How to Make Your Own Lemon-Based Hairspray

Use lemons to create homemade hairspray.

Not all store-bought hairsprays hold style well. Either the mist is too fine for thick hair or too sticky for finer hair. However, instead of trying to find a store-bought hairspray for your hair, you can make your own lemon-based hairspray at home. This hairspray can be adjusted to fit the needs of your hair by adding more water or more lemon.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lemon
• Measuring cup
• Stove pot
• Cheesecloth
• Small bowl
• Rubber band
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Cut the lemon into four halves with a sharp knife. You also can cut the lemon into chunks instead of halves.

2. Place the lemon halves in a pot.

3. Measure 2 cups of water. Pour the water in the pot with the lemon halves.

4. Turn the stove burner on medium heat. Keep the temperature on medium-high heat until the water starts to slightly boil. Once the water begins to slightly boil, reduce the temperature to low heat.

5. Let the lemon halves and water simmer until half the water evaporates from the pot.

6. Turn off the burner once the water has reached the proper level. Let the lemon halves and water cool completely.

7. Place a piece of cheesecloth on top of a small bowl. Use a large enough piece of cheesecloth to completely cover the opening of the bowl. Secure a rubber band around the bowl to hold the cheesecloth in place.

8. Carefully pour the lemon halves and water over top of the cheesecloth. The cheesecloth acts as a strainer and eliminates chunks of lemon and seeds.

9. Remove the cheesecloth from the bowl carefully so you do not get any pieces of lemon in the bowl. Gently squeeze the cheesecloth over the bowl to remove any excess water.

10. Pour the lemon water in a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of using lemon, you also can create a sugar-based hair spray with 2 tablespoons of white sugar and a 1/2 cup of boiling water. Mix the two ingredients together, let cool and place in a spray bottle.

• If your hair is dry, replace the lemon with orange slices. Boil the same way as you would with lemon.

• Add more water to your hairspray if it feels too sticky.

• Do not spray the lemon water directly in your eyes. Always shield your eyes when spraying.

References

• MyBeautyRecipes.com: Homemade Hairspray Recipe
• Care 2: Sweet Hairspray Formula