Surprising Insight: Volume Versus Style... Tested!

The quest for the perfect mane is a persistent one, often leading us down the rabbit hole of countless products promising bold volume or elegant finish. With options ranging from weightless sprays designed for fine hair to ultra-volumizing formulas for the teksturatiest styles, discerning which product truly delivers can feel like guessing blindfolded. For this test, we focused on six diverse sprays – Avenue Man, Kenra 25, L'Oréal LOCK IT, Panteneairspray, Alex Costa Sea-Salt Spray, and AIIR Hairspray – examining how they each balanced the fundamental tension between adding physical bulk and defining a particular style. What surprised us was not just the variance, but how distinct each product's interpretation of 'volume versus style' actually was.

While Avenue Man and Alex Costa leaned into the classic 'texturizing power', using volume almost purely for lift against the hairline, Kenra 25 and L'Oréal LOCK IT favoured defining a structured, hold-oriented shape where volume was a key supporting element. Pantene’s Airspray, conversely, prioritized smoothing and shine (style) with minimal bulk, while AIIR offered a unique, flexible approach emphasizing lightweight control and detangling (style) before adding any significant volume. The takeaway? "Volume" itself isn't a monolith. It can mean dramatic lift, foundational structure, or simply the resilience to maintain a mastered style – proving clear results depend heavily on matching the product to the desired stylistic outcome.