The Best Heat Protectant Sprays for Wet and Dry Hair

An affordable alternative to Oribe's Gold Lust, this heat-activated aerosol spray with a five-oil blend actually did a comparable job of adding lasting shine and reducing frizz. The shine effect (enhanced with diamond powder) didn't last as long as the Gold Lust, though, and the strong fragrance, which put me in mind of laundry detergent, may not be to everyone's taste.

The formula is also quite heavy, almost like a hairspray, but I found this to be a plus as someone with naturally frizzy hair who lives in the Pacific Northwest. I also appreciated that this had the highest-temperature heat protection of any brand I tried. If you have fine hair, though, be forewarned it may add too much weight for your liking. For use on damp hair, I also liked Hot Tools' Pro Artist Heat Defense Instant Detangling Mist ($25). It didn't take a top slot due to being a bit too residue-heavy, but it's still very effective for coarse and curly hair.

If I'm going to trust anyone to know a thing or two about heat protectants, it's going to be the chain of salons that's spent the past 14 years specializing in blowouts. Sure enough, Drybar didn't disappoint with this lightweight phthalate-, paraben-, and sulfate-free thermal protection spray. Fortified with biotin, vitamins, seaberry oil, and UV protection, this heat shield detangler felt hydrating yet not overly heavy, and I loved how soft my hair felt after blow-drying.

The pump bottle I tested came in “Noir” scent. To me it smelled slightly minty, though Drybar claims there are supposed to be hints of ginger and sandalwood as well. For those more into mocktails than mint, there's a Coconut Colada scent that seems to be just as widely available. I also liked Drybar's Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist ($29) for dry hair, but this blow dry mist was too lightweight to use for anything other than touch-ups if your hair is seriously thick, curly, or frizzy.

This all-in-one detangler and frizz treatment stood out in my tests for adding visible hydration and shine. Its effective pump-bottle spray formula is fortified with spirulina protein and coconut oil, and it's lightweight enough to work for all hair types. IGK says it's also safe for chemically treated hair.

The only detractors that knocked it out of the top slot are the fact that the frizz-fighting properties are not as impressive as claimed—my hair did eventually poof back up after blow-drying—and the very strong fragrance. IGK identifies top notes of black pepper and blackberries, but I get feline flea and tick treatment.

If you have especially thick or curly hair, a spray just might not cut it. A balm is thicker and messier to apply, but it ensures sufficient product application. R+Co's paraben-free formula pairs moisturizers (mustard seed oil, kiwi oil) with polymers and copolymers to smooth and protect hair. I also like the petite, user-friendly pump bottle.

The resulting product looks and smells like a slightly thickened shampoo. It feels hydrating yet not overly heavy or sticky, and my hair felt super soft after blow-drying and touching up with a straightening iron.

Back before I began straightening my hair (like, way back, in the ’90s), I wore it curly. My holy grail hair product then was drugstore staple Frizz Ease hair serum by John Frieda—it had the consistency of glue but sealed my cuticles and tamped down flyaways so well that even a foggy day at the beach resulted in minimal frizz. Frizz Ease has since changed its formula, and it's not quite the same, but Amika's Blockade serum is the closest I've come to that old-school Frizz Ease serum reliability—but with the contemporary benefit of being lightweight and not greasy.

I tested this serum both ways—on wet hair before blow-drying with Shark's FlexFusion Fusion Brush attachment and on dry hair before straightening with a flat iron—and both applications left my hair soft and silky but not overly weighed down. I also like the groovy hot-pink glass pump bottle. Be forewarned, however, the serum is highly scented with Amika's signature fragrance (described as “warm vanilla, fresh citrus, and spicy sweet clover”), which online commenters find divisive. I don't love it, but I don't mind it either.

I love this sulfate- and paraben-free pump spray, which is heat-activated by a blow-dryer and supposedly lasts through three or four shampoos (though I couldn’t really tell, to be honest). Although it doesn't state so on the bottle, the company's website confirms it does provide heat protection. It also smooths my hair better and for longer than brands three times its price.

However, the heat protective properties top out at 380 degrees Fahrenheit, so it can only be used with a blow dryer; you'll need another protectant if you plan on finishing your hair styling with a heat tool. Also bear in mind that it is on the heavier side in terms of residue, so a little goes a long way, and it may be a better choice for thick or curly locks.

Another great option: NuMe's Clout Control Anti-Frizz and Heat Protectant Spray ($19) works very much the same way as Color WOW—a long-lasting, blow-dry-only option that tamps down frizz. The effect is supposed to last three to four weeks, and while this wasn't evident in my testing, it's still similar enough to bear recommending, and the 2-ounce bottle is super-convenient for travel.

While not a spray, this serum is from L’Oreal Professionnel's Metal Detox, a unique chelating regimen that also includes a shampoo and hair mask (both of which I tried and also liked). Using a proprietary molecule called glicoamine, the formula aims to reduce breakage and preserve hair color (including highlight treatments like balayage) by removing metals that can accumulate on hair fibers through hard water and diet.

I'm fairly certain I did see less breakage during my test period with this serum, though results are hard to quantify. I also like the light and citrusy scent. Be forewarned, though, that this small glass pump bottle is one of the heaviest hair products I’ve used in terms of residue—a little goes a very long way.

This lightweight aerosol functions as a combination heat protectant and styling/finishing spray. A blend of polymers and emollients work to smooth the hair cuticle, so it could be used for frizz control even without a heat tool. It wasn't quite strong enough for “first line” use on my thick, curly hair, but it did a great job smoothing frizz during daily flat-iron touch-ups. It's safe for chemically treated styles, and I like that it can be used on damp or dry hair.

It does have a strong fragrance that may be off-putting to some. Amazon identified it as “vanilla,” but to me it's reminiscent of concentrated diaper cream.

I admit I had my doubts about this lightweight, low-priced pump spray that claims to cut drying time while providing heat protection. I didn't notice any effects from the “shine enhancing” properties, but I certainly did notice the reduction in drying time. At one point in my testing period I was testing two heat protectants on different sections of my hair, and I could immediately tell on which area I'd sprayed the Kristin Ess. Keep in mind, however, that this product does have a hearty dose of Kristin Ess' signature scent, which features strong notes of amber and musky ambrette seed.

Though technically not a spray, I also really liked Milk_Shake's Lifestyling Blow-Dry Primer ($26). It wasn't quite as effective as Kristin Ess' formula and left a slightly sticky residue, but I loved how the light-orange liquid emerged from the pump as a foam in order to ensure even application. Those put off by the Kristin Ess fragrance may want to try this one instead, which has a light, pineapple-like scent.

This paraben- and silicone-free formula is fortified with argan oil and Tsubaki oil (from camellia fruit), a common ingredient in many K-beauty products. It is a spray, but I was surprised to find it comes out with an opaque, creamlike consistency rather than as a liquid, which means it goes on a bit heavy. That said, sometimes my frizzy hair needs something on the heavy side, and this definitely fit the bill—it did visibly reduce frizz after blow-drying, and my hair felt very soft. I also appreciated that the scent was light and not overpowering. While this may be too heavy for those with finer, more wavy hair, I liked it enough to add it to my regular rotation.