8 DIY Nourishing Hairspray Recipes for All Hair Types and Styles

Whether it is about trying to hold that perfectly coiffed hair or just experimenting with beachy waves, or holiday up do's, hairspray is indispensable for getting the perfect hairdo.

While commercial hairsprays are great for adding texture and volume to your tresses, they are hazardous for you and the environment.

Off-the-shelf hairsprays contain aerosols, polymers, synthetic fragrances, and many other harmful chemicals that are bad for your health. These toxic fumes stay suspended in the air and may enter your body.

So, why risk your health when you can easily make your own hairspray using just 2 or 3 ingredients? Not only will it help you save your hard-earned money, but doing so will also benefit the environment.

Here are the 8 DIY nourishing hairspray recipes for all hair types and styles. They are all-natural, and you need not think twice before using them on your precious mane.

Method 1: Sea Salt Texturing Hairspray

If your hair is too flat and you want to ramp up its volume a little, then go for this sea salt hairspray. You can also get beachy waves with this ridiculously simple hairspray.

Since, sea salt can turn your hair dry, start with the below-mentioned proportions, and once you get the hang of it, increase or decrease the quantities as required.

The hairspray also contains argan oil that locks in the moisture in your hair shaft, and you can also add a dash of lavender essential oil for fragrance.

Things you’ll need:

• Sea salt (adds volume) – 1 teaspoon
• Argan oil (retains moisture) – 20 to 30 drops
• Lavender essential oil (for fragrance) – 2 to 4 drops
• Filtered water – 1 cup

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients

• Take 1 cup of filtered water in a pitcher.
• Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to it.
• Add 20 to 30 drops of argan oil.
• Finish by adding 2 to 4 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Stir well until the salt dissolves completely in the water.

Step 2. Transfer to a spray bottle and use as needed

• Use a small funnel to transfer the solution to a dark-colored spray bottle.
• Replace the nozzle, and your hairspray is ready to use.
• Shake well before each use and spritz the hairspray all over your damp hair and massage it into your hair. Let the hair air dry to achieve voluminous beachy waves.

The shelf life of the hairspray is 2 to 3 months when stored in a dark and cool place.

Method 2: Natural Sugar Hairspray

While sugar may not benefit your health in any way, it is great for your hair and skin. When used in hairspray, it can help you achieve moderate hold without turning your hair sticky.

This nourishing hairspray recipe also uses a vanilla extract that won’t only make your hair smell amazing, but the antioxidants in vanilla will also promote hair growth.

You can also add some argan oil to retain moisture in your hair.

Things you’ll need:

• White sugar (for hold) – 1 tablespoon
• Vanilla extract (promotes hair growth) – ½ teaspoon
• Boiling filtered water – ½ cup
• Argan oil (locks in moisture), optional – 3 to 4 drops

Step 1. Dissolve sugar in water

• Add 1 tablespoon sugar and ½ cup of boiling filtered water in a pitcher.
• You can add more sugar later if you want to increase the hold. But make sure you don’t go overboard; else it will turn your hair sticky.
• Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Let the solution cool off completely before you begin adding the other ingredients.

Step 2. Add vanilla extract and argan oil

• Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract to the sugar solution.
• Optionally, add 3 to 4 drops of argan oil.
• Stir to blend all the ingredients.

Step 3. Transfer to a spray bottle and use

• Pour the prepared solution into a dark-colored spray bottle.
• Use it like your regular hairspray on damp hair before you begin styling your hair. This will help hold your hairdo for longer.

The shelf life of the hairspray is 2 to 3 months when stored in a dark and cool place.

Method 3: Aloe Vera Strong Hold Hairspray

Fond of Victorian curls? Then this hairspray is for you! The viscous aloe vera gel will make your hair stay put in whatever hairstyle you wish to carry.

Since it is rich in essential nutrients, it will also turn your hair glossier. This nourishing hairspray recipe also uses rose water that will add sheen to your hair and also make it smell amazing.

You can use any essential oil of your choice for added fragrance. We have used lavender essential oil as it also aids in scalp wellness and is good for eczema, dandruff, and dermatitis.

Things you’ll need:

• Aloe vera gel (for extra hold) – 2 tablespoons
• Rosewater (adds shine) – 1 tablespoon
• Filtered water – 2 tablespoons
• Lavender essential oil (for fragrance) – 2 to 4 drops

Step 1. Combine aloe vera, rose water, and filtered water

• Pour 2 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel into a container. You can also learn how to extract your own aloe vera gel here.
• Add to it 1 tablespoon of rose water.
• Add 2 tablespoons of filtered water.

Step 2. Add lavender essential oil and mix well

• Add 2 to 4 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Give the ingredients a good stir.

Step 3. Transfer and store in the refrigerator

• Transfer the prepared solution to a dark-color pump bottle and store in the refrigerator.
• Simply spray the solution on damp hair before you begin styling your hair.

The shelf life of this DIY hairspray is comparatively short due to the presence of fresh aloe vera gel. It will stay good for 2 to 3 weeks when stored in the refrigerator.

Method 4: Coconut Oil Softening Hairspray

Is your hair naturally dry and frizzy? It’s asking for some love and care of the coconut oil.

The extra-virgin coconut oil is great for moisturizing and softening your hair without turning it too oily. This recipe also has vitamin E oil which will also deeply moisturize hair and make it healthier over time.

The lavender essential oil is anti-inflammatory, healing, and promotes healthy hair growth.

Things you’ll need:

• Extra-virgin coconut oil (moisturizes hair) – ½ tablespoon
• Filtered water – ½ cup
• Vitamin E oil (moisturizes hair) – 1 capsule
• Lavender essential oil (for fragrance) – 2 to 4 drops

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients

• Take ½ a tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in a small bowl.
• Add to it 2 to 4 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Also, puncture and squeeze out the contents of 1 vitamin E oil capsule and add it to the coconut oil.
• In a separate container pour ½ cup of filtered water.
• Now add the oil blend to the water.

Step 2. Blend the ingredients and store in a spray bottle

• Place in your blender and blend until smooth.
• Transfer the prepared solution to a spray bottle for use.
• Spray the softening hairspray all over your damp hair and let the hair air-dry.

The shelf life of this DIY hairspray is 2 to 3 months.

Method 5: Witch Hazel Citrus Conditioning Hairspray

Suffering from fly-away hair? The citrus hairspray is here to put you out of your misery. This super simple DIY conditioning hairspray uses a combination of witch hazel, lemon, and essential oils.

Witch hazel helps condition your hair without turning it too soft and oily. The lemon juice will give your hair a refreshing vitamin C boost and will also prevent scalp infections.

This spray also uses rosemary and geranium essential oil to prevent hair fall.

Things you’ll need:

• Witch hazel (smoothens hair) – 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (boosts volume) – 1 tablespoon
• Geranium essential oil (prevents hair fall) – 5 drops
• Rosemary essential oil (prevents hair fall) – 5 drops
• Distilled water – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine witch hazel, lemon juice, and water

• Pour 2 tablespoons of witch hazel in a pitcher.
• Add to it 1 tablespoon of freshly extracted lemon juice.
• Add 1 tablespoon of distilled water.

Step 2. Add the essential oils

• Add 5 drops each of rosemary and geranium essential oil.
• Use a hand blender to whisk up the ingredients.

Step 3. Store the citrus solution in a spray bottle and use

• Funnel the prepared solution into an amber spray bottle.
• Spray it either on wet or dry hair to condition your hair quickly.

The shelf life of this spray is 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator at all times.

Method 6: Citrus Lemon Hairspray

A lemon-based hairspray can give you satisfactory hold and will leave your hair smelling fresh.

Lemon juice, along with lemon essential oil, will cleanse the hair follicles to boost hair growth.

Things you’ll need:

• ½ of a lemon
• Lemon essential oil (treats scalp infections) – 5 drops
• Distilled water – 1 cup

Step 1. Boil the lemon in water

• Slice ½ of a lemon into wedges.
• Pour 1 cup of distilled water into a saucepan and add the lemon wedges to it.
• Bring the water to a boil and let it simmer until the liquid is reduced to half.

Step 2. Strain the liquid and add essential oil

• Turn off the gas and secure the lid of the pan
• Let the liquid cool off.
• Strain out the liquid in a pitcher.
• Add 5 drops of lemon essential oil to the lemon water and stir well.

Step 3. Store the citrus solution in a spray bottle and use

• Using a small funnel, transfer the solution to an amber spray bottle.
• Use it on damp hair to give your mane a refreshing boost and keep scalp troubles at bay.

The shelf life of this DIY hairspray is 1 week.

Method 7: Alcohol Frizz-free Hairspray

Rubbing alcohol can be used to make a quick-drying but safe hairspray.

This hairspray uses sugar that cancels the drying effect of alcohol, softens the hair shaft, and also gives you the desired hold for styling.

Add grapeseed oil to boost hair growth or any other essential oil of your choice.

Things you’ll need:

• Filtered water – 1 cup
• White sugar (softens hair) – 1 tablespoon
• Rubbing alcohol (quick-drying agent) – ¼ tablespoon
• Grapeseed essential oil (boosts hair cell growth) – 5 to 10 drops

Step 1. Combine water, sugar, and rubbing alcohol

• Pour 1 cup of filtered, boiled water in a Pyrex glass.
• Add to it 1 tablespoon of white sugar and stir well to dissolve it completely.
• Add a ¼ tablespoon of rubbing alcohol.

Step 2. Mix in grapeseed essential oil

• Add in 5 to 10 drops of grapeseed essential oil and give it a final stir.

Step 3. Transfer and use to manage frizzy hair

•  Transfer the solution to a pump bottle.
• Use it on damp or dry hair to manage frizzy hair.

The shelf life of the hairspray is 3 to 4 months.

Method 8: Conditioning Essential Oil Hairspray

Washing your hair too often and all that styling can turn your hair brittle and make it prone to breakage.

To keep your hair long and strong, make this conditioning hairspray your hairstyling staple. This DIY hairspray uses glycerin that locks in moisture in your hair shaft, and the sugar adds hold for styling.

You can also add any therapeutic essential oil of your choice. We have used rosemary as it strengthens hair follicles.

Things you’ll need:

• Distilled water – 1 cup
• White sugar (for hold) – 1 tablespoon
• Glycerin (locks in moisture) – 1 tablespoon
• Rosemary essential oil (prevents hair fall) – 20 drops

Step 1. Combine water, sugar, and glycerin

• Take 1 cup of distilled water boiled in a pyrex container.
• Add 1 tablespoon of white sugar and stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
• Let the solution cool off.
• Add 1 tablespoon of glycerin and blend it too in the water.

Step 2. Add in the essential oil, store, and use

• Add in 20 drops of rosemary essential oil.
• Give it a quick stir and funnel the solution into a dark pump bottle.
• Use the spray on damp hair and let your hair air dry. Your hair will stay soft and manageable throughout the day.

The shelf life of the hairspray is 3 to 4 months when stored in a dark and cool place.

Additional Tips

• Since essential oils are volatile, store the DIY hairsprays in dark color bottles to keep them effective for longer.
• If the recipe needs water, use distilled water only. Normal water contains impurities that will reduce the shelf life of your homemade hairspray.
• Avoid using harsh shampoos as they can strip your hair of its natural oils. Try making your own DIY shampoo.
• Also, while shampooing your hair, avoid washing your hair the 2^nd time as it makes your hair excessively dry and adds to the frizz.
• Do not use very hot water to wash your hair as it can turn your hair brittle. Either use lukewarm or even better, cool water to rinse your hair.
• Make sure you use essential oils for hair growth properly, ask a doctor or aromatherapist.
• Pregnant women, people suffering from hypertension, or epilepsy, should avoid rosemary essential oil.
• Reactions are rare but perform a skin patch test before using a new essential oil to ensure that you are not allergic.
• Some other essential oil choices with coconut or jojoba oil as a carrier are:
  • Clary Sage
  • Peppermint
  • Cedarwood
  • Carrot
  • Ylang Ylang
  • Thyme
  • Vetiver
  • Tea Tree
  • Patchouli
  • You can customize your hair spray and spritzers by using some of these essential oils that stimulate the follicles, supply nutrients to the scalp, and reduce inflammation.