture and effectiveness in keeping hair smooth. “I love that this eliminates the need to use so many products and even provides heat protection for styling,” one tester said. If you’re sensitive to scents, this product might not be for you, as testers report that it has a distinct overly processed fragrance.

Loved by multiple GH Beauty Lab staffers, the Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is worth trying. According to the brand, the best way to get results is to towel dry after the shower, divide hair into sections, spray liberally on evenly damp hair and wait to use other products until after blow-drying. The formula requires blow-drying and tension to activate. Catharine Malzahn, GH Beauty Assistant, shared, “My blowout looked great even after 24 hours, including walking through the humid New York City weather and traveling on a plane.” Another reviewer said, “it helped make my hair not look as damaged, since I dye it and put heat on it quite often.”

If you enjoy experimenting with different hair colors and find yourself dyeing your hair frequently, the Oribe Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray can help lock in your hair color. “This spray provides high heat protection in a non-oily formula, locking in moisture while preventing color fading from UV rays,” says Amy Abramite, Creative Director & Stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. This product is on the pricier side, but it may be worth the investment to help extend your hair color’s longevity.

This is living proof that you can protect yourself from hair damage. The conditioning detangler is meant to soften, smooth and strengthen dry hair — with an added bonus of heat protection (up to 450°). This spray is formulated with nourishing ingredients. While there’s no way to completely reverse heat damage, this product acts as a heat protectant, UV protectant and leave-in detangler, making it a multipurpose spray.

GH staffer swears by this product, using it weekly. One said, “I used to never put any heat protection on my hair until my hair stylist recommended this one. I have thick, curly dry hair and this not only protects my hair, it truly makes it feel hydrated.” The product got mixed reviews from people who didn’t see results.

We recruited three hair style experts to evaluate 12 products on their clients. They concluded that Fekkai Root Lift was best for adding volume, lifting the hair and not weighing hair down. “Usually root lifters are sticky and thick, but this one was like a light mist which was great and very user-friendly,” Mutchler says. Another tester found it needs to be shaken before application to perform well; if it’s not shaken, the product didn’t work.

Hydrating, frizz taming and blow dry accelerating, Redken's Frizz Dismiss is an all-in-one formula especially great for straightening hair. "It helps make my super thick hair feel manageable, seals in smoothness and cuts my blow dry time," said former GH beauty assistant Katie Berohn. Because this is a cream it may be too heavy for fine hair, which could make it look greasy.

A top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s voluming styling products test, this blow dry mist not only protects hair against heat but also helps make fine strands look voluminous and full all day long — all without any heaviness or that crunchy, tacky feeling. “I like this product better than the voluming spray I get at my salon,” a tester said. It should be noted that a few testers wanted more shine from this product.

Frizzy hair can be hard to maintain, especially in hot, humid weather. If you find yourself struggling to maintain frizz, Abramite loves this product. “Hask Keratin Smooth 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray is a keratin-enriched conditioning spray that protects hair from heat for a smooth shiny look,” Abramite says. Some reviewers were disappointed when it didn’t make their hair feel smooth after usage.

A versatile, lightweight styler with heat protectant properties, this spray from Shu Uemura is a GH editor favorite. "This is really great for anyone hoping for a blowout with more volume, or if you want to use a curling iron, since it helps define curls and provides a bit of hold sans feeling crunchy or stiff," says Berohn. However, it is a more expensive price point.