We’ve all been there, frustrated that our cool new design isn’t sticking to the bed properly and that the peeling-up corners are ruining the print.
A convenient solution to the problem is bed adhesion promoters. There are dedicated (and pricy) bed adhesion promoters on the market, but commonly recognized alternatives are elementary glue sticks and, the subject of this article, hairspray.
Before you resort to your bed adhesion promoter of choice, you should ensure that your print surface is clean and level. If you’ve used adhesives before and haven’t properly wiped the surface, a new print might not adhere. And you may not notice it, but even finger oils – from detaching previous models or preparing the printer – can also lead to adhesion issues. And then there’s dust and, even more noticeable, an uneven bed.
So, once you’re positive your print bed is clean and level, you might want to make sure you properly set your Z offset.
With all that out of the way, let’s check out some great hairspray options that can be a solution for any potential bed adhesion challenges.
Considerations
When choosing the correct hairspray for your 3D print, there are several aspects to consider the most fitting option:
- Active ingredient: VA/Crotonates copolymer (or vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymer) is the active ingredient that makes hairspray sticky. This chemical is similar to PVA, a water-soluble support material. The molecular bonding principles are the same for both materials: These get stickier as they get hotter. If the hairspray doesn’t contain this ingredient, it probably won’t work for this particular intended use. Needless to say, all options on this list include it.
- Odors: The chemicals in hairsprays often give unpleasant odors. To combat this, many companies add unique scents to the hairspray. Although most scents are fine, beware of perfumed hairspray as perfume is essentially oil, which prohibits bed adhesion. In the following list, we will mention any particular smells that the hairsprays may have to prevent you from spraying unwanted odors in your work area.
- Stickiness: Companies generally categorize their product’s stickiness factor with different scales. You should choose the “extreme hold” or the “level 10” stickiness factor. However, it’s also common for sticky hairspray to clog the spray’s nozzle, so depending on how often you use the hairspray, you might want to use a less sticky version.
- Suitable filaments: Practically all common filaments can benefit from hairspray to better stick to the print surface. That said, some filaments like PETG may stick too well and permanently bond to the print surface, so it’s best to experiment with a light film of hairspray at first.
A word of warning, though: Depending on the material of your bed, you might want to avoid hairspray altogether. For example, makers have reported degradation on Prusa’s satin powder-coated PEI sheets.
With these considerations in mind, here are our top choices for hairsprays to use on print surfaces.
Aqua Net Extra Super Hold
No list of recommendations would be complete without the product that’s practically become synonymous with hairspray in the 3D printing community.
The Aqua Net brand is well known for withstanding high temperatures, making it a perfect fit for printing with certain filaments. And as an added bonus, this hairspray doesn’t come with any added fruity scents to stink up your makerspace.
It’s not the cheapest hairspray on the market (or on this list) but its popularity, wealth of recommendations, and quality make it well worth the immodest price.
- Brand: Aqua Net
- Scent: Unscented
- Price: ~$8
Rave 4X Mega Hold
Rave 4X Mega is another hairspray that is quite popular among makers. It’s sold at most grocery stores, pharmacies, and Amazon, and is generally priced at about $3 for an 11-ounce can. Because of its price and ubiquity, it is considered a cheap alternative to Aqua Net, especially when Aqua Net isn’t available.
Rave 4X Mega is a powerful adhesive, with various makers commenting that one spray will do the trick for a handful of prints. That said, the product’s description already anticipates how to deal with a clogged dispenser, so it might be worth keeping in mind as you use it.
- Brand: Rave
- Scent: Unscented
- Price: ~$3
L'Oreal Paris Lock It
L’Oreal Paris is a well-known brand that should be easy to find on short notice for a reasonable price when the need arises with your 3D printer. The Lock It hairspray is specifically made water-free to eliminate any concerns of humidity reducing its effectiveness.
The drawback to this humidity-resistant option is that it comes with a strong scent. Some customers also mention the nozzle begins to spray unevenly after several uses, likely because of minor clogging. Still, if humidity is a concern in your makerspace or with the chosen filament, it’s hard to beat L’Oreal’s combination of quality and value.
- Brand: L’Oreal Paris
- Scent: Strong chemical smell
- Price: ~$12
Suave Max Hold
Another option is the Suave Max Hold. This is the successor of the Suave Extreme Hold that many makers swore by until it was discontinued. Although not as commonly recommended as its precursor, those who do recommend it say this hairspray does very well as a bed adhesive.
The Suave Max Hold is sold as a two-pack, with one scented can and the other unscented. Both are 11-ounce cans. An Amazon reviewer stated that the unscented spray is truly odorless.
If you’re looking to purchase these but only want unscented hairspray in your workspace, you can set the scented can in the bathroom to be used for its normal purpose.
- Brand: Suave
- Scent: Unscented; sweet fragrance
- Price: ~$17
Paul Mitchell Finishing Spray
Another common brand that’s easy to find is Paul Mitchell. Their Finishing Spray is specifically recommended for 3D printing as it performs consistently across a wide variety of materials, making it perfect for 3D printing enthusiasts who experiment with different filaments.
This hairspray’s residue is also remarkably easy to wipe off in comparison with other options. However, the bottle itself is fussier about cleaning than other mid-range hairsprays – the nozzle consistently gets blocked over time and sprays unevenly. If you don’t mind cleaning the nozzle and can withstand the strong artificial apple smell, the Paul Mitchell Finishing Spray is a strong option for hobbyists.
- Brand: Paul Mitchell
- Scent: Apple scented
- Price: ~$25
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