How To Wash Hairspray Out Of Your Hair

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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

Hairspray is no longer the sticky, crunchy, untouchable product from dance recital days (or was that just me?). The newest iterations manage to keep pilus intact and fresh-looking while remaining completely touchable—fifty-fifty if your hair is fine and tends to be weighed down by pilus products.

While I do have fine hair, I also have a lot of it, and then with the wrong product, information technology falls apartment. On pinnacle of that, I'm constantly on the picket for products that will go along my frizz, flyaways, and infant hairs under control—which is where the right hairspray comes in. Over 136 hours, I tested 17 hairsprays to see which ones were my favorites and then compiled them into categories to help you find the all-time hairspray for your detail need. Nosotros fifty-fifty enlisted the help of an expert, Boston-based makeup creative person Mikayla Ricketts, to provide some tips.

Ahead, the best hairsprays for fine hair.

Amazon

What We Like

Gives hair volume
Holds style
Won't weigh down fine pilus
Sleek bottle

What We Don't Similar

Feels tacky at starting time

This hairspray surprised me in the best mode. While I wasn't sure about it, initially, by the end of the day, I'd decided it was the all-time hairspray I'd tried. Let me explain: While I loved the tall canteen, likewise as the way it dispersed an even, generous mist (plus a balmy scent with fresh, citrusy notes), it left backside a crunchy feeling and didn't hide my frizz or stray hairs. Only signs of the hairspray to come were in that location—while I didn't like the feeling it left behind, I noticed an immediate volume heave.

Then, every bit the day wore on, I realized that the residue had completely disappeared and my pilus but felt similar my hair, but with added volume and hold. At that place was nothing crunch and zero product build-up—just completely touchable strands. By the end of the day, the waves I'd added to my pilus remained smooth, intact, and fresher than they'd wait without hairspray.

It was and then I realized that this was the i. For me, this production did everything I need hairspray to do and more than: It added volume, held my style, smelled light and fresh, and kept my pilus feeling like I hadn't used hairspray at all.

Additionally, this product—part of R+Co's Bleu collection—has UV protection and is vegan, cruelty-, and gluten-free. And it's 100% recommended.

Hold: Medium | Size: 8.3 ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yep | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What Nosotros Like

Affordable
Leaves hair touchable
Medium hold
Large bottle

What We Don't Similar

Not a good option for boosting volume
Fragrance is too stiff

This upkeep pick comes in a ridiculously large bottle, making it the best hairspray if you want to get the most out of each dollar.

When I tested this product, I loved that my hair remained extremely soft and touchable throughout the entire solar day. Besides, when it stale down, it felt totally weightless and kept my fine hair from looking flat. However, I did find that this hairspray didn't deliver much in terms of book. It pumped up my strands slightly, but I wouldn't plough to it if volume was my principal goal. Likewise, though, it claims to be a stiff-hold hairspray, I plant information technology to be more medium—I had to bear upon up my hair subsequently in the day, only when I did, my hair remained flexible and soft.

Overall, I'd recommend picking this upwardly for humid days when you want touchable hair without frizz or flyaways. While information technology doesn't accept lots of agree or boost volume in a major manner, I loved how it disappeared into my pilus. Even so, consider other options if you're sensitive to fragrance, as the scent is strong.

Hold: Strong | Size: 14.6 ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Make clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What Nosotros Like

Gives major volume
Holds hair well
Super-fine mist
Protects confronting UV damage

What We Don't Similar

Expensive
Left behind some build-up

I'd heard a lot about Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray, so I was looking forwards to trying its sister production (with high expectations). The kickoff matter that impressed me was the spray itself—out of all the hairsprays tested, Oribe'south version had the finest, almost mist-similar texture. This allowed me to apply it evenly.

The other major plus was that information technology was really easy to build volume. With only a small amount of production and a little encouragement to the roots, my pilus was noticeably fuller and more voluminous. However, it left backside some buildup and archetype crunch, even subsequently it dried. Because of that, I found that less is more than—while it gives really skillful results, too much production tin can negate those benefits.

This product held my pilus for most of the 24-hour interval, but it's non meant to exist an extremely loftier-agree product—Oribe ranks it a seven out of 10, which feels like an authentic to slightly generous cess. I would trust this to concur my style, every bit long as it wasn't too windy and I wasn't engaging in any vigorous activities. It too protects hair from UV damage and oxidative stress, thanks to hydrolyzed wheat poly peptide. The odour is mild, simply it smells very high-terminate.

Overall, this is a high-quality hairspray that deserves a place on your shelf and is a practiced option for holding nearly any style. It provides volume, moderate hold, and while it doesn't exit hair perfectly soft, I'thousand willing to overlook that due to how well it worked in other categories.

Agree: Strong | Size: ix ounces | Alcohol-Costless: No | Byrdie Make clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Target

What We Similar

Leaves hair touchable
Keeps hair controlled
Adds texture

What We Don't Like

Depression volume booster
Not the best spray nozzle

When pilus needs but a lilliputian bit of hold, this hairspray will keep information technology together without weighing it down. The petite tin is easy to use, but I found the nozzle to be harder to press than any of the other hairsprays I tested. It shoots out a divers spray, and then you lot'll need to move fast to avoid oversaturating any ane spot.

When applied evenly, this hairspray is super lightweight. The matte finish gives hair some grip (almost like a powdery feeling), but hair remains soft and touchable. The scent is medium-stiff, and while I didn't mind it too much, I imagine that it might exist too stiff for those sensitive to fragrance. It's not the best choice if yous need book, though. While information technology lifts flat pilus slightly, this isn't the hairspray if you need a serious book boost.

It is a practiced choice for lightweight hold, though, peculiarly if you want to keep hair in place while yet letting it movement naturally. I similar to use this hairspray as an enhancer to styles that don't necessarily need to stay in place, but where I practise want to minimize frizz and flyaways. It's also a great option for creating longer-lasting waves or curls without compromising their feel. And if you demand extra control without major hold, the dry texture and soft matte terminate help make hair easier to work with by eliminating the slip that fine, clean pilus tin sometimes have.

Overall, this hairspray delivers lightweight agree without making pilus crunchy—despite going out into the wind, my pilus stayed relatively intact, and information technology didn't turn frizzy or windblown. I observe this to be an affordable but quality selection for a lightweight hairspray.

Hold: Lite | Size: 5 ounces | Booze-Gratuitous: No | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What Nosotros Like

Lightweight feel
Heat protection
PETA-certified cruelty-free
Even, smooth mist
Safe for color-treated hair

What Nosotros Don't Like

Small bottle

This is the hairspray Goldilocks would choose—it'south not besides weak, non also stiff, and keeps hair simply right all day long. The bottle is smaller than other hairsprays, simply its soft matte texture and slim size go far a joy to use. The nozzle is a little tough to press, merely information technology sends out a big, even mist. And when sprayed directly at the roots, information technology gave my hair a pocket-size boost of volume.

This hairspray wasn't potent enough to go along my way completely intact, but it controlled my frizz and kept my hair looking dandy for the entire 24-hour interval. It didn't leave hair completely soft, only it however remained touchable and with movement. While I could feel this hairspray on my strands, it remained lightweight plenty that I wasn't bothered by the actress texture. The strength of the fragrance is about average, and if y'all're familiar with other Living Proof products, you'll recognize the scent.

This is a great middle ground hairspray—it has medium concord, about average texture, and it gives some volume. I'd turn to this when I wanted a piddling more than a light hold but needed to avoid the heaviness of stronger hairsprays. It'southward also a good option when yous'll be heat styling, as it protects confronting temperatures as high every bit 410 degrees Farenheight.

Hold: Strong | Size: 7.five ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yeah | Cruelty-Free: yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What We Like

Super stiff hold
Boosts book
Large bottle

What Nosotros Don't Similar

Makes hair tacky
Some may not like the smell

This hairspray is frequently called a stylist favorite and I can see why—information technology's easy to use, will hold any style, and, when practical with a light paw, the hair stays touchable.

This hairspray comes in a large bottle, but its size doesn't make information technology overwhelming to use. The nozzle on it is unique and I found information technology harder to press than other hairsprays I tested, but it disperses a stiff mist for targeted application. The odor is musky—if y'all're familiar with the scent of Kiehl's Original Musk fragrance, then the aroma of this hairspray volition bring dorsum memories (information technology'southward likewise reminiscent of the classic scent of men's shaving foam).

Elnett Satin delivers major volume when applied at the roots, and it sticks around for nigh of the day. The amount of concur you'll go depends on the amount of product applied (and how much movement you desire to retain). I found that even a few small spritzes calmed frizz and kept my pilus in identify. With a more generous spray, this is strong enough to agree the hair in even the most extreme weather condition—like dancing at a wedding—equally long as you don't mind the small cost of slightly crunchy hair. This hairspray also claims to exist humidity-resistant (which I wasn't able to exam during the wintertime) equally well as piece of cake to brush out—a claim I found to exist mostly true.

Overall, this is the best hairspray for serious concur, equally long as y'all don't mind compromising movement and touchability.

Hold: Actress stiff | Size: eleven ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yeah | Cruelty-Free: No

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

R+Co

What We Like

Piece of cake to change upward styles
Adds texture
Light, soft fragrance
Controls frizz

What We Don't Like

Minimal volume boost

If you demand something flexible, this is the hairspray to choice. It sprays strongly yet evenly, and it immediately felt like it gave my hair better agree while remaining pliant. I didn't notice any major volume change, just it did requite my hair more texture, which added a tiny boost. I could experience the production on my pilus if I touched it, but it was overall gratis of whatsoever major crisis feeling and my hair still looked soft.

At first, I wasn't certain how well this hairspray would hold, given how soft it was. But it immediately calmed devious hairs and frizz, and even afterwards a windy walk, it held my hair in place. I wore two messy space buns and it managed to keep them from veering into an actual mess. By the end of the solar day—and after laying on the couch—my hair however looked relatively smooth. I liked the fragrance, too. It was softer than the fragrance in other hairsprays I've used and I enjoyed information technology.

Hold: Medium-strong | Size: ix.5 ounces | Booze-Costless: No | Byrdie Clean: Aye | Cruelty-Free: Yeah

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What We Similar

Boosts shine
Leaves hair touchable
Controls frizz and flyaways

What We Don't Like

Hold and volume could be improve

This is the hairspray to plough to if you're looking for major shine—and it was also in the running for my favorite overall.

The only reason it didn't brand information technology to the peak is that the hold and volume could exist better, merely both were still pretty impressive. I noticed that it kept my frizz at bay, every bit well equally any of the usual flyways. While I would rely on this hairspray for most circumstances in which I need my style to stay intact, it's probably non strong enough for situations where you need a more solid hold.

I was impressed by how little buildup or feel this hairspray left behind. Fifty-fifty when applied with a heavy paw, it was barely detectable on my pilus, and a light spray leaves behind nothing at all. I liked the scent, too. It'due south light but smells good enough to exist a standalone fragrance.

The most notable feature is the shine that this hairspray imparted. Afterwards a contempo blow-out, I idea my hair was as shiny every bit it could get, but I surprised myself when I saw that my hair was practically glowing in the mirror after applying this product. I'd pick up this hairspray for any time when I wanted my hair to stay shiny and in place without compromising on move.

Hold: Strong | Size: x ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Make clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yeah

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Walmart

What We Like

Gives major volume
Medium hold
Adept for wind and humidity

What We Don't Like

Leaves hair slightly crunchy

If your hair needs a big heave, this is the hairspray for you. With merely a few spritzes to my roots, it gave it a lift of airy volume.

The bottle is super slim and nice to hold, while its tiptop makes information technology easy to reach all effectually the head. Information technology sprays out a fine mist, which I establish was easy to employ evenly. The formula isn't the most lightweight, though. I could even so experience this product on my strands even after it dried, and information technology clumped my hair together in spots. Spraying with a light mitt reduces this a little fleck, and I also found that this was easier to hibernate when I applied the hairspray directly to the roots, rather than all over the superlative.

While it's supposed to exist a strong-agree hairspray, I found information technology to be more average. My low bun started slipping towards the end of the day, but overall, everything stayed intact and it kept flyaways and frizz at bay the entire twenty-four hour period.

Lastly, this product claims to stand up to winds of up to 25 miles per 60 minutes, and while it never got quite that windy while I tested it out, it did stay in place during a walk on a moderately windy day. I tried the limited-edition throwback bottle which is inspired by the tardily '80s, just the original version performs the same way.

Concord: Strong | Size: 10 ounces | Alcohol-Complimentary: No | Byrdie Make clean: Yep | Cruelty-Free: yeah

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Sephora

What We Similar

Texturizes hair
Adds grip to hair
Dainty fragrance

What We Don't Like

Not much hold
Modest bottle

Sometimes, calculation texture to hair is enough to add book, hold, and a piddling something extra. And if that's what your hair needs, you need this product. The small can size is easy to use, and while the nozzle is a chip tough to press and spray, it's non a bargain-breaker. Information technology sprays out a strong mist, then you'll need to move quickly to distribute it across pilus evenly. It has a medium-potent scent, merely information technology doesn't linger long or stray also far from hair.

This product gave my hair a boost by blanket strands and giving them grip and texture—so while it had a slightly heavy feel, that'southward exactly what made it work so well. I wouldn't choose this if I was looking for some major volume, but it'southward a winner for pumping up private strands.

Despite the extra texture, my hair stayed soft to the touch and gratis of crunch. Be brash that it doesn't have a strong hold on its own—my hair started slipping out of its mode equally the day wore on. However, it played well with other hairsprays when I needed a fleck more control. Overall, I idea this would exist all-time used to "dirty up" freshly done pilus for upward-dos or messy styles, or coupled with stronger-hold hairsprays to end a fashion.

Hold: Strong | Size: iii.6 ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yeah

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Ulta

What We Like

Cruelty-Free
Heat protection
Undetectable on pilus

What We Don't Like

Minor bottle
Not much volume

While several products on this listing are cruelty-free, this is one of the all-time. The hairspray canteen itself isn't very big, only it has a prissy shape and feel. It dispenses a large deject of mist, which allows information technology to be applied evenly over the hair without overdoing any one expanse. With only a spray or 2, information technology immediately gave my hair shape, hold, and a little volume boost. It almost seemed to plump upward individual strands and then hair looked and felt thicker.

The formula is nearly undetectable on the pilus, also. It left a little lightweight texture, but nothing that felt crunchy or muddy. Fifty-fifty the smell is mild, though if you've used other Living Proof products, you'll recognize the fragrance. Also, because of how lite this hairspray is, I was surprised to see that information technology kept my hair intact all day. It didn't completely hide my frizz or hold my manner so well that it didn't budge, only information technology kept my pilus in place well enough without the usual negative side furnishings of hairspray.

Overall, I call back this product works best for styles that do good from a trivial texture. For instance, I'd use this product on straight hair or waves where I needed some staying power. It can be used on clammy or dry pilus and provides rut protection up to 410 degrees. Information technology too contains conditioning ingredients to keep hair soft.

Hold: Medium | Size: 7.5 ounces | Booze-Costless: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Amazon

What We Like

No crisis
Adds smooth
Rut protection
Controls frizz and flyaways

What We Don't Like

No strong hold
Pocket-size size

A hairspray with heat protection tin do double duty when practical before using hot tools. This i offers up protection against temperatures upwards to 450 degrees. I used information technology before and after styling my pilus to add together extra protection and hold. It besides uses micro-light reflectors to add together shine—my hair was freshly washed and already had lots of shine, and it remained super shiny afterward I applied the product.

This is a medium-concord pilus spray, and it performs similar one. I used information technology on my waves and constitute they stuck around all day, but they started to loosen past the end of the twenty-four hours. It had plenty hold for everyday wear, only I wouldn't rely on it if I needed an updo to stay intact at a big outcome. Also, the bottle is smaller than many other options, and its thicker size is bulkier just non a deal-breaker. The aerosol nozzle is like shooting fish in a barrel to press, and it sends out a quick stream of product that's just the right amount.

However, this isn't the product to plow to if you lot're looking for a volume boost—it adds minimal texture and grip to fine hair. I used a heavy paw when applying it, and when I touched my hair afterward, it was almost undetectable. There was no product buildup, stiffness, or crunchy feeling. Even the scent was balmy.

Overall, I liked this hairspray. It doesn't have the strongest hold or give the well-nigh volume, notwithstanding, it did keep my style intact without feeling that I'd added a ton of product to my hair.

Hold: Medium | Size: 5 ounces | Alcohol-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yeah | Cruelty-Free: Yep

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Skinstore

What Nosotros Like

Travel size
Hold fashion
Well fragranced

What Nosotros Don't Like

Contains butane and propane
Minimal volume boost

This mini hairspray is tiny, but the slim, palm-sized bottle is easy enough to agree. Despite its small size, it sprays out a wide mist, and at merely 1.7 ounces, it's airplane-safe and a peachy option for traveling.

While it gives a bit of volume, I didn't notice this hairspray to excel in this category—simply thankfully, it didn't make my pilus flat, either. However, I was surprised how well this hairspray held my style—it has a firm hold that left my pilus mostly in place all twenty-four hour period. For casual styles—whether you're wearing your pilus downward or in an updo—this hairspray is a good choice for keeping everything in place. I as well institute that even when I utilise a lot of this hairspray, it left backside very minimal balance and no stiffness. The scent is unique compared to other hairsprays, just this is a adept thing. I think information technology smells more than like a perfume than a hair production, and so I'yard happy with its medium-strength scent.

This is a good all-around hairspray (and it smells cracking) and so it'south the perfect selection for packing in your carry-on or in suitcases where space is tight.

Hold: Medium | Size: 1.seven ounces | Alcohol-Costless: No | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Final Verdict

The best hairspray for your fine hair will be different for everyone, but we have our favorites and summit recommendations. The best overall hairspray for fine hair, R+Co's BLEU Featherlight Hairspray, gives a generous amount of volume and hold with practically zero production buildup or crunch.

But if you lot tin't get your hands on that one, Moroccanoil's Luminous Hairspray Medium Concord, our favorite for making hair await super shiny, is also a wonderful hairspray to try. It won't hold quite as well as our number 1 selection—or requite every bit much book—but the shine it imparts makes it another highly recommended hairspray.

How We Tested

The author of these reviews, beauty writer Joline Buscemi, spent several weeks testing hairsprays, reading product reviews, and talking with experts. After testing how each one worked in the existent world, she graded each i on a scale of one to five on features like hold, book, and experience.

Joline tested 17 hairsprays for this piece. She used each ane for eight hours for a total of 136 hours of testing. She assessed how well each i held styles and controlled frizz, as well as the way information technology made her hair feel. Using these existent-world results, each hairspray that made the cutting was assigned a category and rating. All testing was conducted at the reviewer's home near Boston, Massachusetts.

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Other Options We Tested

OGX Bodifying & Bamboo Fiber Total Big Pilus Spray

While some reviewers have enjoyed this product, I couldn't get it to work for me. I found that this OGX hairspray left backside the worst crunch out of all the hairsprays I tried, and it didn't have whatsoever redeeming factors—information technology didn't boost volume and it had minimal hold. I loved the fragrance, but it wasn't enough to make upwards for the way my hair felt while using it.

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Ouai Texturing Hair Spray

My shoulder-length, middle-parted hair leans Hanson Brothers-esque right later a wash, but I found Ouai'south Texturizing Hair Spray made information technology look more lived-in and deliberately styled. It's great for both freshly washed pilus and third-day hair—on my freshly done hair, it added texture and grit that gave my fine hair some life, and as my pilus got oilier, it helped absorb that oil like a dry shampoo. However, this didn't quite make the cutting considering it provided very little volume and no hold—two attributes that are pretty essential in a bang-up hairspray.

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

SexyHair Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray

Even when pilus is meant to exist deliberately messy, hairsprays tin keep your style from existence an actual mess. That'due south where this product comes in. The canteen is tall and thin, which made information technology easy to agree and maneuver, but the aerosol-powered spray nozzle was a little tough to printing, and I found the spray area also concentrated for an even application. It does provide a fair amount of volume, but at the same time, it can feel a bit heavy, so getting the amount of product right is key. Also, this hairspray left my hair with a crunchy feeling, more then than any of the other hairsprays I tested. It subsided slightly, but I could still experience it in my hair at the finish of the day.

Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

Encounter the Expert

Mikayla Ricketts is a makeup artist and hairstylist based in the Boston expanse.

What to Await For in a Hairspray for Fine Hair

Hold levels

Ricketts suggests choosing your hold level based on your pilus type and styling goals. "Utilise a light hold for effectively hair or fine-tuning when styling a natural moving ridge," she said. "On the other cease of the spectrum, apply a firmer concur for thicker, heavier pilus that is resilient to any style and prone to frizz."

Awarding

How you use a hairspray can ultimately affect how well it works. "Some stylists go in with a calorie-free-hold hairspray before using a hot tool on each section, and after combing out to ensure maximum coverage," said Ricketts. If yous notice hair even so feels heavy, Ricketts recommends using a light-hold hairspray for styling and a heavier hold ane to fine-melody.

Special features

Some hairsprays excel at adding smoothen, while other mattify hair. Think nigh what you want your ultimate style to look like, and then choose hairsprays that align with your goals.

FAQ

How can you avoid hairsprays for fine hair feeling crunchy?

This tin can depend on the hairspray itself, likewise equally how yous utilise information technology. "Hairsprays can be drying—some more than others," said Ricketts. "Sometimes calculation a light oestrus protectant or hair oils earlier using hairspray can aid you avoid that crunchy experience!"
How can I preclude hairspray from weighing downward my fine hair?

Ricketts recommends keeping a altitude when spraying hairspray over your terminal await to go along from oversaturating any one surface area. "For my finer-haired clients, I tend to use my hand and fluff the hair while misting from a distance to create an aerated wait that volition hold," she shared.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Joline Buscemi tested every hairspray on this list here to determine which ones were worth using—and to recommend the best times to utilize each. Along with the 100+ hours spent using the hairsprays, she as well conducted an practiced interview with a hairstylist for aid with this piece.