Low VOC hair spray fixative compositions containing a fixative which is a tetramer of vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl caprolactam, 3-(N-dimethylaminopropyl) methacrylamide and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl acrylamide or acrylate, in predetermined compositional ranges of each monomer, and molecular weight, are described. The hair spray compositions herein are clear and low in viscosity, and form a spray of relatively small particle size which spreads evenly on the hair of the user as clear films which exhibit an effective high humidity curl retention property, good stiffness, and low tack and short drying times.