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9 best texturising hair sprays to buy in 2023 for voluminous and tousled locks

From lightweight sprays to scented mists, these will achieve long-lasting oopmh

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Monday 06 February 2023 11:53 EST
None in our final edit left any crunchiness or flaky residue in our hair
None in our final edit left any crunchiness or flaky residue in our hair (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

Hair texturising sprays present a simple way to style your roots, mid-lengths and ends, whether you usually reach for the straighteners or tongs, or prefer air drying. Just add a spritz onto strands and see the extra grip and buildable grit that delivers beachy waves and neat braids.

You could be great at creating expert hair ‘dos or looking for an easy route to getting ready, either way, texture sprays offer a quick lift. Designed to add hold and definition, texturising sprays can be used on all hair types too.

Traditionally, hair texture sprays went heavy on the salt element and didn’t leave much room for anything other than stiff strands. Thankfully, that’s all changed, with today’s offerings serving up weightless coverage to help add a tousled element or hold a style in place.

Formulas vary, and encompass mists, liquid sprays, and dry sprays, with perfume and heat protection sometimes included as well. Similarly, there are thickening sprays and lightweight holds to explore.

A daily hair go-to, they shouldn’t be drying and instead offer tresses a buildable veil. Plus, a layer of texture spray works wonders for reviving and restyling unwashed hair. Simply apply to damp or dry strands, and work through with your fingers or a brush.

We’ve researched the best hair texture sprays around, exploring everything from lightweight formulas to fragranced mists. It’s safe to say of all those we’ve added to our best list, there’s no crunchiness or flaky residue in sight. Instead, think volumising buys, with smoothing benefits. Keep scrolling to see our top hair texturising spray picks.

How we tested

Our reviewer trialled several hair sprays over a month, incorporating them into her daily routine. We looked at the texture achieved while styling waves, creating an up ‘do and looking for volume. Read on for our full tried and tested verdict of the best texturising hair sprays across all price points.

The best texturising hair sprays for 2023 are:

  • Best overall – Sam McKnight cool girl barely there texture mist: £27, Sammcknight.com
  • Best for hold – Philip Kingsley flexible hold mist: £12.50, Philipkingsley.co.uk
  • Best scent – Drybar triple sec 3-in-1 finishing spray: £24, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best for volume – Amika un.done volume and matte texture spray: £26, Loveamika.co.uk
  • Best for tousled waves – Paul Mitchell awapuhi texturising sea spray: £19.13, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best for root lift – R+Co zig zag root teasing and texture spray: £30, Cultbeauty.co.uk
  • Best for lightweight texture – Kristin Ess dry finish working texture spray: £16.55, Feelunique.com
  • Best non-aerosol spray – Arkive the mastery liquid hairspray: £13, Arkiveheadcare.com
  • Best for thickening – Andrew Fitzsimons apres sexe texture spray: £9, Boots.com

Sam McKnight cool girl barely there texture mist

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  • Best: Overall
  • Size: 250ml
  • Formula: Matte-shine finish and gentle scent

This texture mist can be used at the hair’s root, mid-lengths and ends for added oomph. Our tester’s fine strands were given instant and welcome volume with use. She also saw a gentle matte-shine finish to hair, especially when using the spray for creating an up ‘do. This product from hair guru Sam McKnight has fast become our go-to for a quick spritz of texture while heading out the door or getting ready in a rush. Infused with a perfumed scent, the glam fragrance made our tester feel like she was going on a night out. Plus, we love the pink and gold bottle, and its generous 250ml size should last us ages too.

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Philip Kingsley flexible hold mist

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  • Best: For hold
  • Size: 100ml
  • Formula: Buildable formula for adding body to the hair

A mist to spritz all over hair, this multi-tasking product offers the hold of hairspray and the texture of a texturising spray. Our tester saw shiny locks with use and noticed how buildable the formula is too. She either added it onto tresses for a bit of extra body, or to secure a style in place. The spray offers even coverage and once dried, brushes out easily too. Plus, our tester noted how soft her hair felt with use. The slimline tube is handy for top-ups on the go too.

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Drybar triple sec 3-in-1 finishing spray

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  • Best: Scent
  • Size: 124ml
  • Formula: Lightweight with a long-lasting scent

This vegan-friendly finishing spray has a sweet coconut, creamy vanilla and warming amber fragrance which our tested picked up on straightaway. She could also smell this scent for hours on end. The mist added a subtle layer of product to our tester’s hair and gentle texture. We’d best describe it as a lightweight hairspray for adding volume and hold minus any dreaded crunchiness. Our tester particularly likes it for adding texture to her strands while using a curling tong.

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Amika un.done volume and matte texture spray

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  • Best: For volume
  • Size: 192ml
  • Formula: Lightweight

Presented in a fun, vibrant bottle, this texturising spray helped add a tousled effect to our tester’s hair. The lightweight texture didn’t weigh down her strands, and instead offered noticeable volume and a feeling of fullness. She used it to lift hair at her crown when tying a ponytail or wearing her tresses down. It didn’t feel drying on our tester’s do either, and the product helped our style hold in place all day. In fact, we thought the spray doubled up well as a dry shampoo too.

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Paul Mitchell awapuhi texturising sea spray

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  • Best: For tousled waves
  • Size: 150ml
  • Formula: Lightweight sea spray

Because this is a sea spray, it helps create tousled waves when spritzing it onto damp hair. Our tester worked a small amount through her strands, and saw her natural curls have extra definition after air drying or when styling with a hair dryer. Meanwhile, she saw a tonged wave hold in place more efficiently after use, because of the lightweight texture created. The vegan-friendly spray offers a buildable haircare layer, and it has a fresh scent that’s enjoyable to sniff throughout the day too.

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R+Co zig zag root teasing and texture spray

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  • Best: For root lift
  • Size: 177ml
  • Formula: Vegan-friendly with an invigorating scent

This vegan-friendly spray is suitable for the roots and ends, and our tester saw a noticeable lift at the crown and front of her hair in particular. The invigorating scent includes notes of tobacco leaf, pine needles, waterlily and cedarwood which is appealing while getting ready. Our tester saw a satisfying amount of texture emerge after just one spritz, with strands feeling thicker. Plus, the product gave her roots a decent grip to style hair and create extra volume.

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Kristin Ess dry finish working texture spray

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  • Best: For lightweight texture
  • Size: 250ml
  • Formula: Buildable and weightless for natural texture

As a texture spray that is buildable, we found this formula notably weightless. Even when adding extra layers, it didn’t make the hair feel heavy or crunchy. Our tester noted gentle texture at the root, strand lengths and ends, which looked natural. Her hair felt soft and gently held in place, so this is an ideal option if you prefer subtle styling. Plus, the spray goes onto hair as an invisible sheen, so there’s no powdery residue in sight.

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Arkive the mastery liquid hairspray

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  • Best: Non-aerosol spray
  • Size: 250ml
  • Formula: For wet hair and heat styling

If you’d prefer a spray minus the aerosol element, this is the buy to go for. For a liquid hairspray that goes onto hair wet, our tester noticed the formula dries quickly. It’s worth knowing, this product can be used for heat protection too. The versatile hairspray added texture and hold to our tester’s hair, while also helping smooth over stray strands. She saw a light but noticeable layer of spray holding her hair in place all day.

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Andrew Fitzsimons apres sexe texture spray

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  • Best: For thickening
  • Size: 200ml
  • Formula: Thickening with a creamy, citrus scent

When our tester spritzed this texture spray throughout her hair, she noticed all-over thickening. The product leaves an invisible sheen on strands, so there is no build-up and that makes it easy to use without a mirror too. Our tester applied the spray for adding texture to mid-lengths and creating a bit of a lift to flat roots too. If you’re in between hair washes, we think you’ll also like the creamy, citrus scent that covers strands.

  1.  £9 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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The verdict: Texturising hair sprays

For instant volume and added oomph, Sam McKnight’s cool girl barely there texture mist is our best overall buy. Meanwhile, we love Philip Kingsley’s flexible hold mist for shine, hold and extra body. Finally, Paul Mitchell’s awapuhi texturising sea spray helps created tousled waves.

Achieve sleek blowouts with the best hair dryers for speedy, salon-worthy results at home

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