What is the Best Heat Protectant for Hair?

By The FabFitFun Team | April 6, 2022

long haired girl looks scared by blow drier

Everyone loves the bouncy and glossy tresses of a fresh blowout. But with every dryer, curling rod, and flatiron, you risk damaging your hair’s health. So is there any safe way to keep your signature ‘do?

Enter heat protectants, your hair’s new best friend.

Like sunscreen for skin, heat protectants block the damage that hot tools can wreak on your natural hair. However, not all products are created equal. Heat protection should be a priority before using any styling tool to prevent hair damage. Keep hair healthy and strong with our guide to this essential haircare step —we’ll explore what is the best heat protectant for hair and how to use heat protectant spray.

What Do Heat Protectants Do?

So, you’re wearing claw clip hairstyles to prevent damage and doing regular hair masks, but what about heat styling? If you can’t avoid using heat on your hair, it’s best to include heat protectants beforehand. Before diving into the best heat protectants, it’s important to ask just what are heat protectants.

Consider heat as the ultimate hair killer. High temperatures can denature your hair’s structure, leaving you with damaged tresses. In either gel, oil, or spray form, a heat protectant will preserve your hair underneath those frying hot tools. Let’s explore exactly how.

How Heat Damages Your Hair

Are a few sweeps of the flatiron really that bad for your hair? The short answer is yes.

Human hair is made up of natural proteins that retain structure, strength, and moisture. In fact, up to 95% of hair consists of the protein keratin!¹ The more intact your keratin, the more your hair shines.

Unfortunately, high temperatures dismantle keratin molecules instantly. The result over time? A loss of strength and moisture. You might notice this through signs of heat damage like:²

Duller hair color
Greater susceptibility to breakage
Brittle or frizzy textures
Split or frayed ends

Don’t freak out if you step outside on a sweltering day. Temperatures only become dangerous for hair around 300 degrees Fahrenheit.³ While most blow dryers stay under 140 degrees Fahrenheit, flat irons and curling irons both range up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, making them dangerous to use on natural hair repeatedly.

Bottom line is, whether you have color treated hair or the healthiest strands out there, heat protection is your best friend. This may possibly be the most important and best product for every hair type when heat styling.

How Heat Protectants Work

So, how do heat protectants work their magic? By binding around hair strands, they block hot temperatures from melting those precious proteins.

Every heat protector contains active ingredients. Whether manmade or natural, these ingredients create a film around your hair, slowing the spread of heat to prevent major damage. Some common active ingredients include:

Polymers
Silicones
Hydrolized wheat protein
Octafluoropentyl methacrylate
Quaternary 70

Keep in mind, heat protectants aren’t 100% effective — they lower heat risk, but they don’t eliminate it. Each product has a temperature limit, which you can find on the bottle. Also, you most likely won’t be able to coat every strand on your head. Avoiding hot tools is the only sure way to prevent all heat damage.

What Should I Look for in a Heat Protectant?

Sure, you could pick a random heat protectant off the shelf, but that formula might leave you with starchy strands or even minimal protection. Not every product is created equally to protect heat styling. As such, picking a quality heat protectant will save your tresses in the long run.

To find the best heat protectant, it’s important to look for a few key components. Check the back of the box for these markers in your next heat protectant:

High-temperature limits – If you can’t resist the flatiron, then a low-grade heat protectant won’t cut it. Make sure your chosen product blocks temperatures up to at least 425 degrees Fahrenheit. That way, your hair can resist even the strongest curling iron.
Natural actives – Go clean with your beauty, and don’t look back. Ditch the silicones and parabens for natural formulas that do the job equally well, like the Briogeo Rosarco Heat Protectant Creme. A vegan and cruelty-free protectant, this creme uses hydrolyzed wheat protein and soy protein (alongside moisturizing rosehip and argan oils) to stop heat damage.
Hair type-appropriate – Like any hair product, heat protectants should bring out the best of your natural texture! For curly hair, that might mean a moisture-sealing formula with oils or a gel texture. For fine hair, that could be a volumizing spray. Pick a formula that makes your hair type shine.
Nourishing ingredients – The best protectants don’t only block the heat, they also leave your hair looking better! Seek protectants with nourishing and stylizing ingredients, like the Orlando Pita Play Atmos-Shield® Spray. With hydrolyzed keratin, argan oil, and fruit extracts, your hair will be safe and shiny.

How Should I Use Heat Protectants?

It’s not just about the product’s quality — to reap a heat protectant’s full powers, you need to apply it correctly. Use these tips to keep your hair as shielded as possible:

Dampness – Always apply heat protectants to slightly damp hair. This will help your hair absorb the product.
Amount – For creams or gels, use a dime-size or quarter-size of product to prevent buildup. For sprays, you can apply liberally.
Distribute – Once applied, comb your heat protectant through the entirety of your hair. This will keep your hair strands as coated as possible.

So, while including thermal protection in heat styling will prevent hair damage, it’s just as important to know how to use it. Using even the best heat protectant spray, gel, or oil doesn’t mean it’ll do its job unless you’re using it correctly and effectively.

Healthy Hair (and More) With FabFitFun

Haircare doesn’t stop at the shampoo and conditioner you use, it also includes protecting your hair before a styling tool. Knowing how to protect hair from heat with a top-quality heat protectant can keep your locks shining for years to come. But the fun doesn’t have to stop at haircare — with FabFitFun, you have a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs, including hair, makeup, skincare, and more!

Sign up for a seasonal or annual membership, and you get access to hundreds of high-quality products from top brands. We offer these must-haves via: