A heat protectant is the spray you put on before a straightener, curler or blow dryer. This page compares eight sprays and creams on what each listing actually says: the temperature it states, the bottle size, the hair types it names and the rating from buyers.
The real choices are how hot your tools run, how much hair you are covering and whether you want extras such as frizz control or a lighter feel.
Best overall: CHI 44 Iron Guard
Best overall: the CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protecting Spray, because it is made for use before hot tools, suits all hair types and has far more ratings than any other spray here.
The listing describes a thermal protection spray that works from the inside out, with a weightless formula and no added build up. It says the spray helps to seal the cuticle and is suitable for all hair types. The bottle is about 237 ml, the second largest here. It holds 4.5 stars from more than 54,000 ratings, by a long way the biggest crowd of buyers on this page.
It suits anyone who wants a widely rated everyday spray without reading a lot of fine print. The honest catch: the listing gives no temperature limit, and the rating is shared by everyone who rated this CHI 44 Iron Guard listing, so check the size you are buying.
Best for daily use: ghd Bodyguard
Best for daily use: the ghd Bodyguard Heat Protection Styling Spray, because the listing describes invisible daily heat protection up to 220°C without weighing hair down and names every hair type.
The listing describes an invisible thermal shield for daily use that protects from temperatures up to 220°C without weighing hair down. It names fine, thick, curly and straight hair, and says it pairs with ghd straighteners, curlers and dryers while also working with other brands of heated tools. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 19,000 ratings.
It suits people who style most days and like a stated limit. The honest catch: it costs more than the CHI and OGX sprays, and tools set hotter than 220°C sit above what the listing states.
Best value: OGX Bond Protein Repair
Best value: the OGX Bond Protein Repair Heat Protect Spray and Conditioning Mist, because it pairs a stated heat limit with a conditioning mist at the lowest price here and holds 4.6 stars.
The listing says the spray shields hair from heat tools up to about 232°C, and describes a bond protein complex that reduces breakage by 80 percent. It is a lightweight leave in formula that conditions without weighing hair down, applied from mid lengths to ends on damp or dry hair. The bottle is 193 ml. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 5,000 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants a good size and a stated limit for the least money. The honest catch: it is a newer listing, so the ratings may not all be about this exact formula, and the breakage figure is the brand's own claim.
Best for travel: ghd Bodyguard Mini
Best for travel: the ghd Bodyguard Mini Heat Protection Styling Spray, because the listing calls it travel sized and at 50 ml it is the smallest bottle here.
The Mini is the travel sized 50 ml version of the Bodyguard spray. Its listing carries the same description as the full size: an invisible thermal shield that protects from temperatures up to 220°C without weighing hair down, a lightweight formula for daily use on fine, thick, curly or straight hair, and use with ghd tools or other brands of heated tools. It holds 4.4 stars from 810 ratings.
It suits a trip, a gym bag or trying the ghd range before committing to the big bottle. The honest catch: at 50 ml it runs out quickly with daily styling, and 810 ratings is a much smaller count than the full size.
Best Australian made: BondiBoost Heat Protectant Spray
Best Australian made: the BondiBoost Heat Protectant Spray, because the listing calls it Australian made, light weight, vegan and free of sulphates and parabens.
The listing describes a lightweight, non sticky mist with a botanical complex and a Bamboo Grove scent, for straight, wavy, curly, fine or thick hair. It says the formula is vegan and cruelty free, and the listing says it can be applied to both dry and damp hair. The bottle is about 125 ml. It holds 4.3 stars from 774 ratings.
It suits people who want a local, vegan formula with a light fragrance. The honest catch: it has the lowest rating of the full size sprays here at 4.3 stars from a smaller group of buyers, and the listing gives no temperature limit.
Best for frizz: Sun Bum Heat Protecting Spray
Best for frizz: the Sun Bum Heat Protecting Spray, because the listing describes a two phase formula that decreases blow dry time and delivers a lightweight blend to eliminate frizz.
The listing says the spray protects against thermal heat that causes damage and breakage, with noni and sea kelp extract. It is a two part formula that is shaken before use, and the listing says it is vegan, gluten free, cruelty free and free of sulphates and parabens. The bottle is 177 ml. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 4,400 ratings.
It suits frizz prone hair and anyone who wants a quicker blow dry. The honest catch: the listing gives no temperature limit for the heat protection.
Best for breakage: TRESemmé Heat Defence
Best for breakage: the TRESemmé Heat Defence Spray, because the listing says heat protection up to 230°C and reduces breakage by up to 82 percent.
The listing says the formula helps prevent hair from becoming brittle and dull, and says to spray it evenly through damp hair before blow drying, or on dry hair before straightening or curling. It is the largest bottle here at 270 ml, and the listing notes that packaging may vary. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 2,200 ratings.
It suits a family bathroom that goes through a lot of spray. The honest catch: the 82 percent breakage figure is the brand's own listing claim, and the listing is new.
Best for blow drying: Kérastase Genesis Fortifying
Best for blow drying: the Kérastase Genesis Fortifying Heat Protectant, because the listing says it detangles hair for an effortless blow dry while strengthening strands.
The listing describes a lightweight primer spray that prepares hair for styling, reduces breakage and helps maintain softness and shine, without a greasy or sticky feeling. It says it shields hair from daily environmental and thermal stress. The bottle is 150 ml. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 5,800 ratings.
It suits people who want a salon style product for blow drying. The honest catch: it costs the most of any pick here, and the listing gives no temperature limit.
How to choose a heat protectant
Look for a stated temperature limit
Only some listings give a number. The ghd Bodyguard says up to 220°C, TRESemmé says up to 230°C and OGX says up to about 232°C. The CHI 44, Sun Bum, BondiBoost and Kérastase listings do not state one, so if you want a figure to match to your tool, start with the three that do.
Match the hair type the listing names
CHI 44 says all hair types. ghd names fine, thick, curly and straight, and BondiBoost names straight, wavy, curly, fine and thick. For fine hair, the lightweight wording on the OGX and Kérastase listings is the useful signal. Our curl cream guide covers the products to add for curls.
Spray, mist or primer
Most picks here are sprays. OGX is a spray and conditioning mist, and Kérastase calls itself a lightweight primer spray that detangles for a blow dry. Choose the one that matches how you style: a blow dry first, or a straightener on dry hair.
Sun Bum is the pick for frizz and quicker drying. OGX and TRESemmé put breakage figures on the listing, which are brand claims rather than test results from us. If hair is already stressed, our hair mask guide is the next step.
Bottle size and price per ml
Bottles run from 50 ml for the ghd Mini to 270 ml for TRESemmé. CHI is about 237 ml, OGX 193 ml, Sun Bum 177 ml, Kérastase 150 ml and BondiBoost about 125 ml, and the full size ghd listing gives no size. Work out the cost per ml before you assume the cheapest bottle is the best deal.
Ratings and how many people gave them
CHI has more than 54,000 ratings at 4.5 stars, and ghd has more than 19,000 at 4.6. Newer listings such as OGX and TRESemmé hold 4.6 on smaller counts, and the Mini and BondiBoost have fewer than 1,000 each. If you style with a diffuser, see our hair diffuser guide.
Vegan and Australian made
BondiBoost is the pick that says Australian made, vegan and cruelty free, with no sulphates or parabens. Sun Bum says vegan, gluten free, cruelty free and free of sulphates and parabens. The other listings do not make these claims.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best heat protectant for hair in Australia?
For most people it is CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protecting Spray, which is made for use before hot tools, suits all hair types and has the most ratings of any spray on this page. The ghd Bodyguard is the close second, and it states a clear limit of 220°C.
What is the best heat protectant for fine hair?
Look for the lightest formulas. The OGX Bond Protein Repair listing describes a lightweight leave in formula that conditions without weighing hair down, and the ghd Bodyguard listing describes a lightweight formula for fine, thick, curly or straight hair. Kérastase Genesis is also described as a lightweight primer spray.
What is the best heat protectant for curly hair?
The listings do not split by curl type, so choose one that names curly hair. The ghd Bodyguard listing covers fine, thick, curly or straight hair, and the BondiBoost listing says straight, wavy, curly, fine or thick. CHI 44 Iron Guard is described as suitable for all hair types.
What is the best heat protectant spray for straightening hair?
The ghd Bodyguard listing says it is designed to pair with straighteners, curlers and dryers, and works with other brands of heated tools too. It protects up to 220°C. TRESemmé Care and Protect lists up to 230°C, and its listing says to use it on dry hair before straightening.
Does heat protectant prevent frizz?
Only some listings say anything about frizz. The Sun Bum Heat Protecting Spray listing describes a two phase formula that delivers a lightweight nourishing blend to eliminate frizz. The CHI 44, ghd and OGX listings focus on heat damage, breakage and smoothness, so choose Sun Bum if frizz is your main problem.
Can I use heat protectant on dry hair?
Check the listing for the spray you buy. OGX Bond Protein Repair says to apply from mid lengths to ends on damp or dry hair, and BondiBoost says it can be applied to both dry and damp hair. Sun Bum adds a tip to let the spray dry completely on dry hair before using any hot tools.
What temperature does heat protectant protect up to?
It depends on the listing. ghd Bodyguard says up to 220°C, TRESemmé Care and Protect says up to 230°C, and OGX Bond Protein Repair says up to about 232°C. The CHI 44, Sun Bum, BondiBoost and Kérastase listings give no temperature limit.
What is the difference between heat protectant and thermal protectant?
In practice they are the same kind of product: a spray used before hot tools. CHI 44 Iron Guard calls itself a thermal protecting spray, while ghd Bodyguard and Sun Bum use heat protection wording. Compare the stated temperature limit, size and hair type rather than the name on the bottle.
Is TRESemmé a good heat protectant?
TRESemmé Care and Protect Heat Defence Spray holds 4.6 stars from more than 2,200 ratings and its listing says heat protection up to 230°C, one of the few listings here that state a limit. The honest limit is that the 82 percent less breakage figure is the brand's own claim and the listing is new.
