Get Big Hair Energy With a Texturizing Spray (We Have the Photos to Prove It!) (2024)

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TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Size: 2 oz | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

R+Co’s Balloon Dry Volume Spray delivers a gorgeous, tousled texture and adds body, which is exactly what a good hair texturizing spray should do. It left our tester’s fine, straight hair with a more textured finish, sans a sticky residue. The lightweight formula includes ingredients like silica, zeolite, calendula, hops, and oarweed, which help the spray deliver the perfect balance of grit, hydration, shine, and flexibility.

We love how this product bumps up styles, whether you’re wearing your hair straight or wavy. We can’t say enough good things about it, but it’s worth noting that it has a strong floral scent, so keep this in mind if you’re sensitive to fragrance.

Taylore, tester with fine, straight hair: “It helps enhance my natural hairstyle more than any other texturizing spray I’ve tried! It also works well when creating lived-in looks, too. It gives you a quick lift that makes your hair look a little more windswept.”

Size: 7 oz | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're looking for a budget-friendly buy, we recommend this pick from Kristin Ess. It sprays out of the nozzle evenly, which is essential to distribute it evenly through the hair. While our tester with fine hair felt it was a bit heavy on her strands, she was pleased that it didn't leave her hair crunchy or sticky. Overall, she was happy with the final results, noting that it gave her hair a lived-in look with nice texture and a matte finish.

Shiri, tester with fine hair: "It definitely helps create that lived-in, sexy hair look. I think it's a great product to use when styling second or third-day hair."

Size: 4 oz | Scent: Citrus | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For that “just walked in from a day at the beach” look, you can’t go wrong with Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Foam Spray Blow Dry Mousse. Our tester with fine hair applied this sea salt-based spray to wet hair and was blown away by the beautiful waves it created.

It’s effortless to distribute through the hair—it sprays on white and dries clear so you can easily see if you’ve missed any spots. Once your hair dries, you’ll be left with soft, lived-in waves full of body. Just remember, less is more with this spray because it can weigh down your roots if you overdo it.

Ashley, tester with type 1b hair: “On my straight hair, it gave me a tousled look rather than enhancing my natural texture or adding dimension. When I used it on a humid day, it changed my texture entirely in a good way!”

Size: 6.7 oz | Scent: Fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love how Ceremonia’s Acai Style Refresher’s lightweight formula brings curls back to life and enhances the hair’s natural texture. This spray is made with lemon seed oil, argan oil, and avocado oil, which add moisture and shine. Our tester with type 4c hair was blown away by how much hydration it added to his hair.

We were seriously impressed by the lightweight, nourishing formula, and the vast majority of online reviewers love it too, although a select few report experiencing drying effects from the spray.

Saleam, tester with type 4c hair: “I'd describe my overall look as fresh and natural. I liked how the texture showed and shined in the sunlight. It did give me a live-in afro hair look. It did enhance the natural texture of my hair in a way that was quite flattering.”

Size: 5.3 oz | Scent: Coconut | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For hair that looks effortlessly styled (even if quite a bit of effort went into it), IGK’s Beach Club Texture Spray does the trick. It’s formulated with glycerin and gluten-free hydrolyzed wheat protein to give hair grip and texture without leaving it feeling sticky or tacky.

Our tester with fine, straight hair loved how this product helped create lived-in styles that actually held up throughout the day. While it’s a fairly lightweight spray, be sure to stay away from your roots when applying—it can weigh them down if you use too much.

Taylore, tester with fine, straight hair: “It creates a nice, lived-in look on both heat-styled waves and straight hair, and it didn’t make my hair look crunchy or thin like some sprays are prone to do.”

Size: 5.3 oz | Scent: Subtle, sweet | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Kenra’s Dry Texture Spray 6 delivers beautiful hair texture that’s also touchable and flexible. The lightweight spray adds dimension by enhancing hair’s natural look with the added benefit of soaking up excess oil. Our tester with type 1b hair loved the effect of this product, whether she was wearing her hair straight or styling it with a curling iron.

The formula isn’t super sticky and doesn’t have a strong hold, which allows for tons of movement. We love this spray for texture, but if you’re looking for volume, we think there are better options for that.

Ashley, tester with type 1b hair: “I like that my hair can still move around with this product—it doesn’t feel stuck in place. As someone with fine hair, I also like how lightweight it is and that it doesn’t tangle.”

Size: 3, 7.5, 9.9 oz | Scent: Light, fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for body, volume, and a beachy texture, this texturizing spray from Living Proof is for you. The slightly sticky formula adds just the right amount of texture for that lived-in, “I woke up like this” look. However, our tester with 1b hair warns against running your fingers through your hair before the spray fully dries or the sticky formula can cause serious tangles.

Ashley, tester with type 1b hair: “I love how this looked in my hair! It added so much volume and gave it a tousled effect that looked great with my straight hair.”

Size: 5.4 oz | Scent: Amber | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Moroccanoil’s Dry Texture Spray helps bring straight hair to life by enhancing texture and movement. The spray is lightweight, nonsticky, and formulated with argan oil to keep hair touchably soft. Our tester with wavy hair found this one provided just enough tackiness to add some grip without leaving her hair looking stiff or feeling crunchy.

We also like the volume this product adds to straight hair. Since it’s so lightweight, you can put on as much as you need to get the volume you want without worrying about it weighing your hair down. One thing to note is that the bottle’s spray nozzle can be tricky to control.

Lauren Pardee, Byrdie senior commerce editor with type 1b/2a hair: “I have really flat, silky hair—it's long and medium in weight. This product brought it to life and created a style that lasted all day.”

Size: 5.7 oz | Scent: Earthy and floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Here’s a buildable formula that can give hair anything from extra dimension to big beach waves, depending on how much product you use. Our tester with curly hair loved that she could layer it to get the look she wanted without it looking or feeling dirty or weighed down.

It’s formulated with cane sugar which leaves hair moisturized and shiny, so you don’t have to sacrifice hydration for texture. We love how much volume and life this spray brings to the hair, but wish it was better at reducing frizz.

Lauren, tester with wavy/curly hair: “The more I added, the more volume I got. Plus, the volume lasts all day.”

Size: 7.1 oz | Scent: Earthy and sweet | Cruelty-Free: No

For hair that not only looks great but smells just as good, Shu Uemura’s Wata Wave Texturizing Spray has you covered. Its fragrance is truly one-of-a-kind, with a mixture of amber, musk, florals, and red pepper, that had our testers raving.

And the scent is only the beginning—it also delivers beautiful beachy waves full of volume. Plus, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck because a little goes a long way—in fact, go easy with it—applying too much at once may leave your hair greasy.

Lauren, tester with curly/wavy hair: “The scent is gorgeous! It smells like a beachy-floral perfume—like the South of France in the summertime.”

Size: 1.5, 5 oz | Scent: Oatmeal and grapefruit | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Verb’s Volume Dry Texture Spray keeps coils looking long, separated, and stunning for hours after application. Our tester with type 4c hair especially loved how this spray enhanced his style and held it in place without weighing down his curls.

The spray is formulated with aloe vera, which helps keep hair shiny, and pro-vitamin b5, which moisturizes and strengthens hair. It’s not a super sticky spray, but it has a strong hairspray-like hold that helps keep your style in place and may leave your strands feeling a little stiff.

Saleam, tester with type 4c hair: “My overall look was natural. My hair looked good most of the day and had a slept-in afro vibe. I'd say it was good at enhancing my natural texture.”

FAQ

• How do you apply texturizing spray?

  “Always start on the lighter side, adding more if you need it,” Nader says. For best results, he advises adding texture spray initially to clean, damp hair before towel drying to build in some hold, and finish by misting through your dry style as the last step. When in doubt, follow the product instructions.

• Do you put texturizing spray on wet or dry hair?

  In most cases, you should put texturizing spray on dry hair. This allows you to tousle your hair immediately after applying the product and get that slightly piece-y, volumized effect.However, Nader says you can use it on clean, damp hair too as a way to create some hold.

• Should you use texture spray before or after curling hair?

  Texture spray should be applied after curling your hair. It's usually meant to be a finishing touch step, as it helps define each curl, adds volume, and supports an effortless, tousled look.