Extra Strong Hairspray Kept My Spiky Witch Hair Up

Confession time. I did not plan to write about hairspray. I planned to write about witches.

But then I spent an entire October evening with my hair standing straight up in jagged black spikes, and it did NOT move. Not during dinner. Not during a very enthusiastic round of charades. Not even when someone opened the patio door and a cold gust swept through the room.

So here we are. Let’s talk hair.

The Costume That Started It All

Every fall I end up reading something witchy, and every fall it ends up shaping my Halloween costume. This year I wanted a witch who looked a little feral. Less pointy hat and broomstick, more “she lives alone in the woods and the crows report to her.”

I am clearly not the only one with witches on the brain. In last year’s NRF Halloween survey, witch was the top adult costume, with 5.6 million people planning to dress as one. So if you want your witch to stand out at a party, the hair has to do some heavy lifting.

My vision was wild, spiky, slightly unhinged hair. Think hedge witch after a bad night, not glamorous coven leader.

My first attempt was a disaster.

I grabbed an old can of regular hairspray from under the sink, teased my hair into spikes and hosed it down. Before I had even finished my coffee, the spikes were drooping like sad little wet noodles. By the time I sat down to eat, they were gone.

Worse, I had sprayed so much in my tiny bathroom that I could practically taste it. That is not just unpleasant. According to the EPA, aerosol sprays are among the household products that release volatile organic compounds, and levels of several of these chemicals average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Lesson learned. Open a window!

Finishing Hairsprays Are a Whole Different Beast

Here is what I did not understand before this little experiment. Not all hairspray is created equal, and the hold level really matters.

The can under my sink was a light, everyday spray. It was made to tame flyaways, not to defy gravity. What I needed was something built for structure.

So I did what I always do. I went down a research rabbit hole. I ended up comparing a whole lineup of finishing hairsprays sorted by hold, running from medium all the way up to extra strong, plus a non-aerosol option for softer, brushable hold.

That one detail changed everything. Medium hold is for styles you want to rework during the day. Strong hold is for polished updos. Extra strong hold is for when you need your hair to survive humidity, time and movement.

Guess which one my feral witch needed?

I also liked that the idea was hold without that crunchy, helmet-head feeling. I wanted spikes, not a hard shell I could knock on.

How I Actually Built the Spikes

I am not a hairstylist. I am a book blogger with a can of hairspray and big dreams. But this method WORKED, so I am sharing it.

First, I started with clean, completely dry hair. Product sticks much better to hair that is not weighed down by yesterday’s styling.

Next, I worked in small sections. I teased each one at the root with a fine-tooth comb, then twisted the ends between my fingers into a point.

Then came the key step. I held each spike up and sprayed it from a little distance while it was still in my fingers. I let it set for a moment before letting go.

After that, I layered. A light mist, a short pause, then another light mist. Several thin coats held far better than one soggy blast.

Finally, I did a full all-over finish to lock everything in place and catch any rogue strands.

The whole thing took a while, a lot of patience and one very confused cat watching from the doorway.

The Night Itself

Reader, those spikes did not budge.

I wore that look through a long dinner, a warm room full of people and a run to the car in the drizzle. By the end of the night my eyeliner had given up, but my hair was STILL standing tall like I had just been struck by a very dramatic spell.

It was honestly the most fun I have had with a costume in years. People kept asking how I did it, and I kept saying “extra strong hairspray and stubbornness.”

A Quick Safety Talk, Because I Care About You

Here is the part nobody puts on Instagram. Hairspray and Halloween can be a risky combination if you are careless.

Halloween is full of open flames. A state fire marshal citing national fire data notes that decorations are the first item to ignite in about 900 reported home fires each year, and two of every five of those fires are started by a candle.

Now picture freshly sprayed hair leaning over a candlelit jack-o’-lantern. No thank you.

So my rules are simple. Let your hair dry fully before you go near any flame. Choose battery candles for your pumpkins. And keep long sleeves and big witchy capes away from anything lit.

The can itself deserves some respect too. Federal rules for aerosol cosmetic labels require warnings to avoid spraying in your eyes, never puncture or burn the can and not store it above 120°F. So no leaving it in a hot car with your costume bag!

Getting It All Out Again

The next morning, I was a little worried. Would I be a witch forever?

Thankfully, no. I gently brushed out the spikes first, starting at the ends and working up. Then I shampooed thoroughly, went in for a second round and followed with a generous conditioner to bring my hair back to life.

My advice is to be patient here. Yanking a brush through teased, set hair is how you end up with breakage. Go slow and use your fingers where you can.

So, Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely. In fact, I am already plotting next year’s costume, and I suspect it will involve even more hair drama.

What I took away from this whole adventure is simple. The right hold makes all the difference. A light spray will never do a heavy job, no matter how much you use.

Now I want to hear from you! What are you dressing up as this Halloween? And have you ever had a costume hairstyle collapse halfway through the night? Tell me all your spooky hair disasters in the comments.