A Dozen New Uses for Hairspray

Hairspray is something that almost every household has on hand. While its number one use is obvious - - to keep hair in place - - is that all the product is good for? Absolutely not! Hairspray can be used for a myriad of other things as well. Here are some of my favorites.

Slow down a creepy crawly spider or other insect so that you can capture it and turn it loose outside. A light dusting of hairspray will weigh the creature down without killing it. That will give you time to gather it in a jar or on a sheet of paper for proper disposal. Keep in mind; however, that a heavier coat of spray will likely kill the insect.

When my children were little, I would coat their drawings and paintings with a bit of hairspray to help preserve them. Then I would tuck them away to give them in later years. Today, I use the same technique for my grandson's artwork and then I file it in the memory box I made for him.

You can remove some paints, glues and pastes with hairspray. Something in the hairspray works in conjunction with those items to loosen them and make them easier to remove. It does not; however, work in every instance. Still, it's worth a try before abandoning an item or throwing it away.

When I was little and had to gather leaves for a school project, my grandfather taught me how to preserve leaves using hairspray. A solid coat on each side of the leaf, allowed to dry thoroughly, kept small organisms in place while also protecting the integrity of the leaf.

We have all seen them do it in the movies. When in spray mode, a can of hairspray can be used as a flamethrower by lighting it with a match. A friend of mine uses this method to get rid of wasp nests handily. However, be cautious. It can be difficult to control that flame and you might catch something else on fire too. Also be aware that in some areas, such antics are against the law.

I always use hairspray to stop a run in my pantyhose. A quick spray works as long as you stand still long enough for it to dry before flexing the leg. It will hold for about 8 to 10 hours. Then you'll have to re-spray or try something different.

In some cases, a spritz of hairspray will help remove ink or from fabric. It doesn't; however, work on all types of ink (e.g. permanent markers) so be aware of that going in. Use a very soft brush to disperse the stain completely before washing. This technique will also work for many types of lipstick. It will not work; however, for the new color stay varieties.

Hold glitter in place in on any craft project with hairspray. Just place the glitter where you want it and then spray liberally with hairspray to make sure it stays put.

My great grandmother used hairspray to coat her quilting thread before use. She said it made it stiffer and, therefore, less likely to knot up while she was working with it.

Make your own wrapping paper using hairspray. Whether you choose plain brown wrap or opt to decorate white paper you own way, use hairspray in the final step to give the paper a professional looking shiny finish. Just be sure to let it dry thoroughly before using the paper to wrap your gift.

Preserve flowers longer in an arrangement by spraying them with hairspray. They won't last forever but some will keep looking good for quite awhile.

Help your child's rub-on tattoo stay in place longer with a light spritz of hairspray. Then it won't come off until he or she is ready to use some good old-fashioned scrubbing.

While many may think the above applies only to aerosol hairspray, that isn't the case. I personally don't use aerosol spray because of the hydrocarbons, but I can still get the same results with my pump spray. The exception is the flame throwing idea, which I'd never use anyway.

RESOURCES:

Personal experience