Why you should fix your pastel paintings with professional fixatives, not hairspray

Every now and then, we get asked why you can’t simply use hairspray to fix pastel paintings. After all, it’s considerably cheaper than professional fixatives.

The experts in the Schmincke laboratory have the following advice: Hairspray contains various substances that you would rather not have on your artwork, such as fragrances, plasticizers, silicone oils, and more. In the past, shellac was also a key ingredient in hairspray—and it is notorious for yellowing over time.

Professional fixatives, on the other hand, are specifically tested for their intended purpose. They are effective, resistant to aging, non-yellowing, and stable - qualities that hairspray does not offer and is not required to offer.

So before reaching for hairspray, it is better to leave your pastel unfixed than to fix it incorrectly.

For pastels, we therefore recommend Schmincke’s range of professional pastel fixatives, such as Pastel Fixative AEROSPRAY (50402) or Universal Fixative AEROSPRAY (50401).