Spraying Perfume on Hair Could be Wreaking Havoc on Your Strands
When someone walks by and you get a waft of a heavenly scent, you know they take their fragrance game seriously. And if I was a betting woman, I’d say spraying perfume on their hair is part of their everyday beauty regimen. A lot of people spray perfume on their hair to make the scent last longer and to create a more noticeable fragrance trail. That said, your hair reacts differently to new products than, say, your skin—especially due to the alcohol content in perfumes.
Smelling good shouldn’t come at the cost of hair health, no matter what. So if you’ve been spraying Chanel No. 5 on your strands and find that they are a bit more brittle than usual, you may need to change your routine. However, if your hair is strong and the alcohol in your perfume isn’t causing split ends, I’m not gonna be the one to tell you to stop. (I will, however, note that you still might be better off using hair mists instead. But I’ll explain more about that later…)
For now, let’s talk about whether or not it’s okay to spray perfume on hair.
Spraying Perfume on Hair
I personally don’t douse my hair in anything except curl cream, mousse, and heat protectant. Proper usage of perfumes doesn’t include hair. In fact, fragrance misuse can affect hair health over time. That’s why it’s important to understand ingredients, application techniques, and safer alternatives to avoid breakage, dryness, and scalp irritation.
But how do you do that while still enjoying the long lasting scent of their favorite perfumes? Keep reading to find out.
Is It Okay To Spray Perfume On Hair?
While it’s generally fine to spray perfume on your hair, you should really avoid using alcohol-based perfumes. These scents and fragrance oils will dry out your scalp, which will negatively impact your hair health. If your hair is already brittle, color treated, or showing signs of damaged hair, you should especially avoid spritzing your strands.
What Are The Effects Of Spraying Perfume On Hair?
The effects of spraying perfume on your hair may not be immediate or even severe, but they will almost certainly build gradually. These include, but are not limited to:
- Dryness and moisture loss caused by alcohol
- Increased brittleness and breakage over time
- Color fading in dyed or treated hair
- Potential scalp irritation or sensitivity
How To Spray Perfume On Hair
Spray your perfume into the air and walk through the mist.
Walking through perfume instead of spritzing it on directly, the scent lands on your strands without causing too much damage. Usually, three spritzes is the sweet spot. Just make sure to spray upward (and with your hands covering the top of your head) so that it lands on your strands and not your scalp.
Apply perfume to hair accessories or brushes.
This is another classic way to avoid placing perfume directly on your hair. If you have curly or wavy hair, opt for hair accessories to prevent frizz. If you have straight or dense hair, you can brush it through with your favorite perfume.
Keep fragrances away from your roots and scalp.
Again, if you get too much alcohol on your roots or scalp, you risk drying it out. And this is a problem because a dry scalp can cause itching, flaking, and even lead to dry hair. That’s why it’s best to spritz and walk through the mist or to apply perfume to accessories or brushes.
Use minimal amounts and limit frequency.
Even if you follow all the tips from above, I still wouldn’t recommend consistently spraying your strands with any traditional fragrance. Once in a while is okay, but repeated exposure puts your hair at risk. Instead, I’d recommend looking for perfumes that are specifically designed for hair.
Best Hair Perfumes
Parfums de Marly Delina Hair Mist
Available at Nordstrom ($97) | Also available at Amazon
With notes of Turkish rose and lychee, this hair perfume reads as super floral. It’s perfect for when you want a hint of sensuality to accent your femininity. While it’s definitely on the pricier side at almost $100 for less than 3 ounces, it’s also highly rated and highly luxurious.
Diptyque Eau Rose Hair Mist
Available at Nordstrom ($80) | Also available at Amazon
This pick from Diptyque is a fresh, zesty approach to rose-scented hair mists. The bottle is simplistic, timeless, and elegant—and it’s a wonderful ode to a flower that matches those descriptions. According to the brand, this perfume will work optimally if you rinse your hair with cold water before applying it.
Crown Affair The Signature Scent Hair Perfume
Available at Crown Affair ($85)
Looking for a hair mist that doesn’t contain a single toxin? Look no further than Crown Affair’s The Signature Scent Hair Perfume. The notes of bergamot and sandalwood bring a warmth and balance that many folks look for in a fragrance. Plus, it’s formulated with meadow foam oil that functions as a natural heat protectant.
In case you’re looking for the best non toxic perfume, consider Kai Perfume Oil.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68
Available at Ulta ($39) | Also available at Target and Amazon
For an ultra-fresh and feminine hair mist, consider Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68. It’s formulated with jasmine and pink dragonfruit, which create a fruit-forward and subtle scent. This pick is cruelty free, paraben free, and vegan friendly. And unlike other mists on this list, it’s available at your nearest Ulta.
Gisou Honey-Infused Hair Perfume
Available at Amazon ($44)
The Persian term for “hair,” Gisou is a brand that’s known for symbolizing beauty and femininity. You can see that in the abstract shape of their bottles and in the ingredients list. Because this hair mist is infused with honey, it has a sweet scent and works to nourish your hair. This hair perfume comes in small sizes, making it the perfect addition to a toiletry bag or everyday purse.
Kitsch Oak and Amber Hair Perfume
Available at Ulta ($20) | Also available at Amazon
I’ve been a beauty journalist since 2021, and I’ve tested a number of haircare brands in those years. I’m strict with what I recommend, and I have to admit I haven’t tried anything subpar from Kitsch. While I haven’t tried this hair mist, I want to add the oak and amber option to my cart ASAP.
PHLUR Vanilla Skin Hair and Body Fragrance Mist
Available at Amazon ($39)
One of the hair mists I have tried? The ever-so-popular and Tik Tok-viral Phlur hair and body mists. I went to a press event circa 2023 and got the Mango Mood scent as well as the Vanilla Skin option. When I tell you I constantly got stopped on the street… Anything from Phlur is def a must-have.
