If there’s any chance that your hair is exposed to heat tools everyday, there’s no escaping from the goodness of the best drugstore heat protectant spray that will keep your hair and your pocket happy! When protecting gorgeous tresses becomes an expensive affair, people often tend to skip the step.

Dr Michelle Wong, Science Educator and Cosmetic Chemist, says, "Straighteners and curling irons heat your hair to somewhere between 95 and 170 °C. When your hair heats up above 130 °C (266 °F), a few types of damage occur...heat protectants claim to reduce this heat styling-related damage."

Our contributor Kate Ross, a hair and beauty specialist at Irresistible Me, a hair extension brand, says, “A good heat protectant spray can help prevent frizz and flyaways by creating a barrier between your hair and the heat, keeping your hair smooth and protected.” So, it can be a great product for people who suffer from hair damage or hair dryness.

She adds, “Using a hair protectant spray is super easy. Apply it evenly on damp hair before styling. Make sure to cover all areas, especially the ends, which are more prone to damage. Just don't apply too much as it can weigh your hair down.”

There are various types of heat protectants for hair, including leave-in sprays, creams, serums, oils, etc. Along with the protection from heat and sun, your heat protectant must control frizz, reduce static, and make the hair softer. Let's look at the 12 best drugstore heat protectants in the market to find out which one is the best fit for you, that too without burning a hole in your pocket.

• 1
  Best Salon Finish

  L'Oréal Paris Sleek It Iron Straight Heatspray

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L'Oréal Paris Sleek It Iron Straight Heatspray is loved and praised as the best drugstore heat protectant for hair because it delivers 3 days' worth of style. The lightweight formulation is engineered to offer 450 degree heat protection and can be used with any heat styling tool. It works equally well on both damp and dry hair, and the packaging makes it easy to dispense and distribute the product. Along with heat protection, this spray helps to tame frizz and lock in shine. It has a citrus scent that is pleasant and not overpowering.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil

Quick Tip

If your hair is on the dryer side, apply this while your hair is wet and finish off with a good conditioning serum before your styling starts.

2

Best for Hair Strength

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray

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Developed for daily casual wear, this spray protects the hair against thermal damage. CHI 44 Iron Guard is suitable for all hair types and is yet another best drugstore heat protectant sprays. The paraben and sulfate free formulation of this heat protectant is weightless and does not contain any build-up. Along with heat protection benefits, the ingredients in this product protect the hair from future damage and condition the hair from within for a lustrous shine ​​(1). The keratin and silk proteins in the formulation maintain the strength of the hair. Note that you have to use this thermal protection spray on dry hair.

Key Ingredients: Vitamins A and E, Panthenol, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Keratin and Silk Proteins

Quick Tip

After application use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to distribute the product evenly from the root to the tip. This ensures that every strand remains protected.

3

Best Leave-in Formula

Redken One United All-in-one Multi-benefit Treatment

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Redken One United is a good drugstore heat protectant that doubles up as a leave-in conditioner. It suits all hair types and claims to provide 25 benefits to manage, protect, and enhance the smoothness of your hair. This all-in-one product conditions and nourishes the hair, fights frizz, and reduces dryness while detangling, strengthening, and adding shine to the hair. It can be applied as a leave-in treatment on damp hair or a rinse-out treatment after shampoo. This lightweight formulation is also safe for color-treated hair and contains potent and healthy ingredients.

Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Lactic Acid

4

Best Toxin-free Formula

Hair Food Heat Protectant Spray

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Whether you have wavy, curly, or super-straight locks, Hair Food’s drugstore heat protectant spray takes care of them all. The spray is free from toxins like parabens, sulfates, alcohol, and dye and shields the hair from heat damage up to 450°F and adds a healthy shine. It is formulated on the philosophy that our hair should be nourished, similar to the manner we nourish our bodies. The ingredients help to hydrate and nourish the hair, making it a great product for hair that is damaged. Although it has a slightly thicker consistency, it does not weigh the hair down.

Key Ingredients: Argan Oil, Coconut

5

Best for Colored Hair

Pureology Professional Color Care Color Fanatic

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The Pureology Color Care Color Fanatic is another heat protectant leave-in conditioner spray, especially favorable for dry, color-treated hair. It provides your hair with 21 benefits, including detangling, moisturizing, heat protection, taming frizz, and adding shine. The multi-tasking spray promotes hair growth and preserves hydration while also taking care of the  scalp and follicular health. The formulation is also infused with the signature aromatherapy blend of rose, floral ginger, and cedarwood. In a nutshell, this drugstore heat protectant is a multi-benefit priming spray that is simple to apply and use on clean damp hair.

Key Ingredients: Camelina Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil

6

Most Nourishing

Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant

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Cantu thermal shield is among the best drugstore hair heat protectant for relaxed, texturized, color-treated, and permed hair. It can shield your hair from harm caused by straighteners, curling rods, and other styling tools with temperatures up to 425°F. Enriched with the goodness of shea butter and vitamins A & E, this heat-protectant spray works as a protective barrier and adds to the hair strands, making them appear shinier and smoother. Moreover, it tames down frizz and flyaways for a cleaner, sleeker look. It contains an artificial fragrance but one that is not overbearing or unpleasant.

Key Ingredients: Shea Butter

7

Bold Uniq Coconut 10 Effects Long Lasting Treatment

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Do you love the fragrance of coconut? Next on our list of best heat protectant spray drugstores is the Bold Uniq Coconut 10 Effects Long Lasting Treatment thermal heat protection spray. The product's purpose is to moisturize dry, damaged hair and guard it against split ends, frizz, and static that arises from style and humidity. The leave-in heat protection spray is enriched with coconut oil which offers hair-reviving properties. The lauric acid and medium-chain fatty acids further enable coconut oil to permeate hair strands and provide the hair with essential vitamins and minerals. Also, the scientifically-developed advanced color protection system guards hair from fading and seals in color to maintain fresh and vibrant tones.

Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Lauric Acid, Medium-chain Fatty Acids

8

Artnaturals Argan Oil Thermal Shield

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Artnaturals Argan Oil Thermal Shield helps hydrate, restore shine, and guard against breakage, sun damage, and split ends the natural way. All hair types, including color-treated hair, can use this sulfate- and paraben-free hair protectant spray without any fear because it nourishes and moisturizes dry, damaged, and brittle hair to repair it. Moroccan argan oil, which has renewing powers and hence delivers deep hydration for healthier and shinier looking locks, is the formula's prime ingredient (2). All the ingredients work together to provide nourishment to the hair while also shielding it from heat styling damage and other external factors. It ultimately restores shine and decreases the appearance of split ends and damaged hair.

Key Ingredients:  Argan Oil, Shea Butter, Aloe, Irish Moss, and Ginkgo

9

Sun Bum Heat Protector

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Inspired by the crashing waves of the tropical lands, the Sun Bum Heat Protector spray is designed to reduce blow-dry time and prevent the hair from frizz and breakage caused by thermal damage and humidity. The two-phase protective formula is lightweight, nourishing, and works quickly. This heat protectant is infused with noni, a fruit rich in vitamin C and helps to hydrate and nourish the hair (3). It also has sea kelp, which strengthens and softens the hair. The spray has a sweet, pleasant scent that makes your hair smell fresh for a long time. It is advised to wait until the spray has dried completely before using a straightener or other heat-styling instrument.

Key Ingredients: Tahitian Noni, Giant Sea Kelp Extract, Kukui Nut Oil, Tamanu Oil, Coconut Oil, Banana

10

Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In-Spray

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Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In-Spray is the best affordable heat protectant that guards the hair against heat and friction. This spray stands true to its claim of providing professional but affordable salon-quality heat protection by ensuring your hairstyle stays in place for a long duration. The spray's heat-activated composition and moisture-locking vitamin complex help to improve the elasticity and vibrancy of the hair. Enriched with vitamins E, H, and C, this heat protectant has a floral scent that is distinctive. The formulation is lightweight and does not make our hair greasy or oily, making it an ideal spray for daily use

Key Ingredients: Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Biotin (Vitamin H), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

11

Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist

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The Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist  will be your new favorite if you enjoy blanc scents with hints of coconut, amber, and vanilla. This spray's vegan composition is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and gluten. It contains UV Protectors that protect the hair from UVA and UVB rays along with extreme heat that tends to cause dryness and color fading. Marula oil in the formulation helps in delivering a frizz-free finish while fire tulip extract aids with restoring hair health, and heat-activated rice protein strengthens the hair and shields it from the damaging effects of heat styling. The lightweight formulation can be used by all hair types.

Key Ingredients: Marula Oil, Fire Tulip Extract, Heat-Activated Rice Protein, UV Protectors

12

Bold Uniq Thermal Heat Protector

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This lightweight heat protector is free from harmful toxins and is designed for everyday use and to refresh and reset the hair in-between washes. Bold Uniq Thermal Heat Protector's formula protects the hair from damage by heat styling up to 446°F to maintain healthy, strong, and lustrous hair.This pre-styling shield can be used on all hair types, and it helps to tame frizz and static. If you prefer beaches to mountains, the tropical scent of orange, peach, and coconut in the spray will appeal to you. Along with creating vegan and environmentally conscious products, Bold Uniq's bottles are made from post-consumer recycled plastic.

Key Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Papaya Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Bamboo, Aloe Vera

Our hair has a life of its own. A good hair day can instantly uplift our mood and boost our confidence, while a bad hair day can do just the opposite of that. Thanks to heat styling tools, every day can be a good hair day! But it comes at the cost of damaging our locks. This is where a heat protectant comes in. It minimizes the damage and smoothens the hair for an effortless and pleasant styling experience. Here are some parameters that will help you to choose the best drugstore heat protectant for your styling needs! 

Hair Type 

It's very important to choose a heat protectant that suits your hair type. For instance, people with fine hair type should avoid oil or serum-based heat protectants as they can weigh down the hair and make it appear flat. As a rule of thumb, use cream-based hydrating heat protectant if you have coarse hair and lightweight liquid sprays if you have soft, thin hair. 

Pro Tip

Spritz a heat protectant spray evenly on damp hair before styling. Focus on ends, and comb through for thorough coverage. Style as usual for protected, healthy locks.

Formula of the Product

Like you would choose the maximum SPF protection for your skin, choose the best drugstore heat protectant based on its shielding power. Silicone, for instance, is a good ingredient that you can keep an eye out for as it coats the strands and creates a barrier between the hair and heat. Keratin is another highly praised ingredient as this protein helps to strengthen the hair and helps retain moisture. 

Price and Other Benefits

Using the best cheap heat protectant will not serve your purpose. First off, different heat protectants work at various temperatures. Decide if the heat protectant will be useful based on the temperature settings of your styling tool. Then, you should consider any additional benefits – whether it helps with controlling frizz and static, does it add or retain hydration, if it makes your hair shiny or dry. 

Product Applicator

It may not seem of significance, but it makes a big difference in the long run. The manner in which your product dispenses determines the control you have over its application. In the case of a spray bottle, for instance, the product must get distributed evenly, else the accumulation of product can make your hair sticky and oily.

Non-toxic Ingredients

Hair protectants work like leave-in products as they coat your hair strands and stay put until you wash them out. Therefore, it is advised to use heat protectants free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, which may damage your hair quality. Alternatively, select a heat protectant containing hair-friendly ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil, and vitamins, which are healthy for your hair.

Now that we have learned about the factors that will help you in choosing the right heat protectant, let us see the correct way of using it to prevent damage and maintain our healthy hair goals.

You can apply the heat protectant on damp or dry hair. But before you start applying the heat protectant, go through its instructions carefully and follow the dos and don'ts. 

• Start by sectioning the hair, like you would when styling it, so that you can ensure even application throughout.
• Next, start using the product. If it’s a spray bottle, you can directly spray it to the hair, avoiding the scalp and face. For serum-based, you can pump the required amount onto the palms and apply with your hands. 
• Make sure you are not using excessive quantities as that can make your hair stiff, greasy, and weigh it down.
• Comb through the sections to ensure the protectant has coated every strand of hair.
• You can wait for sometime (up to 4 hours) or directly use the heat styling tool.

While a heat protectant ensures minimum damage, it can not save your hair from the ill-effects of constant heat styling. Frequent styling might seem like the best rescue strategy during bad hair days but it’s essential to ensure that the hair’s health is not compromised.  So use heat protectants but be aware that they are just a preventive measure not a fool-proof shield. Use them as a preventative pre-styling product, and choose the best drugstore heat protectant wisely, one without any harmful chemicals, packed with vitamins and protein, and of course, suitable for your hair type and styling requirements.

Contributor: Kate Ross, Hair and Beauty Specialist - Irresistible Me