We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Style Hair The 9 Best Hairsprays Of 2024, Tested And Reviewed We tested 19 hairsprays to find your new favorite. By Addie Morton Addie Morton Addie is a Nashville-based freelance writer who is obsessed with all things home decor. In addition to Southern Living, her work has appeared in many print and digital publications, including Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Great American Country, and Tennessee Athletics. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 29, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process Tips for Choosing More to Consider Questions and Answers Why Trust Southern Living Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Growing up in the South, our mothers never left the house without a generous application of hairspray. Your childhood memories of hairspray may involve stiff and crunchy hair, but today’s products have come a long way. “The main two functions of hairspray are hold and frizz reduction,” says Jenn Yeager, owner and stylist at Salon Yeager in Knoxville. Meet the Expert Jenn Yeager is owner and stylist at Salon Yeager in Knoxville. Yeager began her career as a stylist in 2004. In January 2015, she and her husband Chris opened Salon Yeager. In addition to working behind the chair as a stylist, Yeager has developed an in-house education program to help advance the skills of her fellow stylists, plus she serves as a L’Oreal Professionnel National Artist. Today’s modern hairspray can give your hair a flexible hold, fight frizz, and add volume to your locks. Some even include ingredients to add moisture to your hair and to protect against heat damage. We tested 19 hairsprays in the lab and at home over a two-week period, evaluating them on overall look, hold, and texture. Using Yeager’s expert advice and our testing results, we compiled a list of the best hairsprays for your hair’s needs. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Hold Hairspray at Amazon ($37) Jump to Review Best Budget: Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray at Amazon ($15) Jump to Review Best Strong Hold: Pureology Style + Protect Hairspray at Amazon ($32) Jump to Review Best Flexible Hold: amika fluxus touchable hairspray at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best for Humidity: R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray at Amazon ($31) Jump to Review Best for Fine Hair: Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair Texturizing Hairspray at Com.au (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Volume: Kenra Perfect Medium Spray 13 at Amazon ($21) Jump to Review Best for Frizz: Color Wow Firm + Flexible Hairspray at Amazon ($28) Jump to Review Best Finishing Spray: Alterna City Slay Shielding Hairspray at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Overall Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Hold Hairspray Ulta View On Amazon $37 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Walmart $17 What’s Great About It Brushable and flexible hold Twist-lock nozzle Tames flyaways and frizz around hairline Fast drying What Could Be Better Strong alcohol smell Felt slightly greasy on fine hair Our Best Overall pick is compatible with all hair types and leaves you with flexible hold and brushable stands. We were instantly impressed by how this product tames flyaways and frizz around the hairline. Our hair looked great in a ponytail, and we even noticed some added shine. The spray felt like it added more texture and thickness to our ponytail, yet our hair still felt lightweight. We were impressed by this product’s twist-lock nozzle and fast-drying formula. It released a fine stream of continuous product and left a dry finish. We didn’t notice any residue or a greasy feeling, so this product can be buildable to meet your needs. However, we were not a fan of the strong alcohol smell that lingered. This product can be sprayed on hair before styling to help hold shape. During our lab testing, we noticed that the more fine hair types felt greasy after using this product. However, it held curls nicely overnight for all hair types, and we found it to be a great fit for curly hair due to its lightweight finish. Overall, our hair was smoother, shinier, and refreshed after using this product. Hold: Flexible | Size: 10 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best Budget Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray Ulta View On Amazon $15 View On Walmart $15 View On Target $15 What’s Great About It All-day, lightweight hold Doubles as a heat protectant Adds volume for a fuller look Lightly scented What Could Be Better Not the best for slick updos or taming stubborn flyaways Most budget hairsprays are known to leave behind residue or a greasy look, but not this pick. The Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray added shine, tamed frizz, and created smoother strands. We didn’t notice any tackiness or flakiness, plus our hair had more volume and fuller curls. We love that this product protects against heat up to 450°F. For best results, we used this hairspray on dry hair before thermal styling to help with hold. The nozzle was a little hard to break in, but after a few sprays, we were able to easily apply this product with a continuous and even application. We also enjoyed the product’s fine mist, light scent, and quick-drying formula. Although this is a light and flexible hold hairspray, we were impressed that our curls lasted all day. It didn’t leave our strands feeling stiff, and we could still run our fingers through our hair. Since it has a light finish, we were able to layer the product to reach our desired results. In our lab tests, this spray proved to be compatible with all hair types and held curls well overnight. However, because of the flexible hold, it was a little too weak for slicked-back updos or and taming stubborn flyaways. Hold: Light and flexible | Size: 7.5 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best Strong Hold Pureology Style + Protect Hairspray Pureology View On Amazon $32 View On Ulta $32 View On Pureology.com What’s Great About It Makes styling second-day hair a breeze Olive oil strengthens hair Fast-drying and lightweight formula What Could Be Better Heavy on fine hair This strong-hold hairspray is compatible with all hair types, but dry, color-treated hair will love the fast-drying and lightweight formula. One key ingredient is olive oil, which strengthens and adds instant shine to your hair. We also love that this product added texture and volume to our hair, so we were able to touch up second-day hair easily. The application process was easy, and we didn’t notice any residue or a greasy feeling after using this product. The spray nozzle is well designed and allows for a continuous stream without being aggressive. We were able to tame flyaways around our ears, hairline, and the top of our head with this product. The spray released a fine mist with a light scent with notes of fresh fruit and a slight undernote of alcohol, but this did not linger. After testing on hair extensions, type 1 (straight) and type 2 (wavy) hair felt very stiff. Type 3 curls felt slightly crunchy, while type 4 coils were intact and looked bouncy. The strong hold may be too strong for fine hair, so we especially recommend this product for curls, coils, and thick hair. Hold: Strong | Size: 11 ounces Southern Living / Meredith Luksetich Best Flexible Hold amika fluxus touchable hairspray Amazon View On Amazon $10 View On Loveamika.com What’s Great About It Doesn’t weigh down fine hair Great for bangs, blowouts, and loose styles Nozzle is easy to control What Could Be Better Leaves behind a bit of residue Isn’t long lasting for every hair type This flexible hold hairspray is great for fine hair. The formula is lightweight and leaves hair with a brushable and moveable finish. It’s made with Sea Buckthorn Berry, which contains omega-7 and vitamins A, E, and C. These come together to strengthen your hair and promote the production of collagen. Some hairsprays have aggressive nozzles, but we found this product to have a continuous and even mist. We did notice a bit of residue left behind in our hair, however, we didn’t see any flakiness. The flexible hold tamed our flyaways for about three hours before they started to loosen. We also had a few stubborn flyaways that couldn’t be tamed with this spray. Tight curls and coils fell overnight, but type 1 hair felt soft and looked the best. The flexible hold is great for fine hair and looser styles, plus it’s compatible with bangs. We sprayed this product directly on our bangs, and they still felt soft and moved naturally. We were even able to run our fingers through our hair and brush as needed without losing hold. Hold: Flexible | Size: 8.2 ounces Southern Living / Cara Milhaven Best for Humidity R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray R+Co View On Amazon $31 View On Nordstrom $18 View On Bloomingdales $32 What’s Great About It Tames flyaways all day Made without parabens Doesn’t have an overly chemical or fragranced smell What Could Be Better Can get crunchy after layering Humidity calls for a strong-hold hairspray. R+Co’s Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray is compatible with all hair types, but thick, frizzy hair will especially benefit. It kept our flyaways down all day even in hot and humid weather. This product is made without parabens and with several key ingredients to nourish your hair: Amp Copolymer provides thermal protection, Pro-Vitamin B5 thickens and builds volume, and the Holding Complex creates a strong yet touchable finish. We loved that our hair looked shinner after using this product, plus we didn’t notice any sticky residue, greasiness, or flakes. Those who are sensitive to smell will appreciate that it doesn’t have an overly chemical or fragranced scent. It’s important to note that if you choose to layer this product, you may experience a bit of crunchiness due to its strong-hold formula. Type 4 curls and coils didn’t react well to the spray during the extension test, and it left the hair looking greasy and almost wet. However types 1-3 looked great, and the curls were still intact and bouncy after sitting overnight. Hold: Strong | Size: 9.5 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best for Fine Hair Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair Texturizing Hairspray Milk + Honey View On Com.au View On Milkandhoney.com View On Fragrancenet.com $32 What’s Great About It Great everyday hairspray Doesn’t weigh down locks or leave a greasy look Adds matte texture for extra hold What Could Be Better No added shine Strong smell It can be tricky to find hairspray for fine hair. You want something that won’t weigh down your locks or give a greasy look, but you also want your style to hold. We’ve found the best of both worlds with the Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair. We think that this is the perfect everyday hairspray. It didn’t leave any residue or a crunchy feeling, and our hair felt tame after using it. The spray was consistent and covered a large surface area, and we were fans of this nozzle which provided good coverage. When pulling hair into a ponytail, our hair didn’t feel slippery, and it felt like the spray gave the hair tie something to hold onto. We didn’t notice any added shine, but our hair felt soft and textured after using this hairspray. We were still able to run our fingers through our hair, and the spray was compatible with all hair types after testing extensions overnight. We noticed the strong scent transferred to our hands after styling, so this product isn’t ideal for those who are sensitive to fragrance. Since it has a light, flexible hold, it isn’t best for updos or styling in need of extra support. Hold: Light and flexible | Size: 7.9 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best for Volume Kenra Perfect Medium Spray 13 Ulta View On Amazon $21 View On Ulta View On Nordstromrack.com What’s Great About It Strong enough for updos No product build-up on the spray nozzle Light fragrance that doesn’t linger What Could Be Better Isn’t the best for all-day protection against flyaways Left our hands feeling sticky After applying the Kenra Perfect Medium Spray 13, our hair was less frizzy and slightly more controlled. It can be used on all hair types, but we love that it gives volume to fine hair without weighing it down. The product is very lightweight, and it dried immediately. It gave the most volume when we used it before styling our hair. Though it’s a medium-hold product, we think it’s strong enough to support an updo. We were able to use this product on a daily basis for styling hair, ponytails, curls, and straightening. The spray held our styling each day for almost six hours. After a full day of wear, we had some frizziness and looser pieces around our hairline, but our hair didn’t feel greasy. We didn’t notice any added shine to our hair, but this is beneficial for people with naturally oily hair. The mist was fine and continual, and it was easy to cover all areas of our hair. The spray nozzle remained clean during our entire two-week testing period with no buildup or residue. We also love that the scent wasn’t overpowering and didn’t linger in the room. However, it left our hands feeling pretty sticky. Hold: Medium | Size: 10 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best for Frizz Color Wow Firm + Flexible Hairspray Sephora View On Amazon $28 View On Sephora $13 View On Ulta What’s Great About It UV and heat protectant Won’t weigh down fine hair, loose curls, or bangs Dries quickly Gives your hair a natural finish What Could Be Better Not ideal for all-day hold Leaves tight curls and coils feeling crunchy This pick is so lightweight that it almost felt like we had no product in our hair. It’s compatible with all hair types, but it’s especially great for fine hair, loose curls, and bangs. It dries quickly, plus it doubles as a UV and heat protectant. This spray reacted well to frizz, and our hair instantly felt smooth and soft after using it. After testing it on different hair extensions, we noticed that hair types 1-3 felt light and soft, but type 4 hair felt stiff and crunchy. We also noticed that the type 4 curls were noticeably looser after being left overnight. Our hair stayed in the desired style for about four to five hours. After that, the hold and shine started to wear off. While this product is great for short-term wear, we wouldn’t recommend it for all-day hold. We also had difficulty layering this product, and found our hair to be crunchy after a few applications. However, we liked how this product performed when we just wanted a bit of volume and shine. We loved that it minimized our frizz without weighing down our hair or making it look greasy. Plus, the light scent did not linger like most hairsprays. Hold: Flexible | Size: 10 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Best Finishing Spray Alterna City Slay Shielding Hairspray Alterna View On Amazon View On Walmart $23 What’s Great About It Packed with nourishing ingredients Controls frizz and flyaways around the hairline Protects against heat up to 450°F What Could Be Better Doesn’t add volume May cause stiff curls in type 3 hair We saw the best results when using this product as a finishing spray. We were huge fans of its hold and flexibility without making hair too stiff. It’s packed with ingredients to nourish your hair including water lily extract, coconut sugar blend, white charcoal, prickly pear oil, perlite, and lemon peel extract. It also doubles as a heat protectant against temperatures up to 450°F. Our hair felt clean and fresh after using this product, as well as less frizzy. There were no white flakes or residue in our hair, and we also noticed a little more shine. However, we wish it added more volume to our final look. This hairspray comes out as a fine mist which helps you intentionally use the product. It provided a nice level of hold for the frizz and flyaways around the hairline. It didn’t give that crunchy feeling that many hairsprays do, and we were able to easily brush through and style our hair without losing softness or flexibility. The curls held nicely during our overnight extension test, and we only noticed slight stiffness in type 3 hair. The other hair types were left with impressive results. Hold: Flexible | Size: 7.4 ounces Southern Living / Jessica Juliao The Bottom Line Of the 19 hairsprays we tested, Bumble and Bumble’s Spray de Mode is our Best Overall pick. We loved how this product tames flyaways and frizz around the hairline, and the brushable and flexible hold was compatible with every hair type. For a budget option, we recommend the Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray. This lightweight pick gave us all-day hold, plus it doubles as a heat protectant up to 450°F. Our Testing Process We evaluated all products based on overall look, hold, and texture. We tested products in the lab and over a two-week period at home. In The Lab: We started with clean hair with no product in it. We brushed through our hair, took before photos, and sprayed the product 6-8 inches away from our head in even and swift motions for 5-10 seconds. After we let the product dry for one minute, we took note of how our hair looked and felt, plus we took an after photo. We then used a brush/comb and hair tie to pull hair back into a low or mid ponytail. We sprayed the product directly onto our hair to help flyaways and create a sleek look. After one minute, we took another after photo and made notes of our final thoughts. Extension Test: In the lab, we tested extensions with type 1, 2, 3, and 4 hair to learn more about each product’s compatibility with different hair types. We took before photos of the curled extensions and sprayed the product 6-8 inches away from the hair in even and swift motions. We let the extensions sit overnight and took note of how well the curls lasted on each type. At Home: We also used the products as part of our regular routine 3-4 times per week during a two-week testing period. We used the products on dry, styled hair and sprayed them 6-10 inches away from our hair. We brushed our hair to reach the desired results, and took note of how well our hair held up throughout the day. Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Tips for Choosing the Right Hairspray Hold Level Southerners know big hair will always be in style, and we turn to hairspray to achieve and maintain these results. Hold levels indicate how long the hairspray will keep your style in tact. A light and flexible hold allows you to run your fingers through your hair. These hairsprays can be layered, but they typically won’t last all day. Strong-hold products will lock in your style the most, but they can often lead to stiff hair. Medium-hold hairspray is a solid choice for most hair types to protect your style without weighing it down. Ingredients “As with most things we put on or in our body, the quality of ingredients [in hairspray] is crucial,” Yeager says. Alcohol is commonly found in hairspray, but different types of alcohol produce different results. “I gravitate toward hairspray with Denatured Alcohol, often labeled Alcohol Denat., that is obtained from fermenting sugar starch (beet or sugar cane),” she says. “Some of the benefits of this type of alcohol are its microbial properties and the ability to promote the deposit of ingredients on the hair then disappear quickly via evaporation.” Additional ingredients in hairspray can also promote strong, healthy hair. Some key ingredients found in our tested products include olive oil in Pureology’s Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray to strengthen and soften your hair. For thermal protection, you can use a separate heat protectant or consider the R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray for its Amp Copolymer formula. To combat dry and brittle hair, look for ginger root extract, which is found in Kevin Murphy’s Bedroom Hair. Finish Southern mothers know the best hair rules, and they know you should always end your routine with hairspray. Matte and dry finish hairsprays help create volume and add texture to the hair. Some hairsprays have a glossy finish that instantly adds shine and life to your hair. Both matte and glossy finishes help tame frizz and hold your style. Southern Living / Jessica Juliao More Hairsprays to Consider Drybar Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray: We instantly noticed how soft and shiny our hair looked after using this hairspray. There was no residue, stickiness, flakiness, or stiffness. The light and flexible hold was great for taming flyaways and everyday styling, but we’d recommend a product with stronger hold for special hairdos. Oribe Free Styler Working Hairspray: This product was great for taming flyaways on medium to thick hair. It has a light hold that can easily be layered without making hair stiff or crunchy, plus it gives a sleek and shiny finish. However, we found this product to be heavy on fine hair. Questions and Answers Is hairspray bad for hair? You may think of crunchy hair when you think of hairspray, but this doesn’t have to be the case. With proper application, hairspray is the key to maintaining your hairstyle and reducing frizz. Some products even include ingredients to strengthen, moisturize, and protect your hair. In addition to maintaining overall hold, hairspray is great for flyaways. To tame flyaways, Yeager recommends taking a large makeup brush, spraying the top with hairspray, and lightly sweeping over the fly-aways. “They will be coated with just enough hairspray to make them lay down, but your hair won’t feel crunchy from misting hairspray directly on your part,” she explains. How do you properly use hairspray? “Hairsprays work best when held 10-12 inches away from your hair for application,” Yeager says. She adds that many hairsprays are buildable, which means you add multiple layers to achieve your desired hold. “Here’s a pro tip for you,” Yeager shares. “Be sure to spray interior sections of your style, especially the underside of sections, for the best support.” What’s the difference between hairspray and texture spray? With many spray products on the market, it can be difficult to decide which is for you. If you’re looking for a product to hold your style and reduce frizz, consider hairspray. If you’re wanting a tousled, disheveled look, turn to texture spray. Yeager says hairspray may add shine to the finish, and texture spray typically gives a matte finish with volume. Both products can be used on all hair types, so consider your desired results when deciding between a hairspray and texture spray. Southern Living / Jessica Juliao Why Trust Southern Living Addie Morton is a contributing writer for Southern Living who specializes in beauty, home, and lifestyle content. To compile this list, we tested 19 hairsprays in the lab and at home over a two-week period, evaluating them on overall look, hold, and texture. Morton spent several hours sifting through the results of our testing and researching products that made the cut. For expert advice, she also spoke with Jenn Yeager, owner and stylist at Salon Yeager in Knoxville. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit