20 Best Hair Protectant Sprays To Prevent Damage

Heat protectant spray works to reduce damage when it's used on wet or dry hair before heat styling with a blow dryer, curling iron, straightener, or another hot tool, per It's a 10 Haircare. They ask us to keep in mind that no product can fully prevent damage to your hair, however, this is an important step to add to your hair care routine if you are looking to maintain your natural curl pattern, avoid split ends, or avoid frying your hair. Most often, heat protectants come in spray bottles that can be sprayed directly onto your head or into your hands before raking the product through with your fingers. Still, you will also find them in serums or conditioner-like substances that are just as simple to apply.

When picking out a heat protectant for your hair, there are many aspects to consider. Though we are often drawn to pretty packaging and brands that we already know, many of the best products in this collection are from hidden cult-favorite brands or new up-and-coming beauty companies. Don't be afraid to try something new to protect your hair. Among the considerations you should first make have to do with the texture of your hair, whether or not it is chemically or color-treated, the amount of damage your strands have already sustained, and how much you are willing to spend on this single product in your hair care routine.

Though hair protectant sprays may seem like a forgettable product that just recently wiggled its way onto the long list of hair care items that you apparently need, it is really so much more. Today's hair protectants aren't just for keeping your hair healthy while using hot tools. Many of them also fight against frizz, tangles, and dullness, while helping your hairstyle stay intact for as long as possible. Choosing between the many hair protectors on the market today is something you truly have to worry about. Or do you?

In this collection of the best hair protectant sprays, we searched through countless buyer reviews, recommendations on social media, brand statements, and advice from industry professionals like hairstylists. Somewhere along the way, we narrowed the large assortment of great hair products down to just 20 of the best, based on a range of criteria. For you, we sorted these protectant sprays for each of the concerns they target including dry hair, thick hair, fine hair, damaged hair, and more, so you can hopefully find the best option for you on this list.

The Ouai Heat Protection Spray is an obvious winner for the best overall hair protectant when you delve into the world of hair care. At a reasonable price, with a cruelty-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free ingredient list, and a beautiful floral scent, people love this option. Including this Amazon reviewer who said, "Ouai heat protectant blows [all other heat protectants] out of the water!! If you are in need of truly protecting your locks, don't pass this product up!! The scent alone is worth the price."

Purchase Ouai Heat Protection Spray at Ouai for $28.

The Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer has had an online presence for some time now. Originally, it was considered a pretender alongside more expensive products, but now it holds its own beside other great heat protectors. User @erikatitus on TikTok shows how she uses it, spraying it on her damp hair and immediately blow drying afterward. Her hair appears shiny and healthy in the next clip when we see the gorgeous finished product.

The Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer is available on Amazon for approximately $13.

People love Oribe's Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray despite the hefty price tag. A Sephora customer says, "I love this product. The smell is amazing. It makes your hair so soft, shiny, and silky." 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.

The Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray is available at Sephora for $69.

Most heat protectant sprays are intended to be used on damp hair before heat styling. Kenra's heat block spray 22 does it best. Kenra Professional says their Platinum Heat Block Spray 22 provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also formulated with Bee Propolis which forms a protective coating around the hair's cuticle. Afterward, It can be used on dry hair as a high-hold finish spray to increase the longevity of your hairstyle.

The Kenra Professional Platinum Heat Block Spray 22 is available on Amazon for approximately $26.

The Garnier Fructis Perfector Straightening Mist is a tried and true, affordable heat protectant that consistently receives positive reviews, like this one on the Target website that says, "This heat protectant is always a must for me! I have been using it for years! I love how soft and shiny it makes my hair." This mist by Garnier uses argan oil and xylose to reduce frizz, enhance shine, and create a style that lasts.

Buy Garnier Fructis Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist at Target for approximately $4.

Pureology's Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray is a great protectant spray that @samgamezz on TikTok recommends to her followers stating that she bought it after it was shown to her by her hairstylist. She provides a list of the 21 benefits the spray provides to users including preserving color vibrancy, preventing split ends, and adding shine. She adds that her hair has never looked more healthy and long, attributing all her progress to this single product.

The Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray is available at Sephora for $34.

The key ingredients in Kérastase Paris' Nutritive Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment, according to Kérastase Paris, are iris rhizome extract, which protects the hair from oxidation; royal jelly extract, which provides hydration and shine; and xylose, which protects against high heat. Not only does this product have everything your hair needs to stay healthy and look great, but it's also known to smell incredible, while not being overpowering.

Get Kérastase Nutritive Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment on Amazon for $45.

One heat protectant that has had a cult-like following for many years is It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product. As explained by It's a 10 Haircare, the product's 10 benefits include protecting against heat damage, detangling, protecting hair color, restoring shine, reducing frizz, providing natural UV protection, preventing split ends, and more. Over and over again, this protectant spray finds itself in the spotlight for its unbeatable results and time-tested formula that works on many hair types.

Get It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product at Walmart for approximately $17.

Bumble and bumble's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer is chosen for its ability to detangle, soften, de-frizz, and protect all hair types for nearly a decade. It comes recommended by experts, stylists, and normal at-home users. An Amazon review states, "Based on all of the positive reviews on this product, I decided to give it a try! I spray it on my wet hair ... before I blow it dry. It really tames the frizz and makes it so soft."

Buy Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Protective Primer on the Bumble and bumble website for $22.

Thin hair shows damage when it's cared for improperly because there is less of it. For this reason, it's so important that you find a quality heat protectant like CHI's 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray. This product doesn't simply protect fine strands, it also, according to an Amazon review "... adds a ton of volume and makes my thin hair so much thicker! My hair never holds a curl but this product seems to be holding the curl well."

Get CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray on Amazon for approximately $15.

Many heat protectants and leave-in sprays say that they combat frizz, but none appear to do it as well as the TRESemmé Thermal Creations Keratin Smooth Leave-In Heat Protectant Spray. Target reviews indicate that this product makes a big difference when it comes to frizz, saying that it hydrates, tames, and de-frizzes hair at a very reasonable price point.

Find TRESemmé Thermal Creations Keratin Smooth Leave-In Heat Protectant Spray at Target for approximately $7.

If you have textured hair, you must know how important it is to protect your strands against heat damage. Heat without protection can cause the hair to lose its natural curl pattern which is difficult to get back. Olaplex's No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is slept on, according to user @curlsbydaviana on TikTok. She describes it by saying it offers protection against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, it's silicone free, and it adds lots of shine to your locks.

Buy Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum on Amazon for $30.

L'Oréal Paris's Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray has received a lot of praise recently for its bright packaging and gorgeous results. Not only does this spray protect hair and help to create perfect sleekness, but it also reduces split ends which helps your hair appear longer and healthier. A reviewer at Walmart adds "My straightening time was cut in half and I was left with frizz-free, beautiful & sleek hair."

Purchase L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray at Walmart for $7.

Dry hair can seriously benefit from most heat protectants whether you frequently use hot tools or only use them every once in a while. The product that comes with the highest recommendations for dry hair is Oribe's Balm D'Or Heat Styling Shield. Described as a superlight styler by Oribe, the product is formulated with sandalwood and maracuja oils to nourish fragile strands before blow drying, straightening, or curling.

Get Oribe Balm D'Or Heat Styling Shield on Amazon for $45.

Hairstylist @hairbykenziek shared a video on TikTok recommending a few different heat-protectant products available at Ulta Beauty, including the Sun Bum Protecting Heat Protector. She notes that this heat protector spray smells amazing and dramatically cuts down on the amount of time it takes to blow dry your hair. The heat protectant is made with clean ingredients including Noni fruit and Sea Kelp Extract which add to the amazing smell and the results of the product.

Buy Sun Bum Protecting Heat Protector at Target for $17.

Living Proof's PhD Heat Styling Spray is a lightweight heat protectant that "creates lasting smoothness for up to 48 hours," according to Ulta Beauty. If you are someone who tries to avoid damaging your hair with heat tools as much as possible, this spray allows you to keep your styles longer without adding any more heat. Its bottle produces the product in an ultra-fine mist that helps the spray apply evenly on dry or wet hair without weighing it down.

The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray is available at Ulta Beauty for $31.

In a TikTok video, user @cailianaa recommends the Fantasia IC Hair Polisher to people with all hair types, along with the previously mentioned CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray. She says you can use them both at the same time or separately. The Fantasia polisher straightens, shines, and protects while also being super light and hardly noticeable. The serum is even enriched with sunscreen to continue protecting your hair throughout the day from harmful UV rays.

Find the Fantasia IC Hair Polisher at RiteAid for approximately $10.

Speaking of harmful UV rays, IGK's Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray is likely the best heat protectant spray on the market that is suitable for color or chemical-treated hair, as well as controlling frizz, protecting against heat, hydrating locks, and adding shine, all while providing UV protection, per IGK. This multitasking product has received consistently positive reviews for its ability to protect and strengthen hair with its vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.

Purchase IGK Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray at Walmart for approximately $28.

Mizani Miracle Milk is suitable for all hair types that struggle with tangling. One Walmart reviewer explains Mizani's magic, writing, "My daughter has very thick, long, and curly hair. She usually can't brush herself because her hair is too thick. She gasped and said, MOMMY! Feel my hair! as she was brushing through. This product smells AMAZING and is lightweight." Keep in mind, this spray isn't just a detangler, it also protects against heat, reduces frizz, repairs damage, and much more.

Purchase Mizani Miracle Milk at Walmart for approximately $16.

One product that is loved by many, and for good reason, is Briogeo's Farewell Frizz blow dry perfection and heat protectant crème. As described by Briogeo, their heat protectant is safe for color-treated, keratin-treated, and chemically-treated hair due to its naturally-derived ingredients. This includes rosehip, argan, and coconut oils, which help to smooth and protect the hair all at once.

Get Briogeo Farewell Frizz blow dry perfection & heat protectant crème at Briogeo for $26.