Glitter is a bit like birthday cake. Despite the fun and excitement it brings, it tends to be relegated to just one or two nights a year. But thanks to the return of ‘90s and early aughts style and influences like Euphoria, glitter is now acceptable for everyday use. Beyond sparkly eyeshadow and accessories, glitter hairspray has taken over social media, with more than millions of views on TikTok.
In just a few spritzes, you can add instant sparkle, and even a touch of color, to your hair. Whether you are going to a party, a concert, or simply want to add some extra shine to your style, glitter hairspray is a great finishing touch. We spoke to professional hairstylists to find the best glitter hairsprays. We looked for products that are easy to apply and remove, stay in your hair for hours, and are nourishing as well. With updated formulations and a wide range of colors and types to choose from, the glitter hairsprays of today make messy cleanup and long-lingering sparkles a thing of the past.
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Best Overall: Eva NYC Kween Glitter Spray
What We Like
- Subtle shimmer, safe for color-treated hair
- Nourishing
What We Don't Like
- May be too subtle for some
This lightweight, non-sticky spray from Eva NYC gives hair a cool, subtle, silver shimmer, making it a great choice for everyday use. “This delivers actual twinkles of glitter that are the perfect amount of sparkles,” notes hair stylist Juliana Ohlmeyer. “The smell is light and flirty, and I love the way this looks on a swingy, dark bob or spritzed into a messy wavy ponytail.”
This hair spray is also formulated with argan oil and Keravis, both anti-breakage ingredients that nourish and protect hair, so you can use it regularly without any damage.
Price at time of publish: $13
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: One | Size: 4.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Budget: TRESemmé Colored Hair Spray
What We Like
- Easily removed
- Travel-friendly
- Long-lasting
What We Don't Like
- The gold shade can make blonde hair look orange
This glitter hair spray from TRESemmé, available in silver and gold, is easy to use and easy to wash out. A few sprays will keep your hair—and only your hair—sparkling all night long, but when you’re ready to remove it, not a speckle of glitter stays behind. If you have blonde hair, you might want to avoid the gold shade, as it can cast an orange hue.
Price at time of publish: $7
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: Two | Size: 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Shade Range: Jerome Russell Hair and Body Glitter Spray
What We Like
- Easily removed
- Easy to use
- Comes in many colors
What We Don't Like
- Strong chemical scent
- Stains easily
If you’re looking for a good glitter hair spray at an affordable price, this one from Jerome Russell is just what you need. Made with super fine glitter and available in silver, gold, and multicolored—in addition to about a dozen solid colors—this spray will offer a fuss-free shine from head to toe. Because it comes in different colors, it can stain your clothes and surroundings when spraying it, so use it in your bathroom or anywhere that you don’t mind getting a little dirty.
Price at time of publish: $9
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: Three | Size: 2.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Splurge: Kevin Murphy Shimmer Shine
What We Like
- Subtle sheen
- Hydrating
- Antioxidant-rich
What We Don't Like
- Not true glitter
This hydrating oil-infused spray from Kevin Murphy is all about creating a natural-looking shine finish rather than artificial or showy glitter, making it perfect for daily use. “It just makes the hair glisten and glow without having actual visible glitter,” says Ohlmeyer. “It is gentle enough to use daily and gives a glossy reflection from the micro-glitter particles and hydration from the baobab oil.”
Price at time of publish: $35
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: One | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Buildable Coverage: IGK House Party Cosmic Glitter Hair & Body Stick
What We Like
- Chunky glitter
- Easy application
- Buildable coverage
What We Don't Like
- Can be difficult to remove
Most of the time, using glitter in any capacity means little to no control of where it goes or how densely it goes on. But with IGK’s glitter hair stick, the location and amount of glitter are totally up to you. Available in iridescent gold and shimmering violet shades, this stick can go from hair to body seamlessly with medium to full coverage. It can be more tricky to remove, so start out small if you need it out of your hair the next day.
Price at time of publish: $18
Type: Stick | Number of Shades: Two | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best for Natural-Looking Shine: Verb Ghost Dry Oil Disco Edition
What We Like
- Conditioning
- Subtle sheen
- Eliminates tangles
- Fresh scent
What We Don't Like
- Nozzle clogs easily
This glitter-enhanced limited-edition dry oil is designed to condition and refresh hair while adding a gorgeous shine. It’s formulated with moringa oil to defrizz and eliminate any tangles and glycerin to hydrate each and every shiny strand. Apply it to dry hair for some sparkle.
Price at time of publish: $20
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: One | Size: 1.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Professional: Graftobian Hair Color Spray
What We Like
- Near-opaque color
- Works on all hair types and colors
What We Don't Like
- Potentially drying for hair
A favorite of Seabrooke’s, this glitter hair spray is used by dancers and stage performers, so you know it means business. “This is made by a premium stage makeup brand, and it comes in six colors,” she says. “My favoriteshades are silver, gold, opalescent pearl,and multicolor prismatic, as they complement all hair shades.” It can be a bit drying due to alcohol, so it may be best to save for special occasions.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Spray | Number of Shades: Six | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Best Oil: Nuxe Huile 'Prodigieuse Or' Multi Usage Dry Oil Golden Shimmer
What We Like
- Versatile
- Nourishing
- Creates silky effect
What We Don't Like
- Can look greasy
The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil is as multi-purpose as they come. Hailed as a Parisian beauty secret, the oil can be used on the face, body, or hair to give an instant sun-kissed, silky glow, and the intoxicating scent will transport you to a sunny beach. Combining six different plant oils, it can be a bit greasy, so a little goes a long way.
Price at time of publish: $42
Type: Oil | Number of Shades: One | Size: 1.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Glitter hair spray is having a serious moment, and there are many different products to try to get in on the action. We simply can’t find anything better than the Eva NYC Kween Silver Glitter Spray—in large part thanks to its nourishing, protective formula. For the most natural-looking sheen, we love the Kevin Murphy Shimmer Shine, and for a true bold glitter, nothing tops the IGK House Party Cosmic Glitter Stick.
Meet the Experts
- Jackie Seabrooke is a freelance celebrity hair stylist in New York City. She specializes in fashion and editorial hair styles and is well-versed in using glitter sprays both in editorial campaigns and in real life.
- Juliana Ohlmeyer is a hair stylist and colorist at Bassia Bassia Salon in New York City. She has worked with a number of celebrity clients and on many editorial shoots, and has experience using glitter to create bold looks.
What to Look for in a Glitter Hair Spray
Color
Glitter hairspray comes in different colors, usually gold or silver, but even as bold as pink or purple. For a product you can use regularly, you can’t go wrong with gold or silver glitter, which compliments both dark and light hair. TRESemmé Colored Hair Spray comes in both of these shades. If you are buying glitter hairspray for a specific event, choose a color that coordinates best with your outfit. Jerome Russell Hair and Body Glitter Spray come in a range of shades for your most vivid look yet.
Once you’ve chosen a glitter hair spray, Ohlmeyer recommends testing it on a separate surface before using it on your hair. “After shaking the bottle well, I always test on a paper towel or an old black shirt to see how the product will look after being sprayed,” she says. “Hold it at least six inches away to make sure it sprays evenly, and remember, spray travels so if you have anything you don’t want glitter on, don’t keep it near you.”
Effect
Before buying a product, it’s important to consider what sort of effect you are going for. “Are you looking for super light glitter that just shimmers on your hair, leaving it reflective?” says Ohlmeyer. “Do you want really loud chunky glitter for a costume idea or party?” For a subtle sheen, we recommend a spray with fine glitter, like Eva NYC Kween Silver Glitter Spray. If you are going to a party or festival and really want to make a statement, go for a product with thick chunks of glitter, like IGK House Party Cosmic Glitter Stick.
Brand
There are many options when choosing a glitter hair spray, so it’s important to use only glitter hair sprays you know and trust. “Look for professional, high-quality brands,” says Seabrooke. “I love to use glitter sprays that are salon quality or used for professional stage and theater makeup because they have incredible longevity.” She recommends Graftobian Hair Color Spray, which is used by professional dancers and stage performers.
FAQ
Does glitter damage your hair?
Because most glitter products have a high alcohol content, you can potentially dry out your hair by using it too often. “If you are using it every day, yes, it can be damaging, and just trying to get the glitter out will strip your hair of its natural oils,” Ohlmeyer says. “To prevent damage, keep this for special occasions, and never use heat styling tools after applying the spray. Just use it as a finishing touch on styled hair.” You can also stick to more nourishing formulas with plant oils, like Verb Ghost Dry Oil Disco Edition.
Does glitter wash out of hair?
Most glitter hair sprays should wash out without leaving any speckles of glitter behind — TRESemmé Colored Hair Spray is known for its easy removal — it may take a little elbow grease to get some formulas out. “I recommend double cleansing hair to remove buildup of product and glitter,” says Seabrooke. “First, use a clarifying shampoo, followed by a hydrating shampoo, mask, and conditioner. Use a tangle teezer or wide-tooth comb in the shower once you apply your conditioner, and comb your hair starting from your ends working your way up to the top of your head.” This combination, she notes, is the best way to detangle hair while steering clear of breakage, tangles, and knots.
How do you get glitter to stay in your hair?
Getting glitter out of your hair is a top priority, but so too is getting it to stay in your hair for the duration of the day or night. “Glitter hairspraytends to be fairy-dust-like, leaving a trail wherever you go, which is why you find it transfers to clothes and skin and everywhere else,” says Seabrooke. To prevent this from happening, she and Ohlmeyer both suggest using a finishing layer of hairspray like a top coat to set the glitter in place.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Gabby Shacknai has been writing about—and living and breathing—beauty for more than six years. For this story, we also consulted two hair stylists, scoured through reviews, and tested products to bring you the best of the best.
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