Arabic gum powder, which is often included in hairspray.
The most common hairspray ingredients are polyvinylpyrrolidone, polydimethylsiloxane, gum arabic, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and tragacanth. Hairspray was invented in the 1940s as a way to keep hair from moving during the day. The same types of hairspray polymers are found in wood glues, but they are water soluble for easy rinsing. Hairsprays are usually packaged in cans or bottles with a pressurized spray component.
The main ingredient in most root enhancers and volumizing products is polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer (VP/VA).
Hairsprays are mostly made from synthetic ingredients like vinyl acetate and acrylates. Two popular polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polydimethylsiloxane, are responsible for the adhesion and durability of hairspray. Sprays advertised as “wait all day” tend to have more polydimethylsiloxane. Hairsprays sometimes contain phytocalcareous chemicals, which deposit minerals at the roots of the hair to stiffen it.
Other common hairspray ingredients include gummies in alcohol solutions. Gum Arabic, which comes from the hardened sap of African acacia trees, helps keep hair stiff for hours at a time. This ingredient is also used in paints, glues, inks, textiles, and cosmetics. It is usually harvested in the Middle East and sold to companies for various purposes. For example, some people in the Middle East use gum arabic to make sweet desserts.
Hairspray ingredients used to include chlorofluorocarbons, which propel the ingredients into a fine mist. CFCs, however, cause depletion of the ozone layer, so they are now banned in commercial aerosol sprays. Modern hair sprays use hydrocarbons and alcohol to create the mist effect.
Aminomethyl propanol is another ingredient that is used to control the pH of the hairspray solution. It keeps everything mixed without separating too much, but you usually still need to shake the can of hairspray to make sure everything is evenly mixed. Another function of this ingredient is to make the lacquer resistant to humidity.
Sodium benzoate is a common preservative found in most commercial hairsprays. It also prevents ingredients from oxidizing inside the can or from becoming infected with bacteria or viruses. Some hairsprays are advertised as moisturizers and often contain vitamin E or panthenol, which makes hair silky smooth. Sodium PCA and butylene glycol are other common wetting ingredients. Also, butylene glycol is the ingredient added to help the hairspray retain its fragrances, which are often added to mask the smell of synthetic ingredients.
Natural hair sprays typically include fewer ingredients and fewer chemicals. To fully control the ingredients of hairspray, there are recipes for making it at home. This usually involves boiling oranges and lemons in water to create a sticky liquid that can be sprayed on the hair.