Natural DIY Hair Spray Recipe

My hair has a mind of its own. Not only is it curly and frizzy, but since having my sweet children, I have these little horns on the side of my head that drive me nuts. I tried using the flat iron to curl them down, but I finally had enough, and made some more of this awesome DIY hair spray.

Originally, this post was published in 2012. Holy cow, that is a long time ago. And I used this recipe for years and years… until my second child came, and I just gave up on keeping perfect locks. But finally, I said enough with this hair horn on the side of my head and whipped up a batch of hairspray.

What was I thinking waiting so long? I totally forgot how easy this recipe is to make, and how darn well it works. Guess who doesn’t have a horn anymore?

…It’s me. Just in case you didn’t put that together.

The Real Reason Behind DIY Hair Spray

The real reason I wanted to try this recipe was because I needed hairspray, and I’m too cheap frugal to buy some. It helps that this recipe is “green,” since it contains no harsh chemicals, won’t harm the environment, creates no waste (since I use a reusable bottle), and helps me rely less on commercial products.

Also, this recipe is so easy, and you have the ingredients right in your pantry. This stuff really works, really holds, and is really cheap. What else could you ask for?

Why would you want to make your own homemade hair spray?

Conventional hair spray is made of toxic chemicals, even including plastics, VOCs, and artificial fragrances (which have been called the new second hand smoke).

You can look through the EWG website at different hair sprays and find the good, bad, and the ugly. Many products contain ingredients that have been linked to cancer, cause organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, etc. Things I definitely wouldn’t want to be using.

Heck, when it is sprayed around me, it makes my asthma flare up, so I can’t use it even if I wanted to. Luckily this homemade hair spray recipe is so, so simple.

Is it more eco-friendly to make homemade hair spray?

Not only are the ingredients much safer and better for the environment, but since the bottle can be reused, it is creating less waste!

Tips For Using And Styling Your Hair With Natural DIY Hair Spray

• Wash your hair with a natural shampoo and conditioner. Check EWG.org to see how yours rate.
• Style your hair as you would with blow dryers and/or curling irons.
• I like to use a bit of my natural anti-frizz serum when styling.
• Once you are done, apply thin layers of homemade hair spray, letting it dry between. Using too much at one time will leave you with wet hair. For areas that are really troublesome (aka my horns), I will apply a thin layer of hair spray, use my hand to hold it down for a few seconds, and then remove my hand and apply a little more. This does the trick.

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How To Make DIY Hair Spray

DIY Hairspray Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1.5 Tbs white sugar (like this one)
• 5-10 drops Essential oils (optional)
• Small spray bottle (like these)

Directions:
Place water in a pot and boil. Once boiling, turn off heat and add sugar. Stir to dissolve. Let cool and add essential oils. Place in spray bottle with fine mister.

To use:

Spray bottle should be on its finest mist. Lightly spray a thin coat of hairspray on hair; once dry, you can reapply. Warning: don’t just go crazy with it, or else you will end up with a wet head. Apply and reapply in very thin coats.

Natural DIY Hair Spray Video

Want more natural hair care recipes? Check these out!

• The best DIY Hair Gel for curly hair.
• Anti-frizz serum is another favorite.
• I couldn’t live without my Homemade Dry Shampoo

DIY Hair Spray Recipe

DIY Hair Spray

An easy alcohol-free DIY hair spray that works well and is super simple.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Hair

Keyword: DIY hair spray, homemade hair spray

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Author: Amy

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1.5 Tbs sugar
• 5-10 Essential oils
• Small spray bottle

Instructions

• Place water in a pot and boil. Once boiling turn off heat and add sugar. Stir to dissolve. Let cool and add essential oils. Place in spray bottle with fine mister.

Notes

To use: 

Spray bottle should be on its finest mist. Lightly spray a thin coat of hairspray on hair once dry you can reapply. Warning: don't just go crazy with it or else you will end up with a wet head. Do apply in very thin coats.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ablossominglife or tag #ablossominglife!

DIY Hair Spray FAQ

Will this attract bugs?

I’ve never had this issue before. You could put a few drops of bug-repelling essential oils in it, like citronella, if you want. A friend had spilled some and it attracted ants, because, well, it’s sugar. Just make sure to clean up any spills and you should be fine.

How do you make hair spray with essential oils?

Follow the instructions above, and then add in your favorite essential oils.

What are the best essential oils for hair?

• Lavender- can help increase the thickness of your hair by increasing the number of hair follicles (source).
• Rosemary– can also stimulate hair follicles. Rosemary has been touted to help grow longer, thicker hair and can help with premature baldness (source). Also helpful with dandruff.
• Cedarwood– helps stimulate hair follicles, increase circulation, and reduce dandruff.
• Peppermint – this study showed peppermint essential oil can significantly increase hair growth.
• Chamomile–  can soften hair and add shine. (source)

If you want to make a homemade hair spray for hair growth, then try adding a few drops each of lavender, rosemary, cedarwood and peppermint.

*Note: If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical issues, make sure the essential oils are safe to use before using them. For instance, peppermint is not safe for breastfeeding moms (can decrease milk supply). Rosemary should also not be used while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Is this a alcohol-free hair spray?

Many products (even natural ones) contain alcohol, which can be really drying on your hair and cause brittle and frizzy hair. So it is not included in this homemade hair spray recipe.

What is the main ingredient in homemade hair spray?

Sugar! Sounds crazy, I know. But the sugar helps the hair stick together and gives it its hold.

Does this wash out of your hair easily?

Yes! Comes right out when you wash it.

Give it a try! It’s different than conventional hairspray, but you may just be pleasantly surprised at how well it works!