12 Best Hairsprays For Braids To Avoid Dryness And Itchiness
Time to grab these hair care formulations that help in creating braided hairstyles.
Jill TurnbullHairstylist
Expertise: Hairdressing
Experience: 47 years
Jill Turnbull is an internationally acclaimed freelance hairstylist, colorist, and makeup artist with over 47 years of experience. She founded her own beauty brand and her work has been featured in editorial magazines worldwide. Jill is... more
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
While braiding your long thick hair adds an extra charm to your overall look, maintaining them right might get difficult. That’s when you might start looking for the best hairspray for braids. It not only moisturizes your hair but also helps keep your braid free of dirt and frizz. To help you get started, we have listed down the 12 best hairsprays to keep your braids in shape.
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Best Anti-Frizz On Natural Sheen Spray Braid & Twist On Natural $2.68 ON AMAZON Read More › $2.68 ON AMAZON - 9
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In This Article
12 Best Hairsprays For Braids
Best Dandruff Protection:Strickland & Co Sulphur 8 Medicated Anti-Dandruf Conditioner
The Strickland & Co Sulphur 8 Medicated Anti-Dandruff Conditioner prevents dryness of the scalp. It moisturizes the scalp and reduces itching and flaking. This hairspray softens the hair and makes it healthy. It keeps your braids natural-looking and shiny. If you want to find out more about this product and its usage, make sure to check out this review on YouTube.
Pros - Silicone-free
- Medicated
- Prevents dandruff
- Non-drying
- Reduces itchiness
Cons
- Sticky
Best Anti-Itch:ParnevuT-Tree Braid Spray
The PARNEVU T-Tree Braid Spray gives tight-braided hair the much-needed comfort and shine. It contains Australian tea tree oil that helps control itching and reduces flakiness. The therapeutic formula contains menthol, which refreshes the scalp and provides a cool sensation. This product also has keratin to condition and moisturize the hair and scalp. If you need further convincing, check this YouTuber’s review out.
Pros - Pleasant fragrance
- Controls itching
- Adds shine
- Moisturizes the hair and scalp
Cons
- Greasy
Quick TipBest For Hair Conditioning:African Pride Braid Sheen Spray
The African Pride Spray is suitable for braids, locks, and twisted hair. It soothes a sore scalp caused by tight braiding, nourishes the hair, and makes the braids soft and glossy. This spray also moisturizes the scalp and prevents dryness. This reduces dandruff and relieves itchiness. This spray conditions and strengthens the hair, adding shine. Check out the review of this product on YouTube to know why it is one of the best out there.
Pros - Soothes the scalp
- Softens the braids
- Conditions the hair
- Adds shine
Cons
- Unpleasant smell
Best Cruelty-Free:Fantasia Braid Sheen Spray
The Fantasia Braid Sheen Spray contains blended herbal extracts, botanicals, vitamins, and minerals. These ingredients keep the braids shiny and soft. This braid spray controls dryness and itching caused by tight braiding. It moisturizes the hair and imparts a healthy sheen to your braids, weaves, dreadlocks, and extensions. This product is cruelty-free, lightweight, and non-greasy. It is suitable for natural and synthetic hair.
Pros - Cruelty-free
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Suitable for natural and synthetic hair
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
None
Best pH-Balance:Africa's Best Braid Sheen Spray With Conditioner
The Africa’s Best Braid Sheen Spray contains African herbs and vitamins that penetrate the hair and moisturize and condition the braids. The conditioning formula helps eliminate dryness and itchy scalp. This spray works great on natural, synthetic, relaxed, braided locks, and curly hair.
Pros - pH-balanced
- Reduces hair breakage
Cons
- Contains alcohol
- Unpleasant smell
Best Non-Greasy Formula:Salon Pro Braid Sheen Shine Spray
The Salon Pro Braid Sheen Shine Spray contains argan oil that moisturizes and conditions the braids. It is lightweight and does not cause product buildup. This non-greasy spray imparts an enhanced sheen and luster to the hair. It also helps reduce breakage and soothes an itchy, dry scalp.
Pros - Non-greasy
- Soothes the scalp
- Long-lasting
Cons
None
Best For Detangling:African Essence Braid Sheen Spray
The African Essence Braid Spray contains natural conditioners and additives that make the hair shiny. It moisturizes the hair and holds the braid neatly and tightly. The hydrating formula reduces itching on the scalp and hair breakage. This lightweight and non-greasy spray imparts a nourished sheen to your braids.
Pros - Adds shine
- Detangles the hair
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
Cons
None
Pro TipBest Anti-Frizz:On Natural Sheen Spray Braid & Twist
Image: On Natural The ON Natural Braid & Twist spray is formulated with keratin, which strengthens the hair and makes it healthy and frizz-free. It moisturizes your braids and makes them shiny. The non-greasy formula reduces scalp irritation, soothes itchiness, and reduces hair breakage. This protein spray softens braids, weaves, and extensions and makes them more manageable.
Pros - Soothes the scalp
- Non-greasy
- Available in three variants
Cons
- Insufficient quantity
Best In Budget:Kuza Jamaican Black Castor Oil Braid Spray
The Kuza Jamaican Black Castor Oil Braid Spray replenishes the lost moisture and imparts shine to your braids. The formula is enriched with Jamaican black coconut oil and castor oil that hydrate the strands, condition them, and control breakage. The non-greasy formula also contains argan oil and aloe vera juice that soothe dry, itchy scalp and seal in the moisture. The lightweight braid spray is perfect for human hair as well as synthetic hair. It is ideal for sensitive scalps as well.
Pros - Pleasant fragrance
- Lightweight
- Ideal for all hair type
- Non-greasy
- Suitable for natural and synthetic hair
- Alcohol-free
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Watery consistency
Best Hair Fall ProtectionCarol's Daughter BLACK VANILLA Shine Enhancing Hair Sheen
The Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shine Enhancing Hair Sheen is suitable for dry, dull, and brittle hair. It hydrates the hair, makes it more manageable, and adds a long-lasting sheen. This leave-in spray contains a blend of jojoba oil and shea butter, which conditions the hair. Sweet almond oil strengthens the hair, reducing hair breakage and hair fall. This hairspray is suitable for all hair types and is free of parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, and artificial color.
Pros - Paraben-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Mineral-oil-free
- No artificial color
Cons
- Feels heavy on the hair
Best Color-Safe:Jamaican Mango & Lime Sproil Spray Oil
The Jamaican Mango & Lime Sproil Spray Oil nourishes the scalp. It contains vitamin E, which strengthens the hair and imparts a radiant sheen. This spray makes the twists, locs, and braids healthy and soft. It protects the hair from damage and adds gloss. This non-greasy spray contains menthol that lubricates the hair and scalp, reducing dandruff and dryness. It is lightweight and free of sulfates and parabens.
Pros - Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Suitable for all hair types
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
Cons
- Leaves residue on the scalp
Best Dye-Free FormulaPalmer's Olive Oil Formula Conditioning Spray Oil
The Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Conditioning Spray Oil contains natural extra virgin olive oil, which is rich invitamins A, B, E, and antioxidants that protect the hair from free radical damage. Vitamin E heals the scalp, and black castor oil relieves scalp dryness and reduces itching and irritation. The pure plant-based ingredients hydrate and soften your hair. This hairspray keeps your locs, braids, and extensions healthy and glossy. It is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, gluten, and dyes.
Pros - Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Gluten-free
- Dye-free
Cons
- Unpleasant smell
How To Choose The Best Hairsprays For Braids To Avoid Dryness And Itchiness
- Type Of Hold
Hairspray formulas come in three different types of holds: light, medium, and strong. When it comes to braids, look for a hairspray with light or medium hold formula, as they provide optimal hold to keep your braids in place, without making them look crunchy or weighing them down.
- Ingredients
Keep away from hair sprays that contain alcohol as the main ingredient as it can cause dryness and make your hair look crunchy or damaged. Make sure that the hairspray is free from harsh ingredients like mineral oil, paraben, sulfate, gluten, dye, and phthalates. Choose formulas with butters and essential oils that have nourishing properties. When it comes to braided hair, your scalp can become susceptible to excess buildup and bacterial growth. Look for tea tree oil in your product to reduce irritation, fight bacteria, and refresh the scalp. You can also choose hair sprays with menthol, as it combats itching and has cooling properties. Menthol also treats dandruff, and is loaded with antibacterial properties.
- Hydration
Braided hair can become brittle or dry, making it prone to damage. A hair spray which contains hydrating ingredients like oils, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and mango butter can prevent hair fall, breakage, dandruff, itching, flakiness and dryness.
- Scent
Who does not like good smelling hair? If you want your braid to smell amazing, opt for hair sprays with added fragrances. Make sure that the fragrance is not synthetic or chemically induced, but natural from essential oils and fruit extracts. If you are allergic to heavy fragrances, you can also choose a neutral scented hairspray.
- Size
If you are someone who travels a lot, look for a hair spray that is minimal in size and has a travel-friendly packaging for on-the-go application. You can also get a mini version of your regular hairspray if available to carry along in your bags.
The following section explains the correct way of using a braid spray.
How To Use Braid Sprays
- Apply the spray to the hair roots.
- Massage the product on your scalp evenly.
- Wait for a few minutes and let the spray get absorbed into the hair.
- Avoid over-washing your hair as it might make the product less effective.
- Use it as a leave-in spray rather than rinsing it off. If it feels heavy or greasy, rinse your hair lightly and towel dry.
Here’s a few essential features of a braid spray.
Top Features To Look For In Braid Sprays
1. Hydration – Braided locks tend to become dry and are easily prone to damage. A braid spray is an easy remedy to prevent dandruff, hair fall, and breakage. Thus, it must contain hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or olive oil. Keeping the braids hydrated will reduce flakiness, itching, and dryness.
2. Ingredients – A braided head might cause buildup and the growth of microorganisms in the scalp. Tea tree oil helps fight microbes and refreshes the scalp, reducing irritation caused by germs.
Another essential ingredient is menthol. It has cooling properties that soothe itching in the scalp. The antibacterial properties of menthol help fight microorganisms and lice and treat dandruff.
Let’s now look at a few benefits of braid sprays.
Why Should You Use Braid Sprays?
- Balances The Hair’s pH Levels – Your tresses need to be artificially loosened before putting in braids to make the process easy. Braid sprays help balance the hair’s natural pH levels and moisturize the hair. They also help reduce hair breakage and prevent damage.
- Protects Hair Extensions – Whether they are made of natural human hair or synthetic material, braids and extensions might affect your scalp and hair health. A braiding spray protects the braided hair against dirt and aggressors and adds shine.
Infographic: Things To Consider When Buying The Best Hairsprays For Braids
Managing braids can be a difficult task as they can end up looking messy and unruly. A good hairspray helps keep your long, thick braid nourished and frizz-free. Check out the infographic below to know what factor to look out for when buying hairspray for your braids. Have a look!
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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Download Infographic 
Braided hair offers you a gorgeous look. But maintaining braids can be extremely difficult. They may dry out and start looking dull if they are exposed to dirt and pollution. The best hair sprays for braids are infused with moisturizing ingredients to prevent scalp dryness and reduce itching caused due to friction. They make your braid soft and add natural shine to your hair. The hair sprays mentioned in our list are lightweight, medicated, and non-greasy. However, avoid products that leave residue on the scalp. Consider factors like ingredients and hydrating capacities before investing in these hair sprays.
Why Trust Stylecraze?
The author of this article, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a hair care enthusiast who constantly endeavors to provide the best products for her readers. She understands that maintaining braids can be difficult. She has gone through numerous customer testimonials online and assembled this list of the choicest hairsprays for braids. These hairsprays moisturize your hair and keep it free of dirt and frizz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hairspray good for braids?
Yes. Hairsprays keep your braided strands nourished and shiny. The right hairspray keeps your braids free from pollutants and frizz as well.
Can you put hairspray on box braids?
Yes. Hairsprays can be used on box braids. They keep the braids’ style intact and add a healthy shine.
How long does it take to braid hair?
Braiding the hair properly needs a minimum of six hours. However, it completely depends on the kind of braid you are doing and the length of your hair. For example, braiding long hair can take up to 10 hours.
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