A lot of the most popular hairstyles for men aren’t something that you can accomplish with just fingers and a shower. Hairspray is often necessary to achieve the stylish waves and curves that a lot of famous actors in public figures display with their haircuts.
Even if you’ve never used hairspray, don’t worry; we can help. In this guide, will go through all of the key aspects that make up a good hairspray and show you some of our favorite picks all across the market. These hairsprays are sure to let you unlock whatever hairstyle you desire. Let’s dive into it.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| L’Oreal Paris Hair Care |
| 4.6/5.0 |
| Size: 8.25 ounces |
| Scent: Unscented |
| Cost-Effective and Long-Lasting. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Consort for Men Hair Spray |
| 4.6/5.0 |
| Size: 8.3 ounces |
| Scent: Unscented |
| Affordable and Plentiful, fast drying/unsticky. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| GIBS Brawler Hairspray |
| 4.8/5.0 |
| Size: 4.5 ounces |
| Scent: Fruity/Woody |
| Masculine and Balanced, very powerful sprayer. |
| Check Amazon |
Buying Guide
Right before we start explaining our favorite hairsprays for men, let us show you the key attributes that differentiate different hairsprays from each other. This can help you pick out the best formula for your needs.
Amount: Obviously, the amount of spray contained in each can affect how valuable the overall purchases. Some men only apply hairspray a few times a week, and if you’re one of those men you should aim for a hairspray that doesn’t have very much formula per can or bottle. But on the other hand, if you need to get hairspray for many months to come, you might want to invest in either a large number of cans or can that has a large number of ounces of spray per purchase.
Hold: Different formulas have stricter or more lenient “holds”. This basically refers to how stiff a spray will make your hair. If you want to style your hair in crazier configurations or with shapes that aren’t natural to your hair’s natural shape, you’ll want to hairspray that has strict hold. But if you want to style your hair in a more natural format and just need hairspray to help it keep its shape throughout the day, you can pick a hairspray with a more lenient hold.
Additional Effects: Some hairsprays come with conditioner or UV-protective aspects, which increase their value and are nice additional features. You don’t need a hairspray with conditioner since anyone seeking to take good care of their hair should already be applying a conditioner in the shower. However, any hairspray that has these aspects should always be considered superior.
Scent: Finally, whether or not a hairspray has a particular scent can affect whether or not you’ll want to pick it up. If you use cologne or deodorant and frequently and rely on that to accentuate your natural odor, make sure that whatever the hairspray has is complementary rather than oppositional. If you get a hairspray with a scent that clashes with your cologne, for example, you might find that you don’t smell very good when you combine the two. Thankfully, there are many hairsprays that come with no scent at all, allowing you to use them freely.
7 Best Hair Sprays for Men Comparison Table
| Product Name | Size (ounces) | Scent | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consort for Men Hair Spray | 8.3 per can | Unscented | Check Price |
| L’Oreal Paris Hair Care | 8.25 | Unscented | Check Price |
| American Crew Spray Gel | 8.45 | Herbal | Check Price |
| Vitalis Hairspray | 8 per bottle | Fresh | Check Price |
| GIBS Brawler Hairspray | 4.5 | Fruity/Woody | Check Price |
| The Dry Look Hairspray for Men | 8 per can | Unscented | Check Price |
| Tigi Bed Head Hard Hair Spray | 10.6 per can | Unscented | Check Price |
7 Best Hair Sprays for Men: Detailed Review
1. Consort for Men Hair Spray (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0
Let’s start with the Consort for Men Hair Spray. It has a formula doesn’t use any water and yet is somehow not sticky; this means that both cleaning it out of your hair and applying it are both very easy since the formula won’t be runny or oily at all. This hairspray formula does tend to be pretty thin, and thus when you spray it, the immediate area might get dusted with it accidentally, but this is overall just a minor quibble in an otherwise great formula.
It can hold your hair in a particular shape for 12 hours, which is perfect for the length of a day or night spent either at work or partying. The hold is extremely stiff and rigid, so you can experiment with setting her hair into crazy shapes or interesting styles and rest assured that it will retain that shape for the duration of the effective time.
It also dries incredibly quickly; once you spray you only need to give it a few minutes before you can safely step outside into the wind without having to worry about your hair’s shape. This particular pack comes with six cans, so a single purchase will give you enough hairspray to last you for many months to come.
This makes it a bit pricey in terms of single time purchases, but if you’re planning to use hairspray for the foreseeable future this actually becomes quite the budget pick, since six cans hold enough hairspray to last for quite some time.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 8.3 oz per can |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Comes in 6 pack |
| Extra rigid hold formula |
| Fast drying/unsticky |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can spread through area easily |
2. L’Oreal Paris Hair Care (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0
The L’Oreal Paris Hair Care is another great choice, particularly if you’re worried about being able to afford consistent haircare products. Don’t be fooled by the brand; this hairspray is just as good for men as is for women. In fact, since its formula is designed for longer hair in general, it can hold a man’s hairdo into even more rigid displays or shapes and for longer than many traditional men-only hairspray formulas.
This formula has a hold time of about 48 hours or about two days. This means you can apply it on one morning and then go for two whole days without having to apply a fresh coat. This is both convenient and economical, as you’ll have to buy less hairspray overall if you only have to apply it every other day.
This hairspray is also resistant to humidity, so if you live in an environment or climate where hair tends to go crazy when the summer rolls around, you might be interested in this hairspray to combat that. Many hairsprays are designed to counter humidity, but this formula is exceptionally good at the task. You’ll be able to lock your hair in place in whatever style you decide no matter the humidity outside.
This does mean that you’ll have to buy more hairspray pretty soon if you use this every day, but since it’s so affordable you can always just buy several of the single cans if you like the results from this particular product.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 8.25 oz |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very affordable |
| Quick-drying mist |
| Resistant to humidity |
| 48 hold time |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Only 1 can in purchase |
3. American Crew Spray Gel
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The American Crew Spray Gel is a great solution if you’re preferred style isn’t as drastic as spikes or mohawks. This is a medium hold spray gel that’s perfect for maintaining hairstyles of a wavier or bendy variety. It can be used on damp or dry hair, so you can apply this either right after you step out of the shower or long after.
It doesn’t use any alcohol and it actually has sunscreen elements that help protect your hair and the top of your head from UV damage. It’s enriched with all kinds of herbs, like sage and ginseng, giving it a natural, calming scent that might blend perfectly with your own natural scent or cologne.
It’s not a pure spray formula and is a bit between spray and gel in terms of viscosity, so you’ll have to spread through your fingers and hair with a little bit more directness than you might with some of the other sprays we’ve looked at. But you won’t find that it is sticky or hard to clean off your fingers once the styling is done.
However, this formula’s rigidity means that it’s not acceptable for some of the crazier hairstyles might been considering. Any hairstyles that have shapes that go against gravity or your hair’s natural waviness will be harder to maintain, so if you want spiky hair or something similar you’ll need to go for a different hairspray.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 8.45 oz |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Herbal scent |
| Medium hold suitable for freer hairstyles |
| Can be used on damp hair |
| Retains moisture |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Not good for crazier hairstyles |
4. Vitalis Hairspray
Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0
The Vitalis Hairspray is another great budget pick if you want to get a lot of hairspray for the foreseeable future. Six different models come with the purchase, and each bottle is equipped with a very effective pump that sprays the formula in an even area over the immediate space. Applying it is therefore very quick and easy, so it’s a good solution if you already have a cramped morning routine and can only spare a few seconds to apply hairspray.
It’s a long-lasting formula that’s between medium and high rigidity; you can use this to do most hairstyles but you’ll still want a slightly stiffer formula for the crazier hairdos. The spray isn’t sticky at all, so no need to worry if you get some of it on your face or fingers as it will wash off very quickly with water, which is actually included in the formula.
The water included in the formula means that if you overspray, you might find that some of the formula starts to slide down the back of your neck or face. Because of this, maintaining good control over the pump and only spring is much as you need is important.
Even with the water present, this is still a solid hairspray that, you take its asking price into account, provides exceptional coverage and control over the shape of your hair with six bottles total. This is enough hairspray to last almost any man for many months to a year.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 8 oz per bottle |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Good pump for even coverage |
| Not sticky or too stiff |
| Low shine |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains water |
5. GIBS Brawler Hairspray
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5.0
The GIBS Brawler Hairspray is great if you want a product that exudes masculinity in both look and scent. It’s laced with several different oils that elicit the fragrances of certain fruits and cedarwood. This creates a balanced smell that can pair well with many different types of colognes or natural body odors or is just fine on its own.
You get a pretty decent amount of the formula in the can, and it’s of a medium rigidity, meaning that you can set up most modern hairstyles provided that they aren’t too drastic in relation to your hair’s natural direction. The sprayer is incredibly powerful and only needs to be pressed slightly to make a lot of the formula come out.
However, the sprayer is so powerful that over applying it is a very real possibility. While the formula explicitly prevents your hair from becoming too crunchy, it is possible to make it too matted or flat as a result of over applying the spray. You should do it was short presses in layers and express find control with the sprayer. Because of this, you might have to spend a few extra minutes applying the hairspray properly each morning, so make sure you have the time to accommodate that before you make this purchase.
Overall, though, we really like the look and feel of this cedarwood hairspray. It provides great results in a powerful little can and is ideal for the man who wants his hair to smell as good as it looks.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 4.5 oz |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very powerful sprayer |
| Fruity/woody masculine scent |
| Doesn’t make hair crunchy |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Easy to overapply |
6. The Dry Look Hairspray for Men
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The Dry Look Hairspray for Men is a good pick if you need a lot of formula or if you plan on using hairspray daily for the foreseeable future. You get six cans with this purchase, and each can holds 8 ounces of spray. The formula is another unscented variety, so you can feel free to mix and match with cologne or deodorant, and it’s good for about 12 hours of holding.
The spray is very strict and can hold hair in complicated or tangled configurations without bending. You might feel your hair becomes crunchy, but it’s definitely going to be useful if you tend to style your hair in creative or unorthodox ways. You can use this formula for thin or fine hair, too. No need to worry if your hair is thick enough to pull off a mohawk or similar style since this formula is strong enough to handle even thin clumps of hair.
It’ll last for about 12 hours, which is about the length of the standard amount of time people are out of the house. Because it’s so strong, it’s not going to be the best choice for hair that’s wavier or if you want a style that blends natural shapes and the artificial shaping of hairspray.
You also run the risk of buying too much of this product if you don’t like it; since six cans come with the purchase, you need to be sure before you finalize or else you’ll have a lot of extra hairspray that you might not in use. But if you’re sure that you can use hairspray with a strict hold and you need a lot of it, this is one of the most economical purchases you can make.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 8 oz per can |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Extra strict hold |
| No water |
| Plenty of cans in purchase |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Pricey if you don’t use a lot of hairspray |
7. Tigi Bed Head Hard Hair Spray
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0
The Tigi Bed Head Hard Hair Spray is another strict hold variety that’s very good at shaping your hair to the exact way you want it. The formula is firm enough to maintain curvy or spiky shapes over the entire workday or night. It also gives your hair a subtle shine, which can be of great benefit if your hair is naturally a little flat looking.
In addition, there’s a conditioner component in the formula that can help improve your hair’s long-term health and how it feels to the touch. If you have naturally crunchy or hard hair, you might benefit from the conditioner effect inherent in the spray.
You get a lot of spray per can as well: 10.2 ounces. This is larger than most other hairspray cans by a significant margin, and you only need to use a little bit at a time. The sprayer is extremely easy to use, and in fact, it’s easy to overspray and coat your hair with too much of the formula, so be careful when applying and make sure to hold it about a foot away from your hair each time.
The formula dries instantly so there’s no waiting time between application and when you can head out. This makes a good pick if you already have a cramped morning routine and need to apply hairspray and walk out the door shortly after.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 10.6 oz per can |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Lots of spray per can |
| Very strong hold |
| Conditions hair as well |
| Dries instantly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Easy to overspray |
Tips for Using Hair Sprays
Using hairspray isn’t too difficult, but if you’re a novice there are a few common mistakes that we’ll try to clear up here. Using hairspray should be easy and effective, not messing or frustrating.
Apply Sparingly: You don’t need to spray have to can onto your head to achieve your desired results. Most hairsprays are strong enough to only require a short jet of the formula to allow you to shape or mold your hair into the desired style. You only need to press down on the spraying button for a short second and you should be good to go. If you have to press it again, make the second jet even shorter to avoid putting too much formula into your hair and turning it crunchy or greasy.
Damp or Dry: Some formulas are designed to work with damp hair, such as when you step right out of the shower, and others can only work if your hair is dry. There are a few more that can work with damp or dry hair. Whatever the case, read the instructions included with your hairspray purchase to find out what condition your hair needs to be in for optimal results. If you use hairspray and find that it’s not working, double check to make sure that you are applying it the way it’s intended to be.
Hold the Can Far Away: A common mistake made by men who are using hairspray for the first time is that they hold the canister right next to their hair and start to apply. The reality is that most hairspray cans are designed to be used from about a foot away to allow the formula to gently be applied evenly across the hair. Hold your canister far enough away that it doesn’t smear or pile up in any one location.
Turn Your Head: When you do apply the formula, turn your head so that it’s applied equally to all sides and surfaces of your head. Don’t expect to spread the spray around with your fingers after the fact; the idea is to coat it naturally through the air. A good way to do this is to hold the canister above your head and to the side, then spray directly above your head and turn right and left so that the spray settles in a nice even pattern across your hair.
Conclusion
Hairspray is an uncomplicated addition to any man’s morning routine, and it can help you unlock all of the hairstyles you’ve ever wanted to try. Even if you have naturally short or straight hair, you can use hairspray to alter your appearance drastically and try on some new looks. Soon enough, you’ll be styling your hair just as good as they can at the barber’s, but without the fee! Thanks for reading.
