10 Affordable Drugstore Hair Sprays Celebrity Stylists Actually Use and Love

"I love L'Oréal Elnette Satin Strong Hold Hairspray," celebrity stylist Cervando Maldonado tells me. "I've used it for years on set and in the salon. It gives the best hold and shine, it doesn't get sticky, and you can still brush through the hair easily to create plenty of styles. It's easy to find at the drugstore and is such a great price."

Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos is also a fan, and he used it to perfect the ethereal hairstyle of a VMA look for Camila Cabello. The OG Strong Hold Hairspray is currently sold out, but you can try the Extra Strong Hold formula in the meantime.

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: Unscented

Hair type: All

Pros: Works on color-treated hair, doesn't flake up

Cons: May weigh down fine hair

Celebrity hairstylist Jenda Alcorn, who frequently works with Dakota and Elle Fanning, says the L'Oréal line is also a favorite for light-hold hair spray, especially when she's traveling and battling elements like the humidity. For a lighter-hold option that still delivers impeccable shine, try this precious oil–infused formula from the brand.

"Because most of my travel involves red carpets, I absolutely couldn't survive without hair spray!" she tells us here. "I'm not big on a lot of product, as I prefer moveable hair, so I favor the lightweight sprays that aren't heavy. I like the light-hold options from Oribe and L'Oréal, as they're easy to layer depending on what kind of look we're creating."

Key ingredients: Argan oil

Scent: Unscented

Hair type: All but especially curly, dry, or damaged hair

Pros: Keeps hair soft and provides shine

Cons: Some say it has a noticeable scent

This hair spray promises extra control and shine, making it perfect for red carpet moments where a slick back or clean look is common. "I use this hair spray on every hairstyle I do because it gives long-lasting hold that never lets me down," shares celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend. "It stays touchable, and it doesn't flake if you brush it out." It also contains nourishing ingredients like vitamin B5 too boost moisture. Plus, it has a blended scent that features fruity, floral, and woodsy notes.

Key ingredients: Vitamin B5

Scent: Fruity, floral, woodsy

Hair type: All but especially damaged hair

Pros: Great for final touches and extra shine

Cons: Might dry out hair

"I love the Tresemmé Tres Two Unscented Hairspray!" celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan exclaims. "It has a super-strong hold, and I can trust it to lock in my favorite looks." Marjan is also a fan of the brand's Compressed Extend Hairspray Hold Level 4 ($8), which she used to secure Amanda Brugel's waist-length ponytail at 2020's SAG Awards.

Assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert says she appreciates that this gives her hair extra hold on days when she wants a sleek finish. "I often use wax sticks to slick back my hair, but when I want something less heavy that won't cause as much buildup, having a hairspray with extra hold like this one comes in handy," she says.

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: Unscented

Hair type: All

Pros: Long-lasting and protects against humidity

Cons: Scent may be too strong for some

Some hair sprays will give you long-lasting results but might flatten it in the process. This pick from Sexy Hair ensures you'll get volume all day—no flakiness required. It also has a subtle tropical smell that's light and not overwhelming.

Celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko has used this spray on big names like Lily Aldridge for the Oscars in 2023. She used a combination of hair spray and styling tools (T3's Convertible Collection) to keep the look fresh and in place.

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: Light and tropical

Hair type: Fine, medium, and coarse hair types

Pros: Long-lasting, volumizing

Cons: Can dry out hair

To lock in Zazie Beetz's eye-catching Oscars style, celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway relied on this dependable drugstore formula from Nexxus. It's perfect for those who have fine hair that tends to get weighed down easily. With this lightweight formula, you can achieve the look you want without compromising the feel of your hair. Talbert is a fan of using this hair spray or the Nexxus Refresh Volume Dry Shampoo on days when she needs a quick mid-day touchup.

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: Powdery

Hair type: Fine hair

Pros: Won't weigh down fine hair

Cons: Smell may be too strong for some

If you're envious of Natasha Lyonne's bold hair look here, you can easily re-create the magic for quite the steal. Celebrity hairstylist Jillian Halouska spritzed this luxe drugstore hair spray for top-notch body and hold. And although this is on the pricer side of drugstore buys, it's well worth the investment considering it contains smoothing ingredients such as shea butter and marula oil.

Key ingredients: Shea butter and marula oil

Scent: Clean and fresh

Hair type: All

Pros: Keeps hair soft and provides a strong hold

Cons: May need to reapply throughout the day

No one wants to deal with hair spray that leaves a wet, sticky finish. Luckily, this one from Sebastian Professional dries super fast, making it a great choice for on-the-go styling. "This is my favorite," says celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Yepez. "You can tame your flyaways, get a snatched pony, and get your bombshell waves to hold! This is an amazing hair spray that really allows you to lock in your style and brush it out with ease. There's no white residue, and your hair is still soft with zero stiffness."

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: Unscented

Hair type: All

Pros: Doesn't stiffen hair

Cons: May flatten fine hair

Celebrity hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez—who regularly works with Shakira, Becky G, Maye Musk, Dascha Polanco, and Anika Noni Rose—touts this affordable drugstore hair spray as one of the best for keeping styles glued in place. "This is my fave drugstore hair spray," Alvarez says. "It is a great working spray that protects against humidity and has really buildable hold. It brushes out easily, and it never leaves your hair with a stiff, crunchy feeling."

Talbert is also a fan of this hairspray noting that it has a bright and fresh scent similar to other Dove products she loves. "I have frizz-prone 3B/3C curly hair, and I love the way this protects my hair against humidity," she says. "It's perfect for those rainy days when your strands needs something extra to stay looking fresh."

Key ingredients: Coconut oil

Scent: Floral and citrus

Hair type: All

Pros: Has a fresh scent, smoothes out hair

Cons: The nozzle is delicate

Granted, all of the options on this list are considered affordable drugstore buys, but this one from Suave really takes the cake. It's less than 5$ and is clear proof that good products don't always have a high price tag. Celebrity hairstylist Jared "JStayReady" Henderson previously used Suave's Firm Control Finishing Hair Spray on stars like Normani at the VMAs. However, it's since been discontinued, so we think the brands Flexible Hold is a stellar alternative.

Key ingredients: N/A

Scent: N/A

Hair type: All

Pros: Budget-friendly

Cons: Has a strong scent