Why You Shouldn't Skip Heat Protectant (+ Our Drugstore Faves)

Although nothing slays like a new hair ‘do, it’s super important to take the proper pre-styling precautions. Question #1: Have you used a heat protectant? Using a good heat protection spray is the only way to rescue your locks from the burning heat of your straighteners and curling irons. Without proper protection, you can expect to see split ends and weak strands appearing faster than usual. DW, we’ve rounded up some fabulous drugstore options to rely on.

Our Fave Drugstore Heat Protectants

1. Cantu Thermal Shield Heat Protectant, $10

Source: Cantu

Hair maintenance is no joke, especially if you heat-style after a treatment – dyes, perms, and chemicals included. In that case, use this shea butter-infused hero to inject moisture back into your strands so your hair looks stronger, healthier, and shinier. BTW, it defends your hair from temperatures up to 392°F and smooths flyaways too.

2. L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, $13

Source: L’Oréal Paris

If heat protectants tend to weigh your locks down, add this light vegan primer to your rotation. Formulated with rose extract, it preps your strands for styling (up to 450°F) without a heavy residue while the anti-fade filter keeps your color poppin’. It also protects your style from humidity, keeping it intact for up to two days alongside diiivine notes of fresh almond blossom and creamy musk.

3. Odele Beauty Leave-in Detangling Tonic, $11

Source: Odele Beauty

Fortified with amino acids and plant proteins, this salon-worthy tonic hydrates, detangles, AND guards your crown against heat styling and pollutants. Lightweight and milky, the botanical blend has a pH level of 4.5, making it A-okay for all hair types and textures. It’s easy to share with your partner too, thanks to the fresh gender-neutral fragrance notes of cucumber, oakmoss, and ylang-ylang.

4. Pantene Pro-V Nutrient Boost Heat Primer, $7

Source: Pantene

*Puts lab coat on!* This nutrient-infused spray uses special micro-polymers to shield your strands from temperatures up to 450°F. Even if you’re re-styling day three hair, you’ll have a super-soft finish sans stickiness, crunchiness, or residue – yay!

5. Mielle Organics Repairing & Nourishing Heat Protectant, $14

Source: Mielle Organics

If hairstyling is an unmissable step in your daily routine, this one’s for you. It smooths frizz with four luxe oils – almond, argan, sacha inchi, and mongongo – and fights heat up to 400°F. Aaand it makes your hair look softer, shinier, and smoother – what’s not to love?

6. Sun Bum Heat Protector, $17

Source: Sun Bum

Wanna cut your blow-dry time? This lightweight spray uses a two-phase protective formula that (quickly) gets the job done while shielding your hair from thermal damage, breakage, and flyaways. It eliminates scalp-damaging impurities with a hydrating, vitamin C-rich fruit called noni, while giant sea kelp extract strengthens and softens every strand. Healthy and hydrated hair, here we come.

7. Rucker Roots Leave-In Heat Protectant, $13

Source: Rucker Roots

Rooted in Mother Nature, this vegan spray protects with ingredients straight from the soil. Stimulating hair growth and protecting against breakage with an A+ trio of root oils from ginger, turnip, and carrot. It also contains nourishing avocado oil, shea butter, and coconut oil, so your hair looks as good as it feels post-styling.

Now that you ammo-ed up with heat protectants, bookmark these cute hairstyles for whenever.