The higher the hair, the closer to heaven. This phrase was often repeated during my teen beauty pageant days, and it’s stayed rent-free in my brain ever since. While I’m not teasing my strands to the sky on any given day, I still crave mega volume—which isn’t the easiest to maintain thanks to my fine hair.
I’ve tried nearly every volumizing trick in the book to give my hair a boost. Rollers end up falling flat, and mousses leave my hair crunchy, but texturizing sprays? They’ve become the unsung hero of my styling routine, and there’s one in particular that I reach for the most: Nexxus’s Air Shape Workable Hold Texture Spray. In fact, the entire Cosmo team swears by this spray—it just won a 2026 Holy Grail Beauty Award. What makes this drugstore formula award-worthy? Keep reading for all the details—plus my full review—below.
WHY IT WON
| Great value | $18 for a large bottle and available at drugstores and mass retailers |
| Efficacy | Give hair a ton of airy texture, body, and lift without feeling sticky or stiff |
| Experience | Aerosol format is easy to evenly distribue on hair it smells amazing too |
About the formula:
Although I’m constantly raving about the power of texturizing sprays, most people in my circle don’t know what these stylers do, so here’s a refresher: Essentially, texturizing sprays are three-in-one formulas that boost volume, add texture, and lock your style into place. Consider them a hybrid hairspray with extra benefits—and the Nexxus Air Shape Workable Hold Texture Spray is no exception.
What makes this affordable pick so unique is the science behind it. This texture spray creates long-lasting volume with “air shape polymer technology,” which forms an invisible web between strands to add volume without making hair feel hard, heavy, or gritty. The results look airy and feel incredibly soft—like freshly washed—thanks to added proteins in the formula that act as a weightless hair mask to keep strands healthy, too.
About my hair:
While my hair strands are extremely fine, I have a lot of them. This combination is relatively easy to care for, but my biggest struggle is maintaining volume. When I sweat, my hair essentially suctions to my skin—any amount of lift instantly disappears. In an effort to get a little boost, I typically wash with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner and focus on my roots while blow-drying. While this has made a difference, I’ve found that texturizing sprays are the key to maintaining natural body and volume.
My review:
I’ll admit I’m a bit of a bougie b-tch when it comes to my beauty products. As a beauty editor, I get the most luxurious formulas sent to me ~for free~ and the more-expensive products tend to get a prime spot in my vanity, whereas the drugstore options are left to collect dust in an unorganized pile.
That changed when the Nexxus Air Shape Texturizing Spray arrived on my doorstep. I can’t remember if I was attracted to the cute pink bottle or was simply in serious need of a volume boost (probably both), but I quickly spritzed this through my hair and was enamored with the immediate difference.
Regardless of the texturizing spray I use, I typically focus application at the roots. I messily part my hair into three or four sections and spritz near my scalp. From there, I gently massage my scalp, flip my hair, and voilà.
With this, my hair looks significantly fuller and stays that way for hours. I’m used to formulas that leave behind a sticky or gritty film, but I can’t tell that I have anything in my hair. It maintains a soft, touchable texture that’s comparable to a fresh blowout—even if it’s been days since I washed my hair. Oh, and I’m able to extend my style for a few more days when I use this, not just because the formula fights grease but also because of the delightful floral scent that feels like a quick refresh after sweaty gym sessions. (I typically opt for this over dry shampoo.)
Final thoughts:
At under $20, the Nexxus Air Shape Workable Hold Texture Spray is a total steal, IMHO. It’s difficult to get a texturizing spray formula right—and I’m a harsh critic. I need it to give me long-lasting lift without making my hair feel gross or crunchy, which is exactly what this does. I’ve tried some formulas that are double the price that don’t perform as well as this. And with the extra-large bottle, this is a spray that will last for months. Drugstore picks can definitely outperform the luxury brands, and this spray completely reminded me of that fact.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkus is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a deep dive into the plumping agent Maxi-Lip and reviewing the viral U-Like Air 10 IPL device. She’s an authority in all beauty categories, and her hair is her pride and joy. For this story, she tested the Nexxus Air Shape Workable Hold Texturizing Spray for four months to give you a thorough and honest review.
