Hey Beautiful! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.

A heat protectant should be an essential addition to your hair care arsenal if you use heated styling tools, such as blow dryers for natural hair or titanium or ceramic curling wands, on your hair.  Heated styling tools can be very damaging to hair and can lead to split ends, brittle hair, or other problems.  Using a heat protectant spray can help protect your hair against some of these damages to keep it healthier and looking its best.  Keep reading to identify the best hair heat protectant to keep your locks gorgeous and protected from damage.

What is the best heat protectant for fine hair?

In this post we’ll be talking about the top products to protect your hair from heat:

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Best Drugstore Heat Protectant

OGX Protecting + Silk Blowout Quick Drying Thermal Spray

OGX Protecting + Silk Blowout Quick Drying Thermal Spray, 6 Fl Oz (64052)
Buy on Amazon

Thermal Spray Highlights

  • Protects hair up to 450 degrees
  • Formulated with hydrolyzed silk and quinoa
  • Reduces blow-drying time.

The Protecting + Silk Blowout Quick Drying Thermal Spray from OGX is designed to protect hair from heated styling tools up to 450 degrees.  The formula for this top hair heat protectant includes quinoa and hydrolyzed silk that protect your hair while also reducing the amount of time it takes to blow-dry it.

Thermal Spray Reviews

Customers who have tried this hair heat protectant love how soft it leaves their hair and how much quicker their hair dries when they use it.  They also love the way the heat protectant smells.

Best Heat Protectant Spray for Fine Hair

ghd Straight & Smooth Spray

ghd Straight & Smooth Spray, 4.1 fl. oz.
Buy on Amazon

Fine Hair Spray Highlights

  • Smoothes and straightens hair
  • Controls frizz
  • Paraben-free formula

Ghd’s Straight and Smooth Spray can be applied to either wet or dry hair before styling it with hot tools.  The spray is designed to defrizz your hair, leave it smooth and soft, and reduce the amount of time it takes to style your hair.  The formula does not contain any parabens.

Fine Hair Spray Reviews

Many users of this heat protectant would tell you it is the best thermal spray for fine hair and other hair types.  They are impressed with how smooth their hair feels after blow-drying or straightening it and how well it controls frizz.

Best Flat Iron Spray/Hot Tools Protectant for Fine Hair

Not Your Mother’s Beat The Heat Thermal Styling Shield Spray

Not Your Mother's Beat The Heat Thermal Styling Shield Spray, 6 Ounce
Buy on Amazon

Thermal Shield Spray Highlights

  • Helps hair retain moisture
  • Formulated with vitamins A and E and sunflower
  • Can be used to help hold a hairstyle.

The Beat the Heat Thermal Styling Shield Spray from Not Your Mother’s is a top choice for the best heat protectant for fine hair.  The formula includes vitamin A, vitamin E, and sunflower to help moisturize hair and prevent the loss of moisture.  This heat protectant is designed to be used on dry hair before styling with a curling iron or flat iron.  You can also spray it after you have finished styling your hair to help hold the style.

Thermal Shield Spray Reviews

Customers who have tried this thermal heat protectant spray are very pleased with the pleasant smell it leaves behind in their hair.  Many have also shared that their hair feels very silky after using it.

Best Protectant for Baby Fine Hair

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray 8 fl oz (236 ml)Pack of 3
Buy on Amazon

Protective Spray Highlights

  • Includes moisture-locking vitamins to protect hair
  • Leaves hair soft and shiny
  • Suitable for use with damp or dry hair

TRESemme’s Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray is designed to be used with wet or dry hair before styling with a blow-dryer or flat iron.  The formula includes a special vitamin complex designed to lock-in moisture to leave your hair soft and shiny as it protects it against heat damage.

Protective Spray Reviews

Individuals who have tried this hair heat protectant love the lightweight and non-greasy feel.  Many users also shared that this product has helped revitalize their frizzy or dull hair.

Best Heat Protectant for Oily and Fine Hair

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray 8 Fl Oz
Buy on Amazon

Thermal Protection Spray Highlights

  • Designed for use with all hair types
  • Protects and strengthens hair
  • Enhances shine and moisture in hair

The CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray is formulated with special positively charged silk moles that lock into your hair to help strengthen it, protect it from heat damage, and increase its shine.  The formula is very lightweight and doesn’t build up in your hair.

Thermal Protection Spray Reviews

Overwhelmingly, customers who have tried this hair heat protectant are very happy with the results they’ve seen.  Users have shared that the heat protectant leaves their hair very soft and not tacky.

Best Lightweight Heat Protectant

L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray

L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray, 5.7 fl. oz. (Packaging May Vary)
Buy on Amazon

Heat Spray Highlights

  • Protects from heat up to 450 degrees
  • Decreases frizz
  • Lightweight formula

L’Oréal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle Sleek It Iron Straight Hairspray can protect your hair from styling tools that are up to 450 degrees.  The formula is designed to block humidity to help reduce frizz.

Heat Spray Reviews

Customers who have tried this hair heat protectant love how it helps straighten their hair and eliminate frizziness.  Many also shared that they really love the subtle, pleasant smell it has.

Best Volumizing Heat Protectant

BIOLAGE Styling Thermal Active Spray

BIOLAGE Styling Thermal Active Spray | Heat Styling Treatment Adds Body & Volume | Paraben-Free | 8.5 Fl Oz
Buy on Amazon

Volumizing Spray Highlights

  • Suitable for use with wet or dry hair.
  • Can help add body to hair.
  • Provides a medium hold for hair.

If you’re looking for a heat protectant spray that will add volume to your hair, take a look at the BIOLAGE Styling Thermal Active Spray.  This heat protectant spray also offers a medium hold and leaves your hair straight and smooth.

Volumizing Spray Reviews

Many individuals who have tried this hair heat protectant were very impressed that it held their curls all day long.  Other users shared that they loved how much volume it helped add to their hair.

Best Alcohol Free Heat Protectant

Straight Silk Spray with Moroccan Argan Oil

Straight Silk Spray with Moroccan Argan Oil | Hair Straightening Protector & Detangler | Alcohol-Free | Heat Protectant up to 450°F | Flat-Iron | Blow-Dry | Unscented | Hair Spray | MADE IN USA (6oz)
Buy on Amazon

Spray Highlights

  • Protects up to 450 degrees
  • Formula includes Moroccan argan oil
  • Non-greasy, non-flammable formula

This alcohol-free heat protectant from Hair Solutions can protect your hair from heated tools up to 450 degrees.  The heat protectant also includes Moroccan argan oil to moisturize hair.  Using this heat protectant can help eliminate frizz and kinks and will leave hair silky and shiny.

Spray Reviews

Users love how quickly this heat protectant spray helps their hair dry.  They are also very impressed with how straight and smooth it leaves their hair after styling.

Natural Heat Protectant

Premium Nature Argan Oil Thermal Shield

Argan Oil Hair Protectant Spray - Thermal Heat Flat Iron Straightening Protectors For Styling Treatment Against Hot Blow Hair Dryer Natural Prevents Damage Dryness Breakage Split Ends Protection Spray
Buy on Amazon

Thermal Shield Highlights

  • Protects hair from hot styling tools, humidity, and sun damage
  • Formula includes natural ingredients
  • Also works as a leave-in conditioner or hair detangler

If you’ve been searching for the best natural heat protectant, check out the Argan Oil Thermal Shield from Premium Nature.  The formula features argan oil and other natural ingredients to moisturize your hair and protect it against damage from the sun, humidity, and hot styling tools.  It can also be used as a hair detangler or leave-in conditioner.

Thermal Shield Reviews

Many individuals who have tried this natural heat protectant love how it helps control their frizz and leaves their hair sleek and smooth.  They also love that the heat protectant doesn’t leave their hair feeling greasy like some other products do.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Why do you need a heat protectant?

As their name implies, hair protectants can safeguard your hair against the damage that flat irons, curling irons, or blow-dryers can cause.  These heated styling tools can leave hair looking frizzy, cause split ends, and even cause hair to break more easily.  When you use a heat protectant spray, however, you’re able to create a barrier between your hair and the styling tool to project your hair and keep it from getting damaged.

Why should you protect your hair from heat?

Heat can be very damaging to hair.  It can cause it to become brittle, lead to split ends, or make it very frizzy.  When you protect your hair from heat, you can avoid these problems.

Do hair heat protectants really work?

Yes, heat protectants really do work.  Understanding how heat protection sprays work can give you more confidence about how effective it will be to add them to your hairstyling routine.  Heat protectants are formulated with silicones to create a barrier between the hair’s cuticle and the heated tool.

Heat protectants also keep your hair moisturized, which is a huge benefit since heat can really dry out hair.  These sprays include lots of fatty acids and vitamins, which can be very nourishing and moisturizing.  Additionally, they also work to lock moisture in your hair.

Heat protectants are ideal for use on both wet or dry hair, so they should be added to all hair care routines when you’ll be styling with heat.  You’ll likely even notice that your hair will dry more quickly when you start using a heat protectant spray.

Do you need to use heat protectant when straightening hair?

Yes, you should use a heat protectant when straightening your hair to protect it from getting damaged from the heat of the ceramic plates.  Whether you’re using a flat iron for daily straightening or trying to use a flat iron to kill head lice, it is important to protect your hair with a heat protectant.

Why do you need to protect thin and fine hair from heat?

Fine hair is more likely to break or get split ends than other hair types, so it is especially important to use a heat protectant if you have thin or fine hair.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Hair Protection from Heat: FAQs

What can I use instead of heat protectant for hair?

If you don’t have a heat protectant spray on hand, there are some natural heat protectants you may choose to use instead.  These include argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, almond oil, and grapeseed oil.

What happens if you don’t use heat protectant?

If you don’t use a heat protectant, the heat from your blow-dryer, straightener, and other heated styling tools can damage your hair, make it more brittle, or cause split ends.

Do you let heat protectant dry before straightening?

Yes, you should let a heat protectant dry before straightening for best results.

How long does heat protectant last?

You should reapply a heat protectant each time you use a heated styling tool.

Do you put heat protectant on wet or dry hair?

Heat protectants can be used on both wet or dry hair. Best consult the packaging of your product though, just in case they have specific instructions to protect your hair properly!

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Don’t forget to shield your hair!

Finding the best hot tool heat protectant is so important if you want to protect your hair against split ends, breakages, and other damages from your styling tools.  Which of the top hair heat protectant sprays that we reviewed above is your favorite?  Add it to your cart today so you’ll be able to start protecting your hair from the damage hot styling tools can cause.