Beauty: Hair raising

It used to be the only thing that came in spray was shellac-based and made helmets out of hair. We've come through the hairspray dark ages to a kinder time, with softer, more interesting styling and finishing products. Get stuck in.

1. Sebastian Shaper Mega Hold Hairspray
$28 for 340g

Sometimes a maximum hold hairspray is the only way to go. This one is a saviour for keeping the volume you've worked so hard for, and you can brush it out at the end of the day. The lighter-hold version Shaper is genius.

From selected hair salons.

2. L'Oreal Tecni.Art Curl Memory Up Spray
$26.95 for 125ml

Now that curls are no longer being annihilated at the hands of straighteners, this makes a decent job of defining curls, giving shine, revitalising hair and - thanks to anti-frizz curl memory technology - dealing to frizz.

From selected hair salons.

3. Redken Headplay 12 Pliable Working Spray
$30.95 for 250ml

What a looker. The silver packaging with graphic black numbers is most fetching. As beauty supposedly comes from within, it's still safe to say this is a little beauty, because it's so versatile. As a medium-hold spray, it can be used on wet hair and as a finishing spray on dry hair for frizz-free shiny hair all day, thanks to the 24-hour humidity resistance formula. Best of all, the brushable formula means it's easy to remove at the end of the day.

From selected department stores.

4. Nu:U Heights Root Lift Spray
$19.95 for 150ml

Now that we're all frantically trying to get some volume in hair, this kind of spray is a great help. The idea is to aim at the roots of wet hair so that the protein builders strengthen and increase volume as you blowdry. Not sticky either.

From selected salons.

5. Matrix Sleek.Look Iron Smoother
$24.95 for 250ml

Of course we shouldn't be doing dead straight hair any more but what to do with the straighteners now that we're addicted to them? Fortunately they can be used to get some movement into your hair. Ask your hairdresser to give you a quick lesson. Not only does this product help moisturise, and shield hair from heat damage up to 230C - which is hotter than you need to bake a cake - it also locks out frizz.

From selected hair salons.