3 Best Non Toxic Hairsprays | Top Chemical Free Hair Sprays

If your hair spray contains fragrances and toxic ingredients, your hair is a walking diffuser! Swap out your toxic hair spray for a non toxic hair spray!

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A good non toxic hair spray can be tough to find. Check out these top 3 picks for a chemical free, natural hair spray that eliminates toxins from your hair care routine.

To be honest, I never liked using hairspray because it always knotted up my hair, didn’t feel natural, and always gave me a headache! So, I understand wanting to find a hair spray that you can use without a second thought.

Even though your hair products are sprayed on the hair and not the skin, you’re still being affected by inhaling its ingredients.

Think of it this way.  Your hair becomes a walking diffuser of artificial fragrances and other toxic chemical ingredients.  This affects you and those around you!  Not to mention the lasting scent in the air of your home after applying.

If your styling products contain these ingredients, it’s time to make the switch to a natural hair spray.

Is Hairspray Toxic?

If a product must be used in “well ventilated areas”, you’ve got to wonder…what happens if you don’t?

Due to the chemical ingredients included in most hair sprays, even brief inhalation of a small amount of hairspray could result in difficulty breathing or coughing.

These ingredients can bioaccumulate within the body and lead to health issues over time.

These ingredients can cause endocrine disruption, allergies, and some even have carcinogenic properties! On top of that, they’re not healthy for your hair. You want to look for ingredients that can promote hair health and are nourishing to hair growth.

Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Spray

Most hairsprays today contain ingredients that help create an effective product. But these ingredients can be harmful to our health.

Big brand hairsprays are made up of polymers, solvents, and a propellant.

Isobutane is a common propellant used in aerosol hairsprays. This is what causes the hairspray to shoot out of the aerosol can.

Alcohol is commonly used as a solvent, the liquid that the other ingredients are mixed into. The alcohol will evaporate but leaves behind the other toxic chemicals.

Polymers like polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl acetate are large molecules that act as a mesh to keep the hair in place.

While some harmful propellants are banned by the FDA, isobutane is permitted. Isobutane can cause dizziness, respiratory irritation, but most importantly, it is classified as a carcinogen. And yet it is still allowed in aerosol products like hairspray.

In addition, hairsprays often include fragrance. Fragrance is a loophole phrase for companies. It is a nonspecific ingredient that can mean any one of a dozen (or more) chemical ingredients!

These chemicals are known for causing allergic reactions, endocrine disruption, and are largely untested for use. Anytime you see ‘fragrance’ on a label, it’s a no-go!

Hairsprays can also include common toxins like:

• Parabens: preservatives, known to be endocrine disruptors, skin irritants and carcinogenic. Associated with birth defects, and fertility issues.
• Phenoxyethanol: preservative, can cause life-threatening allergic reactions, eczema, and can affect nervous system function.
• Benzophenones: fragrance enhancer, known to be an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen.

In fact, studies have shown that professional hair stylists have experienced health issues after repeated exposure to toxic hair products. Hair spray was found to be one of the main culprits causing respiratory issues!

While occasional exposure to hairspray is nowhere near the exposure of a professional hairstylist, these products are still irritants and carcinogens. Exposure to these ingredients is unsafe because once inhaled into the lungs, it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Check this out from PubMed article, ““Hair-spray lung”. Clinical and morphological findings”:

“Prolonged and excessive exposure to hairsprays could be established in both cases. Upon termination of the exposure, a marked improvement occurred in both patients within half a year. Extreme exposure to hairspray may cause alterations of the lung parenchyma, including a so-called “hair-spray lung”.” [Source]

Is hairspray flammable?

If you’re using big brand hairsprays, they are likely to contain flammable solvents! Flammable ingredients do not belong on your hair or body. Not only is it dangerous, but these chemicals are likely to be respiratory irritants or even carcinogens.

What is the Best Non Toxic Hair Spray?

Most of the time when people set out to switch to non toxic products, they quickly realize how daunting of a task it can be. They turn to references like websites or apps that “help” guide people to cleaner products. 

These sites rate products, people trust the ratings, and they purchase the products without another thought. I know because I used to be one of those people!

When I wanted to start making the switch to non toxic living, I used one of the well-known sites and automatically trusted their ratings to buy whatever was on my shopping list at the time. I had no idea these products still had toxic ingredients in them!! 

In the video below, I shared how I found out my EWG Verified foundation contained toxic ingredients. my heck out this video that shows my discovery of the toxic ingredients in my supposedly “clean foundation”. Watch it here!

When you’re shopping for a natural hairspray, you want a firm hold, plant-based ingredients, and if scented, be sure it’s coming from an essential oil (which are just extracted oils from a plant).

So, what’s the solution? Checking all the ingredients individually. But who has time to do that?! That’s why I’ve compiled what I’ve learned and am sharing it here with you.

Here I’ve rounded up my top 3 picks for the best non toxic hair sprays. They work, they’re affordable, and they’re void of the nasty toxins found in many mainstream hair sprays.

1) John Masters Organics Hair Spray I 95% Organic Ingredients I USDA Organic

“Hold onto your style with organic, natural ingredients, not synthetic polymers or plasticizing agents typically found in traditional hair sprays. John Masters Organics’ certified USDA organic hair spray—one of the only certified organic formulas on the market—is powered by organic aloe leaf juice and acacia senegal gum for the most toucheable hold with no flaky residue, just soft styles that stay put all day.”  Read more…

Hair types: All

Gluten free? Yes

Vegan? Yes

Cruelty free? Yes

2) Innersense Organic Beauty – Natural I Create Finish Finishing Spray

“A workable hairspray for hold and shine

Achieve flexible hold with this versatile finishing hairspray. Formulated with Certified Organic honey for touchable hold and rooibos tea for antioxidant care. Rice proteins nourish and strengthen strands.”  Read more…

Scent: Lavender

Hair types: All

Gluten free? Yes

Vegan? No – contains honey & beeswax

Cruelty free? Yes

3) Honeybee Gardens Herbal Mint Alcohol Free Hair Spray

“Consistently one of our best-selling products.  Keep hair perfectly styled all day long with strong but natural-looking hold. Our non-aerosol hair spray is enriched with organic botanical ingredients to nourish hair and increase shine. The alcohol-free formula means it is non-drying, so your hair stays soft and touchable.  Clean and light mint scent.  For both women and men.”  Read more…

Scent: Clean herbal mint

Hair types: All

Gluten free? Yes

Vegan? Yes

Cruelty free? Yes

BEST NON TOXIC HAIR SPRAY | PRODUCT COMPARISON

Finding the Best Non Toxic Hair Spray for You

I hope this helps you find the best non toxic hairspray!

Check out the comparison chart above to help guide you toward the best fit for you.

If you’re new to the non toxic lifestyle here are some ideas for more non toxic swaps:

• 7 Best Natural Concealers | A Guide To Non Toxic Concealers
• Best Non Toxic Foundation
• Best Non Toxic Eyeshadow
• Best Non Toxic Makeup Remover

When you try out your new chemical free hair spray, or if you’re a fan of one of these already, tell me about it in the comments!  I want to hear all about it!