Guard your tresses with the 6 best heat protection sprays

If you regularly style your hair daily using hot tools, such as blow dryers, curling irons and flat irons, you’re likely damaging your hair. Why? Applying heat to your hair can lead to dry, brittle hair with lots of breakage and split ends. In other words, it’s the opposite result of the luscious locks you see in TV hair commercials. 

If styling your hair with thermal tools is an essential part of your routine, we have a solution for you to prevent damage: heat protection spray. How does it work? This hair product is designed to coat your hair strands with a protective coating and reduce direct heat exposure to your hair.

To help you find the perfect formula, our editors rounded up the best heat protection sprays — available at a range of prices and designed for different hair types.

Read more: Shop our picks of women's deodorants

6 best thermal protection products

Best heat protectant spray overall

Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin

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$23 at Ulta Beauty

Best heat protection spray for straightening hair

L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray

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$5.19 at Walmart

Best heat protectant spray for curly hair

CHI Silk Infusion

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$10.50 at Amazon

Best drugstore heat protectant spray

Tresemme Thermal Creations Leave-In Heat Tamer for Hair Heat Protection

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$6.98 at Walmart

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Shop our editor picks for keeping your hair healthy 

The following thermal protection products are designed to nourish, protect and revitalize your hair. From drugstore options to luxury hair care brands, this list features six of our top recommendations for different hair types and budget ranges.

Best heat protectant spray overall

Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin

$23

$23 at Ulta Beauty

Pros & Cons

• Conditions, detangles and protects hair

• Easy to use

• Gentle enough for color-treated hair

• Pricier than alternatives

• Not suitable for all hair types

Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin received an average 4.7-star rating from more than 1,500 reviewers. Besides protecting your hair from heat styling, this serum helps detangle and condition dry, damaged locks. No more frizzies. And it improves hair strength and resilience.

We’re big fans of the vitamin boost this product gives strands for extra nourishment. We also like that it doesn't add excess weight. Finally, the floral-citrus scent is pleasant — but not overpowering.

Best heat protection spray for straightening hair

L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray

You save $3.64 (41.22%)

$5.19$8.83

$5.19 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

• More affordable than alternatives

• Dye-free

• 450-degree heat protection for up to three days

• Suitable for all hair types, damp or dry

• Requires section-by-section application

• It can leave hair feeling sticky

L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray received an average 4.2 stars from reviewers. We like that this thermal spray packs a powerful punch in value with 450-degree heat protection from damage caused by heat styling products. And since each application can last up to three full days, you'll need to apply it less frequently, saving you valuable time and money. 

This heat protector doubles down to help tame frizz and flyaway strands. While a few reviewers have suggested it leaves behind a residue, many reviews have said the opposite.

Using the product can be tedious, particularly if you have a lot of hair to manage. You'll need to apply it section-by-section for the best results. However, you can do this with wet or dry hair.

Best heat protectant spray for curly hair

CHI Silk Infusion

$10.50

$10.50 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Suitable for all hair types

• Strengthens hair

• Alcohol and cruelty-free

• Softens and adds shine without weighing hair down

• Pricier than alternatives

• Contains wheat

CHI Silk Infusion received an average 4.7 stars from nearly 32,000 reviewers. The thermal serum bottle is small, but one thing’s for sure, we’ve tested it and a little goes a long way with this product. 

We like that its cruelty-free formula is rich in soy proteins to strengthen hair. And this genius heat protector doesn’t just protect against heat damage; it also defends against environmental factors. Designed to leave hair soft, manageable and with a healthy shine, if you’re serious about stopping your hair from becoming brittle and weak, this product is a must-try.

Best drugstore heat protectant spray

Tresemme Thermal Creations Leave-In Heat Tamer for Hair Heat Protection

$6.98

$6.98 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

• Enhanced hair flexibility

• Shinier, softer hair

• More affordable than alternatives

• It may cause product buildup or dryness

• It may cause rash or irritation for those with skin sensitivities

Looking for a product that’s been tried and tested? The Tresemme Thermal Creations Leave-In Heat Tamer received an average 4.4-star rating from more than 1,000 reviewers. So you know it’s a good one. With this product, you get eight ounces of product with a trigger spray nozzle. And you can spray on both damp and dry hair.

Tresemme's elixir starts with heat protection to shield delicate locks against thermal damage, but it doesn't stop there. It also boosts strand strength and flexibility while adding shine for more beautiful, healthy hair.

We love the look and size of Tresemme's packaging — and that this product promises professional results at a price you can afford. We also like the spray nozzle, which provides a more natural fit to your hand and allows you better reach.

Best heat protectant spray for colored hair

Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Daily Shine & Protect Spray

$22.65

$22.65 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

• Leaves color-treated hair healthy, shiny and strong

• Double hair strength

• Instant Detangling

• UVA/UVB protection for color-treated hair

• May need to buy other products from the Joico line to up effectiveness

• Strength gain only applies to damaged hair

According to the manufacturer, the Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Multi-Perfector Daily Shine & Spray is designed to lock in color. In fact, even after shampooing your hair 10 times after color-treating it, adding this product to your hair care routine should maintain 89% of color.

In addition to protecting from heat damage and making hair two times stronger (resistant to breakage), this heat spray doubles as an instant detangler. This is a big plus for those prone to tangles and knots. Additionally, you gain complete spectrum protection, for both UVA and UVB rays, when using this product.

Best heat protectant spray for fine hair

Design Essentials Agave & Lavender Weightless Thermal Protectant Serum

$13.84

$13.84 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

• Formulated to strengthen hair

• Guards against shredding and breakage

• Gives hair a smooth, silky finish

• Not intended for wet hair

• May see better results if you buy other products from the Design Essentials line

The Design Essentials Agave & Lavender Weightless Thermal Protectant Serum received a 4.7-star average rating from 23 reviewers. Despite having few reviews on the Walmart retailer site, it’s clearly a product with some undeniable hair-care must-haves.

First, it’s got a lightweight formula that won’t weigh your mane down, which is great for those with fine hair. Next, because it’s a serum, it gives hair a shiny, smooth finish. And not only does it protect against heat damage, but it also defends against breakage to promote hair growth.

For those worried about the ingredients used, this heat protector is free from sulfates, parabens, paraffin, mineral oil and petrolatum, making it an all-star product.

Our verdict

So, of these top six picks, which do we like best?

We recommend Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Plus Keratin for being a versatile option and heeding the call to protect locks from heat damage, tangles, and dryness while also tackling frizz and flyaway strands.

Otherwise, we think the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Heat Spray provides excellent value for your money.

That said, not all hair is the same from one person to the next. And some of us use heat tools daily, while others do not. Likewise, each person's budget and hair needs will also differ. For this reason, it's essential to consider your needs and situation before deciding which to buy.

Prices updated on 07/25/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.