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What Are the Dangers of Aerosol Hairspray?

Aerosol hairspray, like a lot of other hair and beauty products, is an item that many people use on a daily basis. While most individuals will be aware of a few of the dangers associated with this product and will avoid getting it in their eyes, for instance, some of the risks of aerosol hairspray canisters are less obvious, and so they pose a greater threat if aerosol users aren't careful.

  1. Combustible and Flammable

    • Aerosols are flammable and combustible products, and, as such, care must be taken while handling aerosol hairsprays around naked flames and in conditions where fires can start. A less obvious source of danger connected to this issue comes into play when individuals store hairspray canisters in hot places such as the trunks of cars. In these places, temperatures can quickly build to high levels, to as much as 130 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Hairspray canisters, being temperature-sensitive, are likely to explode if stored at over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, causing severe danger to those in the vicinity and damaging the place of storage.

    Recreational Drugs

    • Aerosol cans are just one of several substances that are classified under the term solvent and that can be used as a form of recreational drug. These aerosols may be experimented with by groups such as teenagers who are seeking a high, since inhaling a solvent causes a short-term pleasant feeling and even hallucinations. Like all drugs, however, there are side effects to inhaling hairspray products. These vary from immediate effects such as severe headaches and immense tiredness to more long-term problems including brain and kidney damage.

    Lung Irritation

    • The use of aerosols including hairspray products has been known to induce lung irritation and other problems in individuals. A common complaint is that the product exacerbates asthma and may lead to an asthma sufferer experiencing an attack. On a more long-term level, regularly inhaling hairspray from aerosols can potentially lead to fibrosing alveolitis, a lung condition in which the organ's alveolar walls become thicker, which can in extreme cases lead to severe respiratory problems and eventually death.

    Eye Damage

    • When an individual uses an aerosol hairspray, she runs the risk of getting some of the product into her eyes or into those of a nearby person. An aerosol hairspray contains chemicals that typically only irritate the eyes; the hairspray can be washed out and the person's vision soon recovers. However, a large amount of hairspray can burn the eye and lead to permanent damage and loss of vision.

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