Homemade Hair Spray: Best Non-Sticky Formula
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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
Homemade Hair Spray
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (use more or less as desired for hold strength)
- ⅛ teaspoon pre-gelatinized starch
- 1 teaspoon vodka
- 3-5 drops essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Add starch to water and mix well.
- Add sugar and stir or shake until dissolved.
- Add vodka.
- Add essential oils if using.
- Pour into a spray bottle and shake before use.
Notes
- For more hold, increase sugar slightly
- For lighter hold, reduce sugar
- Shake before each use
- Spray lightly for best results
- Using too much starch can make hair look dull or slightly wet
- This hairspray should last quite a long time due to the vodka, but do discard if it smells off. Use Everclear for longer shelf life.
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.
Can i use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
Yes, you can – there is very little difference between those two.
I DID NOT USE MUC SUGAR
Did you use a whole lot of the hair spray?
I tried and it attracted bees
Oh no – I have never heard of this happening! I guess you should be glad you have bees…there are so few these days! Did you use a lot?
I love natural products and homemade everything lol
would Vitamin E allow this to last longer n if so would it affect the products texture or results
Hi there. I’m sure it should help but it might make the spray oily. You could try a small amount and see. Hope it works!
I was all excited to learn how to make my DIY hairspray. I enthusiastically wrote down and bookmaked your page. Then I scrolled down and found your update. To my not-to-surprise,
it turned out to be a multi-level marketing ad. Now I am not against wanting to be entrepreneurial but I think this little hairspray blog is a trap. I am going to make my own spray with some of the things you suggest and maybe adding some of my own ideas but I surely am not going to buy products that are not tested or available on local shelves. The only people who benefits from ML marketing schemes are the very top wrung of the ladder as I have been involved with a few top companies over 40 years. I wish you well but I think your hairspray DIY recipe is a bit sneaky. Granted some products these companies produce are of fairly good quality but some are just dangerous. Like, soy protein shakes filled with aluminum shaving. Soy is poison no matter how one consumes it. The product cost is high with ML companies due to having to pay all the down line. Well enough of my rant but not for me.
Lin B.
Hello Lin. I am glad you wrote. I’m not sure when you initially bookmarked the page, but I had those updates in there since the first one in 2016.
I am actually really glad you wrote bc I had meant to remove one and forgot about it. It’s gone now.
I completely understand your concerns, but I assure you that this was not a trap. I wrote the post in 2013 and updated it w/ the Beautycounter spray in 2016. I often do that with DIY posts–have the DIY version and then an option that I like for those who don’t like to DIY–whether it’s w/ an MLM or just a product that one can get from Amazon or off the shelf.
As for the testing, I am not sure what you are referring to. Beautycounter actually is one of the most transparent companies out there. They test everything and have pulled products for months just because there was a hint of a problem. There are so many other companies with products on local shelves, as you say, that are not tested. Just b/c something is on a shelf doesn’t mean it’s tested. In fact, I bought products at Target this past week that I ended up having a horrible allergic reaction to due to the fragrances. Their label of “essential oils blend” was totally misleading and I had to call and message the company numerous times before I got the truth out of them. Just horrible!
You are not right that the only people who benefit from MLMs are those at the top. And they are not all schemes. Yes, there are many that aren’t solid ethically, but the same is true about all businesses. I know many ladies with Beautycounter who aren’t at the top who are very happy with the extra income that they are making and for the difference that they are making in the world.
Yes, the MLM model makes it hard for some people to be transparent if they find a problem w/ their company, but I’m not that way. I have removed other MLMs (and non MLM companies) from my blog before and I will do it again when / if I find ethical issues / questions that I can’t get answered. I have removed Ava Anderson and 100% Pure, Young Living, and doTERRA.
I don’t like soy either, for the record :). At least most of it.
As for the high cost, that can easily be the case with non MLMs too. In fact, I did a cost comparison chart of Beautycounter’s products vs other companies (both MLM and non) and some of their products were cheaper than the non MLM ones.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this and again, thanks for reading.
Hi again, Lin.
I did want to mention one other things about MLMs. Another plus is that people have the chance to get their products at a reduced price or for free, which is a great boon for those who don’t have the option to or don’t desire to work outside of the home. There are so many who can’t handle a job where they have to be on a specific schedule, don’t have transportation, or just need to be at home with kids, and this gives them an opportunity. As long as you run it ethically with an ethical company I think it can be a great thing. Again, hope that helps clarify things.
does this diy hairspray work well with holding curls? Also, will it make my hair super sticky at all? I don’t really like using hairspray with chemicals.
Hi there. It depends on your hair and the strength you use. It does “OK” holding my curls. I agree– I try to use as few toxins as possible! The Beautycounter spray in the post is a good option if you’d like to try it. I have been trying out some other options as well.
Wow, thank you! I think this could be a winner 🙂 I have very short hair, but it’s stick straight, so I need something to give it a little lift. But as someone else stated, the overspray of hairspray products is obnoxious and very hard to clean (much less what it is likely doing to my insides-eek!!)
I noticed that collagen hydosylate was on your list of emulsifiers, so I figured hey…why not add some? And I also put in a pinch of pink salt and a few drops of grapefruit seed extract (for its anti-bacterial and preservative properties).
We have liftoff! Sugar….whoda thunk it?
Nice!!! Yes, it’s hard to deal w/ hairspray overspray!!
Can you be more specific when you say to use “quickly”: If kept in the fridge does that mean use in 1 week or 1 month?? 3 months? Thank you for great ideas here!
Typically bacteria starts to grow within about 4 days — I’m not sure how long it should be OK for but I wouldn’t think 3 mos would be a good idea. Thanks!
Since Honey has a natural anti-bacterial property, (at least that is what I was told by fellow soapers), could it be used as the sugar?
I don’t think it will work since it isn’t granulated.
Never coz artificial honey can make you’re hair grey
But natural would not do that.