The Best Texturizing Sprays For Instant Volume
Anyone else besides me a “shower-upon-nightfall” person? If so, you understand the struggle of trying to sleep with wet hair (because truth is, blow drying isn't worth the 30-or-so minutes lost of binging Hulu before it’s lights out). Long gone are the middle-school nights of braiding wet hair before bed in hopes of magical mermaid waves in the morning. Now, it’s more along the lines of: “Do I place my damp hair flat in between my pillow and head? Or do I fan it out and forbid myself from moving all night?” Lots of back and forth only to wake up to my clean dry hair laying limp around my shoulders. Positive note: freshly-washed hair tends to have the most potential for volume due to less grease weighing it down. Each morning (after sleeping with slightly wet hair a few hours prior), I used a different volumizing spray to add some non-sticky, non-crunchy bounce to my hair. Here are three texturizing sprays (with before + afters) to try for a good hair day on contact:
The size I bought (5.3 oz., $25) comes with a lot of product, but you can get away with the smaller size (1 oz., $10) depending on your volume goals. First impression: my hair immediately picked up more fullness with no limp strands in sight - wooo! The directions were easy to follow and this one smelled heavenly. Contrary to reality TV telling us to tease or blow-dry for lift, you only need to use a light touch of this spray and fingers to playfully disperse your strands.
Let me tell you: this is a game-changer for me! I used the full size (4 oz., $27) but it also comes with a smaller and cheaper alternative (1.7 oz., $16) (as you can tell, I admire a thoughtful travel option). Bumble and Bumble is a classic but this spray didn’t have much of a scent - more of a concern for those of us who hoped to smell like the ocean. The good news: it added volume to my hair like I had just spent a day on a secret beach where frizz and humidity don’t exist! You can bet I’ll be keeping this one handy in a much-coveted spot: next to my hair brush.
So here’s how it went down with this spray. By now, you’ve realized I love the option of a mini but The Ouai spray comes in one size (4.7 oz., $26) - luckily, it’s still compact enough to carry. Truth is, I couldn't find a way to get past the strong smell (akin to men’s cologne). A personal preference: I wouldn't wear it on a date or to intimate gatherings. It did add rather soft waves and casual volume to my hair without any residue or crunch so all’s well if you’re looking for subtle texture.
By Sophia Rosenthal