How Do I Choose the Best Glitter Hair Spray?

Sometimes, regular hair spray just isn't fun enough. A special event or a night on the town might call for several generous spritzes of glitter hair spray, but choosing the right one can be difficult. Consider several factors before you choose a glitter hair spray, such as your hair's color, texture and length. Also worth considering are the ingredients in the bottle and whether the glitter spray is travel-friendly, because giant bottles of glitter hair spray might not be allowed at some airport security checkpoints.

Glitter hair spray comes in a variety of colors, making it easy to find a shade that complements your hair color. Some brands offer sprays that have multicolored flecks of glitter. Other hair sprays focus on one color — perhaps a basic hue such as green or a shiny metallic shade such as silver or gold.

Choose a color that won't get lost in your strands or overpower them. Avoid red glitter spray if your locks are auburn, unless you're looking for a subtle effect. Blondes can pull off nearly any color, although greens and blues might be a bit strong. Brunettes look good in just about any shade of decorative hair spray.

If you have dry, frizzy hair, you might want to try a glitter gel. Some of the ingredients in hair spray can dry out hair, which is the last thing you want if your hair is already extremely dry. Removing glitter hair spray also can be a bit of a pain if your hair is dry or damaged, because the spray might be more likely to strongly adhere to your strands. Sleek, smooth styles and healthy curls can use a glitter spray without any major issues. Choose a spray with a strong hold if your hair is long or thick.

Read the ingredients carefully before dousing your hair with a decorative hair spray. If you try to limit your exposure to poisonous chemicals, don't use hair spray that contains polyvinyl or denatured alcohol. Carboxylmethylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone are two other ingredients to avoid. Parabens and sodium laureth sulfate are found in some hair care products, and these ingredients often cause rashes and respiratory problems. Play it safe by using fragrance-free sprays that are made from as many natural ingredients as possible.

Finally, choose a travel-friendly bottle of glitter hair spray. It doesn't matter if you're traveling by plane or throwing it in your handbag while you hit your favorite local hotspots — make sure that your hair spray can survive the trip. Some sprays can explode if the temperature exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep yours at home if you're heading somewhere hot and humid.