You are about to blow dry or flat iron your hair, and you want your color to survive it. Choosing the best heat protectant is harder than it looks, because almost every bottle promises the same thing in nearly the same words.
To cut through that, we compared eight popular heat protectants using what each brand publishes on its own official product page, plus published hair-science research. Below is what we would pick for your situation, what the labels really say, and what they leave out.
Disclosure: This guide to the best heat protectant for hair, colored hair, frizzy hair and curly hair includes affiliate links to hair care products. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission from the brand or retailer at no extra cost to you. Commissions never decide which heat protectant sprays appear here or how they are ranked.
Our recommendation
There is no single winner for every head of hair, so here is our pick by situation.
Best for everyday use at home: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray. It is a drugstore-priced spray that states heat protection up to 450 °F and is sulfate-free, paraben-free and dye-free according to the brand. For regular blow drying and ironing, it gives you a lot of bottle for the money. Note that the line is sold with different formulas in different regions, so check the exact name on your bottle.
Best if your colored hair spends time in the sun: ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray for Colored Hair. It is the only product of the eight that says it ran a technical test on its color claim: twice the protection from UV rays compared with a market-leading product. Keep in mind that this is a sun figure, not an iron figure, and the brand does not say which product it was compared against.
Best if you avoid silicones on purpose: Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum. It is the only one that states it is free of silicones and sulfates. Its main promise is bond protection rather than a coating film, and the brand’s published results were achieved with other products from its routine, so do not expect identical results from the bottle alone.
Best to skip if you want a temperature number: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray. It does not print a heat ceiling at all. It focuses on frizz control that lasts several washes, which makes it useful for a different job.
What is your case?
The right bottle depends less on the brand and more on your hair and your tools. Use this quick guide.
- My hair is colored: look at ghd Bodyguard, Redken Acidic Color Gloss or Kérastase Chroma Thermique, which all speak to color-treated hair.
- My hair breaks easily: Olaplex No.9 is positioned around bond protection. Pair any product with a lower iron temperature.
- I use a blow dryer: Kérastase, TRESemmé and Moroccanoil all work with a blow-dry routine according to their pages.
- I use a flat iron: L’Oréal Heat Slayer is labeled as a pre-iron spray. Dry hair fully before the plates touch it.
- My hair is thick or frizzy: Color Wow Dream Coat is built for blow drying with tension, and Heat Slayer targets frizz.
- I want a drugstore price: L’Oréal Heat Slayer and TRESemmé Keratin Smooth are the budget-friendly options here.
Now let’s look at each product in detail.
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray
This is the budget pick of the group. The brand states protection up to 450 °F, claims it reduces frizz and seals in shine for a sleek look, and says the formula is sulfate-free, paraben-free and dye-free. It contains silicones, which is how many protectants create a smoothing film.
Right for: anyone who dries or irons hair often and does not want to spend much.
Not for: anyone who wants to know how the 450 °F figure was tested. The page does not explain it, like almost every brand here. Also note the regional formula differences mentioned above.
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Heat Protection Leave-In Treatment
Redken is a professional-division brand, and this leave-in is designed for color-treated hair. The brand states protection up to 450 °F and highlights ingredients such as vitamin E, arginine, serine, glutamic acid and soybean oil. It is also built to be used as part of a multi-step routine.
Right for: salon-colored hair and anyone who likes using a full system from one line.
Not for: anyone who wants one standalone bottle. The brand’s own claims about smoothness are measured within its routine, not on this product alone.
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray for Colored Hair
ghd is best known for styling tools, so a protectant from the same company makes sense. This colored-hair version states protection at 446 °F (about 230 °C) and claims twice the color protection from UV rays. Its ingredient list includes a sun filter, which is consistent with that promise.
Right for: colored hair that is often outdoors, and anyone who wants a claim that at least mentions a test.
Not for: anyone looking for proof of heat performance. The test it mentions is about UV exposure, not irons.
Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
This serum is applied to clean, damp hair before styling. The brand states it is free of sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens and protein, and labels heat protection up to 450 °F (232 °C).
Right for: bleached or breakage-prone hair, and people who avoid silicones.
Not for: anyone who wants a coating film over the hair, which is the ingredient family it deliberately avoids. Its published results also assume the use of the brand’s shampoo and conditioner first.
Kérastase Chroma Absolu Chroma Thermique Heat Protecting Serum
A salon-priced serum for colored hair. The US page states thermal protection up to 450 °F and says hair is 96% smoother compared with untreated hair. It is applied to towel-dried hair, with 6 to 10 sprays depending on length and thickness.
Right for: colored hair that gets blow dried, and anyone who wants a serum that spreads easily from mid-lengths to ends.
Not for: anyone comparing temperatures across countries, because the figure shown can differ by market. The “96% smoother” claim measures smoothness, not heat protection.
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Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant
This is a lightweight, no-hold spray that the brand says works on all hair types and with all styling tools, up to 450 °F (230 °C). It can be used on damp or dry hair and lists argan oil and panthenol as key ingredients.
Right for: people who dry first and iron after, and anyone who does not want to feel any weight in their hair.
Not for: anyone who wants color-specific claims, because the product page does not make any.
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray
A low-cost spray described as a weightless blowout protection spray. The US page lists 450 °F, and it is applied to towel-dried hair before the dryer or iron. Formulas and labeling can differ between countries, so always read the bottle in your hands.
Right for: daily blow drying on a budget.
Not for: buyers focused on color protection, since the page does not mention it.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
Color Wow is the only product here that prints no temperature. Instead the brand says the effect lasts through three to four shampoos, that it is sulfate-free, and that it contains no formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. It goes on wet hair and is activated by blow-dryer heat.
Right for: thick or frizzy hair that is blow dried with tension.
Not for: anyone who wants a heat-ceiling number to compare.
Compare the ones you care about
| Product | Stated heat figure | Best for | Key note |
| L’Oréal Elvive Heat Slayer | 450 °F | Everyday, budget | Contains silicone; formulas vary by region |
| Redken Acidic Color Gloss | 450 °F | Salon-colored hair | Designed for a multi-step routine |
| ghd Bodyguard (colored hair) | 446 °F; 2x UV claim | Colored hair in sun | UV test, not an iron test |
| Olaplex No.9 | 450 °F / 232 °C | Bleached, silicone-free | Results assume other Olaplex steps |
| Kérastase Chroma Thermique | 450 °F | Colored, blow-dried hair | “96% smoother” is a smoothness claim |
| Moroccanoil Perfect Defense | 450 °F / 230 °C | Damp or dry hair, light feel | No color claim on its page |
| TRESemmé Keratin Smooth | 450 °F (US) | Daily blow drying, budget | Formulas vary by market |
| Color Wow Dream Coat | None printed | Thick, frizzy hair | Applied to wet hair; lasts 3 to 4 washes per brand |
Figures are what each brand states on its official page. They are not independent test results.
Does a heat protectant actually do anything?
Yes, but it helps to understand how. A protectant does not build an invisible force field between the iron and your hair. What research shows is a result: hair pre-treated with certain polymers tends to break less after heat styling.
It is also worth knowing who produced that kind of evidence. Studies on protective polymers are often published by ingredient or cosmetic companies, not by independent labs. Breakage drops, but it does not disappear, and brands rarely publish a study on the exact bottle they sell.
What matters even more than the brand is temperature. Research using a temperature-gradient curling iron found that the onset of damage depends strongly on temperature. In plain terms: before you change bottles, turn your iron down. Do not make up for a lower setting with extra passes, because that cancels the benefit. If your hair is bleached or highlighted, the safe temperature depends on its current condition, which your colorist can judge better than any label.
What the asterisk does not back
Seven of the eight brands in this comparison print essentially the same ceiling, around 450 °F, which is about 230 °C. None of them explains what hair it tested, how many passes the hair survived, or what counted as “protected.”
That number looks like a result, but it behaves more like a compatibility label: it tells you the approximate maximum temperature of a typical flat iron. It is not a measurement of how much the product shields you.
Be careful with asterisks next to claims, because they often back a different promise than the one beside them:
- Kérastase: the asterisk goes with “96% smoother,” compared with untreated hair.
- Redken: the asterisk goes with a smoothness claim compared with a non-conditioning shampoo.
- ghd for colored hair: the asterisk goes with the UV protection claim.
So do not shop on the temperature figure alone. Shop on what each product tells you about ingredients, application method and color, and combine that with a sensible iron setting.
The $39 one and the $7.99 one start the same way
One of the most interesting things about this category is how similar a salon-priced bottle and a drugstore bottle can look on paper. Redken and L’Oréal belong to the same parent group, and when you compare the published ingredient lists of Redken Acidic Color Gloss and L’Oréal Heat Slayer, the beginnings of the lists look alike. Prices also change often, so check current pricing before you decide.
Before you conclude that they are the same product, remember what an ingredient list does not show:
- Concentrations. Ingredients are listed in order of amount only above a certain level, and the list never tells you how much of anything is in the bottle.
- pH. Redken puts “acidic” in the product name, and pH is exactly the kind of detail a list cannot reveal.
- Source of the list. Full ingredient lists often come from retailers rather than the brand’s own site, so compare against the box in your hand.
What you can do with this: if you pay more, know what the extra money buys you, whether that is routine compatibility, texture, fragrance or salon positioning, rather than assuming it buys stronger protection.
Every page asks for something different
Check the instructions on your specific bottle, because they are not the same. Olaplex and Color Wow ask for damp or wet hair. Kérastase and TRESemmé ask for towel-dried hair. Moroccanoil says damp or dry.
There is outside research that helps here. A University of Manchester study compared ironing treated hair in wet and dry states and found that structural damage was greater when hair was wet, while chemical damage was similar. A likely explanation is water turning to steam rapidly under the heat. That study used laboratory sprays rather than shelf products, so it cannot rank brands, but the practical lesson applies to all of them: apply the product as directed, then dry the hair completely before using an iron.
Also remember that the same product line can be sold with different instructions in different markets. Follow the instructions printed on the bottle or page for the exact version you own, and keep a full drying step between product and iron.
What is actually measured about dye
This is the question that brings many readers to articles like this, so it deserves precision.
What research does show is that heat can change the color of hair itself:
- In one study, a plate at 172 °C darkened virgin hair samples after two minutes.
- In another, a thermal treatment at 81 °C yellowed both types of hair tested.
What we did not find in our search of published research is a study showing that flat irons or blow dryers directly fade oxidative hair dye. Because of that, we do not claim it. You will still see it repeated across the internet, but repetition is not evidence.
One more finding is reassuring: a study found that using a hair dryer from a distance of about 15 cm while keeping it moving caused less damage than letting hair air dry. The dryer is not the villain. The dryer held close to one spot is.
What this page is not
This page is not a lab test. Our comparison is based on what brands publish on their official pages, along with published research, and we have not independently tested these products on hair. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
What reading eight labels side by side does show is a pattern no single brand states about itself: the temperature figure is nearly identical everywhere, and the pricing gap between products does not always match a visible gap in what the pages explain.
Finally, a heat protectant does not replace your colorist’s judgment. If you have recently had a lightening service, ask your colorist what your hair can handle before you reach for the iron.
What people ask
What is the best heat protectant for colored hair?
If you want a color claim that at least mentions a test, ghd Bodyguard for colored hair is the only one of the eight that does, with a 2x UV protection claim. Remember it is about sun, not irons. Redken Acidic Color Gloss and Kérastase Chroma Thermique also position themselves for color-treated hair, but their pages do not give a comparable test figure.
What does it mean when a protectant says 450 °F or 230 °C?
It means the brand is stating the top temperature range of an ordinary flat iron the product is intended to be used with. It does not tell you how much damage is prevented, what hair was tested or how many passes were done. Treat it as a compatibility label and not as proof of performance.
Is the expensive heat protectant worth it?
It depends on what the extra money buys you. A salon-priced bottle and a drugstore bottle can have similar-looking ingredient lists, but lists do not reveal pH or concentration. Choose the pricier option if you like its texture, its routine fit or its color positioning, not because you assume it offers stronger heat protection.
Do you apply heat protectant on wet or dry hair?
Follow your bottle’s instructions. Olaplex and Color Wow ask for damp or wet hair, Kérastase and TRESemmé for towel-dried hair, and Moroccanoil allows damp or dry. Whichever you use, research suggests ironing wet hair causes more structural damage, so make sure the hair is fully dry before the iron touches it.
Is there a silicone-free heat protectant?
Of the eight compared here, Olaplex No.9 is the one that states it contains no silicones, along with no sulfates, phthalates, parabens or protein. Its approach focuses on bond protection instead of a surface film. If you avoid silicones on purpose, it is the best fit in this list.
Does flat iron heat fade hair dye?
Research shows heat can change hair color: a 172 °C plate darkened virgin hair, and a thermal treatment at 81 °C yellowed hair samples. We did not find a study that directly shows irons or dryers fade oxidative dye, so we do not claim it. What we do know is that damage begins sooner as temperature rises, so lower the heat setting where you can.
The full routine
A heat protectant is only one step. For a color-safe routine, combine it with:
- A shampoo made for colored hair
- A conditioner that suits your hair type
- A weekly mask, especially if your hair is bleached
- A moderate iron temperature and a full drying step before styling
If you run a blog or site, this is a natural place to add internal links to your related articles on shampoo, conditioner and masks for colored hair.
Best heat protectant spray
A spray is the most popular format because it spreads quickly and evenly. Sprays work well on fine to medium hair, and they are easy to apply section by section. In this list, L’Oréal Heat Slayer, ghd Bodyguard, Moroccanoil Perfect Defense, TRESemmé Keratin Smooth, Kérastase Chroma Thermique and Color Wow Dream Coat are all spray-style products.
Tips for using any heat protectant spray: spray from a distance so the product does not pool, work in sections, comb through for even coverage, and let the product do its drying step before you use a hot tool.
Best heat protectant for hair
The best heat protectant for hair in general is the one that matches your routine and that you will actually use every time. If you want an affordable daily option, L’Oréal Heat Slayer or TRESemmé are practical choices. If your priority is color, look at ghd Bodyguard, Redken or Kérastase. If you want a silicone-free option, look at Olaplex No.9.
Whatever you pick, the biggest improvements often come from habits: lower the temperature, avoid repeated passes and dry the hair fully first.
Best heat protectant for frizzy hair
Frizzy hair usually needs both heat protection and smoothing. On this list, Color Wow Dream Coat is positioned for thick or frizzy hair that is blow dried with tension, and its effect is described by the brand as lasting through several shampoos. L’Oréal Heat Slayer also states it reduces frizz and seals in shine, and Moroccanoil Perfect Defense offers a lightweight, no-hold finish.
For frizz, technique helps as much as product: apply on the directed hair state, dry with a nozzle and tension, and keep the dryer moving instead of holding it close to your head.
Best heat protectant for curly hair
Curly hair often has more fragile bends and tends to be drier, so gentle heat habits matter. None of the eight pages we reviewed is positioned specifically for curls, so we do not claim a “best” here. Instead, look for something that goes on damp hair and does not leave a heavy film, such as Olaplex No.9 or Moroccanoil Perfect Defense, and follow the instructions on the label.
If you use a diffuser, keep the heat low and the airflow moderate. If you straighten curls, dry fully first and keep the iron temperature as low as your hair allows.
Who signs this
This article was written by [Hamza Sarwar /Trimig air ]. We compare products by reading brand-provided information and published research, and we state clearly when something is a brand claim rather than an independent result. We have not tested these products ourselves.
Sources and method. Product details come from each brand’s official product page. Always check the live page for current formulas, instructions and prices, since they can change.
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray
Source: L’Oréal Paris USA official product page. Details used: stated protection up to 450 °F, sulfate-free, paraben-free, dye-free, frizz and shine claims.
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Heat Protection Leave-In Treatment
Source: Redken official product page. Details used: stated protection up to 450 °F, highlighted ingredients, color-treated hair positioning, use within a routine.
ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray for Colored Hair
Source: ghd official product page. Details used: 2x UV color protection claim versus a market-leading product, technical test on colored tresses.
Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Source: Olaplex official product page. Details used: free-of list, 450 °F / 232 °C, application on damp hair, results achieved with other routine products.
Kérastase Chroma Absolu Chroma Thermique Heat Protecting Serum
Source: Kérastase USA official product page. Details used: thermal protection up to 450 °F, 96% smoother versus untreated hair, application on towel-dried hair.
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant
Source: Moroccanoil official product page. Details used: 450 °F / 230 °C, damp or dry hair use, key ingredients argan oil and panthenol.
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray
Source: TRESemmé official product page. Details used: weightless blowout heat protection spray description; temperature and usage vary by market.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
Source: Color Wow official product page. Details used: no formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, lasts through 3 to 4 shampoos, sulfate-free.
What has changed on this page
[Month Day, Year]: Article first published. Product details checked against official brand pages on this date.
Add a new dated line here every time you update prices, formulas or product details.
FAQ’s
Do I need heat protectant if I only blow dry my hair?
Yes, it is still a good idea. Blow dryers use high heat too, and research suggests that a dryer held close to one spot does more harm than one kept at a distance and moving. A protectant plus good technique gives you the best chance of keeping hair and color in good shape.
Can I use heat protectant every day?
Yes, if you heat style daily, use it every time. Most protectants are made for regular use, but wash it out when product builds up so your hair does not feel heavy or coated. Check the instructions on your bottle for anything specific.
How much heat protectant should I use?
Follow the amount on your bottle. For example, Kérastase’s page suggests 6 to 10 sprays on towel-dried hair depending on length and thickness. In general, use enough to lightly cover each section, and avoid soaking your hair.
Should I put heat protectant on before or after blow drying?
It depends on the product. Some brands ask for damp or towel-dried hair before the dryer, while others allow use on dry hair before the iron. Read your bottle, and always make sure hair is fully dry before the flat iron touches it.
What is the best heat protectant spray for flat irons?
Any spray that is labeled for flat iron use can work, such as L’Oréal Heat Slayer, which is sold as a pre-iron spray, or Moroccanoil Perfect Defense, which the brand says works with all styling tools. The bigger factors are applying it as directed, drying hair fully and keeping the iron temperature moderate.
What temperature should I set my flat iron to?
There is no single number for everyone, because it depends on your hair’s condition. Research shows damage begins sooner as temperature rises, so use the lowest setting that gives you the result you want. If your hair is bleached or colored, ask your colorist what it can handle.
Does heat protectant work on bleached hair?
It can help, but it does not make bleached hair heat-proof. Bleached hair is more fragile, so a lower iron temperature, fewer passes and a product made for damaged or color-treated hair matter even more. Olaplex No.9 is positioned around bond protection for this kind of hair.
Can I use heat protectant on curly hair?
Yes. Curly hair is often drier and more fragile, so protection is worthwhile. Choose a lightweight product, apply it as directed on damp hair, and keep diffuser or iron heat low.
Conclusion
Choosing the best heat protectant comes down to your hair, your tools and what each brand actually tells you. Almost every product here prints the same heat figure, so that number should not decide your purchase. Look at the ingredients, how the product is applied and what it says about color.
Our picks by situation are simple. L’Oréal Heat Slayer is the practical everyday choice, ghd Bodyguard is the one to consider if your colored hair is often in the sun, and Olaplex No.9 fits if you avoid silicones. Color Wow Dream Coat suits thick or frizzy hair, though it gives no temperature figure.
Remember that the bottle is only part of the answer. Lower your iron temperature, avoid extra passes, dry hair fully before using a flat iron and keep the dryer moving. Combine those habits with the right protectant, and your color has a much better chance of staying beautiful
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