Cream, spray, oil, serum — choose your fighter to ward off damage.
Heat protectants are — at least for those who heat-style their hair — nonnegotiable. Want proof? Just go back and look at a photo of pretty much anyone in the early-aughts, a time when even celebrities heat-styled their hair into oblivion without it: Flyaways, breakage, split ends, dullness, dryness and that general “fried” look were rampant.
Since then, there’s been a whole lot of innovation in the heat protectant category, with brands delivering a wide range of formulas that shield every hair type and texture against damage. Beyond that, they often also offer additional benefits, like enhancing the styling process, boosting curl shape, building shine, creating definition or providing extra smoothness.
“It’s important to have a protective layer when heat styling because over time, heat can dry the hair, essentially removing moisture,” explains Los Angeles-based hairstylist Mara Roszak, whose celebrity clientele includes Zoe Saldana, Emma Stone and Michelle Yeoh (and yes, she did style the latter’s hair for her historic Oscars win). “When your hair starts to get dry, it causes breakage. So it’s important to create a strong barrier of moisture to protect hair.”
Fine hair is often perceived as the most fragile (and that’s not untrue), but Roszak stresses that no texture is immune to the dangers of heat styling. “Every hair type and texture is susceptible to the same damage — especially if you have thicker and curlier hair, because you’re spending more time on it when heat styling,” she explains.
Roszak’s go-to for all of her clients (regardless of hair type) is the Santa Lucia Styling Oil from her own line, Roz. “I prefer to use styling oils as heat protects because they provide a beautiful gliding texture on hair,” she notes.
Meanwhile, hairstylist Jamie Vanden Berg changes up the formula type depending on her clients’ hair textures: “I like to use serum and cream-based protectants on very dry, coarse and curly hair, and will typically reach for a spray heat protectant on my fine hair clients,” she says. Typically, Vanden Berg seeks out heat protectants that are also spiked with hair-strengthening ingredients, like keratin, hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn, wheat protein and avocado oil — but the most important thing is that they can withstand high temperatures of up to 450°F, which is how hot styling tools can get.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up 16 heat protectants pro hairstylists swear by — for every hair type and texture.
Ceremonia Guava Rescue Spray, $22, available here
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Créme, $26, available here
Roz Santa Lucia Styling Oil, $45, available here
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Heat Protectant, $20, available here
Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer for Fine Hair, $13, available here
L’Oréal Ever Pure Weightless Blow Dry Primer, $10, available here
Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum, $28, available here
Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant, $5, available here
Flawless by Gabrielle Union Shine Enhancing Heat Protection Spray, $10, available here
Gisou Propolis Infused Heat Protecting Spray, $41, available here
Innersense Organic Beauty Hair Love Prep Spray, $28, available here
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant, $30, available here
Pacifica Vegan Silk Blow-Out Hair Primer and Protectant, $14, available here
Ouai Heat Protection Spray, $28, available here
R+Co Jackpot Styling Crème, $28, available here
Redken Big Blowout Heat Protectant Jelly, $26, available here
Please note: Some of these products may have been gifted. Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. Neither affects our editorial decision-making.
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Source: Fashionista.com
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