Sea Salt Spray

Sea salt spray is a popular hair product used to create beachy, textured waves and enhance natural waves or curls. It typically contains a mixture of sea salt, water, and other beneficial ingredients like oils and extracts. The spray is applied to damp or dry hair and helps create a tousled, beach-inspired hairstyle.
By adding texture and volume, sea salt spray can transform flat hair into a more dynamic and voluminous style. It is particularly beneficial for those with curly hair, as it can help enhance curls and control frizz.
There are a few sea salt sprays suitable for different hair types. If you have naturally straight or wavy hair, you can try using Nexxus Between Washes Beach Waves Sea Salt Spray or TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Sea Salt Spray for achieving beachy waves and texture in your hair. These products can help add texture and enhance waves without weighing the hair down.
The Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray. The spray consists of Oribe’s Signature Complex, a blend of exotic oil extracts, a beach wave complex, glycerin, and ginger root extract. The testers said this product elevated their curling efforts and created perfectly piece-y beach waves.
Benefits of Sea Salt Spray
Sea salt sprays offer more than a simple mixture of salt and water. It’s not recommended to gather ocean water for use in your hair, as there are differences between bottled sea salt sprays and natural ocean water.
Bottled sea salt sprays, like Beardbrand Sea Salt Spray, utilize specific ingredients that differentiate them from ocean water. Let’s explore the key components of Beardbrand Sea Salt Spray:
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt):
Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, is a different compound from table salt (sodium chloride). It is often used in bath salts to alleviate muscle soreness and inflammation. Epsom salt, when applied to the hair, may help remove excess oil and toxins from the scalp, resulting in added volume and lift to flat hair. By reducing the oil, the hair strands become lighter and more voluminous.
Magnesium Chloride (Dead Sea Salt):
Magnesium chloride, also referred to as sea salt, is the type of salt used in Beardbrand Sea Salt Spray. The magnesium chloride used in this spray is extracted from the Dead Sea, known for its rejuvenating properties for the skin and hair. Compared to sodium chloride, magnesium chloride is a more enriched salt that contains 21 essential minerals. These minerals are recognized for their detoxifying, exfoliating, and healing effects. Although research on magnesium chloride in hair products is limited, early reports suggest positive results.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder (Aloe):
Aloe is included in Beardbrand Sea Salt Spray to replenish moisture that may be absorbed by the salt. Aloevera offers benefits for the hair and scalp, including anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce or eliminate dandruff. It effectively cleanses excessively oily hair without causing dryness. Aloe is also rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B12, which aid in the repair and strengthening of hair shafts.
Kaolinite (Kaolin Clay):
Kaolinite, commonly known as kaolin clay, is a layered silicate clay mineral that forms through the weathering of feldspar or other aluminum silicate minerals. Kaolin clay is rich in minerals and nutrients. It has a softening effect on the hair, assists in detangling, and enhances the natural curl pattern. When combined with water, kaolinite clay binds to toxins and aids in their removal from the skin and hair.
How to Use
Begin with Moist Hair
For those desired beachy waves that scream confidence, it’s best to start with damp hair. According to Mayfield, an expert stylist, sea salt spray can be used on dry or damp hair, but never on wet hair. When your hair is dry, you can distribute the spray to add texture or create a tousled look as a foundation. However, when applied to damp hair, after distribution, you can scrunch your hair to amplify its volume and achieve the desired style.
It’s advisable to apply a texturizing spray before using sea salt spray on freshly washed hair to give your soon-to-be-waves some extra flair. Allow your wet hair to air dry until it reaches a damp state, and gently comb through it to remove any knots or tangles.
Shake the Spray Thoroughly
Before liberally spraying c-salt spray onto your head, ensure that the product is well-mixed. Since sea salt sprays contain solid elements such as salt, the ingredients might settle and separate over time. Give the bottle a good shake before you press that spray button.
Spritz with Precision
To ensure that every strand of your hair benefits from the sea salt spray’s properties, spritz one section at a time. Concentrate on the roots and mid-length areas of your hair, as the tips are more prone to dryness and damage. Pro-Tip #1: To effortlessly enhance volume without drying out your hair, apply dry shampoo to your roots and use sea salt spray on the rest of your hair.
Adjust the amount of sea salt spray based on factors such as hair type, thickness, length, and the specific product you’re using. Take care not to oversaturate your hair by spraying it too closely, as this can result in waves that are less than beachy. Mayfield advises, “Never spray too close to the hair, and don’t go overboard.
The spray should gently coat the hair, not dampen it.” Don’t hesitate to experiment with a small amount of sea salt spray and gradually increase the quantity if needed.
Choose Your Styling Approach
Now it’s time for the fun part. Once you’ve applied the C-salt spray, you have several options for completing your desired look. As suggested by Grand, if you sprayed it onto damp hair, you can either let it air dry naturally or use a diffuser attachment on a blow dryer for a few minutes to enhance volume. If you prefer air drying, you can twist and scrunch your strands or even create loose braids.
Mayfield highlights that sea salt spray is not only great for achieving beach waves and loose curls but also for braiding. It helps secure the hair within the braid and, if you’re aiming for a relaxed boho look, it assists in identifying which pieces to pull out.
Apply the Finishing Touches
To ensure that your carefree waves maintain their beach-ready appearance throughout the day, consider adding a touch of texturizing spray or a flexible-hold hairspray once your hair is dry.
Pro-Tip #2: Sea salt spray doesn’t have to be limited to damp hair. According to Grand, applying it to styled or curled hair can give it a polished yet effortless look. It can also be used on short hair instead of sticky pomades to create a textured and gritty appearance.
DIY Sea Salt Spray Recipes
If you prefer a more personalized approach or want to save some money, you can create your own sea salt spray at home. Here are a couple of simple recipes to try:
Recipe 1: Basic Sea Salt Spray
Ingredients:
- Warm water – 1 cup
- Sea salt – 1 tbsp
- Argan oil or coconut oil (optional) – 1 tsp
- Your favorite essential oil (optional, for fragrance) – 4-5 drops
Instructions:
- Mix sea salt and warm water in a spray bottle until the salt is dissolved.
- If desired, add argan oil or coconut oil for added moisture.
- Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. (optional)
- Shake well before each use.
Recipe 2: Nourishing Sea Salt Spray
Ingredients:
- Warm water – 1 cup
- Sea salt – 1 tbsp
- Aloe vera gel – 1 tsp
- Conditioner (choose one that suits your hair type) – 1 tsp
- Lavender essential oil (optional, for fragrance) – 4-5 drops
Instructions:
- Dissolve the sea salt in warm water in a spray bottle.
- Add the aloe vera gel and conditioner.
- Add a few drops of lavender essential oil for a soothing fragrance. (optional)
- Shake well before using.
Feel free to experiment with these recipes and adjust the ingredient quantities based on your hair’s needs and your desired level of texture.
Does using sea salt spray cause dryness in my hair?
Salt possesses inherent properties that tend to extract moisture and natural oils from both the hair and skin, resulting in a drying effect.
To combat this potential dryness, numerous c-salt spray brands incorporate additional ingredients. For instance, Beardbrand C-Salt Spray includes aloe, which aids in retaining moisture for the hair and skin.
When applying the c-salt spray, some immediate drying will transpire. As the damp hair gradually dries, the salt component draws out excess water and oils, creating a textured appearance.
It is important to note that excessive usage of the c-salt spray can yield a dry and brittle texture in the hair. However, with regular cleansing and conditioning routines, the hair should not experience undue dryness.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that each person’s hair is unique, and there is no universal answer as to how c-salt spray will affect an individual’s hair.
For those with excessively oily hair, the drying effect of c-salt spray might be desirable. Conversely, individuals already grappling with dryness should consider alternative hair products, as c-salt spray may not be the most suitable choice.
For individuals whose hair falls somewhere between excessively oily and bone-dry, finding the right balance between using sea salt spray and incorporating conditioning and moisturizing treatments will likely require some trial and error.
FAQs
Using sea salt spray every day is not recommended as it can lead to excessive dryness in the hair. While sea salt spray can provide texture and volume, frequent use may strip away natural oils, causing brittleness. It’s best to find a balance and use it occasionally to avoid over-drying.
Salt spray typically consists of more than just salt and water. While the primary components are salt and water, many commercial salt sprays include additional ingredients like minerals, oils, or texturizing agents to enhance the desired effects on hair texture and style.
If you’re looking for alternatives to sea salt spray, there are a few options you can consider. Some popular alternatives include texturizing sprays, dry shampoos, volumizing mousses, or even homemade solutions like a mixture of water and Epsom salt. These alternatives can help achieve similar texture and volume effects for your hair.