Best Heat Protectants For Your Hair

If you don’t use heat protectants…

Don’t worry because I didn’t either up until this past year. So bad, I know! I would use all sorts of hot tools on my hair and not even think twice about the damage. Good thing I know better now! My goal this past year was to get my hair back to a healthy state, and using heat protectants helped me do just that. (Among other things!)

What is a heat protectant?

A heat protectant is a hair styling product, usually in the form of a cream or spray, that creates a barrier between your hair and the harsh heat of a blow drier, flat iron or curling wand. This barrier helps reduce the shock of high heat by heating up your hair gradually, which results in a heck of a lot less damage. It also seals in moisture and prevents frizz by blocking moisture from the air from seeping in.

Steps I’m taking to fortify my hair:

Best and Worst Heat Protectants

Okay, “worst” is a harsh word because I really didn’t hate any of the heat protectants I tried. And I tried A LOT. If you follow us on Instagram, you know all about my heat protectant experimentation! Below is the full list of products I tried with my honest reviews on each. I hope this helps you find a new favorite!

As I mentioned earlier, I’m loving the addition of Olaplex products in my hair care routine! The No. 6 Bond Smoother is the heat protectant I reach for when I’m styling my hair for a special occasion, like a date night or dinner out with family. It is very rich and does a great job at smoothing out my hair and leaving it very shiny and frizz-free. It also smells so amazing and cuts down on blow dry time! I feel like I’m at a professional salon when I use this. You don’t need a lot, so while the bottle is small, it goes a long way. I also love how it simultaneously helps heal my dry, split ends.

Worth it? Worth it.

At first, I thought I really loved this Briogeo heat protectant, but it turns out it was just okay. The scent is very strong! It’s not unpleasant but not my favorite out of all the heat protectants I tried. While it does somewhat tame frizz, it also seems to weigh my hair down so I don’t get that light, bouncy texture I love. Overall, I wouldn’t buy this one again!

Worth it? Not worth it.

I’m so grateful you guys suggested I try the IGK Good Behavior Spray! While it’s not my all-time favorite, it is in the top three without a doubt. This spray is great for when you want a super sleek, frizz-free straight look. It’s interesting because it almost feels like you’re applying hair spray (which smells incredible by the way…very vanilla-y) before you blow dry your hair. Do not expect this to detangle your hair because it won’t! It was odd at first, but after a few tries, I ended up loving this heat protectant. It does leave it a little bit of a texture behind, which is great for longer-lasting curls. The one downside is it’s not considered “clean” at Sephora.

Worth it? Worth it.

It’s ironic the tagline on this Aquis Leave-In Serum is “Heavy doesn’t mean hydrated” because all this did was weigh down my hair. This heat protectant is definitely not for me! My hair looks frizzy and greasy the day after I use it. However, I can see how it could work well for thick hair. It is very hydrating and helps detangle hair quickly! It also smells nice. But second-day limp hair is just not for me.

Worth it? Not worth it.

I found this brand on whim while perusing through the aisles at Target! It’s great because Odele is clean and super affordable. I also love how they use natural fragrances. You really can’t go wrong here! The Odele Leave-In Detangling Tonic is great for, you guessed it, detangling. My hair never gets crazy tangled, so I’m not sure if this one is for me. But I do appreciate anything that will reduce fallout when I’m combing through my hair! Other pros are it smells great and leaves my hair insanely soft after blow drying. Cons are the sprayer gets stuck and my curls don’t hold up very long. Will I buy again? I don’t think so! But I do think this brand is worth trying.

Worth it? Maybe worth it.

I saved the best for last! The Virtue 6-in-1 Styler is 100% my ride or die heat protectant. I tested this product wayyyy back when we partnered with Virtue in 2018 and honestly forgot how incredible this styling cream was. I could go on and on about the benefits, but I’ll try to keep it concise! It smells beyond amazing…like beyond. It also leaves my hair shiny, bouncy and light while somehow controlling frizz. This is the heat protectant I reach for every single time I wash and style my hair. It’s great for frequent use because it won’t weigh your hair down one bit. It’s truly the all-in-one product I was looking for!

Worth it? Worth it.

To summarize…

My top three heat protectants are:

1. Virtue 6-in-1 Styler
2. Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother
3. IGK Good Behavior Spray

Did any of your favorites make the cut? I would love to know which heat protectants you guys use! Even though I found my top three, you know I’m always willing to try something new. I’ll make sure to continue to update this post if I try any new brands I feel are worth sharing. Comment below with your go-to’s or connect with us on Instagram!