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3D print hairspray


Best Hairspray for 3D Printing (& Adhesion Guide)

Hairspray isn’t just for bathroom vanity anymore, it can also be a powerful tool in a maker’s arsenal. More than just a cosmetic product, hairspray is a potent adhesive that will maximize your 3D printing success and prevent damage to your machine.

Just one little can of hairspray can streamline your 3D printing process- and might even save your machine.

TOP PICKS

Best Hairspray for 3D Printing

  • Aqua Net Extra Super Hold Unscented: Best overall
  • Suave Max Hold (pack of 3): Best for 3D printing adhesion
  • FRAGFRE Hair Finishing Spray: Best unscented hairspray
  • Rave 5X Freeze Hairspray: Best budget hairspray

Table Of Contents

  1. Best Hairspray for 3D Printing
  2. Why would I need to use hairspray for 3D printing?
    • Hairspray provides a sticky surface for better adhesion
    • Hairspray prevents damage to the 3D printer bed surface
  3. Is hairspray the best choice for 3D printing?
  4. How do I use hairspray for 3D printing?
  5. Can I use any hairspray on a 3D printer?
  6. What kind of hairspray should I use for 3D printing?
  7. Our guide to the best hairspray for 3D printing
    • Best Overall – Aqua Net Extra Super Hold Unscented
    • Best Hairspray for 3D Printing Adhesion – Suave Max Hold (pack of 3)
    • Best Unscented – FRAGFRE Hair Finishing Spray
    • Best Budget- Rave 5X Freeze Hairspray
  8. Using Hairspray to Solve Adhesion Problems in 3D Printing

Why would I need to use hairspray for 3D printing?

Hairspray can solve the trickiest dilemma of 3D printing – it helps the model you are printing both stick tightly to the bed, and also easily release when it is finished, without damaging the part or the printing bed surface.

Hairspray provides a sticky surface for better adhesion

A thin layer of hairspray on the printing bed surface provides a tacky structure to increase your chances of getting perfect adhesion the first time.

One problem that many people have while 3D printing is poor adhesion. It is crucial that your first layer attaches to the bed so that the rest of your print can stay in place and come out the way you planned.

Hairspray prevents damage to the 3D printer bed surface

Using hairspray on your 3D printer bed prevents damage by creating a barrier between the bed surface and the finished model.

Even if your print initially adheres correctly, you may face another common adhesion problem that can happen just as you’ve finished printing, and the consequences are worse than just one bungled print job.Sections of Ender 3 glass bed adhered to the filament. Source: Reddit

Sometimes a piece of your glass bed can seem to glue itself to your filament, so when your print is done and you go to remove the part you have just printed, a chunk of your glass bed can break off with it.

If this happens, you’ll need to replace your entire printing bed plate before you can use the machine again. The replacement can be time-consuming, and purchasing a whole new printing bed is expensive.

Even a thin layer of hairspray on the printing bed will create a barrier between the bed surface and the part you are printing. That way when you remove the part, it will separate easily from the bed, leaving you with a functional surface to print on again in the future.

Is hairspray the best choice for 3D printing?

3D printing enthusiasts, faced with these adhesion issues, have come up with a variety of solutions.

Some people use specific adhesive sprays, but those can be costly.

Glue sticks are often recommended for 3D printers, but they take longer to apply than hairspray, and even with the extra time, it’s hard to get an even layer. Glue sticks can also be messy and difficult to clean up after.

Hairspray is inexpensive, easy to use, and extremely effective at both making sure your parts stick to the bed, and also serving as a separator so that the part will lift from the bed easily and without damage.

How do I use hairspray for 3D printing?

Spraying Aqua Net Extra Super Hold on Prusa heatbed steel sheet. Credit: Grimm3D

To use hairspray on your 3D printer, first remove the printing bed surface from the printer. If you are using a printer that does not have a removable bed, be careful to spray only on the printing surface and avoid the rest of your machine.

Spray the hairspray directly onto the bed in a thin, even layer. Wait about one minute for the hairspray to dry, then carefully put the bed back into place.

The surface of your bed should now be slightly sticky to the touch and ready for printing.

You can do this process once, and then you only need to reapply another layer of hairspray every 5-10 prints.

Using this technique with a printer that has a heated bed will give you very reliable returns. If your printer does not have a heated bed, an effective adhesion strategy is even more important to ensure proper results, so a carefully selected can of hairspray can save you a lot of time and effort.

Can I use any hairspray on a 3D printer?

Suave Max Hold with Ender 3D printer in the background. Source: Reddit

You can use any hairspray on a 3D printer. All kinds of hairspray will help provide better adhesion and prevent damage to the printer bed surface. You’ll want to consider cost and strength when choosing which hairspray to purchase for use on your 3D printer to make sure you find the one that meets your needs the best.

What kind of hairspray should I use for 3D printing?

You should always use strong, unscented hairspray for 3D printing. Look for hairspray with labels like “extra strength” to ensure that the hairspray will be substantial enough to create a durable printing surface. Make sure that the hairspray is also unscented so that it will do the job without any ingredients that might interfere with the printing.

Our guide to the best hairspray for 3D printing

Best Overall – Aqua Net Extra Super Hold Unscented

Aqua Net hairspray is the best-known standard spray adhesive in the 3D printing world. The Amazon reviews are filled with people saying that they can’t speak to the product’s use in hair because they purchased it specifically for 3D printing! Reviewers comment on using this hairspray for a huge variety of printers and filaments including PLA, PETG, and ABS.

It’s a classic for good reason. This hairspray is strong enough to create a reliable layer on your 3D printer bed surface. It’s thick and clingy so you’ll never have to worry about your parts not sticking to the bed properly.

This hairspray is also our top choice because its simple ingredients don’t include any additives that could potentially interfere with your bed or filaments. Aqua Net’s pure adhesion power is perfect for a wide variety of filaments and will always ensure your parts stick to the bed and print appropriately.

Aqua Net has a very even spray, which makes it easy to thoroughly coat the entire bed surface in one uniform layer. This consistency is key for removing your finished part from the printing bed surface and preventing sticking or chipping.

It’s also super durable. You can spray your printer’s bed surface just once, and then print onto that layer of hairspray up to 10 times before it’s time to reapply again.

Overall, Aqua Net is the best hairspray choice for most 3D printing needs. It’s inexpensive, strong, and generally a very reliable choice, which is why it’s the brand most people turn to when facing printing bed adhesion issues.

Best Hairspray for 3D Printing Adhesion – Suave Max Hold (pack of 3)

If you’re having trouble getting your filament to initially stick to the printing bed surface, your priority will be finding the stickiest adhesive for your model to cling to. This prevents any movement and makes sure that you don’t have issues with globing or stringing on the print.

Suave Max Hold Hairspray has one of the strongest hairspray formulations that will guarantee effective sticking.

This is another hairspray that is famous for its non-cosmetic purposes, coming recommended by artists to seal in finished acrylic paint projects. It has a robust hold without being too thick, and is firm and dependable.

The unique formula in Suave Max Hold that gives this hairspray its notable hold strength and makes it appealing for sealing in paint also makes it a perfect base layer for your 3D printing because it is certain to provide adequate adhesion.

Best Unscented – FRAGFRE Hair Finishing Spray

Sometimes even a product marketed as “unscented” or “fragrance free” can be overpowering. If you are particularly sensitive to fragrances, or if your 3D printer is in a very tight studio space, the last thing you need is a strong-smelling hairspray that bothers your skin and has you wheezing throughout your print.

FRAGFRE hair finishing spray is specially formulated to be odorless and gentle on sensitive skin. In a 3D printing space, you can rely on this hairspray to help solve adhesion issues while maintaining fresh air.

You will want to watch out for issues with the spray nozzle. Some people report problems with clogging after a few uses. To avoid this, you can simply rinse the nozzle with clean water after each use, and you should be able to achieve an even spray each time you need to reapply.

For people with allergies, skin sensitivities, or respiratory concerns, or if you simply want to keep the air in your small workspace clear, FRAGFRE’s truly odorless hair finishing spray ensures that a sticky printing bed surface is attainable safely.

Best Budget- Rave 5X Freeze Hairspray

If you want to give hairspray adhesion a chance for your 3D printing, but want to keep your costs low, Rave 5X Freeze Hairspray is one of the most affordable options on the market.

This spray is strong and will definitely help with bed adhesion issues. It is widely available in grocery stores and pharmacies, so you may be able to find it in your local area without too much trouble.

While this hairspray is unscented, you may find that the odor of the spray is stronger than some of the others on this list. If your 3D printer is in a well-ventilated area you may not notice the strong smell, but in a smaller space you may find it overpowering.

Using Hairspray to Solve Adhesion Problems in 3D Printing

Great first layer adhesion using Aqua Net Extra Super Hold Hairspray. Source: Imgur

Makers of all experience levels sometimes face issues with adhesion. It is important to make sure that your print sticks to the printing bed surface without getting so stuck that you risk chipping off a piece of your print bed when removing your new model. 

Using an adhesive barrier helps deliver the best results. While spray adhesives are available, they are expensive. 

Glue sticks are often recommended, but are a messy option. The best way to create a tacky texture on your 3D printing bed surface is to spray it with a thin layer of hairspray. Aqua Net hairspray is easy, inexpensive, and incredibly effective for all of your 3D printing adhesion needs. 

Related Posts:

  • How Important Are 3D Printer Heated Beds?
  • Guide: Ender 3 Glass Beds (Pro/V2) And The Best Options
  • Full Buyer’s Guide: Best Prusa 3D Printers
  • What Type of Build Plate Surface Should You Use?

3 Best Hairspray for 3D Printing - 2022

Are you facing adhesion issues? or,

Is the first layer of your 3D printed model messed up?

Many 3D Printer users struggle hard to avoid adhesion, shrinking, wrapping problems in the beginning.

Few are lucky because everything goes well for them right from the first day.

But for the rest of the people (working with ABS, nylon, resin filament), getting their first layer right is the most challenging task.

So, do not worry too much because you are not alone!

Many people face these same problems during the initial days of their 3D Printing journey.

Let us discuss a hack that will help you overcome these problems.

Table of Contents
  • How does Hairsprays fit into 3D Printing?
  • Best Hairspray for 3D Printing
    1. Aqua Net Hair Spray
    2. L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle
    3. Paul Mitchell Spray
  • How to use Hairspray for 3D Printing?
    1. Step #1 – Heat Up the Bed
    2. Step #2 – Spray the Hairspray
    3. Step #3 – Remove excess hairspray from the bed
    4. Step #4 – Testing the results
  • I have heard of Glue Sticks for 3D Printing…
  • Final Words

How do Hairsprays fit into 3D Printing?

Many people fail to realize the power and use of Hairspray in 3D printing.

A Hairspray lets your 3D prints stick well to the print bed.

However, I would not suggest investing in a Hairspray in a hurry!

Because by properly following the steps mentioned below, you are supposed to get your first layer right.

Step 1 – Properly clean the bed

Step 2 – Properly clean the nozzle

Step 3 – Properly level the print bed (distance between print bed and nozzle)

Step 4 – Monitor and adjust temperature level appropriately (because too hot or too cold, both can ruin your prints)

Anyways, if you have tried these steps already and didn’t see the results, then let us move ahead in this article.

Hairsprays have special bonding and holding properties, which ensure the proper sticking of 3D prints to print beds.

Best Hairspray for 3D Printing

The beautiful fact about this hack is that the Hairsprays are cheap and affordable to everyone.

You can buy them by paying $5 to $20.

So it is worth giving a shot to each of the hairspray mentioned below and finding out which works best for your 3D Printer.

1. Aqua Net Hair Spray

This Hairspray from Aqua Net is the most popular solution when it comes to 3D printing adhesion problems.

It exhibits excellent bonding and holding properties. High-temperature compatibility makes this Hairspray standout on this list.

This spray is proven for excellent sticking properties.

2. L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle

L’Oreal is a famous brand supplying high-end beauty and cosmetic products.

This Hairspray from L’Oreal is the perfect choice to avoid adhesion problems associated with 3D Printers.

The anti-frizz agent assuress extra-strong bonding between the 3D model and print bed.

Also, water-free and humidity-resistant properties are excellent for adhesion.

3. Paul Mitchell Spray

This brand has a big reputation in the hair spray category.

Many conditioning ingredients included in Paul Mitchell Spray make it unique on this list of best Hairspray for 3D Printing.

The Paul Mitchell Spray will hold your 3D prints firmly in place while printing.

How to use Hairspray in 3D Printing

Applying hairspray on a 3D printer bed is very easy.

But before we start, you need,

Requirements

  • Hairspray
  • Paper Towel
  • Skills

Once you are all set, follow the steps below,

#1 – Heat Up the Bed

Excellent results are obtained when hairsprays are used on a heated print bed.

Increase the temperature of the heat bed to 50°C.

Be careful while playing with Hairsprays because they are flammable. A little spark can ignite Hairspray and may lead to undesirable trouble.

The risk of fire is low because the Hairspray ignition temperature is higher than that of the operational temperature of 3D printer heat bed.

#2 – Spray the Hairspray – Be careful

It’s time to show your skills.

Evenly spray the Hairspray on the heated bed.

But, as I said earlier, you must be extra cautious because the Hairspray is flammable and can catch fire with a little spark.

#3 – Remove excessive spray from the bed

Wait for 1 minute until the Hairspray gets settled on the print bed.

Once done, use a paper towel to remove extra spray.

Try to lay the towel down flat and let it absorb the spray. DO NOT wipe off all of the sprays.

#4 – Testing the results

It’s time to see the hardwork paying off.

Touch the print bed and feel the stickiness.

However, if it doesn’t feel sticky, then repeat the procedure one more time.

It works, don’t worry!

I have heard of Glue Stick for 3D Printing….

Few glue sticks can be used to firmly stick the first layer of your 3D model to the print bed.

Here is the one that we use, Aceirmc 3D Printer Glue Stick.

It is specifically designed for 3D Printing and boasts a few exciting features over its rivals.

People who choose glue stick over Hairspray might get impressed by the features like ease of applying and cleaning.

Whether a Glue Stick or a Hairspray both yield excellent results when used on a heated bed.

Final Words

This simple hack has helped us get quality prints easily.

Let us know which Hairspray you are going to use.

Apart from our suggestions, if you have tried any fantastic Hairspray which is worth mentioning on this list then let us know.

We tried to give you enough information to get started with Hairspray on 3D printers.

However, you can comment your doubts, we would love to help you!

Casting varnishes for 3D printing

Good day to you earthlings.

Many of you have encountered the problem of poor adhesion of the 3D printer bed when printing with ABS plastic (and not only). Someone used already proven methods read on the Internet, someone tried and tried to find their own methods to keep the plastic on the table.

I went both ways) But about the second way in the end.

(who doesn't like water turn down, turn down)

  • First way - hairspray

At the factory where I work, they bought us two 3D printers - Picaso 3D and Prism mini. Both of them came with varnish, and it so happened that for these two printers we began to use varnish for adhesion. And soon, as it usually happens, the varnish ended unexpectedly. And a reasonable question arose - 'aaaaa!!! what to do, how to live next?!', go to the store of course) for candidates for the role of a suitable varnish for printing on a 3D printer.

Primary selection of candidates passed according to strict criteria, namely the obligatory presence of the inscription 'peace' on the fence 'strong hold', 'very strong hold', 'super hold', 'extreme hold', 'extra hold', 'super mega duper hold', 'ultra 3000 customer turbo hold' and numbers '5', '6', '10' and '2851' on the bottle.

Yee... welcome! 10 shortlisted winners:

In order from left to right:

  • Taft three weather invisible hold (extra strong hold number 5)
  • Hairspray great price 365 days all year round (super strong hold) (hairspray called hairspray - SHTA?!)
  • Syoss many beeches ceramide complex (maximum strong fixation, number 5)
  • Taft Three Weather Volume Millions of CALogen Molecules (Mega Hold Number 5)
  • Taft Three Weather Power Caffeine Firming Formula (Mega Hold Number 5)
  • Professional Perfection in Scosmetic Form (Mega Strong Hold Number 5)
  • Charm Professional Memory effect (extra strong hold, number 5)
  • Charm Professional Ultra Power (extreme hold, number 6)
  • Jet Personal Styling (extra strong hold, number 5)

the name of the varnish, the manufacturer, or just the text 'ala I'm the coolest of all'. I just rewrote what I considered a distinctive feature, so that it could not be confused with the rest of the variety of similar products.

I won't pull the rubber, let's move on to the main thing:

  • Final selection

'Stick' tests were carried out on an open printer (Prism mini), freshly printed REC ABS plastic. It's not advertising, it's just plastic.

Table temperature 100 parrots, extruder temperature 245 degrees, print speed 40 mms. We print Facebook 'thumbs up' or down, whoever shows himself. The varnish was applied in one thin layer on a hot table. After each candidate, the glass table was removed, washed with running water, wiped dry, and, before the test of the next subject, warmed up in its native place for 2-3 minutes.

Let's go!

1 - Taft three weather invisible hold (super strong hold, number 5)

Spray on, the smell is quite pleasant, but perhaps only

Failed at the very beginning. Farewell, Mr. Taft, we are not on our way.

Our next one is

2 - Hairspray great price 365 days all year round (super strong hold) year

Next

3 - Syoss many beeches ceramide complex (maximum strong hold, number 5)

Pshhhhhhh towards the table.. the smell is below average in my opinion.

Yes, I forgot to film him posing in front of a prism, who doesn't happen to. And yes, to celebrate, I forgot to take a picture of what was printed on it. You'll have to take my word for it. Syoss gets a 'thumbs up' achievement!) The first candidate to make it to the finals!

After finishing printing, tore off part with little effort.

Next in line

4 - Pure line extra fixation nettle (very strong hold, number 5)

The smell is average, not annoying at all.

and as I said earlier, he did not pass the test, he does not hold at all.

Let's go further

5 - Taft three weather Volume millions of CALogen molecules (mega fixation, number 5)

We apply, the smell is average.

He tried to keep something somehow, I gave him a chance again and again, but alas, this candidate is also leaving us.

Next

6 - Taft three bears Power with caffeine firming formula (megafix, number 5)

The smell is average, or I have already inhaled these smells and I can't distinguish them.

Not his path, it doesn't work for him, apparently it was created for hair.

Next! do not hesitate to pass

7 - Professional perfection in the form of Scosmetic (mega-strong fixation, number 5)

The smell is like a smell.

Generally not surprised, does not hold at all.

This is mine.

8 - Charm Professional Memory effect (super strong hold, number 5)

Smells like hairspray.. probably.

Worried and screwed up the test.

Who's next? oh yes

9 - Charm Professional Ultra Power (extreme fixation, number 6)

It should smell somehow.

And he did the job! After printing, the part came off quite easily, I would give it a 4 out of 5. Requires additional tests.

And last

10 - Jet Personal Styling (extra strong hold, number 5)

The room smells. It's not me. These are varnishes varnishes..

And he copes with our task perfectly! After the end of printing and the cooling of the table, the part did not come off by itself, I had to tear it off with a little effort.

A group photo with earned achievements

and a photo of the winners separately

Phew.. have passed fierce tests and now you can breathe deeply, preferably going out into the street.. otherwise your head already hurts.

3 candidates out of 10, I think an excellent result)

Further dry calculations based on the results

Varnishes suitable for printing

Syoss many beeches ceramide complex (maximum strong fixation, number 5)

Jet Personal Styling number 5)

Varnishes questionable

Beauty Professional Ultra Power (extreme hold, number 6)

0003

No one has a sharp, unpleasant smell, the cost is in the range of about 500 to 1000 tenge (yes, I'm from Kazakhstan, who needs to translate into rubles, dollars, euros, bitcoins)

Oh, yes, I almost forgot

  • The second way - Glue Master klein

Discovered by me in the course of experiments on different substances (not narcotic!) method of printing ABS plastic. This glue - Master klein, took it as glue for fillets in the construction industry,

(photo honestly stolen from the open spaces of the tyrnet)

is diluted with medical alcohol (alcohol-soluble glue, 90% alcohol) approximately 1 to 10 (1 part glue and 10 alcohol, you can experiment). Next, we apply the composition on a cold table. It is problematic to apply on a hot one due to the fact that the alcohol evaporates quickly and it becomes problematic to evenly distribute the liquid over the table. This is the first drawback, the second drawback is a thin film that will definitely remain on the bottom surface of the part. Not to say that this is a problem, but if there are a lot of holes on the bottom of the printed part, then peeling off the film from each hole becomes a little tedious.

But there are also pluses - almost complete absence of smell, it doesn’t smell strongly of alcohol, and maybe it will be more familiar to someone)) Another plus is good adhesion, tearing off a part from a hot table is simply not realistic. I tried once and tore the part, some of the layers remained on the glass. After the table cools down, the part itself comes off at about 30 degrees with a characteristic click. I use this method at home on a pruche, because I don’t like smells.

In the comments, I suggest adding to the list of proven, easily accessible hairsprays suitable for 3D printing.

Thank you for your attention.

(There is a solution) Why does hairspray work like an adhesive for ABS plastic?

adhesion fdm

Since I have a 3D printer, I have worked mainly with ABS printing. I have tried several adhesion methods (various soluble adhesives, ABS juice) but have always had the most success with pure borosilicate glass hairspray if I printed above 75°C on the table and inside the case.

So I wonder if it is known why and on what basis of chemicals the hairspray method works so well? 91 answer The chemicals in hairspray that cause bonding are "VA/Crotonate Copolymer", also referred to as "vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymer". Most commonly known as PVA, which is also a filament used as a water soluble support material. It is a synthetic polymer created from monomers.

When heated to a certain temperature, this ingredient becomes sticky, which causes the thread to stick to the plate. It's the double bonded oxygen molecule that makes this happen. This is present not only in the chemicals you put on the table, but also in the chemistry of some table materials. Quoting our own Ryan Carlyle from this thread, Aquanet hairspray replacement?? Wolfbite by Airwolf:

Most popular build surfaces have very similar chemistry. This is because they all rely on diffusion bonding for adhesion. The molecular chains at the interface slightly dissolve into each other.

Adhesive active ingredient - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Aquanet and liquid PVA glue active ingredient - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_acetate

If you're familiar with organic chemistry, here you see an identical polyvinyl backbone and functional groups that both have a ketone/etheric oxygen double bond adjacent to the space-filling component. (The space-filling component probably reduces adhesion, so the print can be released.) And you know what? Permanent building slab surfaces rely on the same basic chemistry:

Lexan also exhibited polymer-based double oxygen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

Kapton also exposed polymer-based double bound oxygen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapton

Acrylic also has an open oxygen polymer based double bond: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl methacrylate)

PET also has an open oxygen double bond on the polymer backbone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate

Now, if you look at some of the common thread thinners, what do you often see? Oxygen with a double bond on small molecules. Here is ethyl acetate (dissolves PLA) and acetone (dissolves ABS):

These molecules still diffuse into the filament polymer, but they are so small and mobile that they can completely liquefy and dissolve the plastic.

Learn more