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Natural Hairspray Recipe

Katie Wells Avatar
Katie Wells

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Homemade natural hairspray recipe from wellnessmama
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Natural Hairspray Recipe

Hairspray is one of the worst offenders when it comes to chemicals in beauty products. It typically has aerosol, plastics, VOCs and more.

Luckily, like most beauty products, there is a simple, natural and easy to make alternative that is also less expensive and healthier for hair.

Surprisingly, it uses only a couple ingredients, including white sugar (an ingredient that is terrible for the body but can be great for skin and hair).

If you use hairspray, try this natural alternative… your health and the environment will thank you! If you are looking more for a texturizing and volumizing spray, check out this sea spray for hair instead.

Hair Spray Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups filtered wter
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar (dark ones don’t work)
  • 1 tablespoon high proof alcohol like vodka (I prefer spiced rum for the scent)
  • 10-15 drops of essential oils of choice

What to Do:

  1. Boil water and dissolve sugar in it.
  2. Allow to cool to room temp and add alcohol and essential oils.
  3. Store in spray bottle and use as regular hair spray.

Note: This recipe lasts indefinitely if kept in an air tight container. Adjust the sugar up or down for more or less stiffness/hold (more sugar=stronger hold) but don’t add too much or hair will feel sticky. I have had some luck combining this with the salt from my beach waves spray for a texturizing spray. I reduced the sugar by half and added half of the magnesium.

Not a hairspray user? Here are some other natural beauty recipes that work well and save money:

How to Make Natural Shampoo [Easy way]
Make Your Own Natural Deodorant With This Simple Recipe
Homemade Shaving Soap Recipes
Luxurious Sugar Scrub Recipe
Homemade Lotion Bars
Deodorant Bars
DIY Sunscreen Bars
Bug-Off Lotion Bars
Herbal Hair Color Recipes
Seven Natural Baby Care Recipes
DIY Beach Waves Hair Texture Spray
DIY Dry Shampoo for Dark or Light Hair
Natural Skin Care Recipes
Homemade Make-up Recipes
Feminine Hygiene Solutions

Have you ever made your own hair spray? Share below!
Hairspray usually contains a plethora of harmful ingredients, but this simple and inexpensive homemade version is healthier for hair and for the environment.

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

94 responses to “Natural Hairspray Recipe”

  1. Rena Avatar
    Rena

    Is there a hairspray recipe that’s good for heat-styled hair? I tried spraying this on right after curling with a curling iron, but it basically just felt like I was spraying water on my hair and the curls fell out in minutes.

    Reply
  2. Lenny Avatar
    Lenny

    CAN YOU DO A mixture of 1 tbsp. Of sugar and 1tbsp.salt to the water/essential oil alcohol mixture?

    Reply
  3. Wilhelmina Avatar
    Wilhelmina

    I must say the idea having sugar in my doesn’t appeal me. What I use for my curly hair is aloe vera gel mixed with rosewater, but that is more like a gel and is perfect for curly hair to make it less frizzy.

    Reply
  4. kelly Avatar
    kelly

    It works BUT makes everything around where you are spraying super sticky ( including flooring) & the worse thing ( & the reason I won’t ever use it again): if you go outside with this in your hair, it attracts bugs like crazy!!!

    Reply
  5. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    Weighed my hair down and felt very sticky. any recommendation to lighten it up?

    Reply
  6. Rachel Rivera Avatar
    Rachel Rivera

    Hi! I know with store bought hairspray, you can also use it as a makeup setting spray. Do you know if this homade hairspray would work as a makeup setting spray as well?

    Reply
  7. Jaime Avatar
    Jaime

    Hi, I love your blog. I’ve made this hair spray 2x and I really like it. When I came to check the post today so I could make it again, I see the recipe calls for 1/5 cups water. I don’t remember using only one-fifth of a cup of water – that seems like very little, not to mention an unusual measurement! Is that a mistake?

    Reply
  8. Jasmine Avatar
    Jasmine

    If you have this in your hair, would it damage it if you applied heat? Or should you just do the heat part before?

    Reply
  9. Ellie Avatar
    Ellie

    I love this hairspray! Great for a wedding up-do… I have another wedding next weekend that’s outside- would the bugs attack me with the sugar in the recipe???

    Reply
  11. Sullivan Avatar
    Sullivan

    I had to comment on this Hairspray because I have been using a similar recipe I found and I see people are having issues with this one. I recommend following the directions below rather than using as a normal hairspray. I have had success with this easy recipe and would like to share it:
    1/2 Cup Water (not tap, of course)
    2 Teaspoons White Sugar
    2 Tablespoons Witch Hazel (one mixed with alcohol like from Mt. Rose Herbs)
    6-8 drops essential oil (optional)
    Heat water to a boil and then turn off heat source
    Add sugar and stir until dissolved
    Add witch hazel and essential oil after cooling
    Pour into fine mist bottle
    STRONGER? Add more sugar WEAKER? Add less sugar
    DIRECTIONS FOR USE:

    Shake well before each use!

    Spray, wait 30 seconds to dry, then spray again as needed
    I recommend spray lightly and not close at first so the water doesn’t weigh hair down
    Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Roxy Avatar
    Roxy

    I don’t always use hairspray but I need hairspray when I put my hair in a poney tail and go outside. With that in mind I would be afraid of attracting bees and other bugs because of the sugar.

    Reply
  13. Isis Avatar
    Isis

    I was a little put down by all the negative reviews but I tried it anyway. Thank you so much! Turned out great, this will be a recipe I will use frequently in the future, its perfect!

    Reply
    1. nancy Avatar
      nancy

      What kind of hair do you have?Mine is thin, natural color and straight.

      Reply
  14. Krista Avatar
    Krista

    When I went to get my alcohol for the hairspray I make, the lady told me that ever clear would be best for hairspray because it’s small particles and will dry quickly…….I also use a cut up lemon or orange instead of sugar, but same idea.

    Reply
  16. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Yay! This looks amazing! I love what hairspray does, but hate what it’s doing to my hair! It always feels like i’m stopping my hair from breathing when I apply it.

    So i’m looking forward to this natural hairspray, quick question though, with white sugar being one of the ingrediets, will it not attracts insects? Thanks :).

    Reply
  17. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Hi, I too have to tell you how much I love your site. I have learned so much thanks to all of your hard work.
    Can you give a recipe for combining with beach waves spray and hair spray? I would so appreciate it, and so excited to try it out. Especially now, thanks to you, because my hair is healthier than its ever been.

    Sincerely,
    Donna

    Reply
  18. Heather A. Avatar
    Heather A.

    I just made this recipe this morning! I am pleasantly surprised at the hairspray’s ability to hold! I did a brushed-out pin-curl hair do and it seems to be holding very well. I do have to admit it is very sticky, even when dry an hour later. So long as you don’t plan on touching or letting anyone else touch your hair all day, this recipe is great! I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because of the sticky quality.

    Reply
  20. Hailey Avatar
    Hailey

    Can I use Jack Daniels (thats the only alc we have in then house) for the alcohol portion? It would be for my husband, since I rarely use hair spray.

    Reply
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