Anyone who needs a style to stay exactly where it was put: updos, bridal and event hair, big volumized sets, and textured or curly styles that tend to drop or frizz in humid weather. It suits all hair types and lengths, and it is sold both to stylists for finishing work and to clients for everyday use.

If you want soft, movable hair or plan to brush through your style later, a lower-hold spray such as Redken Brushable Hairspray 12 is a better fit.

Most extreme-hold sprays trade hold for stiffness. Max Hold Hairspray 32 is built around a very fine, fast-drying mist from a three-way actuator, so the hold comes from thin even layers rather than one heavy coat. That is why stylists reach for it to finish updos and volumized sets that still need to look like hair, not lacquer, and why it holds up through a humid day.

Style hair completely and let it dry. Hold the can 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) away and mist over the hair. Build up in light layers for more hold rather than spraying heavily in one spot.

• Pro: the strongest hold in Redken's hairspray range, so a small amount goes a long way on formal and updo work.
• Pro: the tri-diffusion mist lays down evenly and dries fast, which keeps hair from looking wet or stiff.
• Pro: rated for 24-hour humidity resistance, useful for curls and volume in damp weather.
• Con: it is a maximum-hold spray, so it is too strong for loose, touchable styles.
• Con: fragranced with jasmine, orange blossom and sandalwood notes; people who dislike scented sprays can use the Triple Pure neutral fragrance version.
• Con: aerosol, flammable, keep away from heat and flame.