The crunchy, sticky, hair sprayed into a helmet days of the ‘90s are (long) over, thank goodness. Today, hairspray has taken on a more subtle role in our hair-care routine, providing volume and hold without the crunchies. And for those of us with fine hair (myself included), the perfect hairspray can be a game-changer, since it can resist humidity, keep flyaways in check, and create the illusion that we were blessed with a head full of thick hair. Combined with the best brushes for fine hair, you can add shine, volume, and hold, all in one go. If you’re looking for hairsprays for fine hair, there are a few things to keep in mind—which is why we tapped several hairstylists to give us the 411, plus their recs.

Best hairsprays for fine hair at a glance

• Best dry hairspray: Kevin Murphy Doo Over Dry Powder Finishing Hairspray, $30
• Best high hold hairspray: Redken Triple Take 32 Extreme High-Hold Hairspray, $26
• Best medium hold hairspray: Kerastase Laque Couture Medium Hold Hairspray, $30
• Best flexible hold hairspray: Sebastian Professional Shaper Hairspray, $23
• Best texture spray: fave4 hair Texture Takeover Hairspray, $18
• Best brushable hairspray: Oribe Free Styler Working Hairspray, $44
• Best hairspray for color-treated hair: ALOXXI Working Hairspray, $22
• Best hairspray for shine: Surface Hair Theory Styling Spray, $37
• Best finishing spray: Kevin Murphy Session Strong Hold Finishing Spray, $40
• Best hairspray with ultra-fine mist: Bumble and bumble Spray De Mode, $34
• Best long-lasting hairspray: L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold, $13
• Best gentle hold hairspray: Verb Ghost Hairspray, $20
• Best hairspray for volume: ALOXXI Bombshell Volume Grip & Hold Spray, $22
• Best anti-frizz spray: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment, $27
• Best lightweight hairspray: R+Co BLEU Featherlight Hairspray, $56
• Best hairspray with dry finish: Oribe Superfine Hairspray, $23
• Best non-aerosol hairspray: Bumble and bumble Holding Styling Spray, $28

What should you look for in a hairspray for fine hair

“In my opinion, a good hairspray comprises of two things: the smell and the texture that it creates,” says celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Bobbie Riley. Sounds simple enough, right? With so many hairsprays (and texture sprays, holding sprays, and setting sprays) on the market, choosing one randomly can lead to a never-ending game of trial and error. With fine hair, you have to be more careful about weighing hair down or leaving it crunchy. Look for hairsprays that have more of a mist to allow you to apply it evenly as well as build up coverage, as well as ones that can add volume and lift.

What to avoid in hairsprays for fine hair

Fine hair has the tendency to get crunchy with a lot of product in it, so avoid any heavy hairsprays that may leave behind sticky residues. You want to be able to still style your hair even with hairspray in and have it look soft instead of sealed in place.

We talked to hairstylists around the country for their favorites, and they spilled. Read on for the best, expert-approved hairsprays for fine hair.

The best hairsprays for fine hair

Kevin Murphy Doo Over Dry Powder Finishing Hairspray — $30.00

A combination of dry shampoo, texturizing spray, and hairspray, Doo Over gives those of us with fine hair a voluminous, velvety finish. “It’s like a stronger dry shampoo that gives hair a grip at the root and will hold a good zhuzh,” says Amanda Moore, Stylist at Gem House in Brooklyn. She recommends using this on dry, freshly washed hair to absorb oil as the scalp produces it, so it’ll prolong your blowouts and volume from Day 1. Bonus: It smells amazing.

Pros:

• Dry finish
• Absorbs scalp oil

Cons:

• Expensive

Redken Triple Take 32 Extreme High-Hold Hairspray — $26.00

“I call this the shellac of hairsprays,” says stylist Susan Williams. “If you are not wanting anything to move and have very short, fine hair, this hairspray will lock it into place.” Its tri-mist nozzle provides a fine mist, meaning you’ll get the strong hold you want without the crunch or stickiness you don’t. Use it as an everyday finishing spray, or for big events, like weddings, when you need your hair to stay picture-perfect morning to night.

Pros:

• Strong hold
• Fine mist

Cons:

• May not need the strong hold for everyday use

Kerastase Laque Couture Medium Hold Hairspray — $30.00

“It’s my favorite hairspray because it doesn’t leave a sticky feel and it smells great,” says Raven Hurtado, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She raves that it’s long-lasting, with flexible medium hold, and good for all hair types, but especially those with fine hair. Hurtado’s advice: Hold the bottle 10 to 12 inches away from your head, spraying in circular motions.

Pros:

• Flexible hold
• Doesn’t leave a sticky residue

Cons: 

• Expensive

Sebastian Professional Shaper Hairspray — $23.00

Bobbie Riley commends this hairspray for its great hold, and this reviewer agrees with her: “I have, on occasion, tried other hairsprays, but quickly returned to Sebastain Shaper. It holds my very fine hair, but easily brushes out and keeps down frizz during humid weather that we have in Cincinnati throughout our summers.” Spray it on damp hair to help create your style, then re-spray after styling for added hold.

Pros:

• Good hold
• Hair stays brushable

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it has a strong scent

fave4 hair Texture Takeover Hairspray — $18.00

All you need to know about this hairspray is right on the bottle: “Oomph enhancing.” Yes, it is. This texture spray combines the best of hairspray and dry shampoo, giving your hair a subtle grip with a weighless lift. For the ultimate volume, spray it lightly into wet hair before you blow dry.

Pros:

• Adds texture and volume
• Doesn’t leave a sticky residue

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it doesn’t hold for long

Oribe Free Styler Working Hairspray — $44.00

Hurtado also credits this hairspray as one of her go-tos. “It’s a brushable working hairspray, so you can layer and style as desired without feeling crunchy,” she says. Its light mist provides a light hold, but the more you layer, the stronger it gets, allowing you to shape and reshape styles as the day goes on.

Pros:

• Nice scent
• Ultra dry and ultra fine

Cons:

• Expensive

ALOXXI Working Hairspray — $22.00

Whenever hairstylist Robertina Martinez is creating a pinned-up look on fine hair—an up-do, a braided look, or a half-up style—she reaches for this hairspray. “It provides just the right amount of hold without weighing the hair down and I’m able to still manipulate the hair while I’m finalizing the style,” she says.

Pros: 

• Heat-protecting
• Safe for color-treated hair

Cons:

• Less hold

Surface Hair Theory Styling Spray — $37.00

Want to enhance your shine and amp up your volume? (Who doesn’t?) Then nab a bottle of this styling spray, says Williams. It’s lightweight, with a medium to strong grip, and also creates texture. “I use this hairspray for finishing my look and holding it in place, or I flip over my hair and spray towards the roots for texture and lift without the built-up feeling,” she says. Perhaps best of all, the moment it is brushed out your hair feels soft, never sticky.

Pros:

• Adds lift and volume
• Dries fast

Cons:

• Some reviewers ay it has a strong scent

Kevin Murphy Session Strong Hold Finishing Spray — $40.00

Moore ranks this finishing spray as one of her must-haves for fine hair, thanks to its ultra-fine mist. “This spray can be layered on for more hold, making it the perfect product for fine hair to control the amount of product used without weighing the hair down.” Whether you need hairspray for hold, shine, or to combat humidity (or all of the above!), Moore swears this will last you through the day, even a rainy one.

Pros:

• Ultra-fine mist
• Strong hold

Cons:

• Expensive

Bumble and bumble Spray De Mode — $34.00

Hairstylist Jacqueline Travisono raves about this Bumble and bumble spray, which “gives a lightweight, flexible hold ideal for fine hair,” she says. The nozzle, which sprays an ultra-fine mist, is key; it won’t weigh down fine hair, and you can layer more spray as needed knowing you won’t over-do it.

Pros:

• Ultra-fine mist
• Brushable hold

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it has a strong scent

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold — $13.00

Another one of Riley’s top picks, this L’Oreal Paris hairspray does it all: preserves curls, resists humidity, holds an updo, and slicks strays into place. At the end of the day (or if your style isn’t quite right), simply brush your hair and poof! It’s gone.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Strong hold

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it has a strong scent

Verb Ghost Hairspray — $20.00

Think of this hairspray as an everyday go-to. It’s lightweight, with a gentle hold, which creates volume and hold without looking too done. Williams also loves it for keeping bangs in place. “My tip is to lift up the fringe and spray from underneath, then quickly let go and tousle or comb into place before drying for a soft movable grip,” she says.

Pros:

• Lightweight, gentle hold

Cons:

• Some reviewers say it has a strong scent

ALOXXI Bombshell Volume Grip & Hold Spray — $22.00

Martinez credits this hold spray as another favorite when working with fine hair, especially when you’re going for a blown out or curled look. “I love using it as a hairspray because it gives hair the perfect amount of hold while also maintaining a full, voluminous look, which isn’t always easy to do with fine hair,” she says. “Not only that, but it’s the only product I trust to give a healthy shine without sacrificing volume.”

Pros:

• Adds volume
• Flexible hold

Cons:

• Some reviewers say hair doesn’t hold all day

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment — $27.00

If frizz is your fine hair’s nemesis, Riley can’t recommend this spray enough. “I cannot live without it,” she says. It fights off humidity while locking in shine and protecting your locks from heat. For a silky soft voluminous look, spray it liberally and evenly on damp hair, then blow dry with tension to activate the treatment. Note: this isn’t an everyday spray; think of it more as a mini keratin treatment that you can apply every three or four washes.

Pros:

• Reduces frizz
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Reduces frizz but doesn’t provide hold

R+Co BLEU Featherlight Hairspray — $56.00

Lightweight and buildable, this R+Co hairspray will make sure your hair stays shiny and in place all day. It has a lightweight mist so it doesn’t weigh your hair down or add unnecessary crunchiness, and it’s flexible so it your tresses hold but not in a stiff, unnatural way. It’s formulated with ingredients like vitamin B5 and flower extracts to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Leaves hair soft and flexible

Cons:

• Only a light hold

Oribe Superfine Hair Spray — $23.00

Oribe’s superfine hair spray has light to medium hold and a dry finish so your hair doesn’t look like it’s weighed down by products. Made with mango and kiwi fruit extracts, wheat protein, and other cruelty-free ingredients, it has a light scent and is safe for color or keratin-treated hair.

Pros:

• Dry finish
• Light scent

Cons:

• Only has a light hold

Bumble and bumble Holding Styling Spray — $28.00

For those who prefer non-aerosol hairsprays, this Bumble and bumble holding spray provides a firm hold that’s flexible and brushable. It can be used on dry or damp hair, and whether your hair is fine, straight, curly, dry, or color-treated.

Pros:

• Non-aerosol
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Harder to control spray

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