21 Best Flat-Iron Sprays For Perfectly Smooth Hair
Protect yourself and your hair.
getty Just like we’ll wear potholders when taking something hot out of the oven, or gloves when going out in the cold, a heat protectant spray is very important before using hot styling tools, especially a flat iron or curler.
Regardless of if you're going for sleek and straight, or fun curls, you can't put major heat on your hair without protecting it first. Temperatures of flat irons can range between 300 and 500 degrees! That’s as much as an oven or a deep fryer, and without protecting your hair before those heats, you are essentially frying your hair.
Using a flat iron spray is the best way to avoid breakage, dryness, or dullness, and there are a lot of great options to choose from.
1. Living Proof Restore Instant Protection Protective Styling Hairspray
“You can spray this on wet or dry hair. It comes in an aerosol can and smells amazing. Spray it on for full protection before running your hot tools through,” says Stephanie Angelone, lead stylist at RPZL.
(Nordstrom, $27)
2. CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray
This superior thermal protection spray from flat iron giant CHI works from the inside-out, helping protect hair from thermal damage and breakage. It features a weightless formula with no added build up. It also helps to seal the cuticle and works to prevent future damage from frequent flat iron use.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
3. BioSilk Silk Therapy Thermal Shield
This spray offers complete heat protection. The advanced formula utilizes silk and other protecting ingredients to help shield hair from thermal damage, while giving long lasting styling results with ultimate shine.
(Ulta, $16.50)
4. Hair Freaq 'Luv Me First' Heat Styling Protector
“I love this product because not only does it protect your hair from the flat iron, it also helps eliminate that flat iron smell that you get sometimes,” says Nadia Vassell, a celebrity hairstylist.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
5. Vanity Planet Bring on the Heat Spray
VP’s Bring on the Heat Conditioning Heat Protector Spray helps shield and condition your hair at high-temperatures, so it will stay healthy and smooth after styling. Spray just before using your flat iron, curling iron, or blow dryer to prep your hair for intense heat.
(Walmart, $12.99)
6. ColorProof IronMaster Color & Heat Protecting Setting Spray
This heat-activated spray transforms texture, holds shape, and enhances shine. The IronMaster Color & Heat Protecting Setting Spray also provides an invisible shield around the hair shaft for humidity-resistance and color and heat protection up to 450°.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
7. HAI Beauty Concepts Style Prime Heat Protection Spray
A luxurious thermal protection spray designed with a unique Bioplex® formula to shield hair from heat up to 450°. Featuring a precise blend of Tourmaline to improve the overall look and health of hair, it provides superb hydration, reducing frizz and adding shine.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
8. Keune Blend Prep Spray
Soft styling polymers not only protect hair from heated styling tools, they also help your style last longer. Multi-Vitamin Complex energizes and nourishes hair.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
9. Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
This spray dramatically decreases blow dry time by 50 percent, and provides intense heat protection from damage and breakage. Lightweight formulation detangles, smoothes, and softens, eliminates frizz and resists humidity.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
10. OGX Ever Straightening + Brazillian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray
OGX Flat Iron Spray Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy is an exclusive blend with coconut oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter and keratin proteins, and can help bring new life to your hair.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
11. Joico IRONCLAD Thermal Protectant Hair Spray
The product uses top quality ingredients to soothe and nourish your hair before styling.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
12. Aveda Brilliant Damage Control
This product is the foundation for any style and is designed for use as a pre-styling tool to protect hair from combing, heat and sun damage.
(Nordstrom, $22)
13. Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist
This is a lightweight spray that protects dry hair from heat styling up to 450º while helping to control frizz and add shine.
(Nordstrom, $13)
14. SPACE.NK.apothecary Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray
An ultra-lightweight mist smoothes even the worst-behaved mop while speeding dry time.
(Nordstrom, $22)
15. MOROCCANOIL Perfect Defense Thermal Protection Spray
A dry, weightless argan oil-infused spray, it protects hair against thermal damage up to 450ºF/230ºC to help you maintain healthy hair.
(Nordstrom, $30)
16. Pai Shau Something to BeLeave-In
With a unique combination of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, Miracle Multeatasker detangles, smooths, protects, and delivers incredible moisture and youthful shine.
(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)
17. ALTERNA Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray
Kendi Intense Protect Complex is clinically proven to reduce breakage by 87 percent while instantly repairing, strengthening and smoothing strands.
(Nordstrom, $25)
18. Phyto Phytokératine Repairing Thermal Protectant Spray
Protect your hair with PHYTO Phytokeratine Repairing Thermal Protectant Spray. The heat-activating, heat-protecting formula works to reconstruct and consolidate your hair's internal structure while safeguarding it from hot tools and preventing breakage.
(Nordstrom, $32)
19. GHD Heat Protect Spray
GHD Heat Protect Spray provides an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage on damp or dry hair. Ideal for protecting against damage from hair dryers, stylers and tongs, it leaves your hair with a no-product feel.
(Nordstrom, $22)
20. Leonor Greyl Paris Condition Naturelle Heat Protective Styling Spray
A leave-in conditioner that protects your hair from the damaging effects of heat and styling tools. It adds volume and shine without weighing your locks down and detangles to protect against the harmful effects of blow drying.
(Nordstrom, $38)
21. Bumble and bumble Full Potential Booster Spray
A highly potent treatment that promotes strength and elasticity when used as part of the Full Potential regimen.
(Nordstrom, $60)
Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.
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