10 Best Shaping Hairsprays

1. John Frieda Frizz Ease KeraFlex Flexible Hold Hairspray

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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John Frieda’s Frizz Ease series comprises various products aimed at smoothing, detangling, and de-frizzing hair. The series is diverse too with a wide variety of products such as creams, mousses, serums, and hairsprays. Most of these products are also available in multiple variants with varying degrees of holds.

In the hairspray category, the KeraFlex Flexible Hold Hairspray is one of the variants. The other available hairspray variant is the Firm Hold Hairspray. Like all products in the Frizz Ease series, this one also excels at smoothing, detangling, shining, and de-frizzing hair without making the hair crunchy.

The reason why this product can offer these qualities is that it incorporates keratin in addition to the styling polymers usually found in hairsprays. The styling polymers and keratin also combine well to give this product strong heat protectant properties. Therefore, if you style your hair with hot tools often, then this product will be perfect for you.

The hold offered by this product is flexible which means that the hair remains brush-able and touchable. The only problem is that you need to be very careful about how much of it you apply in one spot. In large quantities, this hairspray will leave your hair either sticky or crunchy.

Something else you need to be careful about is the distance between your hair and the bottle while you spray the product on. The spraying mechanism of this product is one of the strongest we’ve seen. While the mechanism sprays the product in a micro-fine mist, it is incredibly powerful.

In fact, it is so powerful that if you’re not careful, just the act of spraying the product will move your hair and, hence, ruin your hairstyle. Other than keeping it far from your hair, you can also prevent your hairstyle from going wonky by being more careful about how much you press down on the sprayer.

This product’s scent is so mild and subtle that the hairspray almost comes off as odorless. If you have a good sense of smell, though, you’ll find this shaping hairspray to have a light, fresh, and clean scent.

The pricing of this hairspray is very competitive. It is incredibly cheap and would suit the financial means of the vast majority of potential buyers.

Who’s it for: If you have experience with hairsprays and have a good idea of how much your hair needs, try this product from John Frieda.

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2. Nexxus Comb Thru Finishing Mist

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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The first shaping hairspray we reviewed was one of the stronger budget options in the market. This one from Nexxus is the exact opposite which means that it is very lightweight. In fact, the manufacturer calls this product a volumizing hair spray.

Dubbed the Comb Thru Finishing Mist, this product from Nexxus is a great choice for people with fine hair. The formula of this product is fairly simple in the sense that it contains a slew of styling polymers suspended in an alcohol base.

Most other shaping hairsprays add ingredients to this basic mix but this product is minimalistic making its formula one of the simplest in the industry. The simplicity of its formula makes it a fairly lightweight product too. However, don’t let this fool you because the formula still contains enough styling polymers to make your hair greasy if you’re too liberal with this spray.

Further, the formula allows this product to offer a medium-strength hold. However, as its name suggests, the hair remains comb through, touchable, and brush-able.

The company says that this shaping hairspray provides such a great flexible hold because it features their “signature Fluid-Fix Technology”. The only problem is that the hold doesn’t last for a very long time. If you sweat too much or live in an area with a lot of humidity and wind speed, then this product is not for you.

You also need to be circumspect of this product if you’re very sensitive to scents. While its scent is a refreshing blend of rose and jasmine, the smell does come across as a bit too artificial. However, this isn’t even the worst problem with the smell. The worst part is that the smell is very strong and tends to linger long after the hair has dried up.

This product isn’t the most expensive out there making it a good financial fit for most people.

Who’s it for: If you have fine hair that tends towards dryness and want a lightweight shaping hairspray, get this one from Nexxus.

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3. Scruples High Definition Hair Spray (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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Shaping and finishing hairsprays are inherently different but Scruples has managed to create a hairspray that can play both roles. This is the main reason why the High Definition Hair Spray from the company is so popular and our best pick within the budget price segment.

The secret to using this hairspray for both purposes is layering. If kept to a layer or two, this hairspray is one of the best working hairsprays for dry hair. Once the styling process is complete, you can apply a layer or two more of this product to finish and fix the hairstyle. However, you can only apply it to dry hair because the company says that it isn’t designed for damp hair.

For the most part, the hold this hairspray provides is medium to firm which means that it can handle the usual environmental conditions. This includes humidity because this hairspray is very effective against frizzy and flyaway hair as well.

This quality comes from what the company calls the Protective Barrier Complex comprising keratin and silicones. The hold is flexible too. You can use the hairspray and still have a natural shape to your hair and curls.

However, it is very easy to apply too much of this hairspray while finishing off your style. In larger quantities, this product can make your hair a bit crunchy. This hairspray, however, would neither make your hair greasy nor sticky.

It also happens to be fully water-soluble which means that it is easy to wash off the next day. Further, this shaping hairspray is rated to be cruelty-free which is something that should appeal to the animal lover in you.

The scent of this hairspray is also very gender-neutral. This means that this product is suitable for both males and females. It’s not even very strong, making it a great choice for people with very sensitive noses. Its scent can be best described as clean.

The biggest issue with this product is its cost. While it qualifies as a budget product as per our criteria, it does so only barely. On a per ounce basis, this product is considerably more expensive than most other budget shaping hairsprays available in the market.

It is a bit too expensive even when you buy bigger packs. You can get this product in single, double, or triple packs.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a neutral smelling shaping hairspray that doubles up as a finishing spray, give this one from Scruples a go.

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4. Professional Sebastian Shaper Hairspray

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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Professional Sebastian is a very old company. Therefore, when they say that their Shaper Hairspray was one of the first in the industry, we’re inclined to believe them.

Further proof of their claim is the great performance of their hairsprays. While we’re only reviewing the Shaper Hairspray 55 percent, they have other great shaping hairspray variants that perform equally well too.

First, this same hairspray is available in the 80 percent variant. The percentage refers to how much Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are present in the product. The higher the percentage the better hold the product offers.

However, a higher VOC percentage also means that the product is more damaging to the environment. It is for this reason that products containing 80 percent VOCs are banned in some American states. If you’re interested in this variant, you’ll have to check whether it is allowed in your state.

The same VOC variants are also available under Shaper Plus guise i.e., Shaper Plus 55 percent and Shaper Plus 80 percent. The Plus variants offer Firm hold while the original formula variants offer Medium hold.

Further, the shaper Fierce variant offers the strongest hold while the Shaper Zero Gravity variants offers the softest hold. You can also choose the Shaper iD variant if you want perpetually moldable hair. Then, there’s the Re-shaper which offers even more flexibility when it comes to the hold. The company also offers these same products in combos with their Mousse Forte.

As is evident, the Shaper and Re-Shaper hairsprays from Professional Sebastian offer the full gamut of hold options. This means that regardless of how unique your hair type is, you’ll find a variant suitable for your specific requirements. All the variants offer humidity resistance and de-frizzing capabilities to varying degrees too.

This particular variant, though, can prove to be a little greasy for some users. If you already have oily hair, we suggest going for the more lightweight variants or risk getting your hair weighed down.

The scent also varies from one variant to another. However, most of them have a light, clean scent of alcohol. The scent of this variant is neither very overpowering nor does it linger in the hair, making this shaping hairspray a good match for most haircare regimes.

The biggest flaw of these shaping hairsprays is their delivery mechanism. The spray nozzles that they come with are very annoying. They get clogged up regularly. This means that you’ll need to learn how to use warm water and sharp objects to unclog their nozzles or get used to the product going to waste.

These products are priced very competitively. They are not very pocket-friendly but they are also not very expensive. Therefore, if a shaping hairspray is important enough for you to push the financial envelope, you’ll find this product to be well worth a try.

Who’s it for: If you want one of the first shaping hairsprays in the industry, try this one from Professional Sebastian.

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5. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Professional Styling Working Hair Spray (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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It doesn’t matter which price bracket you look into; you won’t find a better shaping hairspray than this one from Alterna. Called the Anti-Aging Professional Styling Working Hair Spray, this product has the potential to do more for your hair than just styling it. There are clues to what this product can do in its name.

First, the word “working” is used clearly in its name which shows that it is a shaping hairspray designed for industry insiders because the term is used more by professionals than common people. The “professional styling” phrase is also a hint towards that direction. Then, the fact that its name also includes “anti-aging” shows everything else that this shaping hairspray is capable of.

This is a rare shaping hairspray because it tries to do more than just help you style your hair and fix the hairstyle. This is evident by its formula which boasts of some of the most impressive and beneficial ingredients known in the industry when it comes to hair health.

The ingredients this product’s formula incorporates includes premium-grade caviar along with other excellent substances such as shea butter, provitamin B5, biotin, kelp extract, sunflower seed oil, hydrolyzed pearl, sea salt, keratin amino acids, badderlocks extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, and a series of mineral ferments.

The company says that all these ingredients are a part of their Age-Control Complex and Enzymotherapy. In practice, according to Alterna, these ingredients hydrate the hair from the inside and make it more elastic.

Both these qualities are crucial for hair health and together they prevent various problems ranging from frizz to breakage. Further, these ingredients also protect the hair from ultraviolet rays from the sun.

In terms of its core purpose, this shaping hairspray performs well too. It makes it easier to style and shape hair. Further, once it has dried, it gives the hair a medium hold while still leaving it touchable and flexible. The best part is that it does all this without making the hair sticky or weighed down.

Another area where this product beats its competitors is the scent. While the extremely sensitive people will get a slight smell from the ingredients in this product, the vast majority of people find this product to be unscented. Most people don’t even think it smells of alcohol or chemicals like other hairsprays in the market do.

There is a slew of size options to choose from too. This shaping hairspray is available in three bottle sizes – 1.5 ounces, 7.4 ounces, and 15.5 ounces. Further, these bottles are available in single and double packs both.

It is these bigger bottles in the double pack that make this shaping hairspray so affordable. At its most expensive which is the single travel bottle, you’ll find this product to be one of the most expensive ever.

All the qualities of this product are particularly impressive since it only has one real flaw. This is the fact that its spraying mechanism can be erratic. However, this is something that most hairsprays suffer from.

If the hairspray dries up in the nozzle, then it can end up blocking it and preventing further use. This is a problem that this product suffers from too. The workaround to this problem is to learn how to unclog these nozzles. It requires some warm water and dexterous use of sharp objects but it is possible and doesn’t require a lot of skill.

Who’s it for: If you want the best shaping hairspray in the industry right now, you’ll get this one from Alterna.

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6. BIOLAGE Styling Freeze Fix Agave Hair Spray

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Biolage is a well-recognized name in the haircare industry. They are mainly known for the unique scent of their products. In fact, even the company specifies that it is recognized for its typical scent which is derived purely from botanicals of various types.

The Styling Freeze Fix Agave Hair Spray boasts of this classic Biolage scent too. People like the scent of this and other Biolage products so much that there have been demands for specialized perfumes. The scent is difficult to describe, however. What we can say is that it is very light and complex.

While the classic Biolage scent may be the main reason why most people choose this shaping hairspray, it is pretty impressive when it comes to its core purpose too. For example, it is very effective against humidity and makes it easier for the hair to be styled as well.

In terms of hold, Biolage says that it provides a firm hold. However, actual users suggest that the hold should instead be described as medium as opposed to firm. Regardless of its strength, though, the hold remains brush-able, touchable, and very flexible.

At the same time, this product can come across as a little sticky if you use too much of it in a single application. Despite being sticky, it won’t leave your hair greasy.

Additionally, this product happens to be one of those shaping hairsprays that also add volume to the hair. It lifts the roots of individual hair strands well while locking them in the lifted position, resulting in more volume and better body in the hair.

Biolage is also recognized for being environmentally friendly. This product works in that regard too since it boasts of a vegan formula that has a cruelty-free rating as well. Further, the bottle this shaping hairspray comes in is made up of 100 percent recycled plastic.

In terms of pricing, this is a competitive product that will neither burn a hole in your pocket nor seem too cheap.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a hairspray that will volumize your hair while you style it, try this one from Biolage.

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7. Kenra Platinum Working Hair Spray 14

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Kenra is another very well-known player in the styling industry. Kenra’s hairsprays are regarded well the world over because they almost always deliver on the claims made by the company. The Platinum Working Hair Spray 14 from the company boasts of the same qualities.

This shaping hairspray is designed to help people style their hair while adding volume and body to it. As a result, while it gives the hair a flexible hold, it also provides considerable texture and detailing along the way.

Even though the hold is flexible, the company says that its strength is medium-grade. The users, however, differ. Most people who have used this product say that its hold is on the lighter side. We believe that while this product’s hold is still medium, it is closer to the lighter side of the spectrum than the firmer side.

Therefore, if you’re someone who has normal to thick hair type, then you might find this shaping hairspray’s hold to be a little feeble for your hair. In contrast, if you have fine to normal hair type, then the hold provided by this product might just be perfect. The good part, though, is that this product will not make your hair sticky or weigh it down in any way, regardless of what your hair type is.

This hairspray will also suit you if you’re very sensitive to smells. Its scent is best described as very light and subtle. This means that it won’t bother your sinuses. Further, it doesn’t even linger which means that the scent of other hair products in your haircare regime will take precedence.

Even though this is a great product, it isn’t without its flaws. Its biggest flaw is its cost. While not the most expensive in the market, it still happens to be a little on the pricey side.

Another flaw of this product is its spraying mechanism. Most hairsprays’ spraying mechanisms get clogged but this one’s seems to do it far more often than its competitors. The frequency with which it gets clogged can get very irritating especially if you’re someone with a busy lifestyle.

Who’s it for: If you want a shaping hairspray that will help you create a hairstyle that stays in place while giving your hair some body, try the no. 14 from Kenra.

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8. R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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There aren’t many shaping hairsprays in the market designed specifically for lighter hair types. The reason for this is that people with lighter hair types need extremely lightweight hairsprays that cannot be used by people with weightier hair types. In contrast, they can always use hairsprays made for heavier hair types by applying small amounts.

However, what most manufacturers don’t realize is that when heavier hairsprays are used on fine or light hair types, they either weigh the hair down or end up making it sticky and greasy.

R+Co seems to have understood this and created a shaping hairspray that suits people with light hair very well. The Outer Space Flexible Hairspray is a working hairspray that offers light to medium hold which is closer to being light than medium.

This makes it downright perfect for people with fine or light hair types. This hairspray is also slow-drying which is why it can be a great choice if you want to create elaborate hairdos.

In fact, you can apply this shaping hairspray and then work on your hairstyle with the help of hot tools or non-heat tools such as rollers. The best part is that your hair will not feel sticky or weighed down at any stage of the styling process.

The company says that it contains Amphomer Polymer which thickens and sets gradually. Apart from providing heat protection, these polymers also keep the hair safe from ultraviolet rays.

This hairspray is also a good choice for people with dry hair because it contains provitamin B5. Provitamin B5, if you didn’t know, is a good hydrating agent that can help build volume too.

None of the ingredients used in this product’s formula are drawn from animal sources. Further, none of the ingredients contain gluten which means that this product won’t trouble people with celiac disease.

The biggest issue with this product is its scent. It is extremely divisive. A lot of people love it but many people loathe it too. Some people find it to be a classic perfume scent reminiscent of the premium class while others say that it reminds of old ladies. It all depends on your perspective. In neutral terms, we can tell you that the scent is very light and a little on the sweet side.

Like most products from this company, this one also happens to be priced expensively. It doesn’t even matter which size bottle you buy the cost will be high. However, we recommend going for the 9.5-ounce bottle as it will save you the most money in terms of the per-ounce cost. The 2.25-ounce and 1-ounce bottles will force you to spend twice as much.

As is the case with all hairsprays, this one’s spray nozzle is also prone to clogging. This is an unavoidable problem with these types of hair products. We suggest you learn how to unclog these nozzles. You’ll only need some lukewarm water and a sharp object like a needle.

Who’s it for: If you’re not averse to classic scents, have money to spend, and want a shaping hairspray designed for light hair types, try R+Co.

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9. Living proof Flex Hairspray (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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The Flex Hairspray from Living Proof is the best shaping hairspray in the market right now. To a certain extent, it makes sense too because this product also happens to be one of the more expensive shaping hairsprays in the market right now.

However, in terms of effectiveness and experience, this shaping hairspray beats virtually all its competitors. For instance, this is one of those few shaping hairsprays that can keep hair in the chosen hairstyle while retaining its natural shape and drape.

The reason for this is that this hairspray offers soft and flexible hold. Its soft hold also makes it excellent for people with fine hair. Another great quality of this shaping hairspray is that it can be layered without making the hair sticky, greasy, or weighed down.

This means that you can use this hairspray in all the styling stages including creation, plumping, and finishing. However, you need to be careful about how much of this hairspray you use. In large quantities, it can still make your hair sticky.

The versatility of this product is visible in other ways too. For example, you can use this hairspray on dry or damp hair without affecting its effectiveness in any way.

The reason why it can offer all those qualities is the company’s proprietary Flexible Web Technology. This technology allows this product to contain a unique blend of firm and flexible styling polymers that are optimized to deal with both dry and damp hair.

This hairspray is also rated to be cruelty-free which is something that should appeal to all animal lovers. Like most Living Proof products, this one also boasts a unique scent. Its scent is a little floral with notes of musk and vanilla. While not offensive in any way, you should know that the scent is a bit too strong.

The biggest flaw of this product is its cost. It is definitely too expensive for the average person and you either need to have a lot of money or be committed to styling to use this shaping hairspray regularly.

Who’s it for: If you don’t mind spending over the odds for the best shaping hairspray on the market, you won’t regret buying this one from Living Proof.

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10. Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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The Fluxus Touchable Hairspray from amika would have been like most other over-expensive shaping hairsprays in the industry if it wasn’t for its special ingredient – sea buckthorn berry.

amika says that this ingredient contains close to 200 “biologically active compounds” such as vitamins C, A, and E. Further, the ingredient also contains essential omegas in large quantities. For instance, omega-7 accounts for 40 percent of the berry. These aspects of sea buckthorn berry prove to be very beneficial when it comes to hair health.

While this ingredient adds a different dimension to this product, this shaping hairspray performs well in its core purpose too i.e., helping style the hair and hold the hair in place. This product makes it easier to style the hair as it has detangling qualities, nullifies frizz, and even makes hair more vibrant by adding shine to it.

The hold, though, remains soft. As a result, this is a good hairspray if you have fine or thinning hair. Using this hairspray won’t weigh down your hair or make it greasy and sticky. Instead, your hair will retain its natural shape and fall.

The one area where this shaping hairspray performs poorly is its scent. It has a very different scent. The scent is so peculiar or unique that most people end up either loving it or hating it. This product smells strongly of old-fashioned perfumes. Between the strength and nature of the scent, a lot of people find it unappealing.

The other big problem with this shaping hairspray is its delivery mechanism. The spraying nozzles of this product clog up at the drop of a hat and take a particularly long time to unclog too. In fact, some people say that they’ve had to throw away half-full bottles because they couldn’t unclog the nozzles.

This can be particularly troublesome because this is one of the most expensive shaping hairsprays we’ve come across in our research. The cost of this product is so high that it is prohibitive and only the elite will be able to afford it.

It is available in two bottle sizes and buying the bigger one does help save a little money. The smaller bottle, though, is intended to be a travel companion since it only contains 1.5 ounces of the product. The bigger one can hold eight ounces.

Who’s it for: If you want a premium-grade shaping hairspray with specialized ingredients, get this one from amika.

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