The Beauty Brains were recently featured in a TODAY.com post telling you how to get the best hairspray performance for the lowest cost.  Below are the complete ingredient lists for all the products referenced in that article. But first….

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Hairspray ingredients

Tresemme Tres II Extra Hold Hairspray
Alcohol Denatured, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, VA/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl/Methacrylate Copolymer, Amino Methyl Propanol, Dimethyl Stearamide, Fragrance (Parfum), Hexylcinnamal, Butylphenyl Methlyproprional, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Hydroxyisohexl 3 Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde

Glo Radiant Fix Hairspray
SD Alcohol 40-B, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, VA/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Triethyl Citrate, Fragrance/Parfum, Panthenol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-59, Butylene Glycol

Scruples High Definition Shaping Spray
Alcohol denat., Hydroflurocarbon 152a, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, VA/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, PBX (Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans [Mycopolysaccharides], Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzophenone-4, Dimethicone Copolyol), aminomethyl Propanol, Fragrance (Parfum), BCC12-Base.

Paves Professional FLAWless Convertible-Proof Firm Hold Spray
SD Alcohol 40-B, Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, VA, Crotonates, Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Octylacrylamide, Acrylates, Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender, Geranium Maculatum Oil Geranium, Citrus Medica Oil Lemon, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil Orange, Citrus Clementina Oil Clementine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil Roman Chamomile, Phytantriol, Polyquaternium-11, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Arginine, Acetyl Tyrosine, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Calcium Pantothenate, Zinc Gluconate, Niacinamide, Ornithine HCL, Citrulline, Glucosamine HCL, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxan, Amino

Ion Mega Hold Freezing Spray
Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water (Aqua), Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/ Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, VA/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Triethyl Citrate, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol, Geraniol

Image credit: www.glamour.com

Celeste asks…Is a SLS free shampoo or cowasing enough to remove pomades from hair?

The Right Brain responds:

Celeste asked her question in the Beauty Brains forum, where the ever-savvy Lindygirl quipped “I’m not a Brain, but I would think it would depend on what ingredients the pomades have in them. If they have silicones you would most likely need to use a shampoo with sulfates periodically to remove any buildup.”

As usual, LindyGirl rocked the house. The removability of any given pomade TOTALLY depends on the ingredients in that particular formula. If it’s a light polymer based formula, SLS-free is probably fine. Cowashing will NOT clean hair as well and so may be a problem. If the pomade is a heavy silicone or wax based formula, you may need the extra cleansing boost you get from SLS. Fortunately, pomades are typically used on shorter hair styles which makes them a bit easier to remove. Of course, you could always lather, rinse, repeat…

If you have any specific pomade formula you’d like us to take a look at, just provide us with the ingredients list in the comments section.

Image credit: alleewillis.com

Our friend over at the Chap blog (“Chap” is the metric equivalent of “dude” for those of you who aren’t savvy with UK-speak) likes the Aveda Men Pure-Formance Liquid Pomade hair styler. Let’s look at the label and see what’s in it that helps shine up the dude’s do so well.

Ingredients

Water
Solvent for the other ingredients. 

Glycerin
Moisturizer, will help keep hair looking glossy.

Denatured Ethanol
Not sure we you’d have ethanol as the third ingredient since none of the rest of the ingredients seem to need it as a carrier.

Methyl GLUCETH-10
Emulsifier to help the ingredients mix together.

Hydroxypropyl Starch
Helps hold the hair in place, although this won’t work nearly as well as many other styling resins. 

Capryl Glycol
Another emulsifier/coupling agent.

Peg 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Conditioning agent, may help with shine.

Boswellia Serrata Extract, Licorice Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Yeast Extract, Malt Extract
A bunch of extracts that won’t do anything for hair.

Ginger Oil, Tamanu Oil, Canola Oil
Natural oils that may help with shine if there’s enough present in the formula, which I doubt. 

Hydrolyzed Algin
Another natural holding agent. 

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Conditioning agent. May also provide some stiffness to hair. 

Polyquarternium 11, Polyquaternium 4
Additional holding agents. 

Dicetyldimonium Chloride
Conditioner.

Sodium Chloride
A thickener. 

Fragrance
Smells yummy. 

Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citral
Fragrance allergens.

Ursolic Acid
Apparently this is some kind of emulsifier but I’ve never seen it used before. 

Decyl Glycoside
Surfactant. I have no idea why it’s the last ingredient.

Here’s a question for all you would-be chemists out there: where is the preservative in this formula?

Image credit: Amazon.com

Kim comments… What’s worse: chemically straightening hair, or blowing hair out and flat ironing it 2-3 times per week? I know they’re both bad, but is there a lesser of the two evils?

The Right Brain Replies:
Chemically straightening is about the worst thing you can do to your hair. That’s because the first step in the hair straightening process breaks apart the protein bonds in hair.

Breaking those bonds allows you to take the curl out of the hair but it’s very harmful because not all the bonds are repaired. So, your hair is left much weaker after straightening.

Blow drying and ironing are harmful too, but they’re much less damaging than chemical attacks. Plus, you can use heat protection products that will help cut down on the damage.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

You can iron your hair straight many times before you’ll equal the damage from chemically straightening it one time.

Update: If you’re looking for a lower cost hairspray without water, try Tresemme Tres II.

Cindy’s sassy about Sebastian…What’s up with Sebastian Shaper Hairspray? Everyone I know who uses it just freaks out about this stuff but I can’t even find it because it’s always out of stock. Is there something really better or different about this hairspray compared to other brands?

The Right Brain responds:

Actually, Cindy, there is a simple answer to your question. Many hairsprays are formulated with a chemical that is TERRIBLE for your hair style. This chemical causes your hair to droop and lose its style almost the instant it is applied. Sebastian wisely chooses to NOT use this chemical in their aerosol hairspray and that’s one of the primary reasons their product is so good.

Sebastian Shaper’s secret

The secret to Sebastian’s formula is: WATER. That’s right. simple H20. Many companies use water in their aerosol hairsprays because it’s much cheaper. But when water contacts the hair, it loosens some of the internal bonds and causes the hair to lose its style. If you can avoid water in your hairspray you’ll get a much better style. (Of course there are other ingredients in the formula that control how well the hairspray holds. You can read our series on Adorable Aerosols if you want to learn more.)

Hairsprays that are “all wet”

If you like the way Sebastian makes your hair feel, you’ll want to avoid these brands that formulate their hairsprays with water:

• Pantene Pro-V Texturize
• Suave Max Hold
• Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing
• Got 2b Styltini
• Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti-Humidity
• Dove Hairspray, Extra Hold
• Rusk W8less Plus Shaping and Control
• Aussie Instant Freeze

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Water is bad for your hairstyle but if you can’t afford Sebastian shop around for other hairsprays that don’t use water. How can you tell? Turn the can over and read the ingredient list!

What’s YOUR favorite hairspray? Leave a comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.