DIY Natural Hair Spray

Learn how to make homemade hair spray with this simple 2-ingredient recipe. Remove toxins from your daily routine by using DIY natural hair spray. This hair spray recipe is the best and really works!

DIY HAIR SPRAY 

Y’all know my love for DIYing around here, and hair products are top on my list. I am a simple gal when it comes to hair care, and as long as I have a good stock of dry shampoo, I am good. With many requests for DIY natural hair spray, I decided to give it a whirl. 

I was so happy with the way it turned out (and smelled!) that I had to share it with you. DIY natural hairspray is so easy to make, and you will never guess what ingredient makes it hold your hairstyle. Sugar! Yup, regular white sugar. 

Learn how to make all-natural shampoo, conditioner, nourishing hair serum, dry powder shampoo, and dry shampoo spray with these recipes. 

PIN IT FOR LATER 

HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY

So why not just use a store-bought hairspray? As with most things, conventional hairspray is full of chemicals that you shouldn’t breathe in and most certainly not spray on your head. Hair sprays can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and lungs when inhaled.

Switching to homemade hair spray is a much safer option, especially if you are working on getting toxins out of your home. Most hair sprays will have polymers in them, including polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), vegetable gums, and gum arabic. You will also find hydrocarbons, propylene glycol, isobutane, propane, and fragrances on the long list of ingredients. 

The environmental working group marks several of these ingredients as dangerous and even gives them an “F” for safety. 

DIY NATURAL HAIR SPRAY 

I spilled the beans earlier and told you the secret ingredient for homemade hairspray. Were you shocked to hear sugar would be in a hair product? Even though sugar isn’t something you would want to put in your body, believe it or not, it has benefits for your hair. And your skin! Have you ever made sugar scrub? 

Sugar works well at exfoliating the skin, and it can do the same for your scalp. Adding a little sugar to your shampoo can help to remove dead skin cells from the scalp. And don’t worry, it won’t leave your hair sticky like you would expect, as it will easily dissolve and rinse out without leaving any residue on the hair. 

The sugar will be the key ingredient in the hairspray and will help your hair to hold the style you are going for! White sugar is a must, as brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, and other natural sugars will not work in this recipe. 

NATURAL HAIR SPRAY RECIPE 

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ALL-NATURAL HAIR SPRAY INGREDIENTS 

• Water 
• White sugar 
• High-proof alcohol (Vodka, rum, or gin will work.) 
• Essential oils (See my recommendations below!) 
• Glass spray bottle 

HOW TO MAKE HAIR SPRAY AT HOME

1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then add in the sugar. 
2. Stir the sugar water until all the sugar is dissolved. 
3. Remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. 
4. Once cooled, add in the alcohol and essential oils. 
5. Transfer to a glass spray bottle for storage. 

HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

I love using essential oils in my natural hair product recipes because several essential oils have wonderful benefits for your hair. Essential oils can promote hair growth, thicken the hair, and keep the scalp healthy and moisturized. 

For this DIY natural hair spray recipe, I like to add about 10 drops of essential oils. You can use a single oil or make a blend of several oils. This is really up to you! 

BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR  THE HAIR

1. Lavender– Studies have shown that lavender produces more hair follicles to help thicken and strengthen hair.  Lavender has a beautiful floral smell that can promote calmness and reduce stress; stress can be the biggest reason for hair loss.
2. Rosemary– Rosemary essential oil is the top oil for hair growth and thickness. It helps to treat dry hair as well as overly oily hair and can help prevent split ends.
3. Tea tree– Melaleuca promotes a healthy, clean-looking scalp. It can be used to help with a dry, itchy scalp and protect against lice.
4. Cedarwood– This woodsy oil is excellent when you are making products for men because it has a very masculine scent.  In fact, I use cedarwood in all the DIY products I make for my husband, and he approves.  It stimulates hair follicles and increases circulation to the scalp making it a top oil for hair loss prevention.
5. Peppermint– Peppermint oil is known for the cooling effect it has on the skin when used topically and for its refreshing minty scent.  Peppermint is also great for the hair as it promotes hair growth and thickness.

ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS FOR HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY

• 5 drops lavender 
• 4 drops wild orange 
• 2 drops rosemary

• 5 drops rosemary
• 4 drops tea tree  
• 2 drops cedarwood 

• 5 drops peppermint 
• 4 drops lavender 
• 2 drops lemon 

I personally love the smell of lavender and wild orange mixed together, so I made a blend of the two for my homemade hairspray. I added in rosemary because I love the benefits it has for my hair. The three smelled wonderful together, and I plan to make my next batch the same way.

HOW LONG WILL HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY LAST? 

If kept in an airtight spray bottle, this recipe will last for at least one year. The hard-proof alcohol and essential oils act as a natural preservative. 

HOW TO MAKE A STRONGHOLD HAIR SPRAY? 

The more sugar, the stronger the hold. However, you won’t want to add too much sugar because it will make your hair feel sticky. I made mine with 1.5 tablespoons of sugar, and that worked great for my hair type.

Try increasing the sugar by one teaspoon at a time to find the best amount for your particular hair type and style.

HOW TO USE HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY? 

With either damp or dry hair, style your hair the way you want it, then spray the hair spray generously all over the hair to hold the style.

DIY Hair spray

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup water 
• 1.5 tablespoons white sugar (adjust if needed) 
• 1 tablespoon 80 proof alcohol 
• 10 drops essential oil

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then add in the sugar. 
   
2. Stir the sugar water until all the sugar is dissolved. 
   
3. Remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. 
   
4. Once cooled, add in the alcohol and essential oils. 
   
5. Transfer to a glass spray bottle for storage.