We Tested 22 Texturizing Sprays, These 10 Hold The Secret to Instant Volume and Tousled Waves

Best Texture Spray Overall

Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray

View on Ulta View On Amazon $65 View On Sephora $28

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Sitting pretty at the top of the list is the Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray. Although it’s known for its addicting scent — which has notes of Italian bergamot, rose, water lily, iris, and musk — the texturizing spray is much more than a hair perfume. It works well for virtually every hair type, but I can’t help but rave about how defined my thin, but plentiful waves looked after spritzing it on. It’s not sticky upon application, but it does have a bit of grit, which I didn’t mind since I expect texturizing sprays to have a little, well, texture. Almost immediately, my greasy, day-two hair was brought back to life. Not only did it look freshly washed, but my waves looked more voluminous and mermaid-like. 

If I could change anything, it would be the way the product sits on your fingers after touseling your hair. I noticed that my hands were sticky, and when I touched my phone and laptop, there was some residue left behind. It didn’t bother me that much, but in the future, I would avoid touching anything right away or use the spray with a sink nearby. 

Size: 4.5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Italian bergamot, Rose, Water lily, Iris, Musk | Ingredients: Volcanic minerals, Aloe vera leaf extract, Passion flower extract, Mango extract | Hold: Medium

Best Value

Herbal Essences Spray Gel

View On Amazon $38 View On Walmart $8 View On Walgreens

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  4/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

If your hair is in need of some TLC but you don’t feel like spending a ton of money, check out the Tousle Me Softly Spray Gel from Herbal Essences. Despite the name, the product is actually more of a mousse, according to our tester. “The simple mousse is lightweight, non-sticky, and a little bit goes a long way,” she explains. “The foam revived the look of my fine, type four curls without weighing them down.” Thanks to the castor oil in the formula, it doesn’t make hair feel dried out or hard, which the tester especially appreciated. “There was no residue left behind, just moisturized and defined curls,” she adds. “You could follow up by heat styling your hair, but even without heat, the mousse would sit really well with a perm rod.” One thing to note: A lot can come out of the nozzle at once, so be sure to use a light hand when pressing down on it.

Size: 6.8 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Hibiscus | Ingredients: Castor oil | Hold: Medium

Best Splurge

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

View On Amazon $52 View On Nordstrom $26 View On Dermstore $52

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Texture
  4.5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Sure, the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is the priciest option on the list, but it’s actually the largest bottle. So, while it might seem like a lot of money, if you consider how much use you’ll get out of it, it’s easy to justify the value. Plus, if volume is what you’re after, this texturizing spray doesn’t disappoint. “The results are immediate: My straight, flat, thin hair doubled in size,” our tester shares. “It did exactly what it says it will, which is  make hair look noticeably more voluminous without weighing it down.” The application process is essentially the same as other formulas — you just shake, spray and go on your way. But the Oribe signature complex (a cocktail of ingredients like watermelon, lychee and edelweiss flower) is what delivers such impressive results. 

Keep in mind that during the first few uses, the spray bottle might need some loosening up. “The nozzle is a bit difficult to push down on at first, but once you keep pressing, it gets easier,” the tester explains. Pro stylists, Hurtado and Roque included, love this one, too. “It’s super lightweight and buildable, but never feels sticky,” Hurtado explains. “It’s one of the best in the game and it has a divine smell,” Roque adds.

Size: 8.5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Italian bergamot, Jasmine, Sandalwood | Ingredients: Zeolite, Mango and aloe extracts, Oribe signature complex | Hold: Light

Best Multitasking

Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray

View On Amazon $29 View On Nordstrom $15 View On Ulta $29

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Didn’t get the chance to wash your hair and need to look presentable ASAP? The Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray from Drybar will solve your hair blues in a flash. Simply shake the bottle well, and spray a cloud of the fragrant mist onto your lifeless hair. “The more vigorously you shake it, the bigger the cloud of product will be,” our tester advises. “After spritzing it onto my hair, I noticed that it gave my hair more body,” she explains. “It added volume to my roots and gave my curls more bounce and hold, too.” Even after combing her fingers through her hair, it held its shape, resulting in tousled beachy waves. Be aware that if you apply too much in one area, you might find a tacky residue left behind. To avoid that, hold the bottle four to six inches away from your hair when dispensing the product. 

Size: 4.2 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Coconut Colada; Blanc (Coconut, Vanilla); Lush (Violet, Sandalwood) | Ingredients: Zeolite| Hold: Light

Best for Thin Hair

R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray

View On Amazon $36 View On Nordstrom $36 View On Dermstore $36

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Perk up sad hair with this volume-boosting texturizing spray from R + Co. “As soon as I sprayed it on my hair, I noticed a difference — my hair sprung into action,” our tester explains. “It only got better as I styled my hair with a curling iron.” While the volume existed mainly at her roots, the tester notes that after adding the lightweight spray to her hair, the lengths had a nice bounce, too. Unlike some other texturizing sprays, this one has a soft touch, which means it works well to keep flyaways in place, reduce frizz, and provide a light hold instead of a stronger, more long-lasting hold. This is key for those with thin hair as anything heavier can actually weigh down strands even more. “It was so lightweight that I was surprised to find that it added both volume and shine without making my hair look flatter,” she says. At over 30 dollars, the price is a bit steep given the size, but because there’s so much to love, it’s totally worth it. 

Size: 5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Pineapple, Tangerine, Lavender | Ingredients: Silica, Zeolite, Calendula, Mica | Hold: Light

Best for Thick Hair

Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher

View On Sephora $24 View On Ceremonia.com View On Credo Beauty

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  4/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Larger than other options on the list, the Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher guarantees the most bang for your buck. Between the unique spray bottle and variety of uses, our testers couldn’t rave about this pick enough. “The spray bottle on top makes spritzing product on thick strands and curls a lot easier,” one tester explains. “And the handle helps a lot, too. It’s not heavy, so you only need to apply a little pressure to get the product out.” Plus, according to the brand, the spray is multi-purpose and can be used in so many ways. For example, you can extend time between wash days by spritzing it on your lengths and scrunching your curls. Or, you could spritz it on your hair and comb through to eliminate ponytail creases. You can also spray it on your hair post-workout as a scent refresher before heading to the office. No matter how you use it, you’ll feel it working its magic. “Most texturizing sprays are either sticky or come out in a mist so fine you can barely tell it’s there,” one tester shares. “As someone with thick hair, I need to feel the product without it weighing my hair down. This one definitely revives hair and makes it look sleek, shiny and almost brand new.” 

Size: 6.7 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Açai, Passion fruit | Ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, Açai extract, Passion fruit extract, Avocado oil | Hold: Light

Best for Curly Hair

Briogeo Hair Volumizing Spray

View On Amazon $40 View On Dermstore $25 View On Saks Fifth Avenue $25

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Texture
  4.5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

This texture spray from Briogeo stands out from the rest. Why? Well, for one, it works best when used on damp hair. Second, it contains ingredients that support hair and scalp health in addition to adding volume, texture, and fullness. You could definitely spray it on dry hair, like our tester did, but she noticed it felt tacky and gritty on her dry strands. For best results, it’s recommended that you spritz it onto clean, damp hair at the roots prior to drying or styling. 

The formula contains ginger, ginseng, and biotin to support long-term hair growth and health, maltodextrin to thicken each and every strand, and, last but not least, lemon and witch hazel, to dissolve excess oil to extend time between washes. Not to mention, the fresh, natural ingredients make for a pleasant, although subtle, fragrance. “It smelled light and fresh without being overwhelming. Plus, it doesn’t linger in the air, which is great because product scent usually turns me off,” the tester says. “All in all, the spray provided a healthy amount of volume and definition, which was especially noticeable after styling my hair afterwards.” 

Size: 5 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Fruity and fresh | Ingredients: Biotin, Ginseng, Maltodextrin | Hold: N/A

Best for Damaged Hair

Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray

View On Amazon $30 View On Nordstrom $14 View On Sephora $30

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  4/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  4.5/5

If you have greasy, unwashed hair, the idea of applying an oil (or a product containing one), might seem counterintuitive. But, this dry texture spray from Moroccanoil, which contains argan oil, offers a texturized hold with a dry, gritty finish rather than a wet, oily one. In fact, the argan oil simply provides a hint of hydration to nourish damaged hair. Our tester notes that upon first spritz, the spray feels a little wet. But, before they got the chance to question it, the spray dried down almost immediately. “It was slightly wet and sticky at first, but it dried down quickly and gave my hair more volume,” they share. It’s easy to build, so you can layer on as much (or as little) as you need. While it works great to style waves and curls, it can also be used to add grip for no-slip updos, thanks to its formula that contains zeolite, which forms bonds between hair strands. 

Size: 5.4 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Amber, Musk, Florals | Ingredients: Argan oil, Zeolite, Hydrolyzed wheat protein | Hold: Medium

Best for Color-Treated Hair

Amika Un.done Volume & Texture Spray

View On Amazon $29 View On Sephora $10 View On Walmart $29

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Volume
  5/5
• Overall Look
  4.5/5

This texturizing spray is more than just a pretty bottle — it’s color- and keratin-safe, and helps prevent breakage. The spray itself is more powdery than other options on the list, but it’s just as easy to dispense. “A little dab will do — my hair felt great right after applying, despite not washing it for two days,” our tester shares. “It wasn’t stiff or sticky on my hair, either. In fact, it was easy to brush through when it dried. I was able to run my hands through my hair without any breakage.” In addition to soaking up excess oil and helping refresh unwashed hair, it adds thickness. “It gave my flat, straight hair tons of volume and texture while making my hair smell nice and clean,” she added. 

Size: 5.3 fl. oz. | Fragrance: Vanilla, Citrus, Amber | Ingredients: Zeolite, Seabuckthorn berry | Hold: Light