How to Make DIY Hairspray

“Don’t use so much hairspray! Your hair will turn to wood!” It may not have been true, but to 11-year-old me, it was enough to scare me straight. It was years before I used hairspray again and let me tell you; I was the hairspray queen so that was quite a feat. I mean queen – my hair did not move! These days, I use it a lot more responsibly. I am sure my hair appreciates that. I also no longer use store bought hairspray. Instead, I learned how to make DIY hairspray and I’ve never looked back!

Making DIY hairspray is one of the simplest DIY beauty products you can make. It is as simple as mixing a handful of ingredients in a small spritzer bottle. It’s not only simple to make but it’s great for your hair! My hair has never looked better! It also contains pink Himalayan salt to help absorb oil in your hair making it perfect for anyone who has an oily hair issue. Don’t worry if you don’t have an oily hair problem; my homemade hair spray won’t dry your hair out.

How to Make DIY Hairspray

When you make this DIY hairspray, you can use any brand of essential oil you prefer. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as “therapeutic grade” essential oil as there is no federal rating system for essential oils (Six Dollar Family). As long as the essential oil you’re using is pure oil and not cut with anything, you will be fine. I personally prefer to use NOW Foods brand essential oil in this.

Is hairspray dangerous?

What I didn’t realize back in the 90’s was just how dangerous hairspray actually can be. Among others, most commercial hairsprays contain chemicals such as Carboxymethylcellulose, Denatured alcohol, Hydrofluorocarbon, Polyvinyl alcohol, Propylene glycol and Polyvinylpyrrolidone. These chemicals can cause a wide variety of side effects including hives, vision changes, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and in some cases; even death. The same products that you use as fuel additives, anti-freeze, vinyl siding cleaner, adhesives and more are all in that can or bottle of hair spray.

So in my (very) uneducated opinion; is hairspray dangerous? Yes, it can be if you’re using it often. You, however, will need to make that decision for yourself.

Homemade Hair Spray

One thing to keep in mind when you make the switch to homemade beauty products – especially those for your hair such as our homemade coconut milk shampoo – is your hair will very likely need an adjustment phase. Hair holds onto the chemicals we put on it. This is the reason why drug tests use hair follicles. Your hair will need time to get rid of the chemicals you have used which may mean a few bad hair days and a few weeks of adjustment.

You Will Need: This will make (2) 2 oz bottle of homemade hairspray

• 4 oz distilled water
• 2 Tbsp. vodka
• 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan salt 
• 15-20 drops jasmine essential oil 
• 2 oz spritzer bottle 

As I said earlier, learning how to make homemade hairspray is super easy. Really. It’s like two steps. In fact, there’s zero way I would be able to get a step by step photo tutorial from it because it is so simple! I feel silly even doing a post at all on it because it is so simple, but I know not everyone knows how to make it. So, here we are. 🙂

Are you ready? Here we go!

To start making your homemade hairspray,  heat the distilled water in a small pot until it is just warm enough to melt the salt.  Once the water is heated, add the vodka, sugar, pink Himalayan salt and jasmine essential oil and stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved.

Pour into a spritzer bottle. 

That’s it! 🙂 To use, give your homemade hair spray a good shake and use just as you would store bought.