How do you apply texturizing spray?

“Always start on the lighter side, adding more if you need it,” Nader says. For best results, he advises adding texture spray initially to clean, damp hair before towel drying to build in some hold, and finish by misting through your dry style as the last step. When in doubt, follow the product instructions.

Do you put texturizing spray on wet or dry hair?

In most cases, you should put texturizing spray on dry hair. This allows you to tousle your hair immediately after applying the product and get that slightly piece-y, volumized effect. Though some volumizing hair products can be applied to wet or damp hair, doing this with texturizing spray might result in a waxy feel that weighs down your mane.

Should you use texture spray before or after curling hair?

Texture spray should be applied after curling your hair . It's usually meant to be used as a "finishing touch" step, as it helps define each curl, adds volume, and supports an effortless, tousled look.

The 7 Best Texturizing Sprays of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

A collage of texturizing sprays from brands Moroccanoil, Amika, and Drybar — Byrdie / Brian Kopinski

TL;DR

Coming in first as our best overall pick is the Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray, as it's nourishing, doesn't weigh hair down, smells great, holds curls, and adds plenty of body to any look. Our most versatile choice was, hands down, the Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher because it works great on all hair types—plus, it has great hold and imparts a nice shine.

If the assignment is amplified body, a good texturizing spray is a must, especially for fine-haired people. The right formula builds volume, creates movement, and gives hair some grit to support a long-lasting style. On the flip side, the wrong product can derail your style. Formulas that are sticky, tacky, and leave a heavy residue can weigh hair down or leave it stiff and crunchy. “I often say to my clients, finding the right texturizing mist is like striking gold—it can transform your strands,” says hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader.

After consulting experts for their top picks, we took our time researching today's best formulas, then spent hours in The Lab testing texturizing sprays. Our product testers had a range of hair types, textures, and concerns and evaluated each product's ease of use, texture, volume, and overall look. Finally, we narrowed it down to the most effective, user-friendly options that are actually worth your money.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray at Selfridges.com ($29)

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Best for All Hair Types:

Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher at Sephora ($24)

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Best Scent:

Amika Un.done Volume & Texture Spray at Amazon ($29)

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Best Hold:

Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray at Amazon ($30)

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Best for Fine Hair:

R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray at Amazon ($36)

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Best Volumizing:

Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray at Amazon ($29)

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Best for Natural Hair:

Herbal Essences Spray Gel at Herbalessences.com (See Price)

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Best Overall

Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray

PHOTO:

Ulta

$29 at selfridges.com View on Revolve

What We Like

Volumizing
Nourishing formula
Holds curls well
Smells amazing
Easy to grip bottle

What We Don’t Like

Left sticky residue on hands

Size: 4.6 | Scent: Sandalwood, musk, floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Earning perfect ratings across the board, this texturizing spray builds incredible volume and adds texture without weighing hair down. Its nourishing formula contains volcanic minerals to absorb oil, and our testers noted that it works like a dry shampoo to cut grease. Also nice: It features the brand’s signature North Bondi scent (a blend of sandalwood, musk, and floral notes) that earned rave reviews from our tester.

“It made my semi-greasy hair look less greasy and feel less greasy, too,” our tester noted. We suggest applying near a sink, as after working through hair, the spray left a sticky residue on our tester’s fingers.

Best for All Hair Types

Ceremonia Açai Style Refresher

PHOTO:

Credo

$24 at Sephora View on Ceremonia.com View on Credo Beauty

What We Like

Ergonomic handle makes it easy to dispense
Excellent hold
Adds shine

What We Don’t Like

Scent could be stronger

Size: 6.7 ounces | Scent: Fruity | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A light and refreshing mist, this spray works extremely well to make hair more manageable. Our testers love the “lived-in” look this texturizing spray creates, adding that it’s ideal for refreshing styles. They were also impressed with how much volume it created, adding “oomph” to a day-old ‘do.

“As someone with natural, kinky-coily hair, this was great for in-between styling and just adding a roller to redefine the hair,” said one tester.

Best Scent

Amika Un.done Volume & Texture Spray

PHOTO:

Sephora

$29 at Amazon $10 at Sephora

What We Like

Volumizing
Amazing scent
Superior hold, without stiffness
Easy to dispense

What We Don’t Like

Those with thin hair may need more volume

Size: 1 ounce / 5.3 ounces | Scent: Vanilla, citrus, amber | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This lightweight spray created texture and added volume without leaving hair crunchy or stiff. Our testers noted that combing through post-spray was a cinch and didn’t result in any breakage (score). “It has given my flat, medium hair tons of volume and texture,” said one tester.

Known for their intoxicating aromatic properties, Amika does natural scents like few hair care brands. Our testers wished this product didn’t have such a high price point, but ultimately think it’s worth the spend, especially considering its clean formula.

Best Hold

Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray

PHOTO:

Amazon

$30 at Amazon $30 at Sephora $14 at Nordstrom

What We Like

Volumizing
Boosts grittiness
Leaves hair touchable
Easy to grip bottle

What We Don’t Like

Slightly drying
Minor stickiness

Size: 5.4 ounces | Scent: Original | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This cult classic is known for boosting grittiness, and our tester confirmed her hair felt more texturized upon use. She loved how the look lasted throughout the day without stiffness, although she did notice some dry ends. She also wished the formula was a little less sticky, but overall was pleased with the volume, hold, and texture. The scent is pleasant but not overpowering, and the spray dries quickly as the style sets.

Best for Fine Hair

R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray

PHOTO:

Amazon

$36 at Amazon $36 at Nordstrom $18 at Neiman Marcus

What We Like

Lightweight
Volumizing
Adds shine

What We Don’t Like

Nozzle might be a little challenging

Size: 2 ounces | Scent: Floral | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This spray is another lightweight option that doesn’t just add volume and texture but, according to our tester, also helps hair “perk up.” Our tester was also pleasantly surprised with how much shine the spray added without weighing her hair down. “The touch and look overall is a winner,” she said.

Best Volumizing

Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray

PHOTO:

Amazon

$29 at Amazon $29 at Sephora $29 at Ulta

What We Like

Gives curls bounce
Creates natural-looking waves
Adds body
Easy to spray

What We Don’t Like

Slightly tacky

Size: 4.2 ounces | Scent: Blanc | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This wildly popular brand delivers an amazing finishing spray that earned perfect scores with our tester across the board. In particular, she loved how naturally her hair fell post-spray, noting that volume started at the roots but never felt weighed down. “When my curls were finger-combed, it created waves in my hair that looked natural but 'done,'" our tester noted.

Best for Natural Hair

Herbal Essences Spray Gel

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Spray Gel

PHOTO:

Amazon

View on Herbalessences.com

What We Like

Lightweight
Adds bounce
Defines curls

What We Don’t Like

Could be more volumizing

Size: 5.7 ounces | Scent: Herbal | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Seeking soft, touchable hair? This foam delivers. Our tester loved the natural curl definition that felt moisturizing rather than dry on her thick, density, type 4 hair. She also noted that a little goes a long way and did not report any stickiness or a tacky feeling.

What to Consider When Buying a Texturizing Spray

Hair type: All hair types can use a texturizing mist, but Nader has some advice for tailoring the application to deliver the best results. “Fine to medium hair types will benefit, as will shorter hair cuts," he says. "In the course of 30 years spent doing hair, I've found that texturizing mist works especially well on uncolored hair, as it will plump up the strand and add dimension without the heaviness of a chalky dry shampoo.” He advises those with thick or coarse hair textures to go easy. "Be mindful that too much of a good thing can make your strands appear more dry and unruly," says Nader. "A little spray is best—don't go overboard."
Nourishing ingredients: If you happen to have thick, coarse, dry, or color-treated hair, Nader suggests you look out for a product containing nourishing ingredients like proteins, vitamins, and natural oils to prevent excess frizz. “The goal is movement and body, not fluffy frizz, so if your strands are on the drier side, be sure to seek out a product with some added hydration.”
Volumizing ingredients: On the other side of the spectrum, fine and oily hair types would be wise to pick a formula packed with oil-absorbing ingredients like clay, starch, and certain polymers. This will ensure the hair stays bouncy and light (not limp or greasy).
Fragrance: Some texturizing sprays come with a fragrance that’s beautiful but often very strong—if you’re sensitive to perfume, do some research before buying.

FAQ

How do you apply texturizing spray?

“Always start on the lighter side, adding more if you need it,” Nader says. For best results, he advises adding texture spray initially to clean, damp hair before towel drying to build in some hold, and finish by misting through your dry style as the last step. When in doubt, follow the product instructions.
Do you put texturizing spray on wet or dry hair?

In most cases, you should put texturizing spray on dry hair. This allows you to tousle your hair immediately after applying the product and get that slightly piece-y, volumized effect. Though some volumizing hair products can be applied to wet or damp hair, doing this with texturizing spray might result in a waxy feel that weighs down your mane.
Should you use texture spray before or after curling hair?

Texture spray should be applied after curling your hair. It's usually meant to be used as a "finishing touch" step, as it helps define each curl, adds volume, and supports an effortless, tousled look.

Why Trust Byrdie

Jill Di Donato is a former associate editorial director for Byrdie and has over a decade of experience as a beauty editor, where she’s contributed to some of the best beauty and lifestyle magazines out there. When it comes to texturizing sprays, she’s tried R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray, Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray. When she wants to add some scent to her tresses, she reaches for the Ouai and Amika formulas featured in this roundup.

Byrdie worked with an expert to inform this story:

Anthony Nader is an international stylist and the owner of a Sydney-based hair salon, Raw. With years of experience under his belt—including magazine editorials in Harper’s BAZAAR, Grazia, and Elle, plus countless international fashion weeks—Nader is best known for his cool, edgy cuts, and lived-in texture.

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