Best Hairspray for Fine and Straight Hair

Those of us cursed with fine hair have a hard time finding hairsprays that hold our hairstyles for more than an hour. Many hairsprays that claim to be flexible or long-lasting take our hair from styled to flat in no time at all due to the weight of the product or the spray's inability to protect our hair from outside elements such as humidity.

I spent years trying to find a hairspray that could live up to its hype, and I've come across two hairsprays that every girl with straight, fine hair should have in her arsenal of styling products.

1. Adorn Extra Hold Hairspray by Gillette

Coveted as a secret weapon of hairstylists since the 70s, Adorn Extra Hold Hairspray is the only hairspray that does what other brands claim to do. Adorn is a very fine, lightweight spray that lasts all day long. This hairspray will keep curly hair straight, and straight hair curly in high humidity. It's not sticky but still manages to hold styles perfectly. I can't say enough good things about this product.

I discovered Adorn in an American Market on a sub-tropical island in Southern Japan. Allure had recently showcased it, which is why I was able to recognize it. If it wasn't for Allure Magazine's review, I would have thought it was some cheap hairspray left over from a different era.

My hair is fine and very straight. I put Adorn to the test by making waves and curls with a curling iron by very lightly spraying each section of hair before curling it (waiting until it dried, of course), and then gave it a light spraying at the end.

I spent the rest of the day outside in close to 100% humidity and didn't really think about my hair at all. When I arrived home and glanced in the mirror, I was shocked to see that 90% of my curls had lasted through the heat and humidity. In fact, my hair looked better than it did earlier in the morning. It's been my favorite hairspray ever since, and I tell everyone about it. Best of all, it's cheaper than most other store-bought brands.

There are two drawbacks to Adorn. First, I live in a small town in the South and stores around here just don't carry it, so you have to buy it at Amazon.com or other online beauty stores. Second, the pink scented version smells awful - like someone a grandma would wear. There is an unscented version, but it's always priced different, and since supplies are limited in my area, I'm afraid to try this other version for now. The scent only lasts for an hour or so, and sometimes I put a spray or two of perfume in my hair to mask the weird, powdery scent.

2. Catwalk Work-it by Tigi

I know what you're thinking, "If Adorn is so great, why would you need Work-it?" Like I mentioned, I live in an area where Adorn just isn't found, and sometimes I can't be bothered with the shipping prices and what not from online stores. One day I was complaining about this very thing to my hairstylist and while she had never heard of Adorn, she took my description and told me to try Catwalk's Work-it. I wasn't disappointed.

Work-it is much like Adorn, accept the spray isn't quite as fine, and it's a little stickier than Adorn, but it does the same job. It holds my style for most of the day and gives plenty of volume where I need it. I buy this brand at my local hair salon, so it's a little pricier, but it's a great product to have on-hand for tough styles on my fine hair. It smells like a traditional hairspray too, although the scent is a little too strong for my liking. Catwalk Work-it by Tigi is a great substitute to have on hand, but I still prefer Adorn if it's available.

Even though I have two favorites, I urge anyone out there with pathetically-fine hair to try Adorn at least once. It costs less than $4, so if you can't stand the scent, you won't feel too bad about spending the money. However, I promise, if you try Adorn you will love it so much that the granny scent won't matter at all.