fix versus hairspray

[jackiesimmonds]

thought you all might like to see something I spotted when browsing today (being very lazy and NOT painting!) It was written by a chemist:

:FIXATIVE VERSUS HAIRSPRAY
"To some extent, you get what you pay for. In hairspray, you can pay a lot for a well-recognized name or for a fragrance that smells nice. For an art spray, you are paying for even dispersion of the spray and a good acrylate coating that will preserve your piece.

"Some hairsprays will have the same ingredients as art fixatives, but be wary of the dispersal system (spray). There may be some excellent hairsprays that will serve your purpose. They may or may not cost less than the art spray.

"Also, be forewarned that many hairsprays contain hair conditioners, which is usually another name for a natural or synthetic oil. These conditioners could leave grease spots on your art. The oils to avoid are dimethicone, silicone (anyone pretty much), anything 'oil' or 'lubricant', vitamin A or E (both are oil-based), anything ending with 'glycol'. Be wary of anything listed as a plant extract.

"I would think the really inexpensive, no-frills sprays might work well, like maybe White Rain or Final Net or some other hairspray that has been around for several years. Just look for an acrylate in the ingredients. Suspension in alcohol is probably better than in water.

"The quality of the chemical isn't any higher in art spray. The concentration might be higher, but I think extra-stiff hairspray would have at least as much. The nozzle or sprayer may be better on the art spray and the formula may have been mixed to deliver an especially fine mist."

Jackie

[just dave]

Thanks for the info, Jackie. This comes up with pastels and drawing.

I only use hairspray with a small sketchbook that goes in bag with a disposable camera and a few drawing implements. Only for sketches which are not intended to last for years.

I do have a small 2-oz spray bottle with liquid fixative for travel for more serious studies or artworks on location.

[angecald]

Thank you, Jackie, for the info, but I'm getting confused. If hairspray and fixatif have essentially the same ingredients, what is responsible for those noxious fumes you get from fixatif? I've never been a big user of hairspray, but I also never worried about using it in the house. Fixatif, on the other hand, not only smells terrible but gives instant headaches. I always take my pictures outdoors to spray them, and leave them there for a few minutes before bringing them back in. When I was in art school, we had to do that even when we had to carry them down two flights of stairs and go out into -30 degree weather. Nobody argued - we could tell this stuff is toxic. If it's just a slightly modified hairspray, it seems they could give us something safer if they wanted to.

[Birdie]

I am wondering that myself.......Or if hairspary is safe to use in the house...??? I try really hard not to have to use fixatives but every now and then you just have to... So I can't wait to hear what other post come out of this...
And thank you Jackie for post this....It is so hard to know for sure what is good or not...



Birdie

:rolleyes:

[jackiesimmonds]

sorry - I cannot add more - those were not my words, just something I read on the internet. Might be worth doing a bit more investigation tho.
Anyone want to volounteer?

[just dave]

Most fixatives have a solvent in them; not just a fine-dispersal acrlylic or varnish. That's what makes the noxious fumes. Every artist brand seems to have solvent. Only the crafting brands are available without the solvent. Check the labels.

That's the biggest reason "they" say not to fix the top layer of a pastel painting/drawings, I assume. Not only does the coating change the color brightness but the solvent carries some of the pastel particles from the top layer down, mixing and dissolving to some extent.

[Drumbeat-trish]

Interesting stuff !!!!! thanks for the info jackie - hair-spray is all I got for the moment till I can get to an art store. Dave I always wondered what the reason for not fixing the top layer was-know I know-:)

[Bkargraves]

I learn something new everytime I log into this pastel forum. Thank you for al lthe info. I have never thought of some hair sprays having oil in them or conditioners but they do don't they. I personally use Krylon workable fixative when I must but don't use too much. Then the framer always acts like I'm nuts 'cause I don't spray the heck out of it.