Glamour

Hair

13 Best Hairsprays for Volume and Hold, According to Hairstylists

 

Protect your strands from the summer humidity.

The best hairsprays provide the ultimate triple threat: holding strands in place for hours, taming frizz, and enhancing texture—no helmet-head in sight. But they come in endless formulations, and what works for your best friend might not look the same on you. That’s why we asked three pro hairstylists and a team of Glamour testers to provide detailed notes on the bottles that work best for everything from building volume to adding shine and lifting waves when styling. Our top pick is Oribe Free Styler Working Hair Spray for its ability to keep hair incredibly touchable while locking in your style (all while smelling amazing). Craving more volume or looking for a frizz-fighter? Our testers nailed down top picks for all those needs and more.

Best Overall Hairspray: Oribe Free Styler Working Hair Spray

Hold: Light
Size: 9 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: Has hair-smoothing ingredients and leaves a brushable finish
What could improve: Is pricey

Shelly Aguirre, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says this Oribe hairspray is her “go-to” for a firm hold that’s still lightweight and brushable. She also likes the aerosol sprayer because it gives control over the amount of product that’s being applied.

“I put this hairspray to the ultimate test,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle. “I wore it all day to the office, ran four miles the next day, and went to a Charli XCX concert that same night. Yes, I should have probably washed my hair, but I had no time to style it. My beachy waves stayed put and didn’t have that crunchy texture that other hairsprays leave behind.”

How to use: You can hold the can closer to hair for more hold, says Aguirre, but she notes that “can sometimes give a wet appearance.” She also warns not to overuse the spray, because that could cause a flaky look. Luckily, you don't need to apply too much with this particular hairspray to get a strong hold.

Best for Fine Hair: R+Co Outer Space

Hold: Light-medium
Size: 9.5 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It has an elevated scent; doesn’t feel sticky
What could improve: The nozzle is fussy

NY-based stylist and colorist Marie Nino recommends this one particularly for fine hair. “It’s super flexible and easy to layer, especially if you’re changing looks,” she says. It’s not going to weigh hair down, which can be a problem if your hair is fine or thinning. But rather, this will hold your style in place sans stickiness or crunch.

Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary, who has fine hair, says she found the spray held up particularly well in humidity. “R+Co wasn’t messing around when they launched this potent hairspray. It’s really intense, so a little goes a long way, but I was pretty impressed with how well it held up after a sweaty day walking around the city,” she says.“My hair was mostly flyaway-free and it didn’t leave any residue behind or weigh my hair down. Instead, it kept it looking smooth, velvety, and in place.”

How to use: As Nino mentioned, it’s easy to layer on, so even if you use this in the morning but want to change your look at night, simply brush through and restyle, spraying more once your new look is complete.

Best for Wavy Hair: Kérastase Laque Couture

Hold: Medium
Size: 9 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: Prevents frizz; holds curls in place
What could improve: It can be hard to find in stores

This is Aguirre’s pick for a lightweight hairspray that doubles as a heat protectant. But that’s not all—it also provides UV protection to prevent your color from being affected by the sun. Plus, it has humidity protection and frizz control, so this is a good option for summer styling. And because curls are more frizz-prone—whether natural or achieved with hot tools—this hydrating mist boosts moisture, leaving waves looking their shiniest, bounciest, and smoothest.

“I normally have my hair in a bun during the week because it’s so time-consuming to style, but when I do style it I use this hairspray to hold my waves. I use the T3 multistyler and spray each section as I go. My waves are able to last for three entire work days, and that’s a win for me,” says Glamour’s Calle.

How to use: Spray from 10 to 12 inches away on dry or towel-dried hair. For additional volume and texture, use your fingers to work the product into your hair. The brand also suggests spraying each strand ahead of heat styling for longer-lasting curls. Once hair cools, brush through curls from root to tip for smooth, shiny bends that’ll last.

Best for Taming Frizz: Amika the Shield Anti-Humidity Spray

Hold: Light
Size: 5.3 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It’s a heat protectant, it reduces frizz, and it withstands humidity
What could improve: It’s more for frizz-fighting and heat-protecting than hold

You know those hot, muggy days that have you rethink whether you should even set foot outdoors because the weather is undoubtedly going to ruin your hairstyle? Well, Nino says this is your answer: “It’s weightless, invisible, and keeps frizz away.” Not only does it fight frizz, but it acts as a heat protectant, too, so if you regularly use a curling iron or flatiron, this is a great multitasking hairspray to have in your rotation.

“This pick held up nicely on an 80-degree day in NYC, when I was hanging outside walking through the West Village and grabbing drinks,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “My hair didn’t look greasy (which it often does after I expose it to the outside world in those conditions); instead it stayed fresh and looked and felt smooth to the touch.”

How to use: Because the formula is heat-activated, you’ll want to spray this onto damp or dry hair before heat styling. It protects against heat up to 450 degrees, so however you choose to style it– with a straightener, curling iron, or blow dryer, your strands are not only protected, but your hot tool of choice will also be locking in the frizz-fighting benefits for up to 24 hours.

Best Shine-Boosting Hairspray: Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Medium

Hold: Medium
Size: 10 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It’s rich in natural oils and leaves hair shiny
What could improve: Some reviewers find its scent to be too strong

Sometimes hairsprays can have a mattifying effect, and for hair that might already appear a little duller than you’d prefer, that’s a no-go. Glamour contributor Lisa DeSantis likes to use this hairspray for her blonde highlights, which she says are notoriously less shiny than deeper brunettes and black shades. “I love using this shine-boosting hairspray. It imparts a lustrous finish, but doesn’t slack on the hold. Sometimes I’ll spray this on after using dry shampoo, which also tends to leave a matte finish, and this helps to perk it right back up, leaving it looking healthy—and thanks to the dry shampoo, clean, too.”

How to use: Spray on dry, styled hair to add hold and shine. If you’re just trying to tame some flyaways and don’t want much product directly onto the hair, you can spray this onto your boar-bristle brush and then run it through your strands for subtle hold and ultimate smoothness.

Best for Bangs: Dae Sunsetter Hairspray

Hold: Strong
Size: 7 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: Fresh scent; tames frizz; makes hair look shiny
What could improve: It can be drying

If you have bands or a fine hairline, you know the struggle of hairspray making your strands look greasy and crunchy. The good news is that this gentle pick won’t do so—instead, it keeps even the finest of hair looking and feeling refreshed, bouncy, and soft.

“My hair is very fine but there’s a lot of it,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “So when I use hairspray, I’m always worried that it’s going to look crunchy and gross, especially on the long bang strands that I like to frame my face with. This hairspray pretty much solves that. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t leave residue behind or weigh down my hair. It makes it look really fresh and clean and keeps it in place completely. Not to mention, it has that signature Dae citrus scent that’s recognizable upon first spritz.”

How to use: Hold the bottle 8 to 10 inches away from hair and spray evenly on dry hair.

Best for Curly Hair: TRESemmé A-List Collection Workable Hairspray

Hold: Light to Strong
Size: 8.5 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It has a unique dual-sided nozzle; works on all hair types—straight to curly
What could improve: Some reviewers said the nozzle leaks

Another incredible drugstore find, Tresemmé is what many of the hairstylists use backstage at NY Fashion Week to prep the models for the catwalk. Once those styles are created, they need to last as the models strut the runway with all eyes on them. The unique nozzle allows you to choose whether you want a light or strong hold, but either way, you’ll still be able to brush through and re-style if needed.

How to use: A lot of hairsprays have similar sprayers, but this one is unique in that it features a dual-sided nozzle, and you pick based on the hold you need. Twist to the left for strong hold or to the right for light hold.

Best for Volume and Hold: Oribe Superfine Hairspray

Hold: Medium
Size: 9 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: Leaves hair shiny; is lightweight and touchable; smells good
What could improve: It’s pricey

This tried-and-true hairspray was the top choice of two of our experts. Aguirre likes it for its lightweight feel and hold while Nino says it will give you a shiny, soft finish and smells amazing, adding that it keeps hair “touchable.” DeSantis says she agrees on all counts. “Because I don’t wash my waist-length hair very frequently—about once a week, tops—I’m very particular about products. But I find that I can use Oribe’s spray to get the hold I want without requiring any additional washes. Bonus: I can’t get enough of the intoxicating Oribe scent that the brand is known for,” DeSantis says.

How to use: Recommended for use on dry hair of any length and texture. Be sure to hold the can about six to eight inches away as you spray. The fine mist makes it so you won’t overdo it, but be sure to move your hand around as you spray so you’re not concentrating in only one area.

Best for Thick Hair: Kenra Professional Volume Spray 25

Hold: Strong
Size: 10 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It offers superlong hold; it gives hair a volume boost; it’s especially helpful for fine hair
What could improve: Some reviewers found it to be drying on the hair

With both a strong hold and volume-boosting abilities, Nino says this is a good pick for thick hair because it will hold it in place. But it’s also great for fine and thinning hair because it offers volume, which can help make it appear like your hair is fuller. Impressively, the brand promises it’s wind resistant up to 25 mph and that its hold will last up to 120 hours. “I actually used this ahead of riding on an open-air party bus on Broadway in Nashville, and while I didn’t keep track of how fast we were going, nor was the ride longer than two hours, I’d have to say the claims seem pretty legit. I sprayed it on dry flat hair and was happy with the boost of volume and hold it gave me,” says DeSantis.

How to use: First up: Be sure to shake before spraying. Then hold the can 8 to 10 inches away before spraying in short bursts. For building volume in particular, concentrate on the roots and spray between layers. This will also help hold an updo in place, in which case you would want to spray over your finished style.

Best for Flyaways: Evo Builders Paradise Working spray

 

Hold: Medium
Size: 8.8 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: Doesn’t leave residue; is good for taming frizz
What could improve: Some reviewers found it wasn’t very flexible

LA-based hairstylist, Siobhán Quinlan says this hairspray is super versatile. It’s lightweight but has a medium hold and doesn’t leave any residue in the hair, which Quinlan says makes this is a good pick for fine hair. And it plays well with other products, such as the brand’s spray wax for ultimate hold and frizz control. If you deal with flyaways or static-prone strands, lightly mist this on your hairbrush to help tame it.

How to use: Quinlan recommends using it while blow-drying when the hair is still wet as it can add extra volume and hold as you style it, especially if you’re going for the more typical blowout look with a round brush.

Best for Short Hair: Shu Uemura Moya Hold hairspray

Hold: Strong
Size: 8 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It has a fine mist; it won’t weigh down short hair
What could improve: It’s pricey

Another favorite of Quinlan’s, she prefers this one for its superlight feel, noting that it has a very fine mist and won’t weigh hair down at all. If you’re worried about going overboard with hairspray, this is a good introductory option as its fine mist won’t allow you to overdo it. It’s also good for those with short hair because it’ll keep the hair feeling light and airy rather than dragged down.

How to use: Apply to dry styled hair from about 8 to 12 inches away. Add on layers of the fine mist for more control and hold.

Best for Lifting: John Frieda Volume Lift Hairspray

Hold: Strong
Size: 10 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No
What we loved: It’s budget-friendly; it’s volume-boosting
What could improve: Some reviewers found the mist to be heavier than desired

“For fine hair that needs volume, John Frieda Volume Lift is a solid, affordable choice that actually delivers on body,” says Nino. The best way to inject hair with lots of fullness is to concentrate the spray at your roots. “I’ve used this on occasions where my hair was falling flat, but after a few spritzes, it perked right back up,” say DeSantis. “My secret is to spray at the roots and then flip the hair back and forth a bit from side to side to encourage it to stay lifted. The same note applies to those with bangs—spray at the root and then style, whether that’s using a round brush and blow-dryer or setting with a Velcro roller. Most importantly, the lift holds all day and keeps bangs from falling flat against the forehead.”

How to use: Shake can before spraying from 10-12 inches away, ensuring the can is upright as you spray. The brand says you can create additional volume by gently pushing crown hair upward after spraying (which is essentially the same as my hair flip trick).

Best for Humidity: Andalou Sunflower and Citrus Brilliant Shine Hair Spray

Hold: Medium
Size: 8.2 oz.
Alcohol-Free: No

What we loved: It’s formulated with natural, hair-healthy ingredients and offers humidity protection
What could improve: Because it’s not in an aerosol bottle, the spray can feel wet

If you’re looking for a more natural hairspray option, Aguirre says this one with vitamin C, biotin, and apple cider vinegar not only offers medium hold but also aids in humidity blocking too. “The humidity protection comes from fruit stem cells,” she says. She adds that it delivers a nice shine without a sticky, crunchy finish.

How to use: This can be used on dry hair ahead of hot tools as a heat protectant or afterward to help hold your style in place.

Frequently asked questions

How we picked the very best ones

To pick the best hairsprays, we put top-selling and expert-recommended hairspray formulas to the test on different hair types, textures, and lengths. We then tested them in different environments to see if they held up. We looked for ones with certain claims, such as lightweight, strong hold, alcohol-free, etc. The best ones were the hairspray formulas that performed as they said they would, from more natural and hair healthful formulas to those that ensure every hair stays in place for 24-plus hours. We landed on these picks for every type of hold and occasion.

How do I know which hairspray is best for me?

To figure out which hairspray is right for you, Nino says to think about your hair type, your styling routine, and how much movement you want. So if you’re someone who doesn’t want to wash their hair after every time they style it (hi, it’s me!), you’ll want to look for something flexible that can be brushed through. It may say light hold, touchable, or the like. Quinlan points out, it may also be called a “working spray” because you’re still able to work with the hair even after spraying it. But for max hold and a style that’s not going anywhere, look for the words “strong” or “firm,” Nino says. However, if your hair is on the finer side, Quinlan says that a lighter hold is usually enough to keep strands in place.

What should you look for in a hairspray?

“Look for terms like alcohol-free, humidity shield, UV protection, or paraben-free, especially if your hair is color-treated or prone to dryness,” says Nino. Aguirre adds that you should keep an eye out for formulas that promise no flakes or stickiness. “In general, keeping the alcohol content lower is ideal.” Although a higher alcohol content may help to hold your style in place, it can also dry out the hair. So if you’re using a hairspray with a higher alcohol content, do so sparingly.

And be sure to also use moisturizing and nourishing products to maintain hair health (like scalp serums, hair oils, and more). Also, look for multitasking formulas, such as a hairspray that can also be used as a heat protectant. If you’re going to be heat styling your hair, this will help prevent damage without having to use any additional products.

Meet the experts

Shelly Aguirre is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Marie Nino is a NY-based hairstylist and colorist.
Siobhán Quinlan is a hairstylist at A|M Salon in West Hollywood.