8 Hairspray Beauty Hacks You Didn't Know About

Think hairsprays belong in the ‘80s along with Jane Fonda leggings, shoulder pads, and acid-wash jeans? Allow us to change your mind with these ingenious hairspray beauty hacks. Hairspray can do more than style your hair and every woman — whether your hair is short or long, colored or gray — should have a can at home. Here are eight hairspray beauty hacks that might save you in a beauty emergency one day.

Hairspray can help you achieve the perfect bedhead hairstyle. Start with dry hair. If you just shampooed, allow your hair to dry completely. To create texture, mist your strands with hairspray. Keep the bottle at least six inches from your hair to prevent “wet” sprays, but be thorough and make sure you cover most of your strands. After spraying, scrunch your hair with your hands. For a piece-y bedhead, take pieces and twist or bend lightly. 

Plagued by flyaways, frizz, or tutchang? Create smoother hairstyles, like a high ponytail a la Ariana Grande, with a bit of help from hairspray and a clean toothbrush. Take the toothbrush and spray a bit of hairspray on it. Lightly graze your hairline with the toothbrush to smooth frizz and keep flyaways in place. The packed bristles of the toothbrush are effective at getting the product onto nearly every strand, resulting in a longer-lasting hold. Keep that toothbrush away from your sink (and mouth!) after use. 

Want more tricks on taming a rebellious mane? Read our article on frizzy hair hacks.

Here’s a hairspray beauty hack for those who’ve grown their brows to caterpillar proportions. Lightly fill in your eyebrows with a pencil or brow pen. Then, take a clean mascara spoolie and spray it with a bit of hairspray. Gently brush it through your eyebrows using upward strokes. This will separate the strands while keeping them in place, for a demi-laminated look.

No one is exempt from bad hair days. If you're going for volume like Megan Fox (but woke up with hair like MGK), hairspray is the answer. It is particularly helpful for people who get an itchy scalp from using dry shampoo, which people typically use to boost volume. Revive limp hair by flipping your hair upside down. Spray the product on the roots, then lip your hair back. Use your fingers to scrunch up your roots.

To help you with this beauty hack, use TRESemmé Freeze Hold Hairspray. This fast-drying spray freezes your hairstyle in place with a mega-firm hold. When used as a volumizer, this hairspray keeps the roots from falling flat even in high humidity.

Tired of bobby pins slipping and falling out of your hairstyle? Use this hairspray beauty hack to increase their grip. Hold the pin open and coat it with hairspray. While the product is still tacky and not dry, insert the pin into your hair. Bobby pins are style saviors, especially for keeping updos secure and holding layers in place. Even just a thin coating of hairspray will improve their hold and help them stay on longer.

If, for some reason, you have to wear tights, prevent them from running with good ol’ hairspray. First, put on the tights (by the way, this also works on pantyhose). Second, give them a light spray, focusing on snag-prone areas such as the knees, shins, ankles, and buttocks. The hairspray bonds the fibers together, keeping them from breaking easily.

Hairspray also neutralizes static cling. Static hair occurs when a change in humidity or friction builds up an electric charge. It makes your strands repel each other, making your hair frizzy. You can remove static-cling without making your hair stiff. Spritz some hairspray on your hands, rub your palms together, making sure to get the product between your fingers. Run your fingers through your hair to transfer the product and get rid of static.

Best for hairstyling and removing static cling, TRESemmé Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray holds hair all day long. This formula also brushes easily and is flake-free, so you can use it to smoothen flyaways without worrying about losing movement.

This hairspray beauty hack is a timesaver. Anyone who ever had their nails done knows that you can expect to be indisposed for the next hour while the nail polish dries. You can reduce this period to 40 minutes by using a fast-drying polish or a quick-dry gel topcoat. However, you can speed up the process by spraying your nails with hairspray. Keep it at least six inches from your hands to avoid bubbles on your polish.

Love these hairspray beauty hacks? Give them a try the next time you have a beauty emergency.