As someone who tests flat irons for a living, my hair has seen its fair share of damage. Even though I've been using heat protectant spray for most of my adult life to combat everything from split ends and breakage to lack of shine and dried-out cuticles, I'd never really given much thought as to whether the formula I was using was actually right for my desired purposes. Is it protective enough to stand up to even the hottest flat iron, or just a blow dryer' Could it be used on dry hair for touch-ups, or can it only be applied to damp hair' Does it fight frizz' I set out to investigate, trying heat protectant sprays, balms, and serums from some of the most popular brands on the market, including Bumble and Bumble's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer ($34) and Oribe's Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection Spray ($46). Since reduced damage can often be hard to quantify, especially since it may not be apparent until new hair grows in, I focused primarily on ease of use, fulfillment of...
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