Why you should never spray perfume on your hair—according to the experts

While the temptation to spritz your signature scent onto your hair is real, here's why the experts say you shouldn't spray perfume on your hair...

We know, we know, when it comes to the best perfumes for women, we want to be drenched in their dreamy aroma—especially when it comes to our hair, where the scent is released with every flick and toss of our locks. But according to the experts, dousing our hair in our fave long-lasting perfumes could actually be doing more harm than good.

So, for anyone trying to avoid or repair hair damage, here's why you should avoid misting your perfume onto your hair, plus some alternative methods if you're not quite ready to kick the habit...

Why you should never spray perfume on your hair

So, is perfume good for your hair? The answer is no, not really. While it might seem like a no-brainer to spray your go-to floral perfume—which you've already sprayed on your pulse points (and hopefully on wet skin!)—onto your hair to maximize the reach and longevity of its perfume notes, it turns out it might be best to spare your strands from your eau de parfums.

In fact, Natalia Ortiz, Chief Commerical Officer at The Fragrance Shop, says not to 'spritz directly' onto your hair because, "the alcohol can cause damage, leading to brittle hair that's more prone to breakage, scalp irritation and dandruff."

Instead, Ortiz recommends hair perfume, which has been created for that exact purpose, or alternatively: "try spraying your favorite fragrance on your hairbrush and brush it through dry hair, creating a more encompassing fragrance that lasts longer."

"Other than alcohol, certain perfumes contain parabens, phthalates and sulfates, which can also result in damage to the skin and hair," adds Vicken Arslanian, Re-Founder of perfume brand Commodity. "This could be anything from redness or dryness to a more serious allergic reaction. Look for brands (like Commodity) that have removed these ingredients to avoid any risk."

If you're a real lover of adding an extra scent boost to your hair though, Holly Hutchinson, founder of bespoke perfume brand Memoize London says to instead invest in hair mist perfumes (like the Gisou hair perfume), "to avoid oily, dry or damaged hair."

You could also try more nourishing scented options like hair oils or leave-in conditioners. Plus, if you're looking for a more conscious option, you can find some of the best vegan and cruelty-free perfumes also offering hair-mist/perfume options.