Sea salt spray is your beach hair in a bottle. Think about how your hair feels with the salt water, wind, and a day at the beach; a sea salt spray will help recreate that feel and look – unfortunately, minus the beach trip.
Sea salt adds texture and volume with a gritty matte finish to all hair lengths. Learn how to use this simple magic to pull off a slightly messy look that is all the rage now!
First, What Is a Sea Salt Spray?
Contrary to what you might have assumed, the spray contains not just some sea salt diluted in water, even though this is indeed the key component. Most brands enrich the mixture with nourishing oils and proteins that makes it safe to use on all hair types. For example, coconut oil and aloe vera are popular components.
A sea salt spray gives hair a scrunchy feel and qualifies as a texturizing product, which makes it excellent for giving texture to soft straight hair and enhancing natural waves. You should be extra careful when using it in coarse hair, as large-diameter strands feel quite wiry on their own and need smoothing rather than texturizing.
Instagram / @blessed_brunettes
How to Use Sea Salt Spray
It is best to apply sea salt spray on damp hair. Always remember to shake the bottle before using the spray as ingredients may settle over time. When looking to create movement on straight hair or enhance your natural wave, apply sea salt spray to roots and a mid-length area, twist sections and/or scrunch your hair, and let it air dry. The smaller the sections you twist and scrunch, the wavier your hair will be.
Instagram / @jt_maniahairstudio
To add extra volume, diffuse your wavy hair with diffuser attachment on a blow dryer on a low to medium heat and speed. If your hair is on the straight side and you want a more polished beach wave, curl a few sections around your face with a curling iron and then mist and gently scrunch dry locks with some salt spray.
Instagram / @jt_maniahairstudio
You can also use salt spray to achieve more volume in fine locks. Here, its role will be similar to that of a texture powder or dry shampoo that prevents oils from weighing down the roots. Working on the damp hair, section and spray the roots and over-direct the root area using the nozzle of the blow dryer on medium heat. The heat will lock in the volume from the sea salt. Once you have a good pre-dry at the roots, finish blowout in sections using a round brush and overdirecting the root area.
Instagram / @jt_maniahairstudio
It also works great as a pre-styler for short and men’s hair to set the short hairstyle in place and give it a textured, matte finish. Just give a few spritzs to apply a small amount of the product into your damp hair and blow dry as usual.
Instagram / @nevilleromanzammit
It is ok to use sea salt spray on dry hair – it will add texture to your existing style. However, when working with hair that is dehydrated, apply a leave-in conditioner before adding the sea salt spray to achieve the desired look. The leave-in conditioner will help keep hair moisturized and looking its best.
5 Best Sea Salt Sprays to Try
The newest beach wave hair products contain super-moisturizing and nourishing ingredients, lightweight formulas and tempting extra features, so you’re sure to find a perfect texturizer for your needs and wants. My all-time favorite salt sprays are from the Bumble and Bumble family, but there are a few more definitely worth your attention:
B&B Surf Spray – the best sea salt spray from the OG of the surf line. Free from harsh parabens and sulfates, Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray is a leading beach hair spray, constantly flying off the shelves of every supplying retailer. This little 4-ounce bottle includes all of the ingredients needed to create matte volume, fullness, and just-got-home-from-Cabo waves. Even when summertime has ended, this salt-infused formula can create surf spray hair and waves.
B&B Surf Infusion – the best option for thick coarse hair. Remember me saying the salt spray it’s for coarse hair? Well, B&B Surf Infusion is, as it is designed specifically for this hair type and helps to get moisture back into the strands. It adds a splendid shine and definition, too.
B&B Surf Foam Spray – the best sea salt spray for adding volume. This part mousse part salt spray allows getting the most lift and volume in fine to medium hair for a big, beachy texture of the locks. At the same time, the blend is infused with coconut water to protect the health of the fine strands and prevent split ends.
Instagram / @bumbleandbumble
Oliology Coconut Oil Beach Wave Sea Salt Mist – the best sea salt spray for fine hair. This is another spray that is great for adding grit and texture, but it creates a softer finish so that the locks do not have a crunchy feel that not all of you may like. In addition to styling your locks, the spray can actually make your hair stronger due to the bamboo extract it contains.
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray -the best sea salt spray with anti-frizz effect. If you have frizzy, hard-to-handle hair, the aloe leaf in this spray will moisturize hair while the sea salt adds texture. Aloe extracts will also protect hair against dryness while soothing and healing damage from sun exposure and help keep the scalp healthy.
Instagram / @notyourmothers
How to Prepare Your Own Salt Water Spray
If you’re in for DIY hair products, you can easily prepare your own sea salt spray, too. Here is what you need:
- a spray bottle;
- 1 or 1½ cups of warm water;
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt;
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or avocado oil;
- (optional) 4 drops of an essential oil for scent (lavender or tangerine are my favorites).
Add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake well to mix. Always remember to shake well before each use!
Instagram / @maoranature
Can I Use Sea Salt Spray Every Day?
It’s true when they say, “too much of a good thing…” Overuse of sea salt spray can make the hair feel dry and brittle, so it’s not recommended to use it every day. The salt in the product removes moisture from the hair, which adds volume and texture, but leaves hair dehydrated. If you use the spray quite often, be sure to use a good moisturizing conditioner or invest in a weekly deep conditioner.
Don’t be afraid to give sea salt spray a try; pick one up, or make your own, and you will be happy you did! It’s always been a favorite of mine! Follow the tips above and follow me on Instagram @jt_maniahairstudio to share your experiences.
Featured Image via Instagram
