Natural DIY Hair Spray Recipe

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All-natural DIY hair spray that works amazingly well, tames frizz, and holds well. You will love this easy, strong hold hair spray.

bottle of homemade hairspray on a white plate with a pink flower and bobby pins resting on the plate. The plate is on a woven place mat with greenery in the background.

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 or heating my hair curly with the best homemade hair gel, but I finally had enough, and made some more of this awesome DIY hairspray.

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.

It helps that this recipe is “green,” since this natural product contains no harsh chemicals (I use all organic ingredients), 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?

Recipe Highlights:

homemade hairspray in a glass bottle on a white plate with a pink flower to the right and bobby pins to the left. The plate is on a woven placemat with greenery in the background.
  • Made from natural ingredients: This is a great way to help reduce toxins from your life. 
  • Promote healthy hair.
  • Good for all hair types
  • Easy: the good news is that homemade hair products, like this one, can be super easy to make!

Why would you want to make your own homemade hairspray?

Conventional hair spray is made of harmful 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.

homemade hair spray and hair serum on a white plate with bobby-pins on a woven mat. A pink flower and greenery surround the bottles.

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.

Does homemade hair spray work?

Absolutely. I have used this recipe for years and can attest it works great.
Give it a try! It’s different than conventional hairspray, but you may just be pleasantly surprised at how well it works!

Is it more eco-friendly to make your own 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!

DIY Hairspray Ingredients 

small jars of sugar and water with a bottle of essential oil on a woven mat with a flower in the back corner.

Distilled water- or tap water that has been boiled and cooled.

White sugar (like this one)The amount of sugar you add will determine the strength of the hairspray. Less sugar has less hold, more has more.

Essential oils (optional): add tea tree, 

Small spray bottle (like these)

diy hair spray on a white plate with a pink flower and bobby-pins. The plate is on a woven place mat with a greenery in the back left corner

How To Make DIY Hair Spray

hot water in a jar with a small white cup of sugar to the left. Both jars are on a woven pat with fresh florals in the back corner.

Step 1: Place water in a pot and boil. 

adding sugar to a jar of hot water on a woven mat.

Step 2: Once boiling, turn off heat and add sugar to the hot water. Stir to dissolve. 

pouring diy hair spray into a bottle with a funnel.

Step 3: Let cool and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Place in a clean spray bottle with fine mister.

To use: 

Spray bottle should be on its finest mist. Give the hair spray a good shake. 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.

Storage:

homemade hairspray on a white plate with bobby pins on a woven mat. Fresh greenery is in the back let corner.

Shelf life is about 2 weeks. Keep in the fridge for longer storage or add a preservative.

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 on dry hair, 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.

Variations: More Natural Hair Spray Recipes

Use rose water.

Stronger hold: Add extra sugar for a stronger hold.

Hydrating: add a teaspoon of aloe vera gel

Rosemary: To help encourage a healthy scalp and possibly even reduce hair loss, try using rosemary water or add rosemary oil to the natural hairspray.

Want more natural hair care recipes? Check these out!

If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back and giving it 5 stars. Please and thank you!

homemade hairspray in a glass bottle on a white plate with a pink flower to the right and bobby pins to the left. The plate is on a woven placemat with greenery in the background

DIY Hair Spray

An easy alcohol-free homemade hair spray that works well, has a strong hold, and is super simple.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Save
Author: Amy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place water in a pot and boil.
  • Once boiling turn off heat and add the sugar. Stir to dissolve.
  • Let cool and add essential oils if desired.
  • 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.
Keyword: DIY hair spray, homemade hair spray
Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @ablossominglife or tag #ablossominglife!

20 Comments

  1. Awesome! I rarely use hairspray and never want to buy it for the rare occasion where I need it.

    My first thought was like someone else commented, that I would be attracting bugs… I guess I’ll have to find out! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Wow! What a great recipe! I have given up on most things commercial as far as beauty products – you read one book and it all goes downhill from there ๐Ÿ™‚ I might have to try this! I don’t need hairspray all that often, but being able to use it once in a while would be great. I’m not really concerned with bees…more mosquitoes and black flies ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Totally agree except mine was documentaries haha. I don’t use it that often either but it was getting annoying that when I wanted and needed it I never have any on hand. Mosquitos could be a problem here to but I hear if you rub basil leaves on you it acts as a natural repellent!

5 from 1 vote

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