10 heat protection sprays you can actually rely on (2024)

ghd isn't just a leading brand in the hair tools sector; it is also home to some brilliant styling products that all contain heat protection.

According to the brand, the original Bodyguard spray promises to protect strands against 'very high temperatures' while working to boost softness and shine.

All hair types can get involved here, but we think it's especially great for those with fine strands as the lightweight mist creates a nearly invisible shield to protect without weighing down the hair.

Moroccanoil's Perfect Defense draws on the nourishing benefits of argan oil to protect the hair against heat damage and create a smoother and softer finish.

It comes in a dry aerosol, so you can spritz it directly onto the hair and style as you please – just be sure to hold the can away from your head to prevent the formula from over-saturating your strands. And, like the rest of the Moroccanoil line, the mist lingers with the brand's signature scent.

As for the finish, it leaves no crunchy ends or greasy residue. As you style and brush your hair, lengths will be left with a noticeably sleek and shiny result. Just see it as a great styling product, with the added bonus of heat protection.

Bumble and bumble's Hairdresser's Primer may be billed as an oil, but it actually dispenses as a lightweight cream that hydrates dry ends and brings manageability back to brittle lengths.

It contains a powerful blend of oil extracts – including coconut, argan and macadamia nut – and, almost instantly, you can feel how they cosset straw-like strands to bring back shine, softness and health. It also offers UV defence and heat protection of up to 230°C, so it's a brilliant pick to take to sunny destinations.

With the success of Rihanna's Fenty Skin, Fenty Beauty and Fenty Fragrance, the launch of Fenty Hair seemed inevitable. The range has landed with nine hair care and styling products, including shampoos and conditioners to masks and edge control gels, and, of course, a heat protection styler.

A favourite product of Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor Kara Kia, she says: "I’ve been looking for a go-to product for protecting my curls against heat – and Fenty Hair delivered." It protects up to 230°C across all hair types, while offering frizz-fighting, detangling and shine-boosting benefits too.

If you're looking for a way to streamline your hair routine, Matrix's 20-in-one treatment is the perfect solution. It serves as a leave-in conditioner, heat protection spray, anti-frizz cream and all-round nourisher.

The treatment spritzes as a lightweight cream but is packed with almond oil, soybean oil and hydrolyzed vegetable protein to nourish dry strands, boost shine and reduce frizz. See this as your one-and-done treatment for hectic mornings when time is against you.

Designed to speed up drying time, deliver XXL volume and provide heat protection, Olaplex's Volumising Blow Dry Mist is here to give you envious blow-outs without causing turmoil for your lengths.

As well as the brand's patented Bond Building Technology that protects and repairs damaged strands, the formula is also loaded with pea peptides that boost volume and polymers to create a smooth and shiny result.

The mist itself is very fine too, and settles without leaving a greasy touch, making it a great choice for fine hair in need of a zhush.

This clever product can be used in two ways; either on damp hair before styling to protect against heated hair tools or sprayed onto dry hair to shield it from the sun. Made from black tea, organic camomile, camellia and aloe, this all-natural product keeps hair strong and helps prevent breakage.

A fine mist, it can be applied liberally to keep hair straight and leaves it shiny and soft without stickiness (although those with very fine hair shouldn’t apply too much).

If you suffer from static but long for sleek hair, give your straightening irons a helping hand with Redken’s Iron Shape 11.

Designed to protect hair from the damage caused by heated tools, the spray features Redken’s Heat Guard Complex – a frizz-fighting, colour-protecting action that is activated with heat to help preserve dyed hair’s vibrancy.

Incredibly weightless, misted over dry hair before straightening or curling, the spray helps protect even the finest of strands from heat without ever leaving it limp, stiff or crunchy to give strands a mirror-like shine.

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Color 10 in 1 Multi-Purpose Spray

This spritz is perfectly formulated for those with coloured lengths to keep your hair looking fresh – as when you've spent time and money in the salon chair, you want to look after your strands as much as possible.

The mist is super lightweight, feeling weightless in the hair, which helps to deliver a soft and sleek finish while also offering protection of up to 230°C.

If you’re searching for a way to effortlessly shield your hair from heat, then VO5’s heat protection spray is the quick way to perfect a blow dry without denting your bank balance.

This versatile, budget buy can also be used before straightening and curling to protect hair from intense heat whilst adding shine, helping strands appear healthier. Simply spray onto towel-dried hair and blow-dry as usual. The result? Glossy, frizz-free hair, without a hint of stickiness or residue.

"You can apply a heat protection spray on either dry or damp hair. After washing, spray evenly over your hair and brush through to distribute, then blow dry or style as normal. For extra protection, I recommend applying another misting of heat protection when using hot tools to straighten or curl your already dry hair," says Gray.

While a heat protection spray can be used on both dry and damp hair, Cusick personally recommends using one while the hair is still slightly damp before styling. "This way, the protectant disperses more evenly and starts working its magic right from the start.

Then, if you’re planning to use a hot tool, just apply a bit more to your dry hair to double up on that protection. It’s all about making sure your hair stays healthy and gorgeous, no matter the style," she says.

"Using a heat protection spray is especially important on chemically treated hair, however, all hair types and textures should be factoring it into their routine," says Gray.

If you have fine and thin hair, he suggests opting for a lightweight formula (like John Freida's Volume Lift Thickening Blow Out Spray) that will deliver volume while also protecting from heat damage.

"Those with thicker or textured hair should look out for heat protectors that also have nourishing ingredients to replenish moisture loss," says Gray. Ingredients like argan and coconut oil will do the job here.

Many formulas will contain silicones to create a protective barrier on the hair, but they'll also help to smooth and detangle. While silicones are perfectly safe to use on the hair, some prefer silicone-free formulas as, if they're not washed out properly, they can create build-up on the scalp. In this instance, look for 'silicone-free' labelled bottles, as they'll often rely on ingredients like squalane, jojoba and vitamin E to nourish and protect.