The Independent

11 best heat protection sprays to keep hair healthy, strong and glossy

By Sabine Wiesel,

2023-05-10

From straightening to curling (and now we’re even crimping again) our hair has never had it better when it comes to easy at-home hairstyling. And while the latest game-changing hair tools can cleverly offer optimum styling temperatures, what they can’t do is actually protect your strands from the heat itself – that’s where heat protection sprays come in.

These sprays create a protective barrier around the strand’s surface, think of it as a shield that slows down heat conduction from your styler. Without it, the high temperature will dehydrate the cuticle, weakening strands, leading to dry, dull, frizzy hair that’s more prone to breakage and fallout.

Don’t think heat protection sprays are just for those who use direct heat on the hair with straightening irons and curling tongs. You should use a heat protection spray “every time any sort of heat is applied to hair – even when blow-drying,” warns Stephanie Ferreira, senior colourist at Live True London . For best results “rough dry the hair before spraying it so that the strength of the product isn’t diluted by the water inside the hair, she says.”

With even the most low-maintenance of us using at least a hairdryer on our locks regularly, a heat protector is an essential hair product that way too many of us are not using. From budget-friendly sprays to more advanced formulations infused with hair-loving ingredients, you’ll find ones that work for your budget and hair type. Therefore, there’s no excuse to skip this vital hair care step anymore.

How we tested heat protection sprays

To help you pick the best heat protecting spray for you and your hair, we put the latest to the test. We assessed them on how well they defended against damage, but also on the added hair care benefits they offered. Here are the best products to prep and prime your tresses with…

The best heat protection sprays for 2024 are:

Best heat protection spray overall – Pureology colour fanatic multi-tasking leave-in spray: £25.06, Amazon.co.uk
Best budget heat protection spray – Umberto Giannini grow long + smooth wonder blow dry spray: £5.97, Boots.com
Best for damaged strands – Redken extreme play safe heat protection treatment: £26.16, Amazon.co.uk
Best for styling – Djerf Avenue Beauty breezy styling mist: £25, Djerfavenue.com
Best for dry, coarse or brittle strands – Bumble and Bumble hairdressers invisible oil primer: £25.25, Amazon.co.uk