Help me find a good hairspray

December 31, 2008 12:31 PM

I need a good hairspray that holds but is not stiff

I have long, very thick, very straight hair. I do have layers in it to take some of the weight off my head and neck. My problem is when I curl it, within an hour it is straight again. I have used a number of different types of mousse but it still won't hold the curl. I generally do not like hairspray of any kind because it makes my hair stiff. Is there a hairspray that will help hold the curls and still have touchable, movable hair? If not hairspray then some other kind of styling product would be great.

posted by Jules22871 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (8 answers total)

I have long hair that trends toward wavy/curly. I use Aveda products: after washing while the hair is still damp, I rub a nickel-sized bit of Brilliant hair gel between my palms then apply evenly through the wet hair. I then blow dry (scrunching to get the curl, but for you it may be blowdrying then using a curling iron). After the hair is dry & in the shape I want it, I then spray it with the Aveda Brilliant hairspray. I make sure to lift sections of the hair & spray evenly underneath too. The curl keeps all day and often into the next. I just have to stick my fingers in & fluff it a few times during the day. Hair's never crunchy & moves as I move but the style stays put. I have nice big hair. :-)
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 1:22 PM on December 31, 2008

I like Bumble and Bumble's classic spray, which is soft and you can easily brush out if you overdo it, but I suspect this one or this one would be good too.
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:58 PM on December 31, 2008

Spray gel works really good for me, the Fructisse stuff.

Also, finesse hair spray holds but isn't crunchy.
posted by Grlnxtdr at 3:14 PM on December 31, 2008

Are you drying your hair straight first and then trying to curl it? If so, try using a round brush when you dry your hair to curl it at the same time. You can get most of the moisture out and then do the last (half?) part of the drying process using the brush. It really seems to hold a curl much better this way. If you put on some styling gel while it's wet, it will stay curled even longer. And if your blowdryer has a no-heat setting, use that at the end to cool down the hair while it's still wrapped around the brush - it will help lock the curl in place.
posted by nelvana at 5:46 PM on December 31, 2008

I've heard good things about Tresemme hairspray. It's cheap (under $5) and isn't stiff like aquanet.
posted by belau at 7:50 AM on January 1, 2009

I'm a big fan of Tigi's Bedhead hairspray. You can find it at any salon, as well as many Wallgreens.
posted by Windigo at 10:43 AM on January 1, 2009

My girls did competition cheer for years and I had to learn about curls. They needed tight bouncy curls that stayed all day and it took a while to figure it out. You need clean hair with something in it to hold the curl (try biolage spray in gel or a mousse). The layering of product is important to keep it soft. I assume you know how to style it the way you like it. I would make it a bit curlier than you really want as it will fall/settle a bit. Then finish it in all directions with a light spray like Kenra 25. Get the top, the sides, and underneath. You can kind of shake your head and help shape it just a little as you are spraying if you keep the spray light, but when you get it right, give it a quick finish of spray and let it dry. If you brush it or touch it after, it will fall.
posted by kgn2507 at 1:46 PM on January 1, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for all the great advice. I'll look into these products and hopefully I will find something that works for me.
posted by Jules22871 at 2:50 PM on January 1, 2009