"Which hairspray should I get?" is probably the question I answer most at the backwash. Paul Mitchell makes more hairsprays than anyone needs to memorise, and they do genuinely different jobs — the one I reach for on a soft blow-dry is not the one I use to lock a wedding updo. After 35+ years on the salon floor, here's the honest ladder: the seven sprays we reach for most, lightest touch to firmest freeze, so you can buy the right can first time.
The hold ladder at a glance
- Light: Super Clean Light — movement first, hold second.
- Light-to-medium working spray: Fast Drying Sculpting Hairspray — for building a style in layers.
- Medium: Super Clean — the everyday all-rounder.
- Firm: Super Clean Extra, Hold Me Tight, Stay Strong.
- Firmest finish: Freeze and Shine Super Spray — the updo classic.
The Extra Body and Awapuhi Wild Ginger ranges have their own sprays too — for those, start with our guide to the Paul Mitchell ranges.
Light hold: when you want hair that still moves
Super Clean Light Hairspray (300ml, £20.45) is the one for fine hair, soft layers and anyone who hates that "done" hairspray feel. It takes the flyaways down and keeps a blow-dry sitting nicely without gluing anything in place — and it brushes straight out, no flaking, no crunch.
If you're actually styling — curling, waving, backcombing — you want a working spray instead of a finishing spray. Fast Drying Sculpting Hairspray (75ml £10.45, 250ml £20.45) dries almost instantly, so you can spray, shape, and spray again without the layers going tacky or stiff. It's what sits on my trolley for curl sets: a light mist on each section before the tong, then build the finish on top.
Medium hold: the everyday one
Super Clean Hairspray (300ml, £20.45) is the middle of the ladder and the safest answer if you only want one can in the house. Enough grip to hold a style through a working day, still soft enough to run your fingers through. It's the "school run to office to evening" spray — and like its lighter sibling, it brushes out cleanly.
Firm hold: for styles that have to last
Three options here, and the differences matter.
Super Clean Extra Hairspray (300ml, £20.45) is the firm version of the everyday spray — same family, more grip. If Super Clean gives up on your hair by mid-afternoon, step up to this.
Hold Me Tight Hairspray (100ml £14.45, 300ml £23.45) gives a firm hold that still feels touchable rather than shellacked. The 100ml is handbag-sized — handy for topping up before an evening out, and within the 100ml cabin-baggage liquid limit too.
Stay Strong Hairspray (300ml, £23.45) is my pick when the weather is the enemy. Firm hold with proper humidity resistance — this is the one for British seafront weddings, race days and anything outdoors. We're in Bridlington, so believe me, we test this against sea air on a weekly basis.
Firmest hold: Freeze and Shine, the updo workhorse
Freeze and Shine Super Spray (from £10.45 for 75ml, up to £49.45 for the litre) has the firmest finish of the seven here, and it's been the backbone of our bridal work for years. It locks an updo solid and leaves a glossy finish rather than a dull, powdery one — that's the "shine" half of the name.
Two tips from the salon floor: hold the can about 30cm away and mist in passes rather than soaking one spot, and when it's time to take the style down, don't fight it with a brush straight away — a little serum or conditioner worked through first, then brush, and it comes out without a battle.
Humidity, brushing out, and other honest answers
Any hairspray softens eventually in damp air; the firmer the hold, the longer it resists. For all-day outdoor events, Stay Strong or Freeze and Shine are the sensible choices. For everything else, buy the lightest hold that does the job — your hair will look more natural and shampoo day will be easier.
All of these brush out with a decent bristle brush. If you're finding residue, you're likely over-applying: three light passes beat one heavy soak every time.
Stocking up: salon sizes for stylists and heavy users
If you're a stylist — or you simply get through cans at a rate — Freeze and Shine comes in a 500ml (£31.95) and a full litre (£49.45), and we do a Freeze and Shine Twin Pack (2 × 1L) at £90 for the trolley or the kit bag. For the full rundown of which Paul Mitchell products come in big formats, see our litre and gallon sizes buying guide.
Everything we sell comes direct from SweetSquared, the official UK distributor — we've been an authorised Paul Mitchell Signature Salon since 2006. Order on a weekday before 2pm and it's dispatched the same day, with UK delivery in 1–3 working days and free UK delivery over £25.
Which Paul Mitchell hairspray is best for updos?
Freeze and Shine Super Spray. It has the firmest finish of the sprays in this guide and it's the one we use for bridal and occasion hair in the salon — it locks the style in place and leaves a glossy rather than matte finish. For humid or outdoor events, Stay Strong is a strong second choice.
Does Paul Mitchell hairspray brush out easily?
Yes — these sprays are designed to brush out without flaking. The light and medium ones come out with a few brush strokes; for a firm-hold Freeze and Shine updo, work a little conditioner or serum through first and it releases much more easily.
What is the difference between Super Clean and Super Clean Extra?
Hold strength. Super Clean is a medium, everyday hold; Super Clean Extra is the firm version for styles that need to last all day. They're the same price (£20.45 for 300ml), so choose purely on how much grip your hair needs.