Does This Bumble and Bumble ‘Firm Hold’ Hairspray Live Up to Its Name?
Main Image – Bumble and Bumble
Ok so we’ve all tried products that make big claims, used them once and then wished we hadn’t been lured in. Because certain claims should also be labelled ‘epic fail’. Never has anyone felt so silly than when they’ve believed a product’s hype on social media and the product has tanked on the first use.
Well, I’d heard the hype behind Bumble & bumble’s Bb Strong Finish Firm Hold Hairspray (£29 on the Bumble and Bumble UK website/$37 on the Ulta Beauty US website) was pretty accurate. But thanks to past experiences, I’m ever the pessimist.
I’ve never been into hairsprays as I like to have the freedom of playing with my hair throughout the day. But perhaps this might turn me, or at least give me the confidence to use it for the odd night out when I really want my style to stick.
If you’re looking for a new hairspray that holds your hair for hours, could this be ‘the one’? Keep scrolling to find out.
The product details
This hairspray is 300ml in size and apparently contains a ‘blend of resin and transformers that delivers a strong, long-lasting hold with a modern finish.’
It promises to be brushable, with no flakes and has a twist-lock nozzle.
First impressions
The first thing you’ll notice is that the can is hefty! Let’s just say there won’t be any fitting this into your hand luggage for a quick mini-break abroad. It’s a beast! Not unusual for a hairspray I know, but it feels heavier than most.
Untwisting the nozzle is easy as the ‘click’ when you unlock it is loud and easy to feel. Once you hear it, you’re good to go.
On first spritz, I noticed the smell is quite sickly sweet and the spray comes out quite thick. It’s also quite loud when you spray – the noise of the product coming out has some serious base to it! As soon as it landed on my hair, I could tell that ‘firm hold’ was an accurate description.
I touched it with my hand and sure enough, my hair wasn’t budging. It felt a little crispy and dry but honestly, I have never used a hairspray as strong as this that didn’t leave some remanence of dryness. It’s got to really – that’s the hold. The thing you don’t want is crunch. And this wasn’t crunchy.
Image – Bumble and Bumble
My mixed results
So, the hairspray holds. Tick! But how does it fare otherwise? It turns out, I am completely the wrong audience. Here’s where I’m conflicted.
I wear my hair down every day. I have a bob, but I like it to have some flow with maybe a little quiff and a slight waviness to the front after blow-drying. I don’t like it to look like Lego hair – it needs to move – but equally, I like the slight wave at the front to stay put and for my blow-drying efforts to have not gone to waste (I have naturally curly hair so maintaining a sleek look takes work).
And, whilst this hairspray put my style in its place right from the off, I am a hair fiddler. I can’t help it, it’s just who I am.
In an ideal world, I would spritz my hair with hairspray, and play with my hair as normal throughout the day but after flicking it (or whatever it is that I do), it would fall back into the position my hairspray put it in. Too much to ask? Probably. But that’s what I want. And this hairspray didn’t deliver.
As soon as I went to flick my hair after spritzing this hairspray, my fingers got tangled up in my hair and I had to feed them gently through in order to release them. Hmm.
Of course, this means that the hairspray is really good at holding a style, but it’s not the sort of thing I’m looking for. I just feel like it’s more for those wanting a style they can’t touch. That sticks all day and doesn’t move.
A bit like Bridget Jones’ hair in the original film when she goes in an open-top car and her hair ends up looking like a bird’s nest that doesn’t even jiggle when she moves her head.
I was impressed with how well the hairspray brushed out though. As promised, it is brushable. However, I feel like it’s an all-or-nothing because yes, it brushes out. But instead of the product leaving a hint of hold and the door ajar once brushed, it completely exits the building. You wouldn’t know it was ever there.
Maybe I needed to use double what I had already sprayed to get the right brushed-out results, but honestly? I was too scared. This stuff is powerful!
Let’s be fair though, it would be brilliant for updo styles, or if you wanted your curls to stay curly and then not touch them for the rest of the day, for example. It would absolutely do the job there and I think that’s what it has been created for, to be honest. Not those who want their newly blow-dried hair to both stay in place and look swishy.
Another thing to note is that the nozzle gets clogged quite easily too which shows the thickness of the formula and is frustrating when you want an even spray. I’ll go for a weaker hold, more lightweight hairspray next time.
Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
I was interested to know whether others had had a similar experience to me. Christina Pluemer on Amazon agrees about the texture. “It is very strong hold despite the fact that it does not make your hair super crunchy which is amazing.” All hail the lack of crunch! Claudia Schuman also agrees. “The hairspray doesn’t leave my hair sticky or stuff, but yet keeps my hair in place,” she says.
Lollytelly had the same clogging problem as I did. “I really like this hairspray but the spray stopped working. There’s about £15 worth of hairspray left and I can’t use it. Really frustrating.”
And Becky G confirms my thoughts on using it on hair that doesn’t budge! “I spray up a mowhawk, y’all, so you know I need a strong product,” she says. “This works GREAT, smells fine which is usually not the case for strong hairsprays and is not a comb-breaker. 10 out of 10, will definitely buy again.”
Overall value for money
£29/$36 is a hefty price but remember, this is a hefty can! If you’ve bought it for the right reasons (non-budge hair) it’ll be worth it.
The only frustrating thing is if the nozzle gets clogged. Keep it as clean as possible with every use and, hopefully, it won’t happen. Or opt for a product that doesn’t have the word ‘clog’ in any reviews…
The takeaway
So yes, I am the wrong audience for this hairspray. I want what it can give – for my blow-dry efforts to stick – but it gives far too much, and I need more flexibility.
If you’re looking for medium or light hold, avoid this hairspray like the plague. If you want to style your hair then completely forget it even exists for the rest of the day (no touching, no styling, no fiddling) then this is the hairspray for you.
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