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What is best - a hair product that says "alcohol-free", or a hair product that says "water-free?"
  • JanelleK
    I have curly,frizzy hair, and I rely on hairspray and gels to help control the frizz (I also do a lot of moisturizing with coconut oil! :)
    I use Tresemme's hairspray, as it works really well for me, and I have a suspicion that it works so well because it is "water-free." I've tried switching to a hairspray that was "alcohol-free", and that hairspray made my hair frizzy and didn't work.

    My question is, what is best for hair (less frizz-inducing) - a hairspray or gel with alcohol or without alcohol? I know alcohol in hairspray is not damaging (read a beautybrains post earlier on that), but is water in hairspray frizz-inducing/damaging? What does water from hair-care products do to curly hair?
    I'd like to hear your thoughts on this
    Thanks!
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    If you're trying to fight frizz or maintain a curly/wavy style, then you want to avoid hairsprays with water. Why? Because the water relaxes some of the weak internal bonds in hair (called hydrogen bonds) and causes the hair to lose its shape. 


  • JanelleK
    Thank you Right brain! That was helpful. Does that suggest that hairsprays with "water" as an ingredient are ineffective? Because hairsprays in general are supposed to preserve a style/prevent frizz. What's the point of having a hairspray with water than?
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    Some people like water in their hairspray because they can use it as a "working" spray to help shape their hair. But if you're looking to lock in your style, and you don't want any curl droop or frizz while you're applying hairspray, then water free is the way to go. 
  • bluecatbaby
    Thanks for your answer about water in hair spray. What about water in other hair products, such as leave-in conditioners, styling creams, gels, heat protecters? Here's an example of a product designed for curly hair: Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding. The ingredients are (copied from company website):
    Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Fragrance, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Silk Amino Acids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Oleth-5, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Ext. Violet 2

    And it sounds like you have to choose between hairspray with no water but alcohol instead, and the alcohol can dry your hair, or hairspray with water but not alcohol, so your hair isn't dried out but it gets frizzy. Is that how it is?
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    BCB: I'm not sure what you mean when you ask about water in other products. You WANT water in some products because it helps you work the product through your hair to get the style you want. So it's ok in creams, etc. 

    But if you've already got your style set and you just want to lock it in place - then you do NOT want water to touch it because it will cause the style to droop. 

    We've never seen any proof that alcohol in hairspray really dries it out - the alcohol is in very small droplets and it evaporates very quickly. 
  • Qwerty
    What about heat protection spray? I am assuming the water in the ingredient list is what makes hair frizz. Am I correct? At the point I use heat protection my hair is completely dry but not yet styled. I have used Tresemme thermal creations heat tamer protective spray but found it made my hair frizz more. I was disappointed with that especial because that product has tons of great reviews. People seem to love how it works for them. Water is the first ingredient on the Tresemme heat protection spray so I guess that is why it brings out the frizz. I then started to use a heat protection serum like John Frieda thermal protection formula and it certainly helps when I am flat ironing my hair but to try to put waves in it with a curling iron you can just forget about it. The serum kinda weighs down the hair and refuses to help hold the wave. Any suggestions on a heat protection spray or serum that won't frizz the hair but will protect it from the heat and help hold the style?
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