The Best Hairspray to Hold Your Curls In Place

Hairspray for holding curls is such an underrated step that can really be helpful in your curly hair routine. Hairspray is typically a product associated with straight hair and heat-styled looks because most hairsprays contain ingredients that can be drying for naturally curly and wavy hair. However, when using the right hairspray for curly hair, it has many benefits, such as long-lasting hold, frizz protection, and volume. There are a few things to consider when finding the best hairspray to hold curls, including your hair type, climate, and desired look.

How to find the best hairspray for your hair type

Hairspray is a styling product that can vary based on factors such as hold level, flexibility, and the amount of moisturizing ingredients it contains. Depending on your hair’s needs, you may need more or less hold from your hairsprays. The more hold a hairspray has, the more of a cast it forms on the hair, which is a barrier that protects from frizz and humidity and helps curls hold their shape longer.

The following factors are important to know when choosing which hairspray you need to hold your curls and here’s why:

• Curl pattern: Looser curls and waves often find that their curls fall straight after wash day. Using a stronger hold hairspray can keep them intact longer. Coily curl patterns don’t need as much assistance with this, so lighter hold options are great. Curly hair patterns can benefit from stronger hold for more longevity or a lighter hold for flexibility. 
• Texture: Fine hair can benefit from stronger hold and more grit, especially those who want to achieve more volume. Coarse textured hair may want to avoid very texturizing products and go for more flexible hairsprays.
• Porosity: High porosity hair can be drier, frizzier, and absorb more humidity in the air, so strong hold hairspray can help seal out frizz. Low porosity hair will not be as affected by humidity.

Curlsmith offers two hairspray options, the Flawless Finish Flexible Hold and Strong Hold Hairsprays. Both are alcohol-free, so they won’t dry out your curls. They contain a unique Polymer Blend that provides a bouncy hold with innovative technology for shape memory. 

• The Flawless Finish Flexible Hold Hairspray version is a level 4 hold out of 10, which means it doesn’t provide a hard crunch and leaves the hair flexible. 
• The Flawless Finish Strong Hold Hairspray is a level 8 out of 10, meaning it provides more of a cast on the hair. 

Both options will work wonderfully on any hair type, but it just depends on what benefits you’re looking for.

Best hairspray to hold curls in curly hair

Curly hair patterns are type 3 hair that range from 3A-3C which are mid-range when it comes to how loose or tight the curls are. If you have a looser variation such as 3A, you may experience your curls falling limp throughout the week. A stronger hold hairspray such as the Flawless Finish Strong Hold Hairspray can help lock in your curl shape so it stays intact longer. If you also have fine-textured hair, a stronger hold will help provide texture and grit to enhance volume.

If you are closer to the 3C pattern, you may not have issues with your curls falling straight and you could opt for a more flexible hold such as the Flawless Finish Flexible Hold Hairspray. Curly hair textures can also experience a lot of natural frizz because of the bends and turns within the curl shape. Strong hold hairsprays will provide frizz control for curly hair textures. This is also an ideal option for those with high-porosity curly hair.

Best hairspray to hold waves 

Just like with loose curly hair patterns, wavy hair or type 2 hair, can often fall straight after wash day and struggle to hold its shape. Flawless Finish Strong Hold Hairspray will provide longevity after wash day and even be used on refresh days. 

If you want to amp up the volume in your wavy hair, you can lift up the hair at the scalp, and spritz the Flawless Finish Flexible Hold Hairspray throughout your roots and shake them out from underneath. The texturizing finish of the hairspray will help hold the volume so the hair doesn’t fall flat immediately. If you have coarse-textured wavy hair, opt for the Flexible Hold hairspray for more flexibility and movement.

Best hairspray to hold coils

Coily hair, or type 4 hair, is the tightest curl pattern, and it can often be the driest texture of curly hair that is prone to frizz, tangles, and dullness. If you have coily hair, you likely don’t experience limp, flat curls the way that looser curl types can. This curl pattern can opt for a more flexible hold hairspray in order to achieve added hold yet flexibility. Too much hold in coily hair can also make it feel more tangly, so a flexible hold hairspray would provide more manageability in between wash days. Coarse-textured coily hair can be very brittle, so adding too much hold can lead to stiffness.

Best hairspray to hold curls in humidity

Adding hairspray at the end of your curly hair routine is a great way to protect your curls from the causes of frizz in humidity. In humid environments, there is a lot of moisture in the air that our hair absorbs. This causes the hair strands to swell, resulting in frizz and sometimes a change in curl shape, such as limp flat curls. 

Using products with hold is best in high humidity because it will help curls stay intact. Look for a hairspray with polymers, which are ingredients that create a film or a barrier on the hair. For anti-humidity hairspray options, both of the Curlsmith Flawless Finish Hairsprays contain a blend of polymers that help to lock in moisture while shielding from frizz. Ensure you’re using a good shampoo to cleanse away products with film-forming ingredients on wash day. Curlsmith’s products are all silicone-free and they can be easily removed with gentle shampoos.

Depending on where you live, you may only need to add hairspray during the humid summer months or rainy seasons. If you’re traveling and going on vacation to somewhere tropical, pack travel-sized curly hair products, in addition to hairspray to protect your curls from humidity for more of a low-maintenance routine.

Best hairspray to hold curly hairstyles

Hairspray is also a great way to hold curls if you’re doing any type of curly hairstyle, such as updos and braids. If you have a special occasion where you’re looking to wear a prom, graduation, or wedding hairstyle, you will want your style to last all day without needing touch-ups. For updos, opt for the Flawless Finish Strong Hold Hairspray for all-day protection. This will also help to tame flyaways and frizzy baby hairs. For slick-back styles like high ponytails and buns, brush curls back and finish with a strong hold hairspray to keep any shorter hairs in place and fight against frizz while offering high humidity protection.

If you’re wearing a hairstyle where you will need more flexibility to separate your curls such as a braid or just want more movement, the Curlsmith Flawless Finish Flexible Hold Hairspray will be your best option. This will provide more flexibility and allow your curls to bounce back to their original shape after styling. Both the Flexible Hold and Strong Hold Hairsprays offer humidity protection and 24-hour hold for any hairstyle. 

Get the ultimate style hold with Curlsmith

There are not many hairsprays on the market that are specifically designed for naturally curly hair, and most of them are drying, sticky, and make curls feel brittle and stiff. Fortunately, Curlsmith’s Flawless Finish Hairsprays are formulated specifically for naturally curly hair. They’re not only alcohol-free but are free of silicones, parabens, and phthalates. With two hold options available, you can find the best hairspray for your curls’ needs. They also pair well with any of Curlsmith’s styling products and make a great finishing step to your curly hair routine. If you need assistance with picking products and building your perfect routine, take the curl quiz.