Wondering whether hairspray is bad for your hair?. It makes sense — a few decades ago, hairspray contained harmful substances, many of which could hurt your lungs, damage your hair, and even cause cancer [1-4]. Fortunately, regulations and products have changed dramatically, so these days hairspray is unlikely to do any serious harm to your hair (or your body) when used in moderation [3, 5].
However, while hairspray isn’t known to cause hair loss or significant damage with typical use, it may lead to minor hair problems when applied excessively. The most common issues are product build-up, dry, brittle hair, and scalp irritation [5].
Keep reading this article to find out more about:
Hairspray is a styling product used to lock your hairdo into the desired shape and provide your hair with additional volume. It usually contains the following ingredients [3]:
UK aerosol products like hairspray must conform to the Aerosol Dispensers Directive. This is shown in the CE symbol on the packaging (or, from December 2024, the UK Conformity Assessed marking). These symbols show that the product is safe for sale and use in the UK.
However, while these products are generally safe, some ingredients can have a detrimental effect on your hair.
If applied correctly and not overused, most commercially available hairsprays are relatively harmless to your hair. Increased oversight in the cosmetic industry has led to the removal of dangerous chemicals, which have been replaced with safer alternatives.
However, if you use hairspray frequently and/or in large quantities, it may have a negative impact on your hair and scalp:
Generally, hairspray doesn’t cause hair loss. So if your hair is thinning and you’re not sure why, speak to a hair doctor about the possible causes of hair loss.
If your hairspray habit starts to damage your hair, it can cause hair breakage. This occurs when the ends of your hair become so brittle that they snap off. When this happens en masse, it can make your hair look thinner, though it’s not technically true hair loss.
Using hairspray everyday isn’t great for your hair. While the ingredients are relatively nontoxic, exposing your hair to drying agents like alcohol everyday could cause your hair to snap, fray, or split sooner than if you weren’t using hairspray so often.
This is especially true if you don’t wash your hair everyday to remove the remaining product and any build-up.
If you’re relying on hairspray to maintain your style on a daily basis, consider changing your hairstyle to a lower maintenance look such as these wash and wear haircuts for women.
Alternatively, embrace your natural hair texture and curl pattern (or lack thereof) with appropriate hair products, so you don’t need to use hairspray to fix your style in place. Take our hair type quiz to get a better understanding of your hair and how to look after it.
Ideally, you shouldn’t leave hairspray in your hair for longer than a day. It’s recommended that you wash your hair in the evening after wearing hairspray for a day. (Don’t worry, washing your hair daily won’t cause hair loss — that’s just a myth.) This is important because:
Leaving hairspray in overnight every so often isn’t going to cause serious problems. If you do need to skip a wash, shampoo your hair twice the next day to remove all the residue. Leave your conditioning treatment on for a little longer for a hydration boost.
Solvents in hairspray products act as carriers for the other ingredients. The two major kinds of hairspray solvents are alcohol and water. Here’s how they differ:
Both options are safe to use in moderation. For daily use, water-based products generally cause less damage to your hair, though they won’t give you quite the same look and feel as you’re used to with an alcohol-based hairspray.
Since there are many kinds of hairspray, it’s important is to read and follow the instructions on your product. However, here are some general tips on the best way to apply hairspray without causing undue damage:
Here are some of the most common errors to avoid when applying hairspray to create your favourite style:
Other products can hold your hair in place without the use of alcohol or other damaging ingredients. Here are some of the most popular hairspray alternatives [5]:
There’s definitely a place for hairspray if your style needs a little extra hold. But you should be aware of the impact of frequent use and/or leaving it in your hair too long.
Using a small amount of hairspray to lock in your style every so often is unlikely to cause serious damage to your hair. It’s fine to continue using your hairspray sparingly provided your hair isn’t already excessively dry or damaged.
While hairspray is mostly safe to use in styling, there are hair products that can cause more significant damage with overuse. For example, frequently using bleach or hair dye can cause hair loss. Harsh chemicals can penetrate the hair shaft, affecting its structure and making it easy to break off. Moreover, certain stronger formulations can irritate your scalp and even cause hair shedding from the roots.
As a rule, it is a good idea to avoid frequent use of hair products that contain the following substances, as they can harm your hair and scalp:
While excessive or improper use can lead to fragility and breakage, hairspray is unlikely to cause damaged hair or hair loss by itself. So it’s important to understand what’s causing your hair problems if you’re worried about the condition of your hair.
Book a consultation with a trichologist at the Wimpole Clinic for a thorough assessment. They’ll examine your hair and scalp and may request blood tests for hair loss to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
If your hair thinning is caused by overuse of styling products that contain harsh chemicals, they will recommend a safe, healthy, personalised hair-care regimen for your hair type, ensuring you get the best available treatment. Find out more about hair loss treatments for women at the Wimpole Clinic.
Learn more about hairspray in these frequently asked questions.
If used appropriately, hairspray should not normally cause any damage to your lungs. In the past, inhaling its aerosols regularly could indeed cause buildup in your airways, trouble breathing, coughing and pulmonary issues [4].
However, since the tightening of regulations regarding the type and amount of volatile organic compounds hairspray is allowed to contain, lung issues caused by inhaling its droplets have become very rare [3].
In recent years, much more thorough regulations and verifications have been set in place for cosmetic products in the Western world and most substances that can cause cancer have been replaced with safer alternatives. That is why it is unlikely that your hairspray contains carcinogens.
However, if you purchase this type of hair product from a part of the world where such regulations don’t exist or are not enforced, there is some risk that it could contain substances that may increase your risk of developing cancer, such as benzene, vinyl chloride, and methylene chloride [10]. If you want to be on the safe side, opt for non-aerosol hairspray, as most of these harmful substances are used as propellants.
The main benefit to using hairspray is keeping your hair locked in place for longer. It’s unlikely to offer any other advantages, even if your chosen product is infused with certain protective additives. These may offset some of the negative effects of the hairspray, but probably won’t give you any long-lasting benefits.
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