Heat-protectant creams can sometimes feel heavy in the hair, but this one truly doesn’t. It has a weightless, silky texture that’s easy to distribute, and we love that a little bit goes a long way. It doesn’t feel greasy or overly slippy when you apply it, making it a great option for a wide range of hair types. After applying it to damp hair and then blow drying, we noticed a significant increase in shine, a real improvement in smoothness, and a reduction in frizz. One of our testers was so impressed by the shine, she mentioned that she was even able to skip her usual hair oil application after drying, while another tester shared that it helped to speed up her drying time. Additionally, you should think of heat protectants as a way to mitigate damage, not fully prevent it. There are other steps you can take to maintain the health of your hair like not setting hot tools above 300 degrees if possible, wearing a hat if you’re in the sun for a long time, and incorporating conditioning hair masks into your weekly hair care routine.

Yes, just take it from the pros: “Hair should never be exposed to heat without this barrier,” says Johnson. She adds that heat protectants function like a barrier between your hair and the high temperatures from hot tools. To form this barrier, formulas usually feature ingredients like coconut oil, amino acids, and proteins that shield the hair cuticle from damage. Additionally, many formulas include hydrating emollients like squalane and glycerin to combat any dryness caused by heat. Sharifi N, Hamedeyazdan S, Shokri J, Monajjemzadeh F. Argan oil as a pretreatment of human hair before exposure to oxidative damage: Attenuated total reflectance and protein loss studies. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(10):5010-5017. doi:10.1111/jocd.14885. Of course, the number one rule is always to use it before applying any kind of heat – that means blow drying, hot rollers, flat irons, and curling wands. Whether you’re using a cream or a spray, the key to applying any heat protectant is ensuring it's distributed throughout the hair. Just like with sunscreen, if you miss a spot it’s prone to the adverse effects of heat. We found that it worked wonderfully on a variety of testers with different hair types. It was lightweight enough not to weigh down fine hair, and it was hydrating enough to help smooth and nourish dry lengths and ends on straight and curly hair. We also love that, in addition to shielding against heat damage and adding shine, it gave the hair some serious bounce. If a spray formula appeals to you, this one is a fantastic choice. Once you apply it, it feels totally weightless in the hair, and it won’t transfer onto your hands as you’re styling. It helps to tame a bit of frizz and add a nice amount of shine, making it a fitting option if you have dull strands. Though we do wish that it felt a bit more hydrating like other serums and creams, it remains a great choice for people with fine hair or those that don’t need an extra boost of moisture.

What We Love: This formula only consists of nourishing ingredients that feel weightless on our strands, but it still includes everything to protect them from damage. But that’s not all: When we dug a little deeper into the formula we uncovered shiitake mushroom, rosemary, and sage, all of which work to strengthen and maintain the health of the hair, and all its conditioning, shine-enhancing effects. da Gama RM, França-Stefoni SA, Sá-Dias TC, Bedin V, Baby AR, Velasco MVR. Protective effect of conditioner agents on hair treated with oxidative hair dye. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17(6):1090-1095. doi:10.1111/jocd.12484 Chi is no stranger to making affordable products that actually work, and this gem of a primer gives the gift of a shiny halo all around our heads. This formula relies on the conditioning properties of hydrolyzed silk to bestow this angelic glow. It also makes the cream’s texture feel velvety and nourishing, likely the reason it’s been shown to help heal and restore protein to our strands from all the time we spend under foils coloring our hair. However, what sets it apart from others is its ability to transform dull hair into a luminous, nearly reflective sheen—a result we can attribute to an impressive lineup of hydrating vegan ingredients, including shea butter, citric acid, and peach, and rosehip oils. Squalane, a naturally-occurring lipid in the skin, is another front-running ingredient here, too, since it acts as an emollient and antioxidant to strengthen and nourish our hair and scalps.

Oh JY, Park MA, Kim YC. Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs. Toxicol Res. 2014;30(4):297-304. doi:10.5487/TR.2014.30.4.297

We love that although it’s not a fully liquid texture—think of it more like a light, milky serum—it comes in a spray bottle that makes it easy to distribute. It’s not heavy or greasy in the hair, and it works to smooth, soften, and significantly reduce frizz. We wish it was a bit more moisturizing, especially for dead ends, but considering how lightweight it is, how well it guardsgaurds against heat damage and frizz, and the fact that it provides UV protection, we still strongly recommend it. What We Don’t Love: It leaves behind a light residue that lasts until you blow dry or brush out your hair After spending hours—and a pretty penny—in the salon chair poring over hair inspo snaps with our stylists, the last thing we want is a hot tool to shorten the lifespan of our highlights. Enter: The dpHue protection spray. We’ve tested many top-notch flat irons to achieve those pin-straight, supermodel styles worn by Emily Ratajkowski, before we realized that the first step is actually a great primer.

To further combat that crunchy feeling some curl-enhancing products supply, the mist flowed in a wide, even steam—and never once jammed or clogged, a true feat—to help curb our inclination to keep on spraying, and instead of overdoing it, we swathed our hair in protection, root to tip.

Oribe Royal Blowout Heat-Styling Spray

Considering how well Olaplex does hair-strengthening products, we can’t say we’re surprised by well this nourishing and protecting serum performed during our test. After applying one pump to damp hair and then styling, we noticed how well it smoothed strands, helped tame frizz, and created shine. The ultra-lightweight serum consistency is easy to distribute evenly through the hair, it absorbs within seconds, and it leaves absolutely no residue behind. After heat styling, hair was left feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and not weighed down.