Hairspray can be very useful for the hair on your head but is hairspray good for eyelashes? Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.
Hairspray is neither good nor bad for real eyelashes. It is, however, very bad for false eyelashes. It is also risky to spray hairspray near your eyes as it may get onto the eyeball itself.
Benefits of Hairspray
Hairspray doesn’t really have any benefits for your eyelashes (or eyebrows).
All of its benefits apply to the hair on your head:
- Quick and easy way to style hair
- Can tame frizzy hair
- Will usually hold all day
- Can make hair look fuller
- May contain nourishing ingredients to improve the health of your hair
Why Hairspray Is Bad For False Eyelashes
There are two main reasons why hairspray is bad for false eyelashes:
Firstly, most spray products contain alcohol. This can break down the adhesive used to hold your false eyelashes in place.
Secondly, hairspray can clog up your false eyelashes. This can lead to them essentially becoming weighed down to the point that they droop and ultimately break.
Should You Use Hairspray On Your Eyebrows?
You can use hairspray on your eyebrows. It can be useful for shaping them.
Hairspray can also be used as a stand-in for sealant. With that said, proper sealant will generally do a much better job.
Never apply hairspray directly to your eyebrows. There is too high a risk of it getting in your eyes (even if you close them).
Spray it on a spoolie or other brush (or a finger). Then use that to style your eyebrows.
Can Hairspray Help Grow Eyelashes?
Hairspray cannot help to grow eyelashes. It is a styling product, not a growth-boosting product. Some hairsprays do contain ingredients to condition your hair. These can help to improve its health and appearance. They will still not make it grow.
How To Use Hairspray Without Damaging False Eyelashes
In principle, it’s best to avoid using hairspray if you have false eyelashes. In practice, hairspray is so useful on your head it can be very hard not to.
With that in mind, here are four tips on how to use hairspray safely if you have false eyelashes:
Check if you need to shake
A lot of hairsprays advise you to shake the can before use.
If you ignore this, the hairspray will usually still work. It just won’t spray as well.
If you want to get the best out of your hairspray, follow the instructions. If they say to shake the can, then do so.
Use a mask (or barrier)
If you use hairspray a lot and have false eyelashes, then it may be worth investing in a proper face mask.
Hairdressers use these to keep hairspray off their customer’s faces. They work just as well at home.
If you don’t have a mask, put your free arm across your eye area.
Give the spray time to settle
You may have noticed that hairspray tends to hang around the air for a bit.
It then settles on the nearest surface. If you’ve applied it correctly, that should be your head hair.
Make sure you give it a few moments to do this before you remove the protection from your false eyelashes.
Take care of your false eyelashes
If you’re frequently using hairspray when you have false eyelashes, then it’s even more important to follow proper aftercare procedures.
- Clean your lashes regularly
- Keep your lashes as dry as possible
- Avoid touching your lashes if you can
- Use a lash sealant for extra protection
3 Alternative Styling products
Hairspray may be your go-to styling product but there are alternatives.
Here are a few options that are safer to use if you have false eyelashes:1.
1. Pump-action hairspray
Check the ingredients list but pump-action hairsprays are more likely to use water rather than alcohol.
This solves the problem of them damaging the adhesive. It also creates less residue to weigh down (and break) your false eyelashes.
2. Hair mousse
If you only need a moderate hold then mousse may be for you.
What mousse lacks in holding strength it makes up for in lift and fullness.
3. Hair wax
Hair wax only offers light hold. As such it tends to work best on short hair.
It’s great for taming frizz and flyaway hairs. It also adds texture and shine.