10 Greatest Warmth Protectants of 2024, Examined and Stylist-Backed

Hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons are all key for serving to obtain an elevated hair look. The one downside? Warmth is among the most damaging components to your hair, contributing to every thing from frizz to dullness to breakage. Fortunately, there’s an extremely easy repair—making use of a warmth protectant. “Warmth protectants act as a protecting barrier between your hair and a scorching device, defending it from burning, drying out, and turning into uninteresting,” explains celeb hairstylist Alex Brown. “It should additionally assist easy the cuticle and depart hair trying shiny and wholesome.”

There are quite a few formulation and codecs on the market (sprays, oils, and extra) although so how do you establish which one is best for you? Our Byrdir collective (who’ve quite a lot of hair varieties) examined dozens over one month, utilizing them a minimum of twice every week earlier than warmth styling. They weighed in the entire most necessary standards: ease of software and distribution, absorption, and, after all, simply how properly it protected hair from warmth. From sprays to lotions and with choices for every thing from nice hair to tight curls, these are the warmth protectants on the market at this time. 

Our Prime Picks

Hair Kind: All | Key Substances: Honey protecting advanced | Measurement: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

This one from iconic hair model Bumble and Bumble checked all of our packing containers—after which some. Software was a breeze; just some spritzes had been all it took to evenly coat hair. It was additionally simple to distribute the product and absorbed rapidly with out feeling greasy or heavy.  Our tester’s hair seemed and felt more healthy and usually higher, particularly the longer she used it. It was smoother and shinier after styling, and, after about two weeks, she seen her waves had been extra outlined and much less frizzy. Sure, please. Simply an FYI to not get too heavy-handed; over-spraying can depart hair feeling somewhat sticky.

Karla, tester with wavy hair: “I’ve seen a distinction within the well being of my hair. It feels much less dry, appears to be like shinier, and feels smoother. My waves look extra outlined.”

Hair Kind: All | Highlighted Substances: Purple algae extract | Measurement: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

Top-of-the-line indicators {that a} warmth protectant is working? A visual distinction in your hair after warmth styling. Working example: We used this earlier than flat ironing and couldn’t recover from how shiny, wholesome, and delicate our hair seemed, a far cry from the broken look it usually took on. The serum-like texture is straightforward to work all through your hair and is surprisingly light-weight. 

Not solely does the system supply warmth safety, it additionally guards in opposition to environmental stressors reminiscent of air pollution, and helps strengthen hair general. Whereas we didn’t expertise this throughout testing, some on-line reviewers famous it may be drying on drier hair.

Hair Kind: All | Key Substances: Agave, prickly pear seed oil, moringa seed oil | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

One among our favourite issues about this winner was the nice and even mist it dispels. It made for an excellent light-weight distribution that helped make sure the product didn’t crush our tester’s nice, straight hair. The system additionally added tons of shine and softness and even minimized breakage. We additionally couldn’t get sufficient of the scent—a contemporary, citrus-y perfume. It didn’t assist fight frizz, and, in our expertise, it might begin to really feel a bit greasy when utilized too near the roots. That being mentioned, so long as it’s sprayed extra on mid-lengths and ends that wasn’t a problem. 

Ashley, tester with straight, nice hair: “I [My hair is] actually delicate and I’ve seen much less breakage. It has a candy citrusy odor that I may take in all day. The scent isn’t overpowering and doesn’t linger (however I want it did as a result of I adore it a lot).” 

Hair Kind: All | Key Substances: Edelweiss native cells, ginger root | Measurement: 5.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Warmth protectants are a very good possibility for averting hair injury, however this one can also be greasy in case your strands already want somewhat further TLC, because it helps strengthen hair, too. Certainly, we seen that it improved the general well being of strands, all whereas being a top-notch frizz-fighter. We particularly appreciated to make use of it earlier than blow-drying, because it helped depart hair easy and smooth however nonetheless with loads of quantity and no greasy residue. Whereas we didn’t discover this, some reviewers mentioned they thought the scent was a bit chemically.

Lauren, tester with wavy, curly hair: “My blowout was gentle, ethereal, and frizz-free. It helps with warmth safety, frizz, and general hair well being. It’s definitely worth the price ticket!”

Hair Kind: Wavy and coily | Key Substances: Mango butter, argan oil, grapeseed oil | Measurement: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

With an ingredient checklist that’s not not like what you’d discover in a physique lotion—mango butter, argan oil, grapeseed oil—it’s no shock this one works wonders on dry hair. Our tester with tightly coiled hair raved that it left her hair feeling nourished and hydrated, particularly after blow-drying. (To that time, we predict this choose is greatest for wavy and coily hair varieties.) Regardless of how moisturizing it’s, it nonetheless absorbs rapidly. It’s additionally alternative for addressing frizz, even in tremendous humid climates. 

Saleam, tester with coily hair: “I’ve seen that my hair isn’t as dry or brittle after blow-drying.”

Hair Kind: All | Key Substances: Glycerin, argan oil | Measurement: 5.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

Warmth protectants don’t at all times add shine, however this one 100% does. It helped enhance smoothness and diminished frizz, too. Additionally good: You should use it from root to tip; it gained’t crush strands or depart any undesirable greasy residue or sticky feeling behind. That being mentioned, the spray nozzle tends to ship a extra focused stream, making it a bit tougher to attain a fair distribution all through all of the hair.

Toral, tester with straight hair: “My hair was noticeably glossier after I used this warmth protectant, and after two weeks of constant use, it began feeling more healthy.”

Hair Kind: All | Highlighted Substances: Rosehip, coconut, argan oils | Measurement: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

For these craving an excellent easy, flyaway-free type this choose can’t be beat. It really works superbly on all hair varieties, and whereas it’s a little bit thicker, it nonetheless absorbs in a short time. It left our tester’s hair superbly smooth after blow-drying and guarded it even once they cranked up their flat iron to the very best setting. (To that time, it guards in opposition to temps as much as 450 levels.) 

One useful tip: Your hair needs to be fairly damp, not towel-dried, for the very best and most even distribution of this product. And it does take a bit to determine precisely how a lot you want to your specific texture and size; usually talking, we discovered a dime-size quantity was a very good place to begin.

Hair Kind: All | Highlighted Substances: n/a | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Lotions—of any form—typically include the connotation of being heavy or greasy. However that’s not the case right here; this winner is surprisingly weightless, boasting a virtually silky texture that works for a variety of hair varieties. We cherished how easy it left hair and the spectacular stage of shine it delivered, to not point out that it sped up blow-dry time and had an addicting, floral scent besides. FYI, it takes a very good minute to completely take in, however as soon as it does, there’s no leftover residue in any respect.

Hair Kind: All | Highlighted Substances: Professional-keratine advanced, ceramides | Measurement: 1.7, 5.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Whereas technically this system is an effective choose for all hair varieties, we discovered it particularly nice at imparting loads of moisture whereas additionally defending in opposition to warmth injury and serving to preserve curl patterns. It left curly hair feeling silkier and we by no means seen any steam or a burning odor once we used this earlier than a scorching device. We simply didn’t love that it might really feel sticky in your palms.

Hair Kind: All | Highlighted Substances: Oribe signature advanced, plant collagen, cassis and sandalwood oils | Measurement: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure

We love a very good multi-tasking product and this one from Oribe is strictly that. Per the warmth protectant facet of issues, it left hair feeling softer, smoother, and more healthy, even once we used scorching instruments at their highest temps. But it surely additionally delivers protecting antioxidants and moisturizes; we seen that it added motion and bounce to our type as properly. We love the light-weight really feel, though it does bear mentioning that it might switch onto palms a bit after software.

What to Search for When Shopping for a Warmth Protectant

• Formulation and Software Technique: Many warmth protectants are sprays, which, when utilized accurately, will not crush regular or nice hair. They’re additionally nice for anybody who prefers spritzing on a product somewhat than making use of it with their palms. That being mentioned, when you have thick or curly hair or favor extra moisturizing formulation, you might need to go for a cream. 
• Humectants: Whereas they’re extra typically regarded as a skincare ingredient, humectants—hydrating substances that appeal to moisture—might be tremendous useful in hair care and are particularly good in a warmth protectant, says Brown. In spite of everything, extra moisturized hair equals more healthy hair. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are two good ones to search for. 
• Strengthening Substances: In response to Brown, it’s a good suggestion to have strengthening substances in a warmth protectant—they’re an added layer of protection in opposition to heat-induced injury. Issues reminiscent of amino acids, keratin, and wheat protein are all good choices. In case your hair is already a bit beat up, these powerhouse substances could assist reverse the injury.

Why Belief Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an skilled author within the magnificence business and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has nice, breakage-prone hair which she makes use of scorching instruments on ceaselessly, so she’s extraordinarily skilled in utilizing warmth protectants. She obtained a bachelor’s diploma from the Trend Institute of Expertise, the place she studied advertising and product growth within the cosmetics business in addition to style enterprise advertising. Alyssa has been a commerce author at Byrdie since 2022 and covers all issues magnificence. 

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of expertise within the magnificence business, writing for a number of the largest magazines and web sites on the market. She has nice, color-treated hair that she blow-dries commonly—which is why she’s diligent about at all times utilizing a warmth protectant. She’s tried lots of the ones on this checklist and is an particularly large fan of the Bumble and Bumble and Olaplex merchandise featured.

Two skilled stylists additionally contributed their experience to this text. Alex Brown is a celeb hairstylist and Chicago-based salon proprietor, whose purchasers embody Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Culpo. John Pulitano additionally contributed. Pulitano is a hairstylist and the co-owner and artistic director of Headcase Hair, a salon in Sydney, Australia.