Liquid plastic for a bad hair day
The reason for that strange texture is the very nature of the product. Hairspray and other conventional gel products are made from chemical polymers that resemble liquid elastic. The most common one for hairspray, polyvinylpyrrolidone, is the same one used to glue plywood. A polyelectrolyte polymer is used for hair gels and styling sprays.
Spray or rub them on wet wet and when it dries, that thin film of plastic holds your hair in place. The plastic stays on your head until you wash your hair.
Natural spritz
If that doesn’t sound very appealing you may be interested in looking at some of the products using natural polymers like Tragacanth and Arabic gums from trees. Products with alcohol will have a longer shelf life that those without and may feel a bit lighter. Some products are even alcohol free and have essential oils for scent.
D.I.Y. your own
There are plenty of make your own recipes popping up on the Internet as a backlash against plastic and chemicals in our cosmetics and hair products.
England’s Mooky Chick offers a recipe to make your own hairspray:
The University of Michigan came up with this recipe for homemade hair gel:
Herbalist Rebecca Hartman recommends a flax gel:
Natural hairspray and gels brands:
