Do you need heat protection spray with straighteners?

What heat protectants do

Most heat protectants contain ingredients such as silicones, polymers and conditioning agents that coat the hair surface. The film helps spread heat more evenly, reduces friction as plates or brushes glide and slows the loss of moisture from the hair. Many also add slip and shine.

They are a buffer, not a shield. Hair under a heat protectant still reaches styling temperatures. The protectant helps reduce some of the side effects, especially from repeated styling, but it does not make high heat safe. Temperature and technique still matter most, as our explainer on whether straighteners damage hair explains.

How to apply it

Follow the product's instructions, as some are designed for damp hair and others for dry. As a general guide:

1. 1

   Brush or comb hair to remove tangles.

2. 2

   Section the hair so you can reach the underneath layers.

3. 3

   Spray evenly from about 20 cm away, focusing on mid lengths and ends.

4. 4

   Comb through to distribute it.

5. 5

   Let it dry completely before using straighteners or a wand.

6. 6

   If blow drying first, apply to damp hair, then dry as usual before styling.

Wet or dry hair?

If you blow dry before straightening, applying a protectant to damp hair protects through both steps. Many products are designed for this. If you straighten or curl on dry, second-day hair, use a product made for dry hair and let it dry before styling.

Never use straighteners or curling wands on damp hair, even with a protectant. Water in the hair can turn to steam under hot plates. Our explainer on using straighteners on wet hair covers this. Air stylers such as the Dyson Airstrait and ghd Duet Style are designed for damp hair; use a protectant suited to damp hair with them.

Curling wands, tongs and hot brushes follow the same rule as straighteners: dry hair only, with the protectant applied and dried first. If you curl after straightening, one application before the first heat tool is usually enough; there is no need to keep adding more between tools.

Note:Many heat protection sprays are flammable aerosols. Let the product dry before using hot tools, do not spray directly onto hot plates and keep cans away from heat.

Common mistakes

Too much product is the most common mistake. Heavy application weighs hair down, makes curls drop and bakes onto plates, which then become sticky and can pull hair; see why do straighteners pull hair and how to clean straighteners. A light, even mist is enough.

Styling before it dries is the second. Wet spray on hot plates sizzles, and the protectant cannot do its job. Wait a minute or two.

• Too much product: use a light mist.
• Not letting it dry: wait before styling.
• Only spraying the top layer: section and spray underneath.
• Treating it as permission for high heat: still use the lowest effective setting.

Heat protection and your tools

Heat protectants work alongside good tools, not instead of them. Straighteners with stable, moderate heat and smooth plates need fewer passes, which reduces total heat exposure. ghd's fixed 185 °C stylers and adjustable models used at lower settings both work well with a protectant. Our best straighteners for fine hair guide focuses on gentler options, and the best hair straighteners guide compares premium models.

See the best straighteners for fine hair →

Frequently asked questions

Do you really need heat protection with straighteners? It is a sensible habit that helps reduce moisture loss and friction, especially if you style often.

Is ghd Bodyguard different from other heat protectants? It is ghd's own heat protect spray. Like others, it is designed to be used before heat styling; follow the instructions on the bottle.

Can I use oil as a heat protectant? Most oils are not designed for that purpose and can make plates sticky. Use a product made for heat protection.

Does heat protection work on curling wands? Yes. Apply it the same way and let it dry before curling.