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We tested 19 hairsprays to find your new favorite.
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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.
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Some even include ingredients to add moisture to your hair and to protect against heat damage.
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.
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We were impressed by this products twist-lock nozzle and fast-drying formula.
It released a fine stream of continuous product and left a dry finish.
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.
Overall, our hair was smoother, shinier, and refreshed after using this product.
The Kristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray added shine, tamed frizz, and created smoother strands.
We didnt notice any tackiness or flakiness, plus our hair had more volume and fuller curls.
We love that this product protects against heat up to 450F.
For best results, we used this hairspray on dry hair before thermal styling to help with hold.
We also enjoyed the products 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 didnt 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.
One key ingredient is olive oil, which strengthens and adds instant shine to your hair.
The spray nozzle is well designed and allows for a continuous stream without being aggressive.
bang out 3 curls felt slightly crunchy, while bang out 4 coils were intact and looked bouncy.
The formula is lightweight and leaves hair with a brushable and moveable finish.
Some hairsprays have aggressive nozzles, but we found this product to have a continuous and even mist.
The flexible hold tamed our flyaways for about three hours before they started to loosen.
We also had a few stubborn flyaways that couldnt be tamed with this spray.
Tight curls and coils fell overnight, but key in 1 hair felt soft and looked the best.
The flexible hold is great for fine hair and looser styles, plus its 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.
It kept our flyaways down all day even in hot and humid weather.
Those who are sensitive to smell will appreciate that it doesnt have an overly chemical or fragranced scent.
However types 1-3 looked great, and the curls were still intact and bouncy after sitting overnight.
Weve found the best of both worlds with the Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair.
We think that this is the perfect everyday hairspray.
It didnt leave any residue or a crunchy feeling, and our hair felt tame after using it.
We didnt notice any added shine, but our hair felt soft and textured after using this hairspray.
The product is very lightweight, and it dried immediately.
It gave the most volume when we used it before styling our hair.
Though its a medium-hold product, we think its strong enough to support an updo.
The spray held our styling each day for almost six hours.
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 wasnt overpowering and didnt linger in the room.
However, it left our hands feeling pretty sticky.
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.
We also noticed that the pop in 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 wouldnt 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.
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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.
We were huge fans of its hold and flexibility without making hair too stiff.
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It also doubles as a heat protectant against temperatures up to 450F.
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.
The other hair types were left with impressive results.
For a budget option, we recommend theKristin Ess Ultra Fine Workable Hairspray.
This lightweight pick gave us all-day hold, plus it doubles as a heat protectant up to 450F.
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 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.
We let the extensions sit overnight and took note of how well the curls lasted on each pop in.
We used the products on dry, styled hair and sprayed them 6-10 inches away from our hair.
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 wont 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.
Alcohol is commonly found in hairspray, but different types of alcohol produce different results.
Additional ingredients in hairspray can also promote strong, healthy hair.
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.
There was no residue, stickiness, flakiness, or stiffness.
Oribe Free Styler Working Hairspray: This product was great for taming flyaways on medium to thick hair.
However, we found this product to be heavy on fine hair.
Questions and Answers
Is hairspray bad for hair?
With proper utility, 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.
How do you properly use hairspray?
Hairsprays work best when held 10-12 inches away from your hair for app, Yeager says.
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She adds that many hairsprays are buildable, which means you add multiple layers to achieve your desired hold.
Heres a pro tip for you, Yeager shares.
Whats the difference between hairspray and texture spray?
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With many spray products on the market, it can be difficult to decide which is for you.
If youre looking for a product to hold your style and reduce frizz, consider hairspray.
If youre wanting a tousled, disheveled look, turn to texture spray.
Morton spent several hours sifting through the results of our testing and researching products that made the cut.
For expert advice, she also spoke withJenn Yeager, owner and stylist at Salon Yeager in Knoxville.
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