Homemade Hair Spray: Best Non-Sticky Formula

If you’ve ever tried a DIY hair spray and ended up with sticky, stiff, or wet-looking hair, you’re not alone.

Many homemade hair spray recipes use simple ingredients like sugar and water, and while those can work, they don’t always give the best results.

After testing many variations, I finally found a formula that actually works—and feels good on your hair. This version gives a natural-looking light to medium hold, dries properly, and avoids the sticky or heavy feel that some DIY recipes can have. Plus, it’s still simple to make with just a few ingredients.

One of the most chemical-laden beauty products is hairspray. Most of the more “natural” options on the market either aren't very clean or they just don't work well and the DIY ones out there can leave a lot to be desired.

Thankfully, I figured out this formula that works really well.

Why Make Homemade Hairspray?

There are lots of reasons to make your DIY hairspray.

• Reduce Chemical Exposure: There are so many toxic chemicals in hairspray including artificial fragrances and more. Shampoo has a lot of toxic ingredients, but hairspray is typically much worse.
• Save Money: The ingredients in this natural hairspray are incredibly inexpensive. Meanwhile, some commercial hairsprays cost as much as $25 for only 10 ounces!
• Save the Environment: Fewer chemicals and fewer plastic containers mean a cleaner environment. Even if you recycle bottles, it's better not to have them made at all in the first place.
• Avoid Allergens: When you make your own homemade beauty products, you can avoid not only toxic ingredients but also those that you are allergic to.
• Healthier Hair: Lots of ingredients in store-bought shampoo aren't great for your hair. This hairspray is made with simple ingredients made to be gentler.

Why Most DIY Hair Spray Recipes Fall Short

Most homemade hair spray recipes rely on sugar for hold. While that can work, it often leaves hair feeling sticky or slightly heavy. I used (and recommended here) a sugar-based version for years, and while I still use it some, it needed a performance upgrade.

Some recipes use salt or Epsom salt for texture, but those can be quite drying, especially if used regularly.

Most versions I tried didn’t give the results I was looking for, but I finally found a solutiong.

Starch was the missing piece. There are a few recipes out there that use it, but these are often unbalanced—either too much starch or the wrong type—leading to a dull, coated, or slightly wet-looking finish.

The secret to this great DIY hairspray is the right ingredients and the right balance.

Why This Recipe Works

This version works because it combines a few simple ingredients in the right proportions:

• Sugar provides the hold
• Starch helps reduce stickiness and improves the finish
• Alcohol helps the spray dry properly so hair doesn’t look wet

Using a small amount of each creates a more balanced result that feels lighter, looks more natural, and works more like a typical light to medium hairspray than any DIY versions I tried.

What You’ll Need

This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients:

• Water
• Sugar
• Pre-gelatinized starch (this is what makes the difference—see notes below)
• Vodka (helps the spray dry properly)
• Optional essential oils

Not all starches work the same here—this type gives the best results.

If you'd like to use the original sugar and water version, you can find it right after the recipe card below.

Recipe Notes

• 1 teaspoon of sugar works well for most hair types, but you can adjust slightly for more or less hold. Of course, if you add too much, you will end up with residue on your hair, so try adding just 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon at a time.
• Use filtered water to avoid the toxins in tap water.
• This hairspray should last quite a long time due to the vodka, but discard if it smells off. 
• You're probably wondering if this homemade hair spray attracts bugs due to the sugar content. I was worried about that too, but from my and others' experiences, that's not a problem at all. 
• Technically, if you use essential oils in this spray, you will want to add an essential oil emulsifier. However, since you will be spraying this on your hair and not on your skin, it's not really a problem.

What Is Pre-Gelatinized Starch?

Pre-gelatinized starch is a type of starch that has been processed so it dissolves easily in cold or room-temperature liquids.

That’s what makes it work well in this recipe—you don’t need to heat it, and it blends smoothly without clumping.

Regular starches (like cornstarch) usually need heat to activate and are more likely to leave a residue or feel heavier on the hair.

Troubleshooting This Homemade Hair Spray

If your results aren’t quite right, here are a few easy fixes:

• Hair feels sticky: use less sugar or apply less
• Hair looks wet or heavy: reduce starch or spray more lightly
• Not enough hold: increase sugar slightly

Simple Sugar Hair Spray (Basic Version)

If you prefer a very simple option, here's the basic sugar hairspray that I had here on my site for years. This version provides light hold, but it can feel slightly sticky depending on how much you use and your hair type.

To make it, use 1/2 cup water and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. Heat water, add sugar, and stir until dissolved.

Other Homemade Personal Care Products You'll Love

If you're into making your own products, here are some others to try.

• Nourishing Hand and Body Cream – so great and non-greasy
• Hand and Body Scrub – so easy and works amazingly well
• Invigorating Body Wash – so much better than store-bought
• Nourishing Hair Rinse – leaves hair super shiny and healthy
• DIY Hair Growth Oil – works great

Safer Store-Bought Hairspray Options

If you don't feel like DIYing, here are some safer options to try.

The BEST natural non-toxic hairspray that I've found is from Rowe Casa. It's a light to medium hold. Their Hair Gel, Mousse, and Hair Spritz (for hair growth) are great as well. Code WNM gets 20% off your first order.

If you really need a firm hold, this spray from Giovanni is pretty clean as far as artificial fragrances go.

Also this hairspray is another one that I like. It's very reasonable and is low on the toxic scale too.

This Poofy Organics Hair Spray is super clean but it's a very light hold. I like it on the longer portion of my hair because it's conditioning in addition to the light hold, but it's too heavy for my bangs. Code WNM gets 10% off your first order.