TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.9* Why: One reader says, "I tried this [spray] and threw it out after three days. It made my hair look frizzy and damaged, like I had a lot of split ends (even though I don't). I could never achieve a sleek, shiny style -- even with a dryer and round brush. And though it did add volume, big hair doesn't look good if it looks fried. Plus, whoever designed the spray bottle obviously never used it -- it's messy and worthless." Ouch. Another woman says, "it made my hair feel dull and though it was thickened, it [lasted] only for a little while. This was a big waste of money -- I'll stick to Redken!"
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.9* Why: "Where is the extra hold?" ask readers about this spray. "This hairspray claims to have extra hold but it's mild at best. I have thin, fine hair too, so it's usually easy to keep in place. It also makes my hair oily for some reason. I would say if you are looking for a hairspray that will actually hold your hair, look elsewhere." Another reader says, "It actually dries my hair out so I would not buy it again. Plus it smells very fruity -- not my cup of tea." One woman says, "bottom line: I don't care for this product. I tend to use extra-hold sprays since I have very fine hair that holds nothing. I have used this product so many times with the hope that it will work. An hour after doing my hair I have no curls left. I was definitely disappointed. I am switching back to my other hairspray."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 3.5* Why: This "smells stinky," "doesn't hold at all," and "doesn't help frizz," says readers. Another woman adds, "I really can't say how this works but I can tell you that it smells so awful that I will never spray it on my hair again. It smells like wet paint and black pepper mixed together -- it made me sick. Even if it works well, I would never want my hair to smell like that." Another reader agrees saying, "this hairspray has a strange, very distinctive, offensive and disgusting odor. I could not believe it is even allowed to be on the market!" One reader who could stand the scent says, "you need to spray on a ton of this hairspray for it to do anything. It didn't hold my hairstyle at all and it seemed to spray some parts of my hair more than others." Another reader says, "OK this doesn't hold, smells like vinegar mixed with alcohol, and is too pricey for a hairspray that doesn't work," and one user says she "couldn't return it fast enough!!"
Getting whiffs of "vinegar" or "wet paint" are acceptable when you're making salad dressing or redecorating your house, but when they come out of a hairspray bottle, they can be quite gag inducing.
And yes, our readers actually used aforementioned smells to describe the scents of the hairsprays on this list. Our readers have tried and tested the best and worst hair care products on the market, and these are the 12 hairsprays they say are not only horrible smelling (in most cases) but are also best suited for creating over-the-top, sticky, impossible-to-brush-though "Jersey Shore"-like styles.
Don't get us wrong, hairspray, in general, is an essential hairstyling tool. It's key for creating and maintaining any style, from glam waves to a ballerina bun. The hairsprays we love are so great we threw them a party. (Our version of a hairspray party is this best hairsprays list, FYI.) But with the good always comes the bad, which is why we also have to share the 12 hairsprays that our readers say just don't deliver.
Our readers judged these sprays based on how well they held their style, if they delivered on their promises, and, of course, their scents, because nobody wants a hairspray that leaves your hair smelling like "warm poop" (yes, another sent our readers smelled in these sprays). So, do yourself a favor and steer clear of these 12 worst-rated hairsprays. Heck, even Snooki seems to be using a less helmet head-forming spray these days, and if she wouldn't use these products, you shouldn't either.
