Sugar Hair Sprays – a Gentle Alternative to Drying Salt Sprays

Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Gaga

What is Sugar Spray?

These multi-purpose styling products are becoming a popular alternative to salt-based texturizing sprays. Sugar hair sprays are infused with sugar cane extract, which can give fullness, texture, and glossiness to your hair. Unlike conventional hair sprays, most sugar sprays are free of drying alcohol and harsh chemicals. Unlike sea-salt sprays, they won’t strip your hair of its natural moisture. These styling sprays are also safe for the environment.

Sugar sprays add a great beachy texture to your locks with lasting benefits. If you want to achieve that popular beach hair look, without the drying effects of salt, sugar hairspray can be the right choice.

a woman styling hair by using a sugar hair spray

Best candidates: Sugar cane extract is a good moisturizing agent that can be particularly beneficial for individuals with dry, damaged, or chemically processed hair. This effective humectant draws moisture to the hair and coats each strand, creating the illusion of fuller hair. If used carefully sugar styling sprays may leave your hair with plenty of bounce.

A sugar spray is a great choice if you need to make your hair more manageable, especially if your hair is fine.

These products are suitable for all hair types and textures and can be applied either to damp or dry hair. When used before blow-drying, sugar sprays give a fuller appearance to your hair. When applied after styling, they provide hold, helping your hairstyle last longer.

Benefits of Using a Sugar-Based Spray for Styling Your Hair

  1. More volume: These styling products work great for anyone with thin, fine hair that needs more body and texture. Sugar sprays enhance natural texture, provide lift, and add volume to your hair.
  2. Better hold: A sugar spray enhances the body and gives control to limp straight hair, giving it much-needed texture. Sugar sprays also help to control and maintain hold for hair that is already voluminous.
  3. Conditioning benefits: Sugar cane extract has moisturizing and conditioning properties and helps protect hair from damage. If your hair is on the dry side, you might want to try a sugar-based styling spray.
  4. Curl enhancer: A sugar spray nourishes your curls and enhances your natural curl pattern. It also helps your curls stay in place for longer.
  5. Frizz tamer: A sugar spray helps reduce frizz and tame flyaway hair.
  6. Shine booster: This hairspray leaves a healthy shine on your hair.
  7. Color-friendly: Sugar sprays won’t strip color from your hair. When shopping for a spray, check the label to make sure that the spray doesn’t contain sulfates or sodium chloride.
  8. The flowers of heaven: Sugar styling sprays leave your hair smelling great and generally have a more pleasant scent than salt sprays.

Downsides

  1. Sugar hairspray can leave your hair a bit crunchy if you use too much of the product. To avoid stiffness, use no more than a few squirts. Try spraying the product onto your hands and then applying it to your hair.
  2. Some brands may contain harsh chemicals such as parabens, fragrances, and Methylisothiazolinone. Always check the label and opt for a product with natural ingredients. The majority of quality sugar-infused sprays contain only sugar extract and a few nourishing ingredients.
  3. Sticking residue may clog the nozzle, preventing the product from dispensing correctly. To fix it, try to run the nozzle under hot water for several minutes.
  4. Sugar hairsprays can cause buildup in your hair. Use clarifying shampoo periodically to strip away unwanted residue.
Gorgeous woman with wavy hair styled with a sugar apray

How to Make Your Own Sugar Spray

A sugar spray is extremely easy to make because it basically only contains two ingredients – water and sugar.

Steps:

  1. Pour a small glass of water and two teaspoons of sugar into a pot and place it on the stove. Turn the heat. When the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat.
  2. Stir until the sugar is completely melted.
  3. Wait for the liquid to cool and then pour it into a spray bottle.

You can play with the amount of sugar to get a stronger or lighter hold.

Optionally, you can add more ingredients like lavender or rosemary essential oils to make it smell nice and to extend the shelf life.

Store the spray in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

How to Use a Sugar Hair Spray?

Sugar styling sprays are suitable for all hair types and can be used either on dry or damp hair. You can use the product before blow-drying if you want to add extra volume or apply it after styling your hair if you want more hold. Spray 20-30 cm away from the hair to make your hairstyle last.

To give fine hair volume, spray a few spritzes on damp, ready to blow-dry the hair. To create maximum body, lift hair, and spray near your roots before blow-drying.

For a just-back-from-the-beach texture and tousled waves, apply to damp hair before blow-drying, focusing the spray on the midsection and ends of your hair. Apply to dry hair and scrunch small sections to get a fresh tousled look.

Apply a few spritzes to dry hair for light to medium hold. Spray more after styling for a long-lasting, firm hold. Spray in layers for the strongest hold, but don’t overdo it to avoid crunchiness.

Spraying the product on damp hair and combing it through may help to prevent crunchiness.

Cover your clothes with a towel during application as the spray can be sticky when wet.

Sugar Hair Sprays Vs. Salt Infused Hair Sprays

  • Sugar hair sprays are less drying to the hair than salt-based sprays due to the moisturizing effects of sugar extract. This is particularly important if you have curly or chemically processed hair.
  • Sugar styling sprays can be used to control frizz and tame flyaway hair, while salt sprays can exacerbate frizz due to the drying effects sea salt can have on hair.
  • Sugar-based sprays enhance hair’s shine, while salt sprays give hair a beachy texture with a more matte look.
  • Salt found in hair sprays can strip color and keratin treatment from your hair. Sugar-based hair sprays are keratin– and color-friendly products as long as they don’t contain strong chemicals in their formula.
  • Salt sprays provide a more texturized look and work best for fine hair to add body and thickness. Sugar sprays provide better hold and a softer texture, and they are ideal for styling medium to thick hair.
  • Sugar styling sprays will offer more softness and subtle waves, while sea salt sprays help you get a gritty look and beachy waves.
  • Salt sprays work better on straight hair that needs some texture and can be too drying for curly hair. Sugar sprays have more versatility and can be used on curly hair as well as on other hair types.
a beautiful girl with hair styled with a sugar spray

About the author

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Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.