Re: Hairspray

Jessica,

Thank you for the question, it is something I've never really thought about 
much. Since I don't know what grade you are in, I'll try to gear this to 
high school level.  As to the specific ingredients in your hair spray, I 
don't know because manufacturers use different chemical compounds.  In 
general there are two broad classes of compounds involved.  The first group 
is the alcohols.  The alcohols in the hair spray act as a vehicle for the 
holding agent. This means that the alcohols keep the holding agent in a 
liquid form that can be sprayed and even combed for a brief period.  The 
second group is the polymers. (At least that is what is in my hair spray.)  
The polymers are long chains of carbon containing coumpounds that link 
piece by piece.  Essentially it's plastic!  When you spray your hair, the 
dissolved polymers are laid onto your hair.  Because alcohol typically has 
a very low vaporization point, i.e. boiling point, the alcohol evaporates 
away and the polymer (plastic) is left.  
Some manufaturers promote that their hair spray is actually good for your 
hair.  It is possible that since some of the polymers are amino based, they 
believe they can make the claim.  Amino acids are the building blocks of 
proteins and since your hair is made up of protein strands the connection 
is made.  Hope this answers your question.  If your looking for the 
particular molecular structure of the particular polymer in your hair spray 
I could be more specific.  Thanks again from one plastic head to another!

Robert L. Judge