Most women wear hairspray, even though many of us would prefer not to. It often tends to be stiff, sticky, and totally unnatural looking; not something you normally want in a beauty product. Many brands are also very hard on the hair; particularly delicate, fragile, or color treated hair like mine. Still, with my baby fine “fly away” hair, hairspray is a necessary evil.
The real trick is finding the right hairspray for each woman’s individual hair type as well as one that has the desired properties. For example, because my hair is baby fine, it doesn’t hold curl well. It needs all of the help that it can get. Consequently, I generally search for a “maximum hold” hairspray.
Whenever possible, I also prefer a hairspray to have “volumizing,” qualities because they help to plump up the hair shaft and make it look like I have thicker, more luxurious hair. Finally, I prefer a spray that either enhances to add a bit of a “shine” to the hair or, at the very least, doesn’t inhibit my own hair’s natural shine.
Over the years I have tried hundreds of hairsprays. When I was a teenager with healthy, hair I kept Aqua Net in business. It provided maximum hold and didn’t flatten my hairstyle. However, as I got older and my hair became more fragile, Aqua Net was no longer a spray I could continue to use.
Eventually, I found what I consider the best hairspray on the market – – Nick Chavez’s Volumizing Hairspray. It’s amazing in that it holds the hair in place without making it even the slightest bit stiff or sticky. It simply leaves touchable, silky soft, shiny hair. Unfortunately, now that I no longer work outside the home, I can’t afford Nick’s wonderful spray. So I started searching for a second class replacement.
My top two preferences at the moment are Pantene’s Volumizing Hairspray in maximum hold and Garnier’s Fructis Style in full control. Let’s see how they compare against one another.
Pantene’s Volumizing Hairspray is perfect for fine to medium hair that needs a slight lift. Unlike many of its competitors, it leaves hair feeling natural, without the stiffness or stickiness so often associated with this type of spray. Best yet, it leaves the hair touchable just in case your significant other likes to run his fingers through your luxurious locks.
I also appreciate the fact that Pantene’s product line doesn’t dull the hair. If anything, this hairspray locks in a healthy looking shine.
On the down side, I don’t believe that Pantene really does much in the way of “volumizing” the hair. Perhaps it is just that I’m too accustomed to the amazing results I used to get with Nick Chevaz. Either way, it doesn’t really seem to plump up the hair, but neither does it flatten it out like so many other hairsprays on the market today.
Pantene’s Volumizing Hairspary comes in a pump for those who prefer a non-aerosol variety. Be aware, that the pump can clog if you let it sit for an extended period of time. However, I find that it sometimes cleans by running the nozzle under hot water for a few seconds.
This product is not expensive, retailing for between $2.99 and $3.99 for a 10.2 fl oz bottle. It is available in most discount department and drug stores as well as many grocery marts. It can also be purchased online through Pantene’s website or several other shopping sites.
Garnier’s Fructis Style Hairspray easily matches Pantene. Like its competitor, Fructis leaves hair feeling wonderful; not at all sticky or hard or stiff. Its ultra fine mist locks your hairstyle in place for an all-day perfect “do” that is totally touchable; soft and manageable. And it even adds a kick of shine.
Fructis also has an added benefit. It smells heavenly. Its light, citrus smell accents without over powering while it is holding every hair in place until you are ready to brush it out.
Although Fructis comes in an aerosol, it claims to be engineered in way that doesn’t release dangerous hydrocarbons into the air. I can’t speak to that for a fact because I’m not an expert in the field. I can say, however, that it definitely comes out of the can in a much finer mist than other typical hairsprays.
Fructis is also offered at a reasonable price, although it is slightly higher than Pantene. It retails for between $3.99 and $4.99 for 8.25 oz. It is available in most discount department and drug stores and some grocery marts. It can also be purchased online through several shopping sites.
Here is how the two products stack up:
Packaging goes to Fructis. It is easy to locate on the shelf because of its bright green, attractive packaging.
Distribution System goes to Fructis. Pantene’s pump will clog and can be a pain to fix.
Ozone Safety goes to Pantene. Fructis may very well be safer than other aerosols but I think the pump rules.
Hold Capability goes to Pantene. Both sprays work well but Pantene seems to go that extra mile.
Touchability goes to Fructis. You really can’t even feel it on the hair. It is that light and airy.
Manageability goes to Fructis. Both of these sprays leave the hair manageable, but Fructis just edges out its competitor.
Scent goes to Fructis. Its light citrus scent smells natural, not chemical like Pantene.
Price Value goes to Pantene. You get more spray for a slightly lower cost.
Ease of Purchase goes to Pantene. Both of these hairsprays are relatively easy to find in discount department and drugs stores, but Pantene is also found in most grocery marts as well. Fructis seems to be available only in select ones.
By just a hair, Fructis edges out Pantene in a head to head comparison. I give Pantene three out of five stars and Fructis, four out of five stars. Sorry, the only five star hairspray I know remains Nick Chevaz.
