The Best Hair Sprays

Even when the rest of your life is in order, controlling your unwieldy hair can seem like an impossible task. With a range of hair gels, sprays, extensions and serums available, it can be difficult to know which are going to help you. Finding the right hair spray is a fast way to solve your problems. But how can you do that without testing every single available option? We have put together this guide on the best hair sprays to help you out.

Best Choice

TRESemmé Extra Hold is the best Hair Spray? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best Overall Hair Spray

TRESemmé Extra Hold Hair Spray is our choice for best overall hair spray. It offers an extra strong hold that will last you the whole day without fail. No matter the weather, you can be sure that your
Best Choice

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Pros:
TRESemmé Extra Hold is perfect for keeping your hair locked in place. But it never feels too stiff to the touch, as many similar brands do. What’s more, it lasts all day and stands up especially well against heavy wind or rain. This hair spray is best when applied to the roots for extra strength. You can also apply it to your hair while it is damp for a great hold every time. TRESemmé Extra Hold won’t cause flakes, regardless of your hair type and washes out easily with shampoo.

Cons:
While it’s hard to fault the actual hair spray, the bottle itself can cause issues. The nozzle will occasionally jam up and require cleaning. Running the nozzle under hot water and storing upside down is a quick solution. Additionally, the bottle is quite large and would be difficult to travel with. Though this also means that you get extra hair spray for your money.

Best for Extra Volume

Kenra Volume is the best Hair Spray? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best for Big Hair

The Kenra Volume Spray is perfect for big hairstyles. Its 120-hour hold adds great volume to any style--all without causing your hair to fall flat or adding any weight during the day.
Best for Extra Volume

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Pros:
This volume spray is ideal for lifting your hair and adding major volume. Unlike many alternatives, it doesn’t fall flat and keeps your hair in place all day long. Kenra’s Volume Spray is great for fine and thick hair alike. It maintains your style without looking like you used too much spray. This spray stands up to humidity and dampness where many other brands fall off. It is easy to apply and there’s no need to spend a long time spraying to achieve a strong hold.

Cons:
The Kenra spray can is prone to clogging and will require regular maintenance to prevent this. The best way to do so is to wash the nozzle after each use and to store the can upside down. Once you add that into your hair routine, you shouldn’t have any issues with the product itself.

Best Value for Money

L’Oréal Paris LOCK IT is the best Hair Spray? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best Everyday Hair Spray

L’Oréal Paris LOCK IT Hairspray is our choice for best everyday hair spray. On top of being easy to apply, it has a strong hold that keeps your hair in place and looking great all day.
Best Value for Money

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Pros:
This humidity-resistant hair spray is perfect for keeping your hair under control even in areas of high humidity. You can be confident that your style will hold up in wind, rain, or shine. Better yet, it is very easy to apply and won’t make it feel brittle or crunchy. LOCK IT Hairspray smells great and makes applying it a bit more pleasant. The bottle boasts a 48-hour hold and you can definitely count on it holding for the whole day. That is, as long as you apply enough spray to your roots.

Cons:
Applying too much of the L’Oréal Paris LOCK IT Hairspray can result in your hair feeling a bit sticky. It is important to regulate how much you use and to find a happy medium between a strong hold and hair that feels pleasant to touch. It’s always better to start with less and work your way up as necessary.

Best for Oily Hair

ORIBE Dry Texturizing is the best Hair Spray? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Bigger, Better, Full-on Glamorous Hair

When it comes to a hair spray that helps you tame oily hair, Oribe Dry Texturing Spray is our number one choice. It also offers an all-day hold and is sure to keep your style the way you love it.
Best for Oily Hair

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Pros:
With a range of beneficial ingredients, the Oribe Dry Texturing Spray hair spray helps to absorb oils and dirt from your hair. This works in place of dry shampoo and leaves your hair feeling light and silky. What’s more, it holds very well and keeps your hair voluminous for up to three days. The spray has a strong scent of a fresh salon without being too overpowering. Though the smell doesn’t last long after applying, it makes the application and styling process much more enjoyable.

Cons:
As the product absorbs oils and dirt from your hair, overuse can lead to your hair drying out. It is important to only apply the required amount and not to use the product every day. However, as the product has an extremely long hold, it will last as long as you can keep it in overnight.

Best for Fine Hair

BOLDIFY Get Thicker is the best Hair Spray? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Incredible Thickness and Hair Volume

The BOLDIFY Hair Thickening Spray is ideal for fine hair. It gives so much volume that you feel as though you have twice as much hair and three times the confidence.
Best for Fine Hair

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Pros:
Whether you have fine hair, or your hair is thinning, this product works wonders in restoring or providing volume. BOLDIFY adds a layer of thickness without making your hair feel sticky or coarse. In addition, it holds very well and will last you all day long, meaning that you can be confident that your hair will be full of volume for as long as you need. BOLDIFY has a clean smell that makes the application process a bit more special.

Cons:
The BOLDIFY Hair Thickening Spray contains sea salt. This is usually beneficial, as salt has a drying effect on hair. But overuse can lead to your hair drying out and feeling coarse and brittle. If you find this to be a problem, it may be best to reduce the use of the product or apply less each time.

What Really Matters

Aerosol Versus Non-Aerosol

Aerosol and non-aerosol hair sprays are made for very different purposes. Aerosol sprays work best when adding the final hold to a smooth or blown-out style, whereas liquid-based, non-aerosols are better at locking in the style and texture for curly hair. Several years ago, there was a strong sentiment against using aerosols due to their harmful environmental effects. However, new aerosol sprays no longer use chlorofluorocarbons, which were producing the damage to the ozone layer. With that in mind, you can choose between aerosol and non-aerosol without having to worry about harming the environment.

Flaking

One of the biggest worries when using hair spray is whether or not it will cause flakes. Flakes occur from the overuse of hair spray between washes. The flakes look like dandruff and fall onto your scalp and shoulders. Cheaper brands of hair spray are more prone to flaking, thus giving you a solid reason to invest in a higher quality brand. Certain hair types may be more prone to flaking, but you can take steps to reduce this problem. Firstly, use less spray upon application. If that doesn’t help, you can opt for a hair spray that contains conditioner, as this will counteract the flaking.

Oily Hair Prevention

In addition to quality hair spray keeping your hair styled all day long, many brands also contain ingredients that fight oily hair. Certain products contain ingredients such as crystalline zeolites, which absorb and trap dirt and odors. As a result, your hair returns to a more natural dryness, making it look and feel far better. In fact, there are hair sprays for every condition available on the market. Some are designed to make your hair appear thicker to combat thinning or fine hair. Others include mango extracts that hydrate and nourish your hair. These products tend to be more expensive due to the extra benefits that they offer. But for those who require them, they are invaluable.

What’s in Right Now?

Currently, we are seeing many hair spray brands adopting anti-aging, cosmetic, and thermal protection sprays. Modern hair sprays are no longer limited to just keeping your hair in place. As such, many products are now filtering through the market that offer these added benefits. Furthermore, the hair spray market is experiencing a huge demand from men. More products suited to male grooming are launching to meet the rising demand. This has resulted in products such as those that increase the appearance of thick hair reaching consumers.
All of this shows a shift towards hair sprays that address the concerns and conditions of the consumers. As such, it is likely that you will be able to find something to suit your individual circumstances as well. Finally, we are also seeing a rise in lower priced, everyday products that are suitable for frequent use. This is great news for anyone who regularly uses hair spray but suffers from hair flaking.

Prices

Expensive

$20-$25 Hair sprays at this range always include additional benefits, such as moisturizing or nourishing ingredients. What’s more, they always have exceptional hold and last as long as you need them.

Mid-Range

$13-$17 Hair sprays in the middle range tend to have a very strong hold and are made to suit specific conditions.

Cheap

$3-$10 Despite being cheaper, hair sprays on the lower end typically have an all-day hold and aren’t prone to flaking.

FAQs

Can hair spray damage hair?

Typically, hair sprays do not damage your hair, though there are certain ingredients that can cause problems. Look out for sprays that contain ethanol as this will dry out your hair and could irritate your scalp. Other hair sprays may contain ingredients that are not compatible with your hair, so you should always do research before making a purchase. Furthermore, overuse of any hair spray could cause problems. For example, those that contain sea salt will dry out your hair. In short doses, sea salt is beneficial, but using it too often may cause issues.

Can I find a hair spray for my hair type?

There are so many different hair spray brands and products that there are options for every hair type. Fine or thin hair is not compatible with many brands and often cause problems. But there are sprays dedicated to this type that add volume and the appearance of thick hair. Frizzy hair is typically difficult to style and can feel unruly. Anti-frizz and ultra-firm holds are now available to keep even the most troublesome hair in place.

How do I spray my roots?

Most hair spray brands say that you should hold the spray at least eight inches from your head. But hair styling advice often suggests that you spray the hair’s roots. In order to achieve the look, you want without damaging your hair, it’s best to spend a little more time parting your hair to spray the roots. If you are still struggling, you can look up some styling videos online to see how it’s done.