11 Best Hair Sprays for Natural Hair to Get Rapunzel-like Tresses

Written by Alvira Dsouza, Hair Expert
Updated on Apr 01, 2024
Hair Sprays for Natural Hair to Get Rapunzel-like Tresses
The products curated for this article are independently chosen by the editorial team. If you make a purchase through the links mentioned below, we may receive a commission. Check out our product research & curation process

Gone are the days when hair sprays were stereotyped as products that cause breakage, cause buildup, and deteriorate scalp health. Now, you’ll find an array of hair sprays designed to add natural shine and luster to your locks. Even makeup artists, salon stylists, and beauty professionals are in unison working to educate people about the miraculous benefits of hair sprays. Our tests indicate that the best hair sprays for natural hair help facilitate styling, tame stubborn and unruly frizz, improve hair elasticity, offer UV protection, improve scalp health, and reduce breakage. 

Our contributor Nate Masterson, Hair Expert - Maple Holistics, says, “Styling sprays provide hold, and control over your hairstyle. They often have a matte finish which gives your hair a sleeker-appearance. Thermal sprays also provide a smoother-appearance, but they are more lightweight and non-sticky compared to styling sprays. Finishing sprays provide a glossy finish to hair styles and you can find light, medium and strong-holding versions depending on the product.”

Even though there are a lot of benefits that hair sprays offer, finding the best one according to your hair type is a bit challenging. Hence, our team of in-house hair care experts has explored the options of the best hair sprays for natural hair available in the market and curated a list of the most hair-friendly picks. Scroll away to have a brief about our tried and tested recommendations.

11 Best Hair Sprays for Natural Hair

Assure a strong grip on your styled tresses with the KENRA hairspray for natural hair. The product has a commendable wind resistance of up to 25 mph and prevents the appearance of flyaways and static hair. Moreover, it has a non-itchy, lightweight formulation that does not weigh down your hair or cause any complex tangles. Furthermore, it facilitates braiding, parting, curling, coiling, and smoothening without causing any damage to the keratin bonds of the hair shafts. Lastly, it imparts an alluring glossy finish without making the hair greasy and is loved by people of all ages.

Pros
  • Fast drying
  • Non-flakey
  • Great for frizzy hair
  • Layerable
Cons
  • The spray valve is faulty in some products
  • Best Overall

    SEXY Big Hair Spray & Play

    SEXY Big Hair Spray & Play
  • Whether it is long-cascading tresses or springy, bouncy corkscrew-like ringlets, the SexyHair Natural hair spray helps to slay both styles with minimal effort. After trying this product for a few weeks, our in-house hair care experts concluded that it offers a flake-free finish and helps to volumize the finest hair follicles. To add on, it assures heat protection against heat generated from hair styling equipment. Furthermore, this award-winning product has a quick-drying, non-messy formulation and is endorsed by certified hair care professionals.

    Pros
    • Humidity resistance
    • Works for fine hair
    • Non-itchy
    • Cruelty-free
    Cons
    • The texture is a little sticky
  • Best Silicone-free Option

    MOROCCANOIL Luminous Hairspray Strong

    MOROCCANOIL Luminous Hairspray Strong
  • Style your updos easily with the Moroccanoil hair spray for natural hair. The product infuses the hair strands with an unmatched shine and helps to eliminate frizz without causing any hair shaft shedding or follicular fractures. Moreover, this fast-drying spray does not get flakey or leave a sticky residue, which makes it a compatible choice for people with sensitive scalps. Furthermore, it contains the choicest natural ingredients like argan oil, which is a treasure trove of fatty acids that helps to keep the hair shafts moisturized and energizes dull hair follicles. In addition, it is available in an alluring scent of amber and sweet florals for a pleasant styling experience.

    Pros
    • Repels humidity
    • Silicone free
    • Elevates shine
    • Causes no build-up
    Cons
    • The lid is crushed in some products
  • Best for the Beach

    R+Co Dreamhouse Cold-Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray

    R+Co Dreamhouse Cold-Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray
  • Introducing R+Co Dreamhouse Cold-Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray, the natural hair enthusiast's dream come true. Specially crafted for textured tresses, this spray effortlessly enhances your natural waves, leaving them tousled and beautifully defined. Infused with cold-pressed watermelon seed extract, it hydrates and nourishes, imparting a luscious, glossy finish. Say goodbye to frizz and hello to effortless, beachy waves that perfectly embody your natural hair's charm. Embrace your unique texture with this lightweight, non-greasy formula that evokes the essence of summer all year round.

    Pros
    • Lightweight and non-greasy formula
    • Long-lasting beachy texture
    • Delicious watermelon fragrance
    • Nourishing natural ingredients
    • Enhanced shine and gloss
    • Suitable for all hair types
    Cons
    • Limited hold duration
  • Best for Frizz-free Hair

    COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

    COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
  • Unveiling COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray – the ultimate solution for natural hair that craves perfection. This transformative spray transcends ordinary haircare, shielding your natural locks against humidity, frizz, and unwanted moisture. Crafted with an advanced formula, it creates an invisible, weightless cloak around each strand, ensuring a sleek, glossy finish that lasts. Whether your hair is curly, wavy, or straight, this spray works wonders, leaving your locks effortlessly smooth and resistant to the elements. Embrace the freedom of flawless, natural hair with COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.

    Pros
    • Humidity-defying protection
    • Frizz-free finish
    • Weightless and invisible
    • Universal hair compatibility
    • Long-lasting sleekness
    • Enhanced natural shine
    Cons
    • Potential buildup with overuse
  • Best for Color-treated Hair

    Schwarzkopf Got2b Insta High Hold Hair Spray

    Schwarzkopf Got2b Insta High Hold Hair Spray
  • When our in-house experts tried out this natural hair spray by Schwarzkopf, they were amazed by the results. Why? This hair spray, like all its cousin products from the brand, has managed to deliver mind-boggling, miraculous results. Moreover, it protects the hair shafts from drying out and conditions damaged hair. Furthermore, it has a quick-drying, non-messy, lightweight formula that does not feel like a load on your hair shafts. To conclude, it is one of the best hair sprays for natural hair because it does not cause any scalp bumps, itching, or scaling and improves hair texture with gradual use.

    Pros
    • Unscented
    • Safe for color-treated hair
    • Sulfate-free
    • Robust packaging
    Cons
    • Makes the hair stiff
  • Best for Enhancing Hair Luminosity

    NEXXUS Maxximum Finishing Mist for Control

    NEXXUS Maxximum Finishing Mist for Control
  • Enhance the natural luminosity of your hair shafts with the Nexxus Maxximum hold natural hair spray. The product is an ideal choice for dry hair as it helps to retain the suppleness of your hair shafts and helps to strengthen the nutritional worth of your hair follicles. Furthermore, it provides a long-lasting hold with a brilliant shine and touch and makes the hair more soft and manageable. Lastly, it protects the styled hair shafts against wind, humidity, and sweat, thereby making it feasible to flaunt innumerable hairstyles for a long time.

    Pros
    • Enhances hair luminosity
    • Great for curly hair
    • Adds an alluring bounce to the hair
    • Conditions parched hair
    Cons
    • Nozzle is clogged in some bottles
  • Best for Aging Hair

    CHI Enviro 54 Hair Spray

    CHI Enviro 54 Hair Spray
  • The makers of this product call it a “versatile hair spray.” Why? Because the product has a lightweight, non-runny, and non-clumsy texture that facilitates styling and enhances the tensile strength of the hair strands. Additionally, this lightweight spray is best for layering and creating multiple finishes and textures and is thus preferred by beauty enthusiasts and conventional hair stylists alike. Furthermore, it is easy to clean and does not have an overpowering fragrance that facilitates hair styling. Lastly, it is gluten-free, hence best for people with celiac disease.

    Pros
    • Establishes flexible hold
    • Non-toxic
    • Works for aging hair
    • Efficient spray system
    Cons
    • The texture is slightly greasy
  • Best Anti-inflammatory Option

    Cake Beauty The Hold Out Hairspray

    Cake Beauty The Hold Out Hairspray
  • Although, the Cake Beauty natural hair spray may be best suited to style coils, kinks, and curly hair. But, after conducting experiments with the product, our in-house hair care experts believe that it does justice to all hair types. This strong-hold hairspray facilitates brushing, backcombing, and styling without getting into messy knots or complex tangles. To add on, it contains natural ingredients like shea butter, calendula, and chamomile that work at a cellular level to restore hydration and improve hair porosity. Lastly, it does not contain harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances and is a compatible choice for people of all ages.

    Pros
    • Airyweight texture
    • Enhances hair volume
    • Cruelty-free
    • Anti-inflammatory
    Cons
    • Hair becomes slightly stiff
  • Best for Taming Flyaways

    PUREOLOGY Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray

    PUREOLOGY Style + Protect Lock It Down Hairspray
  • The scrumptious blend of olive oil, tuberose, almond milk, and cedar wood in the formulation of the Pureology natural hair spray makes it worthy of the amazing 4.6 out of rating on Amazon. It is one of the best choices for color-treated hair as it helps to condition parched hair shafts and improves hair luster. Addedly, it boosts the intrinsic hydration level of the hair shafts and improves the outward texture. Lastly, it is available in fragrance notes of cedarwood, almond Milk, and tuberose to provide a “closer to nature” styling experience

    Pros
    • Non-dulling
    • Layerable
    • Tames flyaways
    • Makes hair brushable
    Cons
    • Sticky texture
  • Best Gentle Formul

    Living Proof Control Hair Spray

    Living Proof Control Hair Spray
  • One of the non-negotiable choices for chemically treated hair is the Living Proof natural hair spray. After conducting experiments with this product, our in-house hair care experts feel that it delivers an all-day hold and shine without weighing down the hair. To add on, it provides a flake-free finish that makes it suitable for curating complex hairstyles. Moreover, it aligns unruly hair and prevents the occurrence of flyaways and static hair.  Lastly, it can tolerate heat up to 210 degrees centigrade and is a compatible choice for hair prone to continuous styling.

    Pros
    • Non-reddening
    • Gentle on scalp
    • Minimizes breakage
    • Best for color-treated hair
    Cons
    • The smell is a little overpowering

    Natural hair sprays serve as a shield for your nascent hair shafts while curating innumerable celebrity-inspired hairstyles. But as individuals are different, scalp types are different, and so is the compatibility of the hair spray with the hair type and the scalp. Hence, after a lot of in-depth research, our team has curated a few factors that can help minimize your struggle to find the most compatible natural hair spray.

    How to Choose the Best Hair Spray for Natural Hair?

    1. Composition of Ingredients: Since natural hair sprays tend to, directly and indirectly, affect the overall health of the scalp, they should be devoid of scalp-deteriorating ingredients like sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and alcohol. Moreover, they should be composed of natural ingredients like argan oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E that help to keep the moisture within the hair shafts intact and prevent breakage due to excessive drying. It should also contain ingredients like tea tree oil and chamomile extracts to curb inflammation and prevent bacterial invasion. 

    2. Texture: The texture of the natural hair spray should be lightweight, non-messy, and easily absorbent. Plus, it should not weigh down the hair and lead to clumping, which may trigger the process of hair shaft damage. 

    3. Scalp Type of the Individuals: Just like before prescribing medications doctors take note of our allergies, the scalp type of an individual should be taken into consideration before implementing any hair sprays into their hair care regime. While dry scalp will need more humectants like argan oil, olive oil, and coconut oil, oily scalp will need antibacterial and antifungal elements like lavender and tea tree to prevent scalp zit formation. 

    4. Underlying Medical Conditions: Underlying medical conditions like scalp dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis play an important role in selecting the best natural hair sprays for styling. Hence, people with medical conditions should avoid hair sprays that consist of alcohol, as it may trigger and aggravate scalp inflammation. 

    5. Fragrance: The major drawbacks that people receive with regards to hair sprays mainly revolve around their overpowering fragrance that tends to irritate the olfactory nerves and make noses feel sneezy, therefore the smell should not be overwhelming and should have a mild soothing fragrance in order to provide an alluring styling experience. 

    Given below are a few points on how to use the best natural hair spray for styling your hair that is as brief as a YouTube short and also as detailed as a podcast on hair styling.

    How to Use the Best Natural Hair Spray for Styling Your Hair?

    1. First, comb your hair and part your hair into sections, as it ensures the entire length of the hair is covered. 
    2. Keep the hair spray 30 cm from your scalp and spray it gently onto your roots and your tresses. 
    3. After applying the spray, brush your once with a detangler to avoid any complex and messy knots 

    Style your hair with styling equipment of your choice straightener, curler, or wave curling iron to achieve the desired look.

    Hair sprays are essential haircare items that help keep the hair in place, create volume, and tame flyaways. As natural hair tends to have a frizz, tangle, and knot-prone texture, it needs a formulation that strengthens the keratin bonds of the hair shafts, nullifies entangling, and curbs scalp infections. Given above are a few recommendations of the best hair sprays for natural hair that have a pocket-friendly price and do not cause redness or itching. Do check out our buying guide before making a purchase. Go ahead and feel free to create and recreate awe-inspiring hairdos.

    Contributor: Nate Masterson, Hair Expert - Maple Holistics

    FAQ's

    Is hairspray suitable for all types of natural hair?
    Natural hair sprays are suitable for all kinds of hair and people with all hair densities as they have a moisturizing formulation and an easy blending texture which helps to establish a firm hold over your long tresses.
    Can hairspray help with frizz control on natural hair?
    Most of the hair sprays are blessed with potent amounts of humectants and emollients that help keep the hair shafts nourished, supple, and moisturized, thus helping to control frizz.
    Are there hairsprays that don't leave a sticky residue on natural hair?
    Most natural hair sprays have an easy-blending texture and are devoid of complex chemicals. Hence, they do not leave a residue behind.
    What ingredients should I look for in a hairspray for natural hair?
    The choice of natural hair sprays usually depends on the natural scalp type of an individual, if you have a dry scalp you should look for more humectants, occlusives, and emollients like aloe vera, vitamin E, and argan oil that help preserve hair porosity. For an oily scalp, you should look for ingredients like tea tree oil, lavender, and chamomile, as they have mild astringent properties.
    How often should I use hairspray on my natural hair?
    Ideally, it is advisable not to style your hair too often as it may weaken the keratinous bond within the hair shafts. Hence, you should restrict styling your hair once to twice a week
    Are there hairsprays specifically designed for colored natural hair?
    Most of the hair sprays designed have a color-friendly formulation. However, the best options for color-treated hair are PUREOLOGY HairSpray and Living proof HairSpray.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Alvira, our in-house haircare expert, believes hair styling can be made possible and can also look gorgeous for complex and kinky hair textures. She is strongly opinionated that irrespective of the cork-screw-like ringlets and the frizz-prone texture, one can make their hair manageable with the proper implementation of products containing nature-picked and scientifically scalp and hair-benefiting ingredients. 

    When friends from her Instagram fam and her LinkedIn connections approached her for her recommendations for the best hair sprays for natural hair, she conducted a series of tests with the best sellers in the market and then recommended her top picks, which are scalp, hair, and budget-friendly. A few of her favored choices include the KENRA Volume Spray and the MOROCCANOIL Luminous Hairspray..

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health and fitness on board to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons.

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Alvira Dsouza
    Hair Expert

    With a keen eye for detail and a passion for hairstyling, Alvira is a certified Hair Expert who brings the latest tre More