What kind of heat protectant for hair is best?

It may be obvious, but the more you put heat on your hair, the more likely you are to damage it. So, in an effort to help you keep your mane as healthy as possible, we consulted hair experts to get the lowdown on the best possible heat protectant products for your hair — which is pretty crucial to incorporate into your routine.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to use heat protectant,” celebrity hairstylist Michelle Cleveland told The Post. “Think of it like tanning without a sunscreen! When you add a heat protectant product to your hair prior to using a heated appliance, you are adding a layer of protection against damage, burning and hair color fading.”

“It’s important to understand our hair needs proper maintenance. Much like high-end leather goods require proper cleaning, leather protectant, etc — maintaining and improving the quality of our hair is no different,” said A-list hairstylist Cory Aaron Scott.

“Elements such as sun, heat, pollutants, chemicals in water, etc. cause our hair to lose bounce and shine over time,” Scott added. “In particular, the heat from blow-drying and curling our hair presents unique challenges. That’s why it’s important to use heat protectant products so your hair maintains a healthy natural shine and bounce.”

Ahead find eight expert-approved hair heat protectant products that will change your hair game.

1. Ouai Heat Protection Spray, $28

Almost all of the experts we spoke with raved about the Ouai Heat Protectant Spray.

Scott, whose client list includes stars like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and even current Vice President Kamala Harris, loves this Ouai product for the price point and effectiveness.

“If you are seeking a [heat protectant spray] at a more affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Ouai Heat Protectant Spray,” Scott said. “It protects your hair up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit so you can maintain shiny, healthy hair and prevent damage from blowouts and heat styling.”

Brant Mayfield, a celebrity stylist at Chris McMillan Salon in Beverly Hills, California, is also a fan.

“This product is formulated to combat dryness in hair while providing long-lasting protection. It is extremely lightweight and works on every type of hair,” Mayfield said. “I [also] notice every client I use this product on compliments the scent, which almost never happens with scents in products. It elevates the mood before the styling begins.”

“I like the Ouai Heat Protectant [Spray] because it not only focuses on protecting the hair from heat damage but also concentrates on dryness and split end protection. As a plus, it smells amazing,” Cleveland added.

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2. Shu Uemura Blow Dry Beautifier BB Cream, $49

Mayfield also uses the Shu Uemura Blow Dry Beautifier BB Cream on his clients with more dense hair.

“This product is designed for thicker hair and the emollience feels more like a styling product than a primer. Utilizing the high heat resistance of Gingko Biloba (a species of tree native to China),” Mayfield told The Post.

According to the brand website, Ginkgo biloba extract is known for its high resistance to external aggressions and its anti-oxidant and healing benefits.

“Clients with thicker hair use this product because [it] not only does a great job with protecting dense hair, but it allows for movement and possible restyles throughout the day that sometimes aren’t possible once a style is ‘set’ with this hair texture,” Mayfield added.

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3. Virtue Create 6-In-1 Styler, $34

“My favorite heat protectant product [that] I use in my salon is [the] Virtue 6-in-1 Styler,” Scott said. “The lightweight texture softens the hair, provides excellent shine, hydrates, strengthens, polishes and protects from heat damage. My clients love the premium results and it’s always my go-to product.”

The Virtue 6-in-1 Styler features panthenol (Vitamin B5) which is great for delivering moisture, softness and shine along with Cypress, which is rich in antioxidants and provides light and soothing hydration. Lastly, strengthening polymers that naturally-derived hair fixatives designed to help style hair.

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4. Oribe Soft Lacquer Heat Styling Spray, $36

Oribe’s Heat Styling Spray is a go-to hair protectant for celebrity hairstylist Sarah Klein who works at Nine Zero One salon in West Hollywood, California.

“This is a favorite of mine that not only provides a layer of protection but [also makes] your curls [and] styles last all day when you use it. It adds shimmer, flexible hold and [has] UV protection,” Klein told The Post.

It’s made with jojoba oil for moisturizing and natural UV protection, sweet almond oil to nourish and protect the hair and other ingredients to make your hair the best it can be.

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5. In Common Beauty Magic Myst, $35

“[The In Common Beauty] Magic Myst is my all-time favorite. It is a weightless, universal elixir that is designed for all hair types and textures,” said Klein, who has worked with Hilary Duff, Nina Dobrev, Julianne Hough and more.

“Magic Myst reinforces, strengthens and seals the cuticle to dramatically repair damage while detangling and protecting against daily heat styling,” Klein explained. “I like to spray it in on wet hair before styling and also as a refresher on days two and three to enhance waves [and] texture while adding another protective barrier, vitamins and UV protectant.”

This product is known for being called “vitamins for your hair,” according to the brand’s website and features rose extract, lavender extract, orange fruit extract and more.

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6. Kristen Ess Hair Style Assist Blow Dry Mist, $15

If you try to use cruelty-free products that aren’t tested on animals, you’ll definitely be a fan of this heat protectant from Kristen Ess.

“The Kristen Ess Style Assist Blow Dry Mist is perfect for traveling and a quick blow out,” Scott said. “It’s extremely affordable and not only do I like the results from this product, I especially love they are a certified cruelty-free brand by PETA’s Caring Consumer Program.”

This heat protectant not only cuts down drying time and adds amazing shine, but it also protects your hair against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

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7. Sebastian Trilliant Heat Protectant Spray, $22

Cleveland is also a fan of this heat protectant spray from Sebastian Trilliant.

“My absolute favorite heat protectant on the market is [from] Sebastian Trilliant,” Cleveland said. “It not only protects against heat appliances, [but] it adds shine and SPF to your hair from free radicals such as the sun and environmental protection from fumes and chemical emissions in the air.”

The spray is a multifaceted complex that is specially designed to provide amazing shine with great body, light conditioning and heat protection.

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8. Unite Hair 7SECONDS Glossing Spray, $32

“This is a dry spray that I love to use right before applying heat. It’s an anti-humectant spray that provides the ultimate thermal protection while also adding shine,” said Klien. “It’s also weightless and can be used after heat to add a little extra shine.”

The Unite Hair 7SECONDS Glossing Spray is infused with sunflower seed extract, an antioxidant that provides UV protection and locks in moisture while soothing a dry scalp. The featured vegetable proteins also boost moisture and encourage more resilient hair, as the olive oil works to soften and seal the cuticle.

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9. Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Hyaluronic Treatment Lotion, $45

Britney Williams, Bumble and Bumble’s live educator and stylist loves to use the brand’s Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Hyaluronic Treatment lotion as a heat protectant. It provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/232 degrees Celsius and gives your locks a boost of moisture all at the same time.

“I love that this oil doesn’t sit on top of the hair,” Williams told the New York Post. “It really gets into the hair shaft to protect it from the inside-out.”

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