Cleared to Pack

Can you bring hairspray on a plane?

Yes, with limits. Carry-on hairspray, aerosol or pump, must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in your quart-size bag. Checked cans can be up to 18 oz (500 ml) each with the nozzle capped, within a 2 L per-person toiletry total.

Carry-on bagWith limits

Aerosol and pump hairsprays are both allowed in carry-on bags in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, packed in your one quart-size liquids bag.

Checked bagWith limits

Allowed in checked bags under FAA toiletry limits: each container no more than 0.5 kg (18 oz) or 500 ml (17 fl oz), a per-person total of 2 kg (70 oz) or 2 L (68 fl oz), and the aerosol button or nozzle protected by a cap or similar.

Checked against official TSA, FAA and government pages on . These are US rules unless we say otherwise; the TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.

The rules in numbers

  • Carry-on: 3.4 oz (100 ml) per container, in your quart-size bag
  • Checked: max 0.5 kg (18 oz) / 500 ml (17 fl oz) per can
  • Checked total for restricted toiletries and aerosols: 2 kg (70 oz) / 2 L (68 fl oz) per person
  • Aerosol nozzle must be capped or otherwise protected

Packing tips

  • Many full-size hairspray cans exceed the 3.4 oz carry-on limit; look for a travel can or pack the big one in your checked bag.
  • If the can's cap is lost, tape over the nozzle or slip it into a sealed bag so it can't be pressed in transit.
  • Aerosol hair texturizers and setting sprays follow the same rules as hairspray.

Outside the US

  • UKGOV.UK lists hairspray among liquids: 100 ml per container at most UK airports, while some airports with newer scanners allow up to 2 litres. Source
  • EUAerosols must be 100 ml or less per container in a single transparent bag of up to 1 litre. Source

Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.

Questions people ask

Can you take aerosol hairspray on a plane?

Yes. In a carry-on the can must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less; in checked bags each can may be up to 18 oz (500 ml) with the nozzle capped.

Is pump hairspray treated differently from aerosol?

Not at TSA screening: both are liquids limited to 3.4 oz (100 ml) per container in a carry-on.

Sources