Kenra Blow Dry Spray and the Heat Protectants I Reach For

Kenra Blow Dry Spray and the Heat Protectants I Reach For

Kenra Blow-Dry Spray is a heat protectant the brand says cuts blow-dry time by up to 50 percent while it tames frizz. Here is how I would use it, plus the other blow-dry sprays, heat protectants and dryers I would pair with it.

Kenra started in 1929 in Indianapolis, with a single product, a no tweeze wax. According to the brand's own timeline, a barber named Henry J Meyers bought it in 1959, and it grew into a professional hair care line that stylists use behind the chair. The Platinum Blow Dry Spray went on to win a Stylist Choice Award in 2012. That salon background is why I trust Kenra Blow-Dry Spray for the step a lot of people rush through.

The brand describes it as a heat-protectant spray that decreases blow-dry time by up to 50 percent, smooths and softens, and tames frizz, with heat protection up to 450 degrees and humidity resistance for 72 hours. Kenra Blow-Dry Mist is the lighter version for fine hair, in a smaller 3.4 ounce size. COLOR WOW Dream Coat is an anti-frizz, anti-humidity treatment spray, and the Extra Strength version is made for dry, dehydrated hair. IGK Good Behavior is a 4-in-1 prep spray that detangles and protects from heat, and Chris McMillan The Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray offers heat protection up to 450 degrees with reflective shine. Bumble and bumble Heat Shield Blow Dry Accelerator is a light mist that the brand says cuts drying time by half, and Surf Foam Spray is a mousse and sea salt hybrid for beachy texture.

A quick test: spray towel-dried hair from mid-lengths to ends, then time your blow-dry once with the product and once without. If the time drops, you have your spray.

Big numbers collage for Kenra Blow Dry Spray: six products from Kenra Professional, Color Wow, IGK, Bumble and bumble, Chris McMillan and Shark Beauty, each set beside a large numeral
Kenra Blow Dry Spray

Blow-dry sprays and primers

Heat protectants for every hair type

A blow-dry spray starts the style, but a plain heat protectant can be the whole job on a wash day. Bumble and bumble Heat Shield Thermal Protection Hair Mist protects from heat styling and cares for damage. Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist leaves a smooth, satin-y finish, and Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Protectant Spray is a concentrated formula for medium and thick hair that adds sleekness and shine. K18 HeatBounce is a leave-in conditioner heat protectant that protects hair up to 450 degrees. Virtue Strength & Shield is a lightweight leave-in that detangles and shields against damage.

Ceremonia Guava Rescue is a 4-in-1 spray that detangles, protects against UV and heat, and prevents frizz. UNOVE Detangling Heat Protection Spray covers heat up to 455 degrees for damaged hair, and BondiBoost Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray is a vegan, aloe and rosemary spray that shields against heat and breakage.

Pairing tip: apply on damp hair, comb it through, then let the hair dry about 80 percent before you reach for a round brush. Heat goes into hair more evenly that way.

What I would skip: a thick leave-in on fine hair before a blowout. Reach for a mist like Kenra Blow-Dry Mist or Drybar instead.

Heat protectants

Dryers and stylers that do the drying

The dryer decides how much heat your hair sees. Shark SpeedStyle Pro FLEX is a professional-power system that the brand says unfolds for salon-quality styles, with a Scalp Shield mode. Shark FlexStyle changes from a dryer to a multi-styler, so one tool can dry and curl. Dyson Supersonic Nural in Ceramic Pink adds intelligence, and the brand says it protects your scalp barrier from extreme heat. Dyson Airwrap ID is a multi-styler and dryer for straight to wavy hair with a Bluetooth curling feature through the MyDyson app.

For a simpler dryer, Mane This Totally Blows dryer is an ionic compact dryer with 1875 watts. Drybar Buttercup PRO has a high-velocity motor and a diffuser, and comes with travel-friendly storage. T3 Featherweight StyleMax auto-adjusts heat and speed to your hair texture, and BaBylissPRO Italian Rapido is a lightweight 2,000-watt dryer with up to 10,000 hours of engine life.

How I would choose: one with a diffuser if you have curls, and one that folds or packs small if you travel.

What I would skip: a multi-styler if all you want is a dryer. Pick a simple dryer and a good spray, and it does the job.

Dryers and multi-stylers

Building a blowout routine

Build the routine in this order. Towel dry, spray a protectant like Kenra Blow-Dry Spray from mid-lengths to ends, comb it through, then dry with a dryer that fits your hair. Fine hair likes a mist, thick hair likes a concentrated spray, and curls like a diffuser. Change one thing at a time so you know what is helping, and give each new product two or three washes before you judge it. If your hair feels crisp or coated, use less spray, not more. The best blowout is the one that takes less time and leaves your hair softer at the end.