

I always tell my clients to look for hairsprays that have less alcohol." "One of the reasons hairspray can make your hair brittle or dry is because of the alcohol content. Ziani says to look for hairspray without alcohol or with a lower concentration of alcohol. Plus, many of these formulas are also buildable, so you can easily add another layer if you want even more hold. Otherwise, “use a lower hold so your hair will still move naturally while still holding your style,” he says. He suggests reserving super strong or firm formulas for updos only. There are plenty of hold levels to choose from, but Mouzakis says that, as a general rule of thumb, going for more flexible holds is key. He is the National Creative Director of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas, and owns and operates an eponymous salon in New York City. Zahir Ziani is a celebrity hair stylist who has worked with John Barrett, the Salon at Bergdorf Goodman, and Frederic Fekkai. He has over a decade of experience in the industry, working as both a hairstylist and educator across the globe. John Mouzakis is a stylist and co-owner of 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. After considering dozens of formulas, evaluating each on active ingredients, scent, and how it feels on your hair, we landed on the following picks.Īhead, the best hairsprays to keep your hair in place without drying it out. We conducted hours of research on the best hairsprays, consulting with two hair stylists for expert recommendations. "Hairspray is created by using polymers that form an invisible hairnet on your hair," explains celebrity hair stylist Zahir Ziani, "Essentially, it coats your hair strands in a lightweight film and connects individual hair fibers wherever they touch." Helmet head hair is a thing of the past, thanks to a wide array of new formulas that, yes, deliver hold but still leave hair feeling like hair.

Today’s spritzes are nothing like those of the '80s and '90s, where they were used to lock big hair in place with an impenetrable, shellac-like coating. There’s arguably no beauty product that’s experienced more of a ‘glow-up’ in the past few decades than the humble can of hairspray.
