During the World War II the aerosol spray technology developed; in the following years this technology began to be used in other industries also, such as coatings and body care. Women have always used different kinds of methods to fix their hair; since antiquity they have used natural ingredients (gum, clay) in order to settle down their hair, until the late 1940’s, when the first commercial hair spray appeared on the market. These hair spray models were rather incomplete; the only ingredient used for fixation was shellac, a natural resin. Then, in late 1950’s hair sprays were considerably improved both concerning the ingredients and the aerosol packaging. Nowadays, hairsprays are a key factor in the hair care industry.

Unlike the 1950’s hair sprays, modern hair sprays are lighter and are water soluble. Their role is well defined: to fix the hair and simultaneously to give it shine and flexibility. The hair spray solution is nowadays easy to be removed, by a simple brushing or washing.

Some of the hair spray ingredients are chemicals used for paints and glues; but they are carefully combined so that they shouldn’t damage or destroy the hair. On the contrary, the hair spray substance is shiny, flexible, smells good, it dries quickly and is waterproof, and however washable. The two polymers that form the hair spray substance are a form of vinyl acetate and a form of methacrylate. At the basis of these polymers there is water, alcohol and a liquid gas named dimethyl ether. When you push down the spray button, the dimethyl boils and propels out the solid ingredients. The aminomethyl propanol is the one which takes care of the neutrality of the substance; due to it the hair spray substance which is waterproof and washable at the same time. The ingredient which prevents corrosion is sodium benzoate while cyclopentasiloxane is a form of silicone which is responsible for the thickness of the substance; it also makes the film water impermeable.

In order to prevent hair dryness, hair sprays contain a moisturizing agent named Sodium PCA. Some hair sprays also contain vitamins (E vitamin) which do not play their normal role as the hair can not assimilate vitamins; they function in stead as anti-oxidants and give shine and moisture to the hair. In case hair sprays have proteins or vitamins, they also contain a preservative called butylene glycol which also retains perfume.

Nowadays there are hundreds of hair sprays types (UV protection, glitter or color effect, which are perfect for carnivals or children parties). Usually, hair sprays are divided into fixation power levels, from light fixation to strong and ultra strong. The hair spray formulas are gradually improved; as a result we have flexibility, shine, moisturizing, strengthen in a single hair spray: the miraculous all-in-one formula. Here is a top 10 hair spray top so that you should know what suits you best when shopping:

Nexxus Headdress Spray 4
Paul Mitchell Fast Drying Sculpting Hair 4 and Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine
Paul Mitchell Creative Ultimate Finishing Spray 9
Paul Mitchell Super Clean Extra 8
Paul Mitchell Super Clean 5
Paul Mitchell Soft Spray 2
Dramatic FX 8
Special FX 4
Hair Spray 8
Styling Spritz 8, Sebastain Shaper and Shaper Plus 5/8 and Nexxus Maxximmum 8