Hairspray needs a publicist. For years, and for no defensible reason, the best hairspray for men—an enormous category of styling products—has been largely ignored by the fellas, most of whom will go their entire lives without so much as uncapping a can. Perhaps it’s the perception that hairspray is only for big, elaborate styles—or, more likely, that it was never really meant for men in the first place. Of course, neither could be further from the truth.
If you have hair longer than an inch in length, I can confidently tell you that there is a hairspray product that was made for whatever style you’re going for, and so much more. Yes, hairspray is a great way to ace the more complicated, gravity-defying looks out there. But it’s also a virtual cheat code to instantly imbue hair with more texture, volume, and life—regardless of your hair type.
The Best Hairsprays for Men, According to GQ
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The Best Hairspray Overall: IGK No Limit
Truth be told, I had a hard time picking one product for the top spot, because you can’t really compare something like a sea salt spray with a product that specializes in, say, humidity protection. So this pick is based on a combination of some of the more common use cases for hairspray, like adding volume, texture, and hold. With this in mind, IGK’s No Limit emerged from testing as the best all-rounder. Whether you’re looking to add fullness or non-sticky, touchable texture, this spray is a no-fuss solution that seems to be a hit across all hair types (including hair that’s been colored or chemically treated).
The Best Hairspray for Re-Styling: Kevin Murphy Bedroom.Hair
This spray is marketed as the go-to product for achieving perfect bedhead, but its core competency is the flexible hold it offers. If you’re someone who likes to switch up your style on the go, say, as you transition from work to play, or if one hairstyle per day is simply too much of a commitment for you, this flexible texturizing spray could be the answer to your hair prayers. I also like that Kevin Murphy thought to include ginger root extract, which helps stave off dryness. It is possible to overdo it with this one, though, so my recommendation would be to start with a few spritzes here and there and then adjust if or as needed.
The Best Sea Salt Spray for Men: Sachajuan Ocean Mist
Ever notice how a day at the beach does things to your hair that no product can seem to replicate? Curls and waves become curlier and wavier. Thin hair takes on more volume. Even short hair benefits from some added choppiness. This is what a good sea salt spray can do for you, and in my experience none does it better than Sachajuan’s Ocean Mist. It’s got just the right amount of hold—which is to say not very much, but enough to create just a little bit more structure—and leaves your hair with a nice matte finish, a touch more texture, and absolutely no stickiness.
The Best Hairspray for Oily Hair: R+Co Bleu Ultra Dry Texture Spray
Swap oily shine for natural sheen with this versatile texturizing spray from R+Co’s premium R+Co Bleu collection. When you have hair on the oilier side, the last thing you want is a product that will drag it down even more. This is not that. If anything, hair feels lighter and generally less affected by earthly gravity. The aerosol provides thorough and even coverage, making it perfect for hair of pretty much any length—but it’s especially magical for longer hair, allowing you to create waves out of thin air and bend would-be flyaways to your will.
The Best Maximum-Hold Hairspray: Pete & Pedro Freeze
A couple of months ago, I stumbled onto what seemed like the ultimate styling product for my unruly medium-length hair. Sadly, it wasn’t long (as in, a few hours) before it had given up its grip and relinquished all responsibility in the matter. These are the situations that Pete & Pedro’s Freeze was made for. Boasting the strongest hold of any product on this list, it’s the ultimate way to lock a look in place, regardless of your primary styling product’s work ethic. Use whatever pomade, potion, or lotion you need in order to get your hair to do what you want, then lock it in with this bad boy.
The Best Anti-Humidity Hairspray: Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray
If humidity is an issue for your hair, be wary of sprays that claim to do it all. Oribe’s Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray is here to do one thing, and it does it better than anything we’ve tried. It’s not going to freeze your hair in place or do much in terms of adding volume or bounce; rather, this is a finishing spray to protect from frizz, static, and pretty much any unauthorized, humidity-induced behavior in the most extreme conditions. That said, you will get a little bonus texture boost. Use it as the final step in your styling regimen and enjoy your newfound immunity to the elements.
The Best Hairspray for Short Hair: American Crew Matte Clay Spray
Hairspray isn’t just for lengthy locks—and applying it doesn’t have to feel like aiming a leaf blower at your head. For short to medium-length hair, American Crew’s matte clay spray is the perfect middle ground in between traditional hairspray and the kind of product you’d scoop out of a tub, like a clay, wax, or pomade. Offering the best of both worlds, a few spritzes of this stuff is enough to let you scrunch and style your hair into place while also enjoying a decidedly more lightweight feel than those spreadable options. Of course, this also means it’s a great pick for guys with oilier hair, complete with a subtle matte finish.
More Hairsprays We Love
This wouldn’t be a comprehensive roundup of the best hairsprays without a nod to DevaCurl. The brand’s Flexible Hold Hairspray is a household name (in curly-haired households, that is) for its unwavering ability to set curls in place while still allowing for natural movement and bounce. It does particularly well to prevent curly hair from frizzing out, while also protecting from the unwanted effects of wind and any other elements nature can throw at you. For a relatively heavy-duty spray, the absence of residue and crunch is especially impressive.
Another great option for hair of all lengths, R+Co’s Halfpipe is advertised as a finishing spray but works just as well as a primarily styler, particularly for shorter cuts. This is a pretty specific thing to call out, but if you enjoy the pliable hold of wax, this will give you some of that without any risk of clumpiness. You’ll sacrifice some hold, but the result is an objectively more natural look. Also, to give credit where it’s due, it’s got a great fragrance: simultaneously woody and bright with notes of blood orange, juniper, and rhubarb.
Frequent blow drying or styling with hot tools can push hair to its breaking point, but it doesn’t have to. A high-quality protectant will shield your hair from high heat (in this case, up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) while also preemptively nourishing and hydrating your locks with functional ingredients. Moroccanoil is the house that argan oil built, and Perfect Defense Heat Protectant harnesses the power of this natural ingredient—rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids—to optimize your hair’s radiance, shine, and overall appearance.
Not only is this a great budget option, but it’s also the product you’re likely to see everywhere from the shelves of your local barbershop to backstage at New York Fashion Week. Needless to say, if you’re testing the waters with hairspray, you couldn’t pick a better place to start. It goes on dry, making it easy to layer and build, and the innovative double-sided nozzle allows you to regulate the product’s output and switch between a light and strong hold—ideal for creating nuanced styles with just the right amount of movement.
If you’re looking for a firm-hold hairspray for fine hair, this fan favorite from Living Proof could be a game changer. In addition to long-lasting hold that won’t flake, this lightweight spray adds heaps of brushable volume to wispy strands, along with a touch of shine. The color-safe formula is equally equipped to handle chemically treated hair (and pretty much all hair types, by the way), and with heat protection up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit you can confidently blast it with a blow dryer without fear of damaging your fragile follicles.
What to Look for in a Hairspray
Just like a gel or pomade, hairspray can vary in strength and, subsequently, its ability to hold your hair in place. At one end of the spectrum, something like a sea salt spray will offer very minimal hold to help you achieve an easygoing, beachy vibe with some nice, natural movement. An extra-strength spray, meanwhile, will freeze follicles in time, allowing you to blissfully forget where the nearest mirror is. My recommendation for picking one: Don’t. Give yourself the freedom to switch up your style by grabbing two or three different sprays offering varying degrees of hold.
While most hairsprays are positioned as being compatible with all hair types, your best bet will always be to find one that’s a bit more specific to your own personal situation. Fine hair, for example, will benefit greatly from a lightweight spray with a light to medium hold that won’t weigh it down. Thick hair, on the other hand, can get away with a stronger hold, but if you plan on brushing it you’ll want something with a fine mist or “brushable” hold so that your look doesn’t lose its integrity the moment you hit it with a comb. And for curls or waves you’ll want a product that adds definition without creating unnatural stiffness.
A product’s finish can be just as critical as its hold. If you’re going for a messy, bedhead-type look, opting for a hairspray with a matte finish can be the difference between getting the intended effect and looking like you actually just rolled out of bed—not what you want, trust me. Conversely, if you’re making the effort to craft a special look for an important event or big night out, a high-shine finish can take it to the next level, whereas something more on the matte side may dull your edge.
If you use a blow dryer or any kind of hot styling tools, this one is super important. Not all sprays are formulated to withstand high heat. In this case, you’ll want to look for a product that explicitly calls out its ability to protect hair from these factors, so you don’t end up doing any damage. Similarly, some sprays are better than others at shielding hair from environmental heat and humidity. If you live in a humid climate, or plan on visiting one, be sure to reach for a hairspray that offers protection from the elements.
