Buzz
Hairspray can be a bit of a double-edged sword: it can feel suffocating, cause itching, and make your hair stiff and hard to manage. But when you’ve invested time with your curling iron and want to make sure all that effort isn’t ruined by midday, hairspray comes to the rescue. While the discomfort is immediate and unavoidable, the results—long-lasting, beautiful hair—make it all worth it.
However, there’s one issue that creeps up later, making you rethink your decision to use hairspray: flakes. These resemble dandruff, but are definitely not. Sadly, you can't walk around explaining to everyone that the white powder on your shoulders is hairspray and not dead skin (which would be super awkward). The solution? Prevent the flakes in the first place. Here's how:
Opt for a clarifying shampoo
Avoid hairspray buildup. As the name suggests, if you don't eliminate it, hairspray residue will keep stacking on top of itself. To detox your hair, use a clarifying shampoo every few washes. You can also try at-home solutions, like adding baking soda to your regular shampoo. Baking soda is fantastic for cleaning, so take advantage of it here. Just add one tablespoon to your usual amount of shampoo. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and avoid conditioning your roots, as this leads to more buildup.
Be mindful of how you layer your products. While detanglers and leave-in conditioners are excellent after a shower, and mousse and other styling products are great before blow-drying or curling, piling everything onto your hair at once won’t keep it from getting weighed down. Choose the products that suit your style for the day.
Apply Hairspray Correctly
A common cause of flaking and shedding from hairspray might be the way you're applying it in the first place.
“To prevent hairspray from flaking, hold the can six to eight inches away from your scalp,” advises Laurel Rush, a New York stylist with a decade of experience. “Spraying too close can cause buildup, which might lead to flaking.”
Avoid focusing your hairspray on one area for too long. Instead, make quick, even strokes up and down your hair as you spray. If you hold the nozzle too close or move too slowly, certain sections will become overly saturated, leading to crunchiness and eventual flaking. A quick spray of one or two passes should be enough.
Los Angeles-based hairstylist Hayley Heckmann shared a flake-free tip with Mytour: don't apply hairspray directly to your hair. Instead, spray it onto a brush, then use the brush to distribute it through your hair.
“I prefer a boar-bristle brush for all-over hold or a toothbrush for smoothing flyaways and baby hairs,” she explained. “This way, you achieve the hold of hairspray without the stiffness or flakes that can come from spraying it directly onto your hair.”
If your hair isn't holding as well as you'd like, try a hairspray with a higher strength rating. Also, check your nozzle. You want one that sprays a fine, wide mist, not a concentrated, narrow stream. If your hairspray is spraying more heavily than before, run the nozzle under hot water to clear any residue.
“There are many different hairsprays available,” said Rush, “each with a variety of 'hold' strengths. Be clear about what you want your hairspray to achieve—whether it’s volume, shine, or a dry shampoo effect.”
Select high-quality hair care products
It's important to invest in better products when it comes to hair care. Like with anything, finding the right one often comes down to trial and error, or relying on the experiences of others through online reviews. Different hairsprays offer various strengths, finishes, and features. If you choose one that doesn't match your desired look, it could lead to frustration, too much product, unwanted buildup, or even flaking.
While you're browsing, consider testing a travel-sized version before committing to a full-size bottle. If your hairspray keeps flaking, don't worry. You can use the sticky side of tape to remove the flakes from your clothing, and try to avoid constantly touching or tossing your hair around while you search for the right product.
