Hairspray is a popular product that is used to keep hair in place. It can be sprayed on the hair to keep it from getting frizzy or flyaway. But can you use hairspray as setting spray?
Many magazines in the 90s touted spray hairspray as a miracle beauty hack for making your makeup last all day, but is hairspray an effective setting spray for makeup, and is it bad for the skin? Keep on reading to find out.
What is hairspray, and what is it designed to do?
Hairspray is a styling and grooming product used to fix a hairstyle in place by providing hold and shine.
It is designed to create various looks such as an updo, a messy beach wave look or simply tame flyaways.
This versatile product can be available in different forms including foam, lotion or spritz form.
Hairspray usually contains ingredients like alcohol, oils, polymers and conditioning agents that help you achieve your desired look while also delivering nourishment and protection from humidity.
Depending on its formula, hairspray can provide extra control for shaping the hair into place with more of a firm hold, or it can also give natural-looking results that are not too stiff.
Why do people think hairspray works as a setting spray?
People believe that hairspray works as a makeup setting spray because of its main active ingredient, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).
PVP is a polymer, meaning it forms films when sprayed on the skin. These films act like an invisible glue, helping to keep makeup in place for longer periods of time.
Hairspray also is known to contain ingredients such as glycerin and resins, which help prevent makeup from running or smudging when exposed to heat or humidity.
Furthermore, some hairsprays also contain alcohols, which can help dry out your skin and create a “matte” look while still sealing in your makeup.
Many people love using hairspray as a setting spray because it can give your face a luminous finish without having to add layers of powder like most other setting sprays require.
All of these features have led people to believe that hairspray does have useful properties for setting one’s makeup. Therefore many people use this inexpensive product as their primary way of keeping their makeup in place all day long.
Can you use hairspray as setting spray?
Yes, hairspray can in fact be used as a setting spray. To use it, you should start by spraying an even layer of hairspray over your face after applying your makeup.
This will help set and lock your look into place. Make sure to hold the bottle at least 6–12 inches away from your face when spraying. You may need to experiment with different brands and styles until you find one that works best for you.
If you’re having trouble finding a commercial setting spray or have none on hand, then hairspray is a viable alternative.
It features many of the same ingredients found in high-end setting sprays such as alcohol and polymers, which helps keep everything in its place longer than other products like water or moisturizer can do alone.
As well as keeping your look in place all day long, some people also report that using hairspray helps extend their makeup wear time too!
Hairspray isn’t without its drawbacks though – it can make skin feel dry or sticky depending on the brand, so if this is an issue for you, then experiment with different types until you find one which works best for your skin type and desired effect.
Remember to always wash it off before going to bed; while not necessarily dangerous when left overnight (unless any irritations occur), using too much product near sensitive areas like eyes could lead to potential health risks such as eye infections due to bacteria buildup over time.
Is hairspray harmful for the face when used as a setting spray?
Hairspray is a styling and setting tool often used to tame flyaways and give hair a polished look for special occasions. Many people have been tempted to use hairspray as a setting spray for their face, most notably for makeup.
While it may appear that this is an efficient way to set makeup in place, the truth of the matter is that hairspray has some potentially harmful consequences when applied directly onto the face.
The ingredients found in hairsprays are not meant to be ingested or applied directly onto skin, and can cause irritation if they come into contact with facial skin. Alcohols are common ingredients in many brands of hair sprays, which can dry out facial skin over time and lead to cracking and flaking.
Certain aerosol propellants used in some types of hair spray may also cause sensitivity or allergic reactions on sensitive facial skin if left on without properly washing off before bedtime.
Breathing in aerosol propellants from airborne particles of hairspray may irritate lungs over time with extended exposure or repeated use; this poses particular risks for people living with pre-existing respiratory issues such as asthma or allergies.
For these reasons, it’s best to avoid using hairspray on your face altogether – instead opt for setting sprays specifically designed for use on the face (as recommended by reputable beauty brands).
What can you use to set your makeup without using setting spray?
Setting your makeup without setting spray is possible and can be done in a few different ways.
To begin, the most important step is to use a primer that will help keep your makeup in place all day long.
There are many primers made specifically for this purpose, but if you don’t have one, you can also use a light layer of moisturizer on your face before applying foundation and other base products.
After using the primer, apply your foundation with either a beauty sponge or brush for an even application. Once your foundation has been applied and blended out, lightly dust it with some translucent powder to lock it in place instead of using a setting spray.
This will provide a matte finish without looking too cakey. Furthermore, when contouring and highlighting use cream-based products as cream formulas blend more seamlessly into the skin than powders do.
When applying eyeshadow, try using finger tips or flat brushes when blending out color, so everything is seamless and won’t move later on throughout the day.
Lastly, after you’re finished creating your look, finish off by spritzing some facial mist over top to add extra hydration and glow back into the skin.
Hairspray can leave your face extremely shiny when used as setting spray for makeup
If you prefer a matte finish, it is best to avoid using hairspray altogether. There are many other setting products on the market that will give you the same level of hold without making your face look like a mirror, and like you have oily skin.
Hair spray is designed to leave your hair crispy and lacquered, which is not what you want for the skin.
Why using hairspray on your face is bad?
Using hairspray on your face as a finishing spray can be a big mistake, as it is not designed to be used in this region, and skincare experts wouldn’t recommend you do it.
Hairspray was created with the main purpose of keeping hairstyles in place; it was not intended to be used on skin, as it can result in irritation and other negative side effects.
Not only does hairspray contain risky chemicals, but its strong hold can also lead to clogged pores. This results in breakouts and blemishes, which could cause long-term damage or discoloration to the skin.
On top of this, most formulations have a high alcohol content – something you definitely don’t want near your delicate facial skin.
The strong formula of the hairspray combined with added fragrances may leave your face feeling dry and irritated after use if left on too long.
People who suffer from sensitive or acne-prone skin should especially avoid using any type of aerosol spray, even away from their face area. It is also important to remember that hairspray should not come into contact with eyes either.
Overall, using hairspray on the face is not recommended due to the risk of irritation and clogged pores.
Also keep in mind that inhaling these products regularly can also lead to respiratory complications over time, so if you are not sure how to use them safely then it is best avoided altogether when possible.
Summary
Hairspray can be used as a setting spray, but it can cause dryness and irritation to the skin. Hairsprays contain active ingredients such as alcohol and polymers that help keep makeup in place for extended wear and also give your face a luminous finish.
It is important to remember that hairspray was not designed for use on the skin, so people with sensitive or acne-prone skin should particularly avoid using aerosol sprays near their faces. Additionally, when using hairspray as a setting spray make sure to wash it off before going to bed; leaving it on overnight may lead to potential health risks such as eye infections due to bacteria buildup over time.
Fortunately, there are other alternatives out there that work just as well without risking any damage or irritation including facial mists, primers and light dusting of powder after applying your makeup.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.