medium to high hold (7/10)
Synthetic hold polymers are present.
- Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
- Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Supported
Structure that lasts the day.
SexyHair
Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
Styler / Hairspray, strong-hold
- Styler
- hairspray
- aerosol
- Sulfate-free
- Strong hold
- Curly-method
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size1.5 fl oz
Price$9.99seen at one store · 1.5 oz
Price / oz$6.66/ozat 1.5 oz
Where to buy1 store · $9.99–9.99
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Listing used for research: ulta.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
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- Every product matched against your hair across the 23 factors we check.
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Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
None found
Not in your profile
Hold (as stated)
Strong
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Moderate
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Medium
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
Minor
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
Low
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Low
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Show all 23 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Essential oils
None listed
Not in your profile
Fast-drying alcohol
High
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Aerosol can
Pressurised can
Not in your profile
Needs heat to set
Not determined
Not in your profile
Humidity resistance
High
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Not heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
Present
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
13 ingredientsA short list
Not in your profile
Price tier
Drugstore
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
SexyHair · Target +1Widely sold
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
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Your avoid-list
Priced above most hairsprays
$6.66/oz at 1.5 oz — more than 92% of the 96 hairsprays , which mostly run $1.65–4.21/oz.
Great for
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Humid climatesthe brand claims humidity resistance
Soft-hold stylesthat should stay touchable
Sun and colour fadea UV filter is in the list
A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
Maybe skip if
this product carries a scent
Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
Silicone-free routinesit does contain silicones — the water-soluble kind
Aerosol avoidancethis is a pressurised can
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Hold (as stated)
Strong
A strong hold, as stated by the brand.
Hold system
Synthetic polymer
Synthetic hold polymers — the firmest of the hold systems.
Cast risk
Unlikely
Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely.
Weight on the hair
Medium
Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair.
Humidity resistance
Claimed
The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it.
Oil absorption
None
No absorbent powders or starches.
Oils and butters
None
No oils or butters in the list.
Fast-drying alcohol
High in the list
Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients.
Needs detergent to remove
Rinses with water
The silicones here are the water-soluble kind.
Fragrance
Present
Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Denat. | drying alcohol | Sets the style fast — the same reason it can read dry | Drying |
| Hydrofluorocarbon 152a | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer | film former | Lays down the film that holds a shape | Holds |
| WaterAqua/Water/Eau | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Aminomethyl Propanol | pH adjuster | Fine-tunes the pH | pH balancer |
| Coco-Caprylate/CaprateCoco-Caprylate | light ester | A light, silky feel | Softens |
| PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone | emulsifier | Stabilises the mix | Shine |
| C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate | light ester | A light, silky feel | Softens |
| FragranceParfum/Fragrance | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein | conditioning agent | Adds slip, lower in the list | Protein |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates. Fragrance is on the label. This is a pressurised can. Contains fast-drying alcohol.
Full ingredient list (13)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
1
Alcohol Denat.
General function
Fast-drying alcohol used to make sprays set quickly. In leave-on products it can leave hair feeling dry, especially in high position on the list.
Role in this product typeIn hairspray, denatured alcohol acts as a fast-evaporating solvent that carries the styling polymers and helps distribute them in a fine spray. As it evaporates, the polymers remain on the hair to form the hold film.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewMay suitFine or easily flattened hairMay suit hair that needs a fast-drying, lightweight spray base rather than an oil- or wax-led finish.
May not suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairPorous hair gives water up easily as it is; a fast-evaporating solvent high on the list accelerates that.
DependsVery dry or highly damaged hairConsider if hair is very dry or highly damaged: when alcohol is this prominent, the fast-evaporating base may leave the hair feeling drier.
- drying alcohol
- solvent
-
2
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
General function
A non-flammable aerosol propellant used in dry shampoos and finishing sprays.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
3
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
General function
A firm hold polymer used in hairsprays and gels. It holds well in humidity and brushes out.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingSynthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.
DependsBuild-up-sensitive routinesSome acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.
- film former
- polymer
-
4
Water
· Aqua/Water/Eau
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- solvent
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
-
5
Aminomethyl Propanol
General function
A base used in trace amounts to neutralise acidic hold polymers so they thicken and set properly.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemDependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairpH adjusters are how a formula is brought to a chosen acidity, and an acidic formula keeps the cuticle lying flatter than an alkaline one. Which way this one moves the pH depends on the formula, and the finished pH is not on the label.
- pH adjuster
-
6
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
· Coco-Caprylate
General function
A plant-derived light ester used where a silicone-free but silky feel is wanted.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
-
7
PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
General function
A water-soluble silicone that smooths and helps other silicones spread, without the build-up concern.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe PEG- and PPG-modified silicones disperse in water, so ordinary washing carries them off instead of leaving a film to accumulate.
May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA surface film slows how quickly humidity reaches the cortex, which is what limits swelling-driven frizz in damp air.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDelivers the slip and surface smoothing of a silicone without needing a detergent wash to remove it afterwards.
- emulsifier
- silicone
- water-soluble silicone
-
8
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
General function
A dry-feeling ester used for a silky, non-greasy finish - a common silicone substitute.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
-
9
Triethyl Citrate
General function
A citrate ester used to stabilise fragrance and support the preservative system.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemDependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairpH adjusters are how a formula is brought to a chosen acidity, and an acidic formula keeps the cuticle lying flatter than an alkaline one. Which way this one moves the pH depends on the formula, and the finished pH is not on the label.
- pH adjuster
- preservative
-
10
Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
General function
A fatty ester. Esters give slip and a smooth after-feel; lighter ones read dry and silky, heavier ones read rich.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
-
11
Fragrance
· Parfum/Fragrance
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
12
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
General function
A UV filter added to protect the product's colour and, in leave-ins, to slow colour fade.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hairSunlight oxidises hair pigment, and on gray, silver or lightened hair that shows up as yellowing. A UV filter on the label absorbs some of the light that drives it.
- UV filter
-
13
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
General function
A protein given a positive charge so it deposits where hair is damaged. It conditions and adds temporary firmness in one ingredient.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairHydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- conditioning agent
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
What the whole list adds up to
- 3 light esters
- 3 emollients
- 2 solvents
- 2 film formers
- 2 pH adjusters
- 1 drying alcohol
- 1 propellant
- 1 polymer
- 1 emulsifier
- 1 silicone
- 1 water-soluble silicone
- 1 preservative
- 1 fragrance
- 1 declared fragrance
Ingredient list captured 2026-08-26. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 1.5 oz
Seen at
$9.99
Good value under
$1
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $1 line; products that do this job typically go for about $2 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 1 store
How we work this out
- 1.5 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $9.99 is the price we have observed for the 1.5 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $1 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.75/oz; at 1.5 oz that is $1. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $2 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 1.5 oz.
Formula
7
Formula score
7 of 10
Above the range for hairsprays per ounce, on a formula that covers the middle of the format and has no close, cheaper equivalent in our library.
How the score is counted
- Nothing in our library does the same job for less
- Costs more per ounce than 92% of the 96 hairsprays we’ve priced
- No no drying alcohol in the first three in the formula
- Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
- A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
- Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
- No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
BiolageClosest function
Finishing Spritz Hairspray
$2.82/oz $3.84/oz less
- Vegan & CF
- Function
- Also
KenraClose function
Volume Spray 25
$2.00/oz $4.66/oz less
- Protein
- Curly method
- Medium weight
- Function
- Also
Sexy HairLowest cost per oz
Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder Firm Volumizing Hairspray
$1.00/oz $5.66/oz less
- Humidity
- Medium weight
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
An above-range pick for the hair it suitsBest user
Curly-method routines, looking for a curly-method-compatible formula and defined, clumped curls
Biggest tradeoff
Less suited to anyone sensitive to fragrance, very dry or high-damage hair, or anyone who wants a soft, touchable finish
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
2
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
volume and lift
A mid-weight formula: it will not flatten fine hair, but lift is not its main job.
- Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
- Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Partly supported
Neutral on lift.
shine finish
The formula carries a recognised shine system — silicone, oil, or light ester.
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
- PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Supported
Reflects light for visible shine.
humidity resistance up to 72 hours
Humidity resistance is measured in a lab, not read off a label; film formers can help.
- Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
- PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
- Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Stated by brand
May help, but not measurable here.
no visible flaking
No over-the-counter anti-dandruff active appears in the list.
—
Stated by brand
Soothing, not an active treatment.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Fine-haired reviewers say the spray holds a style without making their hair feel weighed down.
Ulta reviewer with fine straight hairReviewers with thin or wavy hair report all-day style retention that still brushes or runs through without a stiff feel.
Ulta reviews from thin- and wavy-haired usersA wavy-haired reviewer praises the formula but reports the larger can's nozzle can clog, unlike the travel size they tried.
Ulta reviewer with wavy hair comparing package sizesSome users find the spray gives useful curl hold and volume but can leave a white cast when used for a slicked-back style.
Ulta reviewer using the larger can for curls and slicked-back work hairMore from SexyHair
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 3 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 2 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-26.
- Ingredient references are linked for 4 of 11 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-26.