My blowout routine would be incomplete without one of these heat protectants

It may be obvious, but the more you put heat on your hair, the more likely you are to damage it.But, styling your hair doesn’t have to be all doom-and-gloom; you can still use your favorite blow-dryer brush or curling iron, so long as you take precautionary steps beforehand.Enter heat protectants: the spritz-on or run-through product — available in either spray or cream form — that helps protect your hair (especially your ends) from heat damage over time.

Some are so sleek, you can skip the straightener.And, as you can imagine, not all were created equal.So, I put them to the test to find a selective edit of the best heat protectants to buy.More, we consulted hair experts to get the lowdown on the best possible heat-protectant products for your hair (which, BTW, 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 Post Wanted.

“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.”A-list hairstylist Cory Aaron Scott holds the same sentiment.“It’s important to understand our hair needs proper maintenance,” he adds.

“Much like high-end leather goods require proper cleaning, leather protectant, etc — maintaining and improving the quality of our hair is no different.”Additionally, elements such as sun, heat, pollutants and chemicals in water cause the hair to lose bounce and shine over time, per Scott.“In particular, the heat from blow-drying and curling our hair presents unique challenges,” he says.

“That’s why it’s important to use heat protectant products so your hair maintains a healthy natural shine and bounce.” Check out our in-depth FAQ section for more on heat protectants following our top picks.Here’s the real deal — you want something non-cru...