Hairspray has thankfully had a modern makeover. It’s lighter, stronger and more flexible than ever. No longer just a setting product, hairspray is also a brilliant styling agent. As serums take a back shelf (for now), hairspray is the one buy you need for creating the new-season hair looks: those shiny big blow-outs that swish around so fabulously, yet always swing back into place.

Just some of the things you can do with a working hairspray …

Create Lift. Spray into roots of hair before blasting with a little heat, barrel-brushing or finger-teasing as you go to encourage root lift.

Perk Up. When hair starts to deflate later in the day, tip head upside down, mist hairspray underneath and massge fingers through the roots. This will pick hair up from the inside, as well as help dry up excess oil.

Hold Curls. When spritzed onto tonged hair, hairspray will help hair keep what the pros call ‘shape memory’. That means curls will boing back into place.

Get Bedhead. Spray onto clean hair, tong, and shake fingers throughout for a sexy tousled effect.

Go Sleek. If sprayed onto hair before ironing, hairspray can also help to hold super-straightness. If it’s a shine-enhancing formulation, the heat will infused conditioners into hair, making for a gorgeous gleaming finish.

Give Hold. If hair is too clean and slippery, mist hairspray all over. This will give hair enough ‘guts’, whether you just want hair to stay put tucked behind ears, or whether you need help ensuring a ponytail or up-twist stays put.

Add Sheen. Pull hair back into a sleek pony or bun, then spray hair all over the crown, holding the can very close to your head, and watch a mirror-like shine appear.

Brush it Out. Working sprays are so light they can be easily brushed out. That means you can keep on spraying and styling until you get your look right.

Star Buys: L’Oréal Professionnel Elnett Satin Hairspray ($19.95, call 1300 651 141 for stockist information); Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode ($50 from Mecca Cosmetica); Paul Mitchell Worked Up ($19.95, call 1300 365 350 for info).

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