The Hold Steady

All this backcombing and these 60s 'dos we've been blogging about won't hold themselves up, you know. We're going to need some serious hairspray action.

I've blogged before about the wonders of Garnier Fructis Hard Hold Hairspray and it's one of the best hairsprays I've ever found. It does however make a filthy mess of your mane - it's so tacky you can't brush it out unless you want to look like you've just had an attack of scaly-itis, and it does have a bit of a tendency to give me dandruff if I use it too much. I actually don't quite know why I keep using it really, except for the fact that it's bluddy brilliant at welding my locks into place. It's also cheap, smells good and you can get it in the supermarket. But if I've just put you right off it, what else is worth a try?

Elnett is the one that hairdressers and professionals rave about time and time again. I find it a little light for my purposes (constraining the mane of surly contrariness) but other people rate it really highly and it's also affordable and easy to get. It brushes out easily too, an added bonus.

Do not, by the way, ever attempt to use a Boots own brand spray. Your hair will laugh itself right off your head at your pathetic attempts to keep it from staging a hirsute coup. Rubbish.

One I keep meaning to try is Tigi Bedhead's Hard Head Hairspray (left). It's not as cheap as the others but it comes highly recommended and is a proper hard hold spray. The more you spray, the better the hold. You'll get it in Toni & Guy salons and judging on the Sterling price it's probably about €10-11.