Is Hair Spray Bad For You?
Also Known As: hair lacquer, spritz
Short answer
No, hair spray is not bad for you if used as directed. However, the substance is extremely flammable and can be harmful—potentially even lethal—if inhaled.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
It’s hard to imagine a world without hair spray, but it’s actually a relatively new product. Hair spray was invented after World War II. The aerosol spray component was originally developed by the Department of Agriculture; it was created to make the storage and application of insect repellents more convenient. It worked—and the innovative aerosol spray soon made its way into the cosmetics industry, paving the way for iconic hair spray-heavy up-dos like the beehive and the bouffant.
However, the aerosol applicator that made the product an instant success is also what makes it dangerous: hair spray is extremely flammable. Throughout the “big hair” eras of the 80s and early 90s, there were several hair spray-related fires. There were reports of serious injury and even death. So in 1993, the FDA finally released a warning statement explaining the high flammability of hair spray and cautioning Americans not to use it around open flames.
After flammability, fumes are another serious danger of hair spray. The product contains Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are known to cause smog and potential damage to the ozone layer. And although Donald Trump doesn’t seem to think there is any cause for concern, VOCs can be harmful to people as well. Short-term exposure to VOCs can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, feeling faint and irritation of the eye and/or lungs. However, these symptoms only appear with very high levels of VOCs (example: stripping paint in a windowless room) and they typically subside when the exposure stops.
It is also worth noting that laboratory animals who were regularly exposed to high levels of VOCs suffered long-term side effects. The New York Department of Health reports that some of the animals developed cancer which afflicted the kidney, liver, and nervous system. As such, they recommend minimizing repeated, long-term exposure to these chemicals whenever possible.
In summary, hair spray is relatively safe to use. But for the reasons outlined above, it’s very important to use hair spray in a well-ventilated area AWAY from open flames. Do not smoke cigarettes while using the product, and try to avoid styling your hair by candlelight or close to other sources of fire. And if you’re working on a complicated up-do which requires a lot of time and hair spray, remember the importance of air circulation. Open a window or use an exhaust fan to encourage ventilation. If you start feeling faint, step outside to get some fresh air. Symptoms will usually cease when exposure does—but if you continue to feel sick, seek medical attention immediately.
Possible short-term side effects
- headaches
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nausea
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irritation of eyes, throat, lungs
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dizziness
Possible long-term side effects
- cancer (in cases of heavy, prolonged voc exposure)
Ingredients to be aware of
- copolymer blend (aerosol component)
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alcohol (when combined with copolymer blend, results in flammable property)
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formaldehyde
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phthalates
Benefits
- helps create and hold many different hairstyles
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adds volume without feeling heavy or weighed down
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easy to use
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Written by Desmond Richard
Published on: 10-19-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Desmond Richard
Published on: 10-19-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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