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A wise man once said that Gretchen Wieners's big hair signified that it was full of secrets. But if you ask us, the volume of her hair had a lot to do with the holding power of her hairspray.
It's a topic that comes into question often with hair products: the ideal balance of hold and movement. According to Riawna Capri, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Nine Zero One salon in Los Angeles, the perfect formula is one that delivers lightweight-yet-reliable hold and versatility. But there are times you need more hold than others.
Below, we're letting you in on Capri's ultimate favorite, plus 15 more of the best hairsprays. Don't just take our word for it—the reviews speak for themselves.
1
Pro Pick
Oribe
Superfine Strong Hairspray
2
Best Light Hold
Andrew Fitzsimons
Body Volume Blowdry Hold Spray
3
Best Smoothing Hairspray
R+Co
Featherlight Hairspray
4
Best for Oily Hair
TRESemmé
Extra Hold Hair Spray
5
Most Versatile Hairspray
Bumble and bumble
Bb.Does It All Hairspray
6
Best Extra-Strong Hold
L'Oréal Paris
LOCK IT Bold Control Hairspray
7
Best for Thin Hair
Leonor Greyl
Spray Structure Naturelle Styling Spray
8
Best for Curls
OGX
Bodifying + Fiber Full Big Hair Spray
9
Best Soft-Touch Hairspray
Alterna
CAVIAR Anti-Aging Working Hair Spray
10
Best for Humidity
Garnier
Fructis Style Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray
11
Best for Shine
dpHUE
Color Fresh Touchable Hairspray
12
Best Finishing Spray
Sexy Hair
Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
13
Best Fine Mist
virtue
6-In-1 Style Guard Hair Spray
14
Best for Curls
DevaCurl
Flexible Hold Hairspray No-Crunch Finishing Styler
15
Best for Blowouts
Mizani
HRM Humidity Resistant Spray
16
Best for Wavy Hair
Living Proof
Style Lab Flex Hairspray
17
Frequently Asked Questions
How far away should I apply hairspray from?
To avoid that crunchy, super-hard texture, spray hairspray from an arm's distance away onto the hair to lock in any hairstyle. This will deliver a fine mist all over the area, making sure it's soft rather than stiff.
What's the best way to tame flyaways with hairspray?
"One of my favorite tricks is to spray the hairspray on the flyaways from an arm's-length away, then use the bottle's curved edge to pat and roll down the flyaways without a crease or comb mark," Capri says.
Can I use hairspray as a heat protectant?
While many hairstylists do spray hairspray on each section before heat styling, it's always a good idea checking the instructions to see if the specific formula is intended for heat protection. If it's not on the label, chances are you should also be adding protection into the mix.
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Regardless of hair texture, we all love to complain about the same few things. I like to whine about how my curls become limp a day after I style them. My friend will complain to me about how the humidity is making her straight hair frizzy. We all collectively groan when we spend an hour giving ourselves beachy waves, only for them to fall out the second we try to take a selfie. It's hard out there– which is why you probably need a hairspray.
1
Best For Intense Hold
Volume Spray 25 Kenra Professional
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2
Best For All Hair Types
Featherlight Hairspray R+Co BLEU
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3
Best For Curly Hair
Volumizing Hair Spray Rizos Curls
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4
Best For Thin Hair
No Limit Dry Volume and Thickening Spray IGK
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5
Best For Beginners
Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold L'Oréal Paris
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It might sound scary since hairsprays are notorious for making your hair feel deep-fried and crispy. But when used correctly, they're a complete game-changer. Whether your hair is oily or dry, fine or thick, you can find a hairspray that will tackle even life's most challenging problems. So take it from me: I can avoid flyaways for at least four days when I spray down a fresh blowout with a bit of hairspray. Here, find the 16 best hairsprays for every hair type.
1
Best For Intense Hold
Kenra Professional
Volume Spray 25
2
Best For All Hair Types
R+Co BLEU
Featherlight Hairspray
3
Best For Curly Hair
Rizos Curls
Volumizing Hair Spray
4
Best For Thin Hair
IGK
No Limit Dry Volume and Thickening Spray
5
Best For Beginners
L'Oréal Paris
Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold
6
Best For Frizzy Hair
TrESemmé
TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Spray
7
Best For Fine Hair
ORIBE
Superfine Hair Spray
8
Best For Dry Hair
Moroccanoil
Luminous Hairspray
9
Best For Color-Treated Hair
COLOR WOW
Cult Favorite Firm + Flexible Hairspray
10
Best Long-Lasting Hairspray
SexyHair
Big Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray
11
Best For A Budget
Garnier Fructis
Flexible Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray
12
Best For Dyed Hair
Pureology
Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray
13
Best For Flyaways
Nexxus
Comb Thru Volume Finishing Mist
14
Best Customizable Hairspray
Living Proof
Style Lab Flex Hairspray
15
Best For Defined Curls
Ouidad
Curl Last Flexible-Hold Hairspray
16
Best For Humidity
Joico
Flip Turn Volumizing Finishing Spray
What do hairsprays do?
"Hairsprays use polymers to bond the hair and help to hold the style in place," says Grenia. "Depending on the spray there are also a number of other benefits that hairspray can provide. For example some hairsprays also help to add shine or volume." Depending on the formulation, hairsprays should be the last step in your routine. "Most hairsprays are used to finish the hair after styling
and it is dried," says Garren. "It’s the last thing you would do to the hair to add hold and memory."
What are the benefits of using a hair spray?
"If you have fine hair, sometimes it doesn’t hold a curl and can fall flat pretty easily," says Grenia. "In addition to using heat protectants on the hair to prevent breakage, it's also important to use a hairspray either before curling the hair to add hold or after curling the hair to lock in the style."
Can all hair types use a hair spray?
"Yes, in general all hair types can use hair spray, but it’s important to know the state of your hair and the ingredients in the hair spray to know which hair spray is best for your hair," says Prado. "For example, curly and color treated hair tends to be on the drier side so you want to stay away from drying ingredients like alcohol."
What's the best way to use a hairspray?
"Don’t hold the bottle close to the head,
shake well and spray the product into the air first to see the spray pattern," says Garren. "Then, mist over hair about a foot away from hair or more to not destroy the look you created or the style you’re trying to hold into place. People think you have to hold it really close, but that makes it crunch and dry and creates wet spots." Depending on your preferred results, you can use hairsprays a lot of different ways. "A volumizing hair spray is formulated to help provide lift and volume at the
root, so you will want to spray the roots of your hair while damp and before styling to help provide that,"
says Prado. "To lock styles into place, you’ll want to evenly coat the hair with the spray after you’re done styling. For pesky flyaways and frizz, I like to spray the product onto the palm of my hands and then softly run my hand on top of the areas I’m looking to tame down."
Tatjana Freund Beauty Commerce Writer Tatjana Freund is a Beauty Commerce Writer, covering makeup, skincare, and haircare products and trends.