A low volatile organic compound hair spray composition in the form of a stable, clear, single phase microemulsion in which the particles therein have a diameter of less than 1 micron, consisting essentially of by weight,(a) a butyl half-ester of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and ethyl vinyl ether in an amount of about 2-10%, optionally neutralized up to 20 mole %,(b) poly(methyl vinyl ether) as a surface active polymer in an amount of at least 0.75 to 1 part of (a);(c) a secondary surfactant that is a polyethoxylated glyceryl fatty acid ester in an amount of at least 0.1%, and which has a hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of greater than 10,(d) ethanol in an amount of 20 to 50%, and(e) water to 100%.