Spritz Some Life Into Your Hair With These Top-Tested Texturizing Sprays (2024)

Texturizing sprays, volumizing sprays, dry shampoos — the haircare industry is favoring textured, lived-in hairstyles, and we're all for it. After all, "texturizing sprays add subtle volume and texture to preserve any given hairstyle," says Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City. "They are lighter and don't add significant weight to your hair."

And if you could do without the greasy or crunchy residue, texturizing sprays "add some grit to hair strands, and the powder ingredients (like zeolite or modified starches) can also be oil-absorbing to revive oily hair," according to the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler.

We tapped expertise from professional hairstylists, insights from our Lab scientists and product recommendations from our editors who have used them for years to curate a list of the best texturizing sprays for every hair type.

Tresemmé's multitasking texturizing spray wowed our scientists, earning it a GH Beauty Award. With just a few spritzes of this $7 mist, your strands can achieve fullness, movement, texture and hold. "It lifted and held layers in place while keeping flexibility and bounce in the hair," said former GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.. Director Sabina Wizemann adds: "It's the rare spray that doesn't make hair stiff." However, a few online reviewers said their hair looked frizzy after use.

A common issue with straight hair is that it can fall flat throughout the day. The solution? Living Proof's texturizing spray. "I keep this spray at my desk to give my hair a quick volume boost when it falls flat," shares Franzino. "The formula is totally weightless yet adds tons of body." Good to know: Online reviewers are hoping for a bottle design improvement because the nozzle can be finicky and hard to press.

Fekkai's volumizing texturizer is a great pick for those with thick hair. Both Franzino and our beauty assistant (who has thick hair) noticed an instant volume boost when using it. "It smells amazing, like a sophisticated perfume, so it's great for refreshing your second (or third) day hair," says Franzino. Online reviewers with fine or thin hair noted that a little goes a long way, saying it can weigh down their strands (Franzino also thought it left a hint of chalkiness).

Sea salt sprays are "a type of texturizing or volumizing spray," explains Butler. "A sea salt spray uses salt to add a little bit of grit to hair. Once it's applied and the water dries, a tiny bit of salt residue is left on the hair." In Franzino's words, it's the "closest thing you get to waves from a swim in the ocean." She likes to spray it onto damp hair, then scrunch before air drying. "It brings out hair's texture and leaves strands smelling amazing," she adds, also noting that it can make hair feel a bit dry.

Many texturizing sprays give hair a matte finish. However, this R+Co does the opposite, instead leaving a shiny coat on strands while still maintaining a lived-in look. Bonus: "This product can also be used on un-styled wavy hair to give some definition," says Cavalcante, so you can feel free to use it on either air-dried or styled hair. Online reviewers loved the hold, shine and texture it gave, but some shared it left their hair feeling a bit sticky.

A cult classic, Oribe's texturizing spray is a go-to for both consumers and stylists alike. Although pricey, Cavalcante says "it is worth the money for such a big bottle. As a hairstylist, I need something that will last." He also shares that he loves the scent. Thanks to crystalline zeolites (they absorb oil), this product can treat greasy or oily scalp and hair as well.

Over the years, our scientists have regularly tested a range of styling products, from hairsprays to anti-frizz products. That also includes evaluating — both personally and through GH Beauty Award submissions — a fair share of hair texture sprays. To help round out our picks, we also tapped Rogerio Cavalcante, a hairstylist and founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City, who also provided their expert insight on choosing the right texturizing spray for each hair type and texture.

Texturizing sprays are designed to add subtle volume and light hold to the hair. They "offer more hold than a volumizing spray," says Cavalcante. Volumizing spray focuses instead on adding volume, he adds, noting that it is good for people with fine or ultra-fine hair. "If you want to add lift to just washed hair, consider a volumizing mousse or spray," says Butler. Cavalcante's pro tip: "When using volumizing spray, apply it to the roots and use a hairdryer to lift hair upward to maximize the effect."