by Texas Homesteader ~
Recently I ran out of hairspray and decided to quickly whip up another batch. I mean why not, it only contains 3 ingredients and uses a repurposed spray bottle. Come see how ridiculously easy (and CHEAP it is to make your own hairspray with 3 common household ingredients.
Low Waste Health & Beauty
I’ve been interested in making my own toiletries for quite a while now. It’s a fun hobby that pacifies the environmental side of me as well as my budget-minded side.
Several years ago when I ran out of hairspray I hated to buy another blasted plastic spray bottle of the stuff.
(um yes I hate plastic, why do you ask??) LOL!
But let’s face it, I work on a ranch so my needs for hairspray are few. The cows don’t mind one bit if I have my hair pulled back in a ponytail. And with a Ponytail holder made of repurposed material at that, #thankyouverymuch.
But my board-straight hair does need some help when we’re out and about visiting with friends and family or attending church.
I’ve toyed around with different ingredients before. But this time I’m pretty pleased with the results.
Only 3 Ingredients!
I made this batch several months ago so I could try it out first & see what I thought. First I poured about 1/2 cup filtered water into a glass jar and added several sprigs of rosemary.
I’ve read that rosemary is good for your hair. It’s also said that it also will over time subtly darken my newly-emerging gray platinum blonde streaks. (eh hum… )
I allowed the rosemary to steep in the water for a couple of days using good ole solar power by placing the lidded jar on our picnic table during the 100-degree days typical during the summer in NE Texas.
Then I brought the jar inside and strained the water and placed it in a microwavable container.
I heated it until it was hot, but not boiling. Finally I stirred in a tablespoon of sugar until it was fully dissolved and allowed it to cool.
Alcohol As A Preservative
Since I don’t want to keep this spray bottle in my refrigerator I needed a way to preserve it so it wouldn’t go ‘off‘. I noticed the commercial stuff has alcohol in the contents.
So although I was hesitant at first to add it, I stirred in two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol as a preservative.
It’s a very small amount and I’m sure the commercial stuff I’ve already been using has much more.
I poured it all into my now-empty hairspray bottle and took it back to my makeup container to store.
When I next needed to use hair spray I gave it a try and I was pleased with the results.
My Observations
It’s a wetter formula than the commercial stuff. So you’ll want to spray lightly and allow it to dry. (which it does quickly I’m guessing because of the alcohol) Then give another quick spray if you find you need more hold. In this case less is more so you don’t want to use near as much as the commercial stuff.
I found this formula to be pleasantly scented because of my rosemary infusion. And I’ve not had a problem with the contents going ‘off’ even after several weeks – again presumably because of the alcohol that’s stirred in as a preservative. This country girl’s pretty pleased with the results.
So there ya go, homemade hairspray.
Cheap. Effective. Zero Waste.
Give it a try & let me know what you think!
Homemade Rosemary-Infused Hairspray
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Filtered Water
- 3 One-inch sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Rubbing Alcohol (as a preservative)
Instructions
-
Measure 1/2 cup filtered water into a microwave-safe container and heat 30-45 seconds until hot. Stir in your sprigs of fresh rosemary.
-
Allow the rosemary to steep in the water for at least an hour.
Then strain the rosemary pieces from the water and place infused water in a microwavable container and heat about 30-45 seconds.
Stir in a Tablespoon of granulated sugar until it is fully dissolved.
Allow mixture to cool completely.
-
When mixture is cool, stir in two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to use as a preservative.
-
Pour mixture into repurposed spray bottle. I use an empty hairspray pump bottle since it already sprays in tiny droplets, which are best for your homemade hairspray.
To use, spray hair lightly and allow to dry. If a stronger hold is needed apply a second time and allow to dry.
NOTE: For extra hold formula, increase the sugar to 2 Tablespoons
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I’m definitely going to try this when my current bottle runs out. I’ll just have to remember to not use if I’m going to be working in my hives!
LOL Brenda! Someone asked me long ago (before we got bees) if it caused a problem when I was in my garden & such. I’d never had any trouble with it but then again I don’t often wear hairspray if we’re staying home. I only use it when we’re going out & about for the day. But I’d imagine the beehives would be very interested in my hair if I were working the hives these days while using this concoction (although I wear a veil 100% of the time I’m working hives anyway.) ~TxH~
Sounds similar to my recipe although I love that you’ve added rosemary! I do have one bit of criticism (sorry) but I’d love it if you actually listed the ingredients and directions like a recipe… just so it was all easier to find/make. Keep up the great posts!
Not criticism Brittany, more like helpful advice! 🙂 ~TxH~
Oh, this is intriguing. I am pinning your idea to save for later. Thank you! (Thanks for sharing at Happiness is Homemade, we’d love to have you next week too 🙂 )
Awesome, thanks for the pin Betsy. ~TxH~
Great post! I can’t wait to try it.
Pinning now!
~L
Awesome Lisa, thanks for the pin. I’ve been pretty pleased with it so far. And if nothing else it makes my board-straight hair a little easier to manage as it give it a little more ‘body’. ~TxH~
I can’t even *begin* to tell you how excited I am to see this post! The Pixie has become *very* into braids lately… twisted, Renaissance Festival, type braids. And between my pre-competent fingers and her slippery-straight hair… the results are… interesting. Especially because I refuse to use nasty, commercial hair spray on my little girl!
We are definitely going to give this a try–though we’ll leave out the rosemary, or change it up for something that won’t darken her pretty blond locks! 😉
Hummmm Christine, I wonder if lemon would be good? It’s a preservative plus I understand it helps the sun naturally highlight beautiful blond locks… Whaddya think? ~TxH~
OH WOW! you are brillant to do this! When i was in my teens I would concoct all kinds of perfumes and natural stuff! I lived on a farm and my mom would make her own shampoo! so she influenced me. I may tri it sometime. thanks for the inspiration and great recipe!
I love the barn in your background photo on the blog
Hugs
Maria
Thanks Maria! That picture on my blog header is one of my favorites, although this place really touches my heart & gives up many beautiful photo opportunities for me. ~TxH~
All I can say is WICKED IDEA! I hate the smell of commercial hairspray, It lingers in the room it was sprayed plus travels to nearby areas. Not to mention the smell traveling with you (Ok so I mentioned it but I really can’t stand the smell of the stuff. Thank you for using your tresses to experiment with homemade hairsprays. I will definitely give this a go. Yeah I know I said a heck of a lot more than WICKED IDEA. Thanks again
LOL Lenore! I’m still experimenting with the actual strength and I may bump the sugar up just a smidge since my hair is so BOARD STRAIGHT but I really love this hairspray, and yeah, it’s pleasantly scented. 🙂 Remember it’s a pretty wet spray and use just a light spray at first, let it dry and use another light spray until you get the hold you want. So far this spray bottle of homemade hairspray has lasted me several months without going off so I’m pretty happy with that as well. ~TxH~