The Best Hairspray

Buying Guide

Once you shape your hair and get it styled just the way you want it, you’ll need to use a little hairspray if you want to keep that look from coming undone as the day goes on. Hairspray was created back in 1948, and since the product has been around for over 70 years, it now comes in a variety of formulas.

Before shopping for the best hairspray, you need to decide how much of a hold your hair requires. You’ll find choices include light, medium, firm and extra-strong. A light or medium hold would work well to hold back a few flyaways, while firm and extra strong are needed to lock in your style for a long period of time. Some brands are even designed to last up to 48 hours.

Look for a hairspray that specializes in taming frizz if you find your hair is a bit kinky. For example, some options use locking polymers that resist humidity and keep frizz controlled all day long.

Consider the ingredients used to make the hairspray. You’ll find some brands actually infuse Argan oil into their formula, which not only gives hair a beautiful shine but also leaves it soft to the touch.

Don’t forget to take fragrance into account. Most hairsprays have some type of odor and you don’t want to select one that isn’t pleasant, as you’ll be stuck smelling it all day. Fortunately, there are formulas that are known for their sweet aroma, including some that have a wonderful tropical berry scent.

• Read the hairspray bottle’s product label to determine how far away you need to hold the can before spraying it on your hair. This distance typically ranges between 6 and 10 inches.
• Hairspray is meant to be used on dry hair. If you need a styling product that is safe to use on wet hair, consider going with a mousse.
• The cost of a bottle of hairspray is directly related to the ingredients used in its formula. Brands that are infused with argan oil tend to have the highest price tags.