Deflect is aimed at anyone who blow-dries or heat-styles regularly and wants a lightweight layer of thermal defense rather than a heavy styling product. AG markets it across all hair types, and it's formulated to help guard color-treated hair against the fading effects of heat and UV exposure.

Because the spray is ultra-light and fast-absorbing, it works well for fine or fragile hair that can't tolerate heavier heat-protectant creams, though thicker or very dry hair may want to layer it with a richer leave-in.

Most heat protectants either add real weight and shine but slow down drying, or dry fast but leave hair less protected. Deflect tries to do both at once — a fine, fast-absorbing mist that speeds up the blow-dry itself while still forming a defensive layer rated to 320°F (160°C).

For color-treated hair specifically, the CARE Complex's antioxidant botanical blend is aimed at heat- and UV-related color fade, so the spray is doing double duty as both a heat buffer and a color-care step rather than being a generic protectant.

Shake the bottle before each use to remix the formula.

• Spray liberally onto damp, towel-dried hair before blow-drying or other heat styling
• Distribute evenly through mid-lengths and ends before applying direct heat
• Blow-dry or style as usual

What stands out about Deflect:

• Genuinely lightweight — won't weigh down fine hair the way creamier heat protectants can
• Shortens blow-dry time, which also limits overall heat exposure
• Vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate- and paraben-free formula
• Doubles as a shine and slip agent, so hair looks finished even before styling

Where it falls short:

• Rated to protect only up to 320°F (160°C) — hotter flat-iron or curling-iron settings exceed what the formula is designed to buffer against
• Contains multiple silicones, so it isn't a fit for shoppers avoiding silicone-based products
• A fine spray mist gives less visible coverage than a cream, so very coarse or already-damaged hair may still want extra protection