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Then we compared notes, scored, and ranked each product to create this list of options that can really do it all. Known for its hair-strengthening products, Olaplex delivers another winner with their nourishing Bond Protector serum. The ultra-lightweight formula absorbs quickly, leaving no residue while instantly smoothing strands and boosting shine—even after heat styling, hair feels incredibly soft and healthy.
13 Best Heat Protection Sprays (Tested & Reviewed 2024) - Cosmopolitan
13 Best Heat Protection Sprays (Tested & Reviewed .
Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Overall Heat Protectant Spray
Chi is no stranger to making affordable products that actually work, and this gem of a primer gives the gift of a shiny halo all around our heads. This formula relies on the conditioning properties of hydrolyzed silk to bestow this angelic glow. It also makes the cream’s texture feel velvety and nourishing, likely the reason it’s been shown to help heal and restore protein to our strands from all the time we spend under foils coloring our hair. This multifaceted cream from Shu Uemura seemed to be part heat protectant, part luxurious salon treatment, earning it the prized top spot on our list and our vanity. Not only did this spray effectively protect our strands from heat damage, it also tackled frizz and zhuzhed our lifeless, flat strands so well that we considered ditching all of our other styling products in favor of just this one.
Does heat protectant work?
After using this for over a month now, I can see a difference in how my hair looks — there’s less frizz, my hair doesn’t feel stiff or crunchy, and I love the fruity and floral scent, which lingers for a long time in my hair. Because my hair is pretty thick, I do go through this product faster than cream formulas I’ve tried, but because of the results, I don’t mind repurchasing it more frequently. "Cream-based humectants fill and seal the hair fiber to lock in moisture and offer slippage to minimize breakage," Hill adds. "Product types vary greatly from person to person depending on hair texture and density," says Fagiani. Low-porosity hair struggles to absorb moisture, which is why products tend to sit on top of the hair strand.
Mizani Miracle Milk Leave in Conditioner
Behold, the 13 best hair masks for growth to get shiny, bouncy, flowing hair. Hatcher says anyone who blow-dries or heat styles their hair will benefit from heat protectant spray. “Aside from a good shampoo and conditioner, thermal protections are at the top of the list for keeping healthy hair,” she explains.
Tips for Choosing the Right Heat Protectant
We noticed a significant difference in the areas where the product was applied, with the treated areas looking much healthier than the untreated areas. This pick also passed the toast test with flying colors, only burning in areas where no product was applied. Similarly, we noticed very little steam while styling with hot tools, and no sizzling or hissing. Two key ingredients include peach oil and rosehip oil, which provide nourishing properties as well as a pleasant scent. This product fully absorbed within two minutes, but we noticed slight residue and product transfer on our hands during the touch test. For people with fine hair, we recommend spraying this product from mid-lengths to ends to avoid greasy roots.
Best for Damaged Hair
The spray is hard to control and will make floors and counters extremely slippery if it comes into contact with them. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a more easily applied heat protectant like Olaplex’s No. 7 Bonding Oil. Coming in at under 10 dollars and packaged in a fairly large bottle, the L’Oréal Paris SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray is an affordable product and perfect if you are shopping with price in mind. A little goes a long way with this product, and it is great if you need a straight-forward no-frills hair heat protectant.
Try not to use too much of the spray at once to avoid this sticky feeling. It is not too lightweight or too heavy, so it won’t weigh down or tangle up hair. It can also be used on any natural human hair extensions with causing any adverse reactions. It is a good choice if you need a versatile product you can use for anything. I’ve had this heat protection in my possession ever since my mom first blow-dried my hair. This spray is available at almost all drugstores and can be used on both damp hair and dry hair for protection up to 450 degrees.
Instead, it's infused with moisturizers like coconut and argan oils to protect and hydrate hair at the same time. For this story, she compiled insights from the team of InStyle editors who tested each product. She also spoke with hair experts Olya Iudina and Nai’Vasha Johnson to learn the key features and ingredients of high-quality heat protectants, as well as tips and tricks on how to incorporate one into a routine. Those of us with dry hair are not strangers to styling products that hydrate our strands, but also envelop our whole head in a thick, heavy feeling. Yet, the mist here was fine, even, and settled nicely from root to tip, averting the familiar crisis of slicking back heavy hair into a messy bun. With a 4.6-star average rating from over 1,200 reviews, this oil protects hair from environmental aggressors like pollution and heat.
Heat protectants come in various forms — oils, sprays and creams — and everyone, regardless of your hair type or texture, should use one, according to our experts. Without that added protection, you’re damaging your hair, which can leave it permanently altered, says Angela Walker, founder of N Natural Hair Salon in Maryland. For styling brittle and damaged hair (thanks, flat irons and chemicals), a small dose of this hair cream will smooth flyaways and give your hair some of that healthy shine back. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke with trusted hair experts about hair growth.
Cream formula hair heat protectants are richer in texture and great for hydrating and protecting curly or coily hair. They can be a little too heavy for thin or straight hair types, but they are great at conditioning and stopping frizz while protecting hair from heat damage. We thought so too, so we nabbed a roster of InStyle editors across a range of hair types and textures, and tested the buzziest, most popular heat protectants out there. Over five weeks, we intensely scrutinized every aspect of these heat protectants, from the way they made our hair look and feel, to the scent to just how long we had to wait for them to absorb. Then we scorched our strands with hot tools at 450 degree heat to see just how well they defended our hair. We awarded bonus points to products that also nailed other benefits we long for, like a boost in hydration, glossy radiance, and no trace of a flyaway.
As a bonus, we felt better leaving the house without a hat since the formula has a UV filter for an extra layer of safety against the sun. For the sake of your hair's health, you should use a heat protectant anytime that you are using heat. But if you forget to use one on occasion, your hair is not going to fall off, says Walker. Grape-seed oil is another option you’ll commonly see since it can protect the hair up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit while also adding shine and moisture, according to Gutterman. The Creme of Nature Butter Blend & Flaxseed Stretch & Define Pudding is infused with a butter blend (which includes shea), flaxseed oil, and argan oil.
You could also invest in a hair heat protection spray that contains hydrating oils, like our best overall pick HSI Professional Argan Oil Heat Protector. It's best to apply your heat protectant evenly throughout your hair, focusing more on the mid-lengths to ends where hair is typically more prone to damage from heat styling. "You should avoid applying too much product at the roots to prevent weighing down your hair or making it look greasy," notes Washington. Everyone loves this protective primer, including myself and Cut shopping writer Chinea Rodriguez. According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, you'll want to look for products with ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, both of which "form a shield" to prevent heat damage.
Note that those with fine and/or oily hair might find the oily texture too heavy. In the real world, we tested the heat protectants with hot tools at least two times a week for two weeks. Individuals with Type 3 or Type 4 hair had the option to use their heat protectant and flat iron once a week. We used the same application methodology as the lab tests and recorded our insights at the end of the two-week testing period. Just like the serums in your skincare lineup, hair serums are known to target problem areas.
The 13 Best Heat Protectants of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - InStyle
The 13 Best Heat Protectants of 2024, Tested and Reviewed.
Posted: Sun, 08 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
We only continued smiling at our reflection as we noticed less static and overall dryness, with a bout of increased nourishment around our ends every time we styled our hair. When every ingredient counts, it’s hard to pinpoint one as the hero, but buckthorn oil and its army of 18 different amino acids, vitamin C and fatty acids in tow, comes pretty close. This jack-of-all-trades oil preserves hydration within each strand, while strengthening hair follicles and encouraging new hair growth.
She also searched the internet for top-rated hair masks for growth, perused reviews for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each on their features and customer reviews. Though all hair types can experience frizz, curly hair is the most naturally frizz-prone. This is due to the natural shape of curly hair follicles, not styling errors. If your texture is on the coarser, curlier side, you'll need to prioritize hair hydration if you want to reduce flyaways and frizz. Just like other Olaplex products, this serum has the brand’s signature scent.
