If men’s hairstyling had a Bo Jackson, it would be grooming spray.

And if you don’t know who Bo is, he’s the greatest athlete ever who’s never won a thing.

And no, these proclamation’s aren’t just based on the fact that we make our own grooming spray. You already knew we’d mention ours, and as a man, you should know who Bo Jackson is.

Grooming spray is, hands down, the most versatile hair product a man can stock. That’s why so may barbers count on the stuff. And whether your hair’s short or long, it doesn’t matter; a spritz or two makes a fresh cut dinner date-ready in seconds.

Get to know the benefits of grooming spray, and be a true grooming savant.

All it takes is a little finessing, and if you’re apt, some “cocktailing,” too.

We’ll explain:

I. You Can Use It On Its Own. What makes grooming spray awesome is its nuance; It’s for the guy who wants to look like he cares about his hair, but not too much. Don't expect the high shine of a pomade, or the firmness of a clay.

Grooming spray’s on the lighter, subtler side of things. Think medium shine, medium pliability.

How To Use It: Hold the bottle about 10 inches from your head and spray (with sustain) from the top down. A dry head of sprayed hair will hold a little more than a damp one would. Run your fingers through your cut to style it how you like. If it needs another round, go for it.

II. Or You Can “Cocktail” With It. We mentioned the impregnable art of “cocktailing” not long ago, but it’s a barber thing, so it warrants a refresher: While grooming spray’s good on its own, it’s just as great as a finisher—or a pre-styling agent—for a base product like pomade.

Here’s what we mean:

How to Use It As A Base: Give your hair a spray or two to loosen it up, then, just add your favourite product, like the aforesaid pomade, or a paste for a firmer hold.
How to Use It As A Finisher: Apply a base layer of pomade, then, spray a little grooming spray to lock everything in for a hold that’ll last the day.

III. Non-Aerosol Is Better. Unlike hairspray, a bug killer double that boomed in the shoulder pad-dominant ‘80s, grooming sprays are non-aerosol. Technically, aerosols are tiny particles of either matter or liquid. Sea salt counts as an aerosol, and so does dust. But the artificial ones put into hairsprays are no good for our air. In fact, it was only six years ago when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that yearly aerosol emissions equates to the greenhouse gas emissions of about 2.3 million cars. Now you know.

IV. It’s Convenient As Hell. Not that there’s anything wrong with scooping pomade out of a container; our hair products—including our grooming spray—are water soluble anyway, meaning all you need is water to get it off your hands. But there’s nothing like grabbing your bottle in a pinch and spraying away. And if you’ve got a pocket comb to style it, even better.

V. It’s Gold For Longer Hair. Grooming spray is not unlike sea salt spray (which has spiked in demand the last few years). It adds just enough texture and firmness for hair to look put-together, but not overdone. For guys with longer hairstyles—like tapered slick-backs—you don’t want to look like you styled it so much as you tamed it.

VI. Same For Thinning Hair. Guys with fine hair love a good spray—it helps thin hair look fuller and richer. You know how your hair feels a little thicker after a dip or two in the Carribbean? That’s what it feels like, hence it’s value for dudes who are thinning up top.

In sum, there’s a lot you can do with this stuff, and little you can’t do with it.

That’s why it’s the title-holder, and it always will be.

Bonus Tip: Spray a round or two before blowdrying, like our boys at Kleinburg Barbershop. The heat will help the product mould your hair just the way you want. Photo: Sean Pollock

The Hairstyling Nectar of Life That Is Grooming Spray (And How to Use It)