The Best Non-Toxic Hair Spray of 2026
14 of the 15 hair spray products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 93.3% of the category, as of October 2026, and 1 scores below it. The highest graded is Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is hair spray non-toxic?
14 of the 15 hair spray products we graded clear our screen and 1 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on hair spray products in this category are VOCs and off-gassing, undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, parabens. The highest graded here is Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75 out of 100.
Quick picks
A second brand to consider
Moroccanoil Treatment MistThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this hair spray ranking come from.
The winner
Made of spray formulation (polymers, propellant, solvents).
- +20Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
25risk points in total, which is a grade of 75
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 3 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of aerosol spray with polymeric film-forming agents.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in hair spray
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 15 hair spray products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 6 of these hair spray products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 9 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 14 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
The safest hair spray we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- spray formulation (polymers, propellant, solvents)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from solvents
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- argan oil, silicones, water-based spray emulsion
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens / undisclosed fragrance components
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- Water-based spray propellant with conditioning polymers
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Inhalation of aerosolized propellant and polymers
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- aerosol hairspray with hydrocarbons and resins
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation from propellants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon - 5
- aqueous spray formula; likely silicone + polymeric conditioning agents
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon - 6
- aerosol spray (propellant + polymeric resins, typical hairspray formulation)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Inhalation of propellant and spray particulates
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon - 7
- aerosol propellant formulation with polymers and solvents
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon - 8
- aerosol hairspray (alcohol, resins, propellant)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Propellant inhalation (hydrocarbon or LPG)
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
What the evidence says about PFAS in hair spray
The US FDA says some PFAS are added to cosmetics to condition and smooth skin and hair and make it look shiny. Its December 2025 report found PTFE listed in 490 cosmetic products, with shampoos and rinses the most common hair care use, and notes that the fluorinated ingredient trifluoromethyl C1-4 alkyl dimethicone can be used in shampoos and conditioners. In a 2022 study of 38 beauty products listing fluorinated ingredients, researchers found measurable PFAS in every sample, at generally lower levels in personal care products than in cosmetics. Washington has banned personal care products and cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS, shampoo included, since January 2025.
- Government sourceThe FDA says certain PFAS are intentionally added to some cosmetics to condition and smooth the skin and hair, making them appear shiny, or to affect consistency and texture. US FDA ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA’s December 2025 report says PTFE is used in 490 cosmetic products, and that hair care preparations make up nearly 4 percent of them, with shampoos and rinses the most common. US FDA report ↗
- Government sourceThe same report lists skin and hair conditioning among the functions PFAS serve in cosmetics, along with cleansers, emulsifiers, antistatics, surfactants and film formers. US FDA report ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA report says trifluoromethyl C1-4 alkyl dimethicone can be used in cosmetics including shampoos and conditioners wherever conditioning, lubricity and water resistance are wanted. US FDA report ↗
- StudyA 2022 study of 38 beauty products that listed fluorinated ingredients found measurable PFAS in all of them, with generally lower levels in personal care products than in cosmetics. American Chemical Society via ScienceDaily ↗
- Regulatory filingWashington’s health department says the sale of personal care products and cosmetics with intentionally added PFAS has been banned since January 1, 2025, and lists shampoo among them. Washington State Department of Health ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Questions people ask about hair spray
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Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every hair spray that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Hair Spray | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray | 75 | Excellent | spray formulation (polymers, propellant, solvents) | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from solvents |
| 2 | Moroccanoil Treatment Mist | 75 | Excellent | argan oil, silicones, water-based spray emulsion | Fragrance allergens / undisclosed fragrance components |
| 3 | Wella EIMI Ocean Spritz | 75 | Excellent | Water-based spray propellant with conditioning polymers | Inhalation of aerosolized propellant and polymers |
| 4 | Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Moroccanoil | 75 | Excellent | aerosol hairspray with hydrocarbons and resins | Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation from propellants |
| 5 | Pantene Miracle Rescue 10 In 1 Multitasking Spray | 75 | Excellent | aqueous spray formula; likely silicone + polymeric conditioning agents | Fragrance allergens |
| 6 | Schwarzkopf OSiS+ Elastic Light Hold Hairspray | 75 | Excellent | aerosol spray (propellant + polymeric resins, typical hairspray formulation) | Inhalation of propellant and spray particulates |
| 7 | Tresemmé Tresemme Extra Hold Hairspray | 75 | Excellent | aerosol propellant formulation with polymers and solvents | Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents |
| 8 | Wella EIMI Stay Firm Workable Finishing Hairspray | 75 | Excellent | aerosol hairspray (alcohol, resins, propellant) | Propellant inhalation (hydrocarbon or LPG) |
The verdict on hair spray
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray grades 75 out of 100, the highest here. It is spray formulation (polymers, propellant, solvents). We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Moroccanoil Treatment Mist instead if you want a second option at 75 out of 100, argan oil, silicones, water-based spray emulsion.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The hair spray we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Poor
- 75Bumble and Bumble Thickening SprayExcellent
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from solvents
- 75Moroccanoil Treatment MistExcellent
Fragrance allergens / undisclosed fragrance components
What we check on hair spray
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The hair spray brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 6 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Bumble and bumble, Moroccanoil, Pantene, Schwarzkopf, Tresemmé, Wella.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in hair spray
Is hair spray PFAS free?
14 of the 15 hair spray products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 93.3% of the category, as of October 2026, and 1 scores below it. The highest graded is Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75 out of 100. The lowest graded is MoroccanOil Extra Strong Luminous Hairspray at 30 out of 100.
Is hair spray non-toxic?
14 of the 15 hair spray products we graded clear our screen and 1 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on hair spray products in this category are VOCs and off-gassing, undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, parabens. The highest graded here is Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75 out of 100.
What is the safest hair spray to buy?
On our grades, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Moroccanoil Treatment Mist at 75. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which hair spray grades best for PFAS?
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is spray formulation (polymers, propellant, solvents). The runner up is Moroccanoil Treatment Mist at 75.
Which hair spray should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are MoroccanOil Extra Strong Luminous Hairspray at 30, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray at 75, Moroccanoil Treatment Mist at 75. The problem with the first is that avoid until Moroccanoil reveals PFAS status; waterproofing in aerosol cosmetics raises red flags.
Which hair spray brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 6 of the brands we scored in this category, including Bumble and bumble, Moroccanoil, Pantene, Schwarzkopf, Tresemmé, Wella. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test hair spray?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to hair spray.
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Does a particular brand of hair spray have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Hairspray, Where the Hold Comes From Decides the Grade
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 hair spray.