Want the Hold? Our Look at Top Hairsprays

Considering switching hairsprays or trying something new? Here's our look at the top hairsprays according to our staff of "hairspray specialists"!

Whether you need a light-hold to keep your style in-place or a firm hold to control complex styles, hairsprays provide a range of holding power - and many can help improve your hair's health or manageability! When most people think of hairspray, they picture old fashioned hairstyles such as the beehive or big hairdos from the 80s. In the past, hairspray always created crunchy textures and was impossible to wash out but in the last few years there have been significant improvements in the products available on the market.

Now you can find sprays that will keep your hair in place but still be easy to wash out. Many will also serve additional functions such as protecting from humidity or creating shine. The trick, however, is to separate the improved hairsprays from the old fashioned options that create stiff hair.

While it is easy to find a can of hairspray for under $10, you can notice a huge difference in quality and performance if you are willing to spend a bit more. This one costs around $15 a can and has been a favorite for the last few years. Stylists around the world prefer this hairspray because not only is it incredibly effective, even for extremely complicated hairstyles, but because the ultra-fine mist is specially formulated to reduce damage and be easy to brush out. It is this last feature that truly makes L’Oreal Elnett Satin stand out from its competitors.

Available in 10oz/284g packaging, Nourish's Nature Hold styling hairspray is a lot of bang for your styling buck. Providing a fine mist that provides medium to firm holding power, it is excellent for providing flexible control for most, if not all hairstyles. It dries fast and doesn't clump as many sprays do. It is formulated to add shine...so, its great as a finishing spray if you want to add some brilliance after perms, straightening or color treatments. Also (and this is one of our favorites parts), it contains Hydrolyzed Wheat proteins. Wheat proteins are commonly used in shampoos and conditioners for addressing strength and breaking issues and for improving moisture content and retention. So, in addition to providing some great holding power, it can help improve strength, shine and volume...naturally.

If you don’t want to spend over $10 on your hair spray but want something that does a little extra, Nexxus Frizz Defy Frizz Protection Hair Spray is one of the best options. Although it only allows for a light hold, the feature that stands out is its ability to fight frizz caused by the humidity. Nexxus says this is because of the ingredients in the product, coconut extract and argon oil, which together will both nourish hair strands and create a barrier to protect from humidity. It’s >claimed it will reduce your frizz by 87%, making it a perfect option for those with frizzy hair who just want a little extra hold.

People who dye their hair need to be extra careful when selecting any styling product (or shampoo and conditioner for that matter). That is because not only is hair that has been color treated more fragile, but many products on the market will cause the color to fade, decreasing the amount of time between needed coloring treatments. This hairspray is unique because it is specifically designed without water to help protect hair color from fading. It also provides a medium hold that is fairly flexible.

When you look at the price of this hairspray from Unite, you hope it is one of the best (coming in at $31) but it is actually worth it. That is because Unite understands that some hairstyles are intricate and require a great deal of hold, while others such as gentle waves require just a little bit of hold that still allows for movement. What makes this product unique is that you can use it for all types of holds (soft, medium or strong) depending on what you need on a particular day. This means that instead of having to buy multiple products, you can buy just one.

Another fairly expensive option (around $17) that is worth it if you have fine hair is Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play. This spray is specifically designed to help add volume to fine hair by targeting its roots to create lift and fullness. What stands out about this product is its durability as it can stand up to UV rays, static and even humidity.