Hairspray as Fixative?


zozzy-zebra's avatar
I love doing pastel drawings, but they always seem to smudge, I can stop them a bit by placing piecdes of paper inbetween them but that does not always work. :-(. My art teacher reccomended that I should use some fixative to stop the smudgeing, but its expensive! and I have heard that hairspray may be ok, so I was wondering is it? Also if it is what type of hairspray should I use?
I usually draw with these:
graphite pencils
soft pastels
Charcol
oil pastels
Comments23
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NoctemCathedral's avatar
I've used Aqua Net on graphite drawings before in a pinch and have yet to see a negative effect but I would say just get actual fixative. Yeah it's expensive in some cases but you can't go wrong with it and you won't have a cloud of worry hanging over your head as to whether your work will discolor or deteriorate later.
SanIakob's avatar
We used hair spray in our art school classes :iconstaresplz: obviously, you must pray the product from a prudent distance

About the paper yellowing...I suggest using yellow paper to draw on :P

no matter what problems it might bring...if you drew a beautiful portrait with a great hairdo...hair spray is THE thing to use :B
emobones's avatar
Hair spray is the worst thing to use on ANY art work.
Pastels, if sprayed with anything, will ruin it. It's best to scan it, make copies and frame the original.
David-McCamant's avatar
This is a common problem for aspiring artists; not respecting their 'school' work. Get in the habit now of treating your all of your work as something of value. This mindset will serve you very well for ever more. Because you see the work this way, You will tend to do better work and learn faster. My best advise is to buy proper fixative and use the hair spray on your hair. The yellowing is only the beginning of the problem, the acids can cause color shifts, and make the paper become brittle too over time. Also, fixative will let you rework areas and layer while hairspray can get gummy.

Best, David
CrystalTearz55's avatar
hair spray does NOT work lolz 8D
opiumtraum's avatar
an option for sprays, use distributor brands. For example- Dick Blick has a glossy 12oz fixative for a little over $5.00. A similar product by Grumbacher is $2.00 more. High-end stuff, like Lascaux, is $27+. I use Krylon workable fixative $5.25- slightly more than a grande mocha frappe from Starbucks. For a final fixative I like Krylon UV resistant clear, a little over $6.00.

I've tried hairspray, but never felt like it was really doing the job I wanted (maybe I was just used to other stuff). I recommend unscented stuff- no point totally gassing yourself out.

I see it this way- go cheap, but risk screwing up your artwork, or spend a little more for quality stuff.

The other thing, if you're talking WIP, to avoud smudging, get, or make yourself a mahl stick- essentially a bridge you rest your hand on totally off your art work.
christineschirr's avatar
I love that you put the price in real world terms: coffee as currency!

This seems like good advice. And like Oilpntr58 says--respect your work.
opiumtraum's avatar
Just out of college I got a hard lesson in materials. It might be an age thing- just out of college I was still gushing with theory & idealism; 30 years later it's more about reality, setting priorities & wading through B.S. ...& there is a lot of B.S. out there.

You've got a great gallery started. I never could paint- for me it was like pushing mud around with a stick that's squishy at one end. I like the resistance of something with a hard point on paper...I can feel that.

Thanks for responding! :) E.
zozzy-zebra's avatar
thanks for the adice, I have recently found some hairspray which was less than $1 and it seems to work well, as the paper does not seem to go yellow, thanks also for the advice about the mahl stick:)
opiumtraum's avatar
the best test for your fixative...test spray a piece of paper you use (just a scrap) then put it by a window for a few weeks...also a good test for lightfastness (color pencils, watercolors- I'd say felt-tips but they are notoriously not lightfast). Mahl sticks take getting used to (I never could) but I know a few artists who swear by them.
Paperbag-Ninja's avatar
Use Aqua Net if you decide to go that direction
jamesturner's avatar
just re-read your post, hairspray WILL NOT work on oil pastels as its oil based also it may effect the colours in soft pastels and blur them more unless you use them on proper pastel paper (no idea why just seems to be that way)
zozzy-zebra's avatar
I have recently found some hairspray which was less than $1 and it seems to work well, as the paper does not seem to go yellow. I tried it on both soft pastel and oil pastels and so far it seems to work for both.
jamesturner's avatar
I use the cheapest hairspray i can find and layer it on evenly. It works brilliantly for me but i have no idea what the long term affects will be (the paper will yellow to a degree and degrade the drawing but i don't know how much.
zozzy-zebra's avatar
Thanks, I followed your advice and have brought th echeapest hairspray I could find which was under $1 and it seems to be working well, as for the paper turning yellow I will have to wait and see :-)
Vanhia's avatar
hm i would like to add some thing, all of the informations deviantart members wrote before are right, but my lecturer told me also to use hairspray instead of expensic fixative. There are maybe Brands which are not that aggressive to the paper to make it yellow after 2 years. using fixative is , of course "safe" if you want to keep your artwork for your entire life. But in case you still want to take it to apply at an art school, its okay to use simple hairspray. you have to try out different sprays first before using it on a beloved piece of art, because some of them start to yellow your drawing. I guess you should look for hairspray with sun protection or just extra strong or how they call it in english .
anyway, if you decide to use hairspray, just mind the amount of hairspray you use, in case it is to dry, it will smudge immidiately. if it is to wet the colours will start to swim.
so have attention to this. :)
zozzy-zebra's avatar
Thanks, I have purchased some cheap hairspray, but for artwork which I intend to keep for a long time I will use proper art fixative I think.
Vanhia's avatar
Best way to keep your artwork :) good luck
wholba's avatar
If you want to use hairspray you have to try different brands. Some will clog, some will stay tacky for aeons, some will smell forever, some will deteriorate the paper, some may work...
Do yourself a favor: buy a good fixative at you local art-supplier.
suedonym's avatar
I haven't tried it, as I have actual fixative, but maybe just try it? Make some doodle and spray it...
jennifermontes's avatar
I used to use hairspray for my student work and it seemed to be o.k... BUT, I found out later that hairspray manufacturers don't make their product acid-free, so after a couple of years you will notice that the paper will start to yellow because of the acid in the spray. If you want your drawings to last for years without discoloration, shelling out the cash for fixative is your only option.

If the durability of your work doesn't concern you much, the best type of hairspray to use is an aerosol (the kind that come in a metal can that you have to shake). The spritzing hairsprays don't work as well because the droplets of hairspray are clumped together more and it won't do a good job of covering your drawing smoothly. To get the best coverage, an aerosol hairspray is your best bet (any brand should be fine).

But, remember: hairspray WILL yellow your paper after a few years... Don't say I didn't warn you!
zozzy-zebra's avatar
thanks for the advice, at the moment I am not too bothered about how long my sketches last for, as I still have a long way to improve so I am currently using hairspray, however, when I beging to produce some real quality work I will be sure to use proper fixative :D