Can You Take Hairspray on a Plane? (Yes, with a Few Rules)

I’m not sure about you, but I find the varied approach to security checks at different airports confusing.

Take this week.

I left Melbourne Airport with Rex airlines for a business trip to Brisbane. When I got to the security conveyor, I was told there was no need to do anything. No shoe removal, no clear see-through bag needed for toiletries not even my laptop needed separately.

However when I came back the other way through Brisbane Airport (this time with Virgin) they wanted to check everything! Belt off, laptop out and coat off. Strange how things differ in the same country.

The one specific question they asked me was not about toiletries though it was about aerosols, they needed to be taken out and put in one of their little plastic tubs. After a debate the lady in front of my had with the security staff, it got me wondering, can you take hairspray on a plane?

Yes, you can take hairspray on a plane. The main thing you need to be conscious of is the liquid rule, that it must be in a container less than 3.4 ounces or 100ml. Note, it is the size of the container that matters, not the amount of hairspray left.

In the rest of this article I will share with the rest of the research I did about taking hairspray on a plane.

Can You Take Hairspray on a Plane?

Yes you can take hairspray on a plane.

In hand luggage it is subject to the same rules as liquids and must be less than 100ml or 3.4Oz and you will often be asked to put it in a clear bag.

Larger hairsprays need to go into checked luggage, but there are a few minor restrictions that you can read in the next section.

Hair spray is allowed in carry-on bags in containers 3.4 oz or less. Larger containers must be placed in checked bags.

— AskTSA (@AskTSA) September 17, 2017

Can You Take Hairspray on a Plane in Checked Luggage?

Yes you can, but there are still a few rules that apply.

According to TSA guidelines, the total quantity of toiletries any person can carry cannot be more than 2 kilograms (70 ounces) or 2 litres (68 fluid ounces). The capacity of any single container must also not exceed 5 grams (18 ounces) or 500 millilitres (17 fluid ounces).

Any aerosols (which most hairsprays are) must also have their caps in place to ensure that, if pressure changes cause them to go off, the spray is controlled. Good advice for protection of your own luggage as well!

Can You Take Full Size Hairspray on a Plane?

Yes, you can, but only in checked baggage, not in hand luggage and using the rules above.

2: please visit: https://t.co/Qdb2FWl6Rm

— AskTSA (@AskTSA) January 4, 2021

Can You Take Travel Size Hairspray on a Plane?

Yes you can take travel sized hairspray on a plane, as long as the container is under 3.4Oz or 100ml. Please note it is the size of the container that matters, not the amount of liquid left in the container.

You may also be asked to place the hairspray in a see-through bag to present at security.

Best Hairspray for Travel

There are some great recommendations of the ‘Best Hairsprays for Travel’ over at Stylecraze, but of all the ones on the list, this looks like it ticks all the boxes. It’s both small and non-aerosol meaning it’s less likely to have the nozzle react to pressure changes.

Finishing Up

I hope you’ve got use out of this article and the research I’ve done.

The main purpose of this website is to help people take extended breaks from work to travel – also known as sabbaticals.

If you’re interested in learning more check out:

What is a Sabbatical and Why Take One? [Complete Guide]