How To Keep Hairspray From Clogging

Those who love hairspray know what an important component it can be in our daily styling routines. For that reason,  it is imperative that our hairspray is working properly and free from clogs. But, unfortunately, clogs do happen, and we all know that hairspray clogs are the worst. So what can you do to prevent your hairspray nozzle from getting clogged at the most inopportune times? We have looked high and low for the very best ways to prevent clogs in your hairspray, and we have them all listed here to assist you.

As frustrating as a clogged hairspray container might be, there are some tricks to keep your hairspray nozzle in tip-top shape and clog-free. The best ways to keep hairspray from clogging are:

  • Wipe off the nozzle
  • Run it under water
  • Use petroleum jelly on it

If you want to avoid hairspray clogs in the future and learn how to unclog your hairspray when those pesky clog mishaps occur, keep reading for all of the best tips!

A beautiful blonde woman applying hairspray on her blonde hair, How To Keep Hairspray From Clogging

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Avoiding Clogs In Your Hairspray

It never fails. You're running late for an appointment and putting the finishing touches on your hair. You try to spray your hairspray, and nothing happens. The nozzle is completely clogged! If you want to avoid this stressful situation in the future, preventing the clog is the key, and here is what we recommend.

A happy woman spraying hairspray on her hair before heading for work

Wipe It Off

A very simple way to prevent clogs is to wipe off your hairspray nozzle. Once you have finished using your hairspray, take a towel and wipe the nozzle off. Any residue that is still on it will be wiped away. This way, when it dries, it won't cake up and get stuck.

Run It Under Water

Still another easy way to keep things spraying smoothly is to quickly run the hairspray nozzle under water. This works the same way as wiping it off. Everything left on the nozzle will be washed off, and this will prevent future clogs.

Use Petroleum Jelly On It

Some experts recommend putting a dot of petroleum jelly on the nozzle where the hairspray comes out after using it. The logic behind this trick is that it will keep anything left on the nozzle from getting clogged.

Click here to find petroleum jelly on Amazon.

How To Prevent Hairspray From Clogging?

If you want to avoid hairspray clogs completely, there are steps you can take so that your aerosol and non-aerosol hairspray works like a dream every time. The key to preventing clogs is to avoid leaving any excess hairspray on the nozzle. If any excess remains, it dries up and clogs the nozzle.

As we talked about previously, to remove any leftover hairspray, you can run the nozzle under water, wipe it off with a towel, or you can put petroleum jelly on the nozzle to prevent caking,

How Do You Unclog A Can Of Hairspray?

Dealing with a clogged can of hairspray can be really annoying, but there are some things that you can do to unclog it in a hurry.

Run It Under Hot Water

The easiest way, and the very first thing you should do to unclog a can of hairspray, is to run it under hot water. Put the nozzle under the hot water and then try spraying it. That should hopefully fix the problem.

Dip It In Hot Water

Instead of running the nozzle under the faucet, you can also remove the nozzle from the bottle and dip it or soak it in a container of hot water. Then, remove it from the water, put it back on the bottle, and then try spraying it.

Scrub It With A Toothbrush

Running the nozzle under hot water should always be the first remedy, but if you do that and it still isn't spraying, you can try scrubbing the nozzle with a toothbrush to remove the dried hairspray.

Use A Bobby or Safety Pin

If hot water and scrubbing don't work, trying to poke the clog with a bobby pin or safety pin. You can also try scraping the residue off.

Click here to find bobby pins on Amazon.

Throw It Out

If you have a stubborn can of hairspray, you might want to consider throwing it out and buying a new one. The chances are that if it's that clogged, maybe the product isn't the quality that it should be any longer. If that's the case, it probably won't work as well as it once did.

Why Won't My Aerosol Can Spray?

A Latina woman applying hairspray on her hair

Hairspray cans tend to clog up over time, and according to the experts, the reason is because of the resins in your hairspray. Apparently, they dry up when you aren't using your hairspray, and that causes clogs in the nozzle.

Another reason why your aerosol can might not spray could be that it's at the end of the bottle, and there isn't enough left to come out. One other possibility is that the hairspray is just old and beyond any type of help. In this scenario, you should consider tossing it in the garbage and buying a new hairspray.

Check out this aerosol hairspray on Amazon.

How Do You Fix An Aerosol Hairspray Can That Won't Spray?

If your aerosol hairspray doesn't spray, it could be one of several reasons that may or may not be fixable.

It's Clogged

Try all of the aforementioned ways to unclog the hairspray nozzle, and then use the preventive measures discussed earlier to avoid future clogs.

It's Just Plain Broken

Sometimes nozzles break, and if that's the case, then there's not a whole lot you can do. If the bottle is newer, you might want to return it to the store or manufacturer for a refund. If you want to try and salvage what you have, remove the nozzle and switch it out with another aerosol hairspray nozzle.

Many aerosol hair products have the same nozzle, so this could be an option. For this reason, it might be a good idea to keep a few extra nozzles around from old hairspray cans. If none of these suggestions work for you, it might be a lost cause, and you'll need to buy a new hairspray.

It's Empty or Almost Empty

If your hairspray is not spraying, one possibility is that it's empty or almost empty. If that's the case, shake it a few times to get whatever is left in the tube, and then try spraying it again. If that doesn't work, there might not be enough left in it to spray.

How Do You Unclog A Non-Aerosol Hairspray Nozzle?

A beautiful woman holding and applying hairspray on her blonde hair

Non-aerosol hairspray bottles can also get clogged, and there are a few ways to work out a clog with these products. With non-aerosol hairsprays, you can always take the nozzle off and run it under hot water like you would with an aerosol can. You can also soak the nozzle in very hot water if you prefer.

Like aerosol cans, you can attempt to poke the nozzle with a pin of some type to get the gunk out, and you can scrape away the excess buildup. Another option is to try soaking the nozzle in alcohol to break up the clog.

If all else fails and you can't unclog the nozzle, with non-aerosol hairspray, you can open up the bottle and transfer the contents to a different spray bottle that isn't clogged. Make sure that the spray bottle you use is clean and free from other products since you don't want to mix anything with your hairspray.

Another idea is to use a nozzle from a different hair product spray bottle and replace the defective one. Make sure you wash the nozzle in hot water before you put it on the other bottle.

Check out this Biolage non-aerosol hairspray on Amazon.

To Conclude

A brunette woman spraying hairspray on a white background

Clogged hairspray nozzles can be frustrating-- especially at times when you need your hairspray the most. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can prevent and fix hairspray clogs so you won't be dealing with a hairspray emergency in the future. Happy hairspraying!

Check out the links below for other great hair care tips:

7 Of The Best Fragrance-Free Hair Mousse And Styling Products

What Can I Use Instead Of Hair Mousse? [6 Alternatives]

How Often Should You Use Hair Serum?

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