Best Heat Protectant Spray for Curly Hair – Our Top 15 Picks!

Last Updated on April 9, 2023 by Verna Meachum

Looking for the best heat protectant spray for curly hair? We’ve got you covered!

Whether you’re looking for a product to protect your strands from the intense heat of a flat iron, blow dryer, or even just the sun’s rays, we’ve got some picks that will keep your curly hair healthy, shiny and protected!

It is so important to apply a heat protectant before using any hot styling tools. Heat protectants help to create a barrier between your hair and the heat, which can prevent damage and breakage.

What You Need To Know Before Using A Flat Iron Or Getting a Blowout

Anyone with curly hair know how hard it is to keep it moisturized, tangle free, frizz free, maintain it…the list goes on and on.

And if you’ve transitioned from damaged hair to healthy hair, you know how long it takes to get there, so you definitely don’t want to do anything that might set you back.

You may be itching to straighten your hair (just as I was) but you definitely need a good heat protectant before using any hot styling tools.

It is entirely feasible to have healthy curls and get a silk press or blow out without completely destroying your hair.

Using a heat protectant is one of the best ways to help keep your hair healthy while still being able to style it. You just have to take some extra measures to guarantee that your strands are in tip-top shape before you apply heat.

The structural proteins within each strand are damaged when your curls aren’t protected when heat is applied. The damage caused by heat styling essentially destroys the hair strands.

Unfortunately, once the damage has been done, it is permanent. That’s why it’s crucial to take extra steps to prevent heat damage in the first place.

Without further ado, here are our top 15 best heat protectant spray for curly hair!

15 Best Heat Protectant Spray For Curly Hair

Cantu Thermal Shield Heat Protectant with Shea Butter

This product works great for chemically processed and color-treated textured hair. The Shea Butter is rich in fatty acids and has sealing properties that help to protect the hair from heat, including the sun’s rays. It also helps fight frizz during humid weather!

Pantene Heat Protectant Spray with Jojoba Oil for Curly Hair

This is a weightless heat protectant that won’t leave your hair feeling greasy or heavy. The jojoba oil helps to smooth the cuticle and protect against heat damage. This spray offers 450°F heat protection! Please note, this comes in a two-pack, so you can keep one at home and one in your purse for touch-ups on the go.

Design Essentials Natural Agave & Lavender Thermal Protectant Crème

The brilliant spray will protect your hair when using heat up to 420 degrees. It also protects against the humidity and leaves your hair feeling soft, manageable, and frizz-free.

Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Style Setting Spray

This natural hair styling spray is ideal for low- or no-heat styles and delivers a subtle hold with a radiant sheen. The key ingredient, Mongongo nuts are high in vitamin E, magnesium, and are good healthy fats for your hair.

Mixed Chicks Straightening Serum

Here is another thermal heat protectant product that is specifically designed for curly hair. This product will help to minimize frizz and resist humidity. It is infused with botanicals that include Silk Amino Acids, Hops, Rosemary, Chamomile and Witch Hazel extracts.

Carol’s Daughter Monoi (Repair + Protect) Multi-Styling Milk

What you do before and after washing can help preserve your curl pattern and while reducing heat damage. This multi-purpose leave in styling milk is perfect for prepping your hair for thermal styling or as a finisher. It can be used on damp or dry hair and provides heat protection up to 425 degrees. Not only does it help moisturize and strengthen hair, but it also helps to repair already damaged hair.

Eden BodyWorks Hibiscus Honey Hydration Blow Dry Cream

This Blow Dry Cream also helps protect strands from breakage and damage caused by heat stying, while infusing hair with moisture. It penetrates hair with deep moisture and creates a barrier on the strands, thanks to the natural humectant key ingredient, honey.

Mizani Therma Strength Heat Protecting Serum

This is a protective lightweight serum to help keep hair protected during heat styling. Formulated with Shea Butter and Anti-Breakage Ceramide technology, this product will help to reduce breakage and strengthen hair. Though this is only a 5 oz. bottle, a little goes a long way!

African Pride Black Castor Miracle Anti-Humidity Heat Protectant Spray

This product is formulated with black castor oil and a keratin protein complex to help replenish moisture, reduce frizz, and protect hair from heat up to 400 degrees. It also helps to fortify and strengthen weak, brittle hair.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray

Living Proof’s Healthy Hair Molecule is in every bottle of this styling spray. This heat protectant spray for curly hair is a frontrunner because it does everything you would expect, plus more. In addition to protecting your hair from heat damage, it also leaves your locks looking smoother, shinier, and softer to the touch.

Aphogee Pro-Vitamin Leave-in Conditioner

This product is essential to use when using styling tools or blow dryers. It is a deep penetrating, leave-in conditioner that fortifies limp, lifeless hair. This product uses a combination of two key ingredients, Pathenol and Mucopolysaccharides, to help increase fullness and strengthen the hair.

It also helps reduce frizz, add body, protect color-treated hair, and seal in moisture.

Curl Keeper Thermal Heat Defence 

This product comes in the form of a cream and is best applied to damp hair before blow drying. It will help to reduce frizz, and add shine. It protects curls from heat styling tools like flat irons, curling irons, and direct blow-drying.

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Heat Defense Smooth & Shine Polisher

Argan oil and honey are two of this product’s key heat-protecting ingredients, but it doesn’t stop there —­ it also sealing in moisture for long-lasting hydration, promoting shine, and Frizz be gone.

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

This weightless, reparative styling oil dramatically increases shine and softness while minimizing fly-aways and frizz. It also protects hair from heat up to 450°. With over 32,000+ positive Amazon reviews, this best-selling product is definitely worth a try!

OUAI Hair Oil

Our hair is always asking for more moisture, and this product provides it. African galanga, ama and Asian borage oils work together to protect and smooth your hair like you’ve never seen before.It prevents color loss and protects hair from heat (up to 450 degrees) and UV damage, softens split ends and frizz, and gives next-level shine to hair.

It can also be used as a leave in for dry hair, after a blowout, or overnight as an intensive hydrating mask.

FAQs

What if my hair gets damaged from heat styling?

If your hair becomes damaged from heat styling, there are a few things you can do to help repair it. First, make sure you are using a heat protectant spray or product before you style your hair. This will help to create a barrier between your hair and the heat.

Next, try using a deep conditioning treatment or mask at least once a week. This will help to hydrate and nourish your strands, making them more resilient to heat damage. Finally, use a protein treatment every few weeks. This will help to strengthen and repair your hair.

Ever feel like your curls aren’t returning bouncing back after you wash them? You’re not alone. Your hair bonds need time to heal and reform.

If the flat iron is set to a high temperature, like 450 degrees, then it may take several washes for the bonds in your hair to return to their original state, even if your hair isn’t damaged.

Are there any negative effects of using silicone in a hair product, specifically a heat protectant spray?

Generally, no. Silicones often gets a bad rap, but it is one of the best ingredients for heat protection.

Silicones can actually be very beneficial for your hair, as it can help to smooth the cuticle and add shine. However, if you use silicone too often, it can build up on your hair and cause it to become greasy.

It’s best to use a little bit of silicone at a time, and to make sure you’re using a clarifying shampoo every few weeks to prevent build-up.