The Best Way To Use Sea Salt Spray On Short Or Long Hair

A day at the beach can do wonders for your soul – and your strands. Sure, it may leave your skin feeling tight, but there’s nothing like a dip in the ocean to leave your hair looking perfectly tousled and effortlessly cool – the literal definition of beachy waves. Now that summer is approaching (or maybe it’s already here!), you don’t have to wait for your first swim to get that easy texture. All it takes is one simple styling product.

Yes, I’m talking about a sea salt spray, of course. It’s the beach, bottled – just a few spritzes will score you easy, breezy, surfer-girl hair, no vacation required. Also nice: “A sea salt spray can be used on any hair type or texture,” says hairstylist Lia Hakim. “It’s a great way to add volume and enhance your hair’s natural appearance.”

Meet the experts: Lia Hakim is a hairstylist, CEO & Founder of Hott Salons & Hott Franchising. Lauren Paglionico is a hairstylist and founder of Lm Beauty in New York City. Robert Reyes is a Chicago-based hairstylist.

Dealing with fine, straight stands? A sea salt spray works wonders for imparting both lift and texture. Thicker waves or curls? The styler is great for adding separation and definition to this type of hair, says hairstylist Lauren Paglionico. And PSA, you don’t need long hair to get these benefits. Salt spray is a dream for shorter strands too, enhancing texture and separation, adds Robert Reyes. It’s a great way to add visual interest to styles like a simple bob. It delivers malleable memory and hold, without being too stiff or tacky like some sprays or pomades can be, he adds.

Here, pros explain why it’s worth adding one of these to your roster of stylers – it’s surprisingly versatile and easy to incorporate into your existing haircare routine. Get ready for Blue Crush-worthy locks.

What Is Sea Salt Spray?

Before images of brands sending droves of employees to their nearest shore to fill bottles with ocean water enter your mind, please know that it is a bit more complicated than that – but not too far off. In fact, the name is no misnomer; these products are, in fact, intended to mimic the volume and texture you get after being in the ocean and are usually made with actual sea salt, says Hakim.

In terms of their intended purpose, I went over that above, but essentially “a sea salt spray is a type of texture spray, a styling product that helps enhance piecey-ness and volume, giving hair a tousled, lived-in look,” says Reyes.

What Are The Benefits Of A Sea Salt Spray?

Salt is innately drying, which, in this case, is a good thing. (The drying effects are temporary and not problematic, so long as you wash and condition your hair regularly.) “It pulls moisture from the hair shaft, which causes the strands to swell slightly, plumping hair and making it feel fuller,” Hakim explains. Because strands are stiffer and less smooth, they don’t collapse as easily, which further boosts volume, she adds.

The salt also roughs up the cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair, which creates that undone, piece-y look and feel, Paglionico points out. Another, lesser-known benefit? Sea salt sprays impart some grip and hold, Reyes says. While they’re not a one-to-one swap for hairspray, they can be used to create more memory in the hair when creating a style.

6 Salt Sprays To Try

How To Use Sea Salt Spray

The most traditional way is to mist it onto clean, towel-dried hair. “If the hair is soaking wet, the spray can get too diluted and you won’t get that gritty, texturising coating on the strands,” says Hakim. Damp is good because it gives the salt some moisture to absorb, which is what then results in that desired, tousled effect, Paglionico notes. Here’s a quick step-by-step:

• Spritz it on. Focus on the mid-lengths through ends, adjusting the amount based on your hair texture. Hakim recommends starting with three to four sprays if you have finer hair, five to eight if your strands are thick or curly.
• Choose your drying adventure. If you prefer to air dry, Paglionico recommends scrunching the spray into the hair in an upward motion to further help coax out texture. If you want to blow-dry, try Reyes’ go-to technique. Twist small sections of the hair, then blow-dry with a diffuser and on a cooler temperature (this ensures you won’t over-dry the hair and end up with unwanted frizz).
• Style your hair. Once your hair is dry, undo each hand-twisted section, gently pulling it apart. Either way, set aside your perfectionist tendencies. “The effect is meant to look imperfect and lived-in,” he says.
• Or, spray at night. Usually wash before bed? Reyes says lots of his clients like to use a sea salt spray on damp hair at night, sleep with it in a braid, then undo it in the morning for an extra wavy look.

Refresh And Lift

You can also use a sea salt spray to refresh second- or third-day hair, and spritzing it directly onto dry tresses will actually amplify the texturing effects, says Reyes. The caveat: You’ll want to use less than you would if you were applying it onto damp hair since there’s no water at all to dilute it. Hakim says a few spritzes throughout is usually sufficient. This will revive your style and can even absorb some excess oil, too. If a few sections are looking a little lacklustre, you can touch up with a curling iron – the sea salt spray will make the curls last longer, she says.

Finally, while sea salt sprays are most often associated with wearing your hair down, Reyes points out that they’re good to reach for even if you’re pulling your hair up. “The grip they deliver makes them perfect for updos and struggle-free pining,” he says.

Bottom Line: This Product Makes Styling A Cinch, So Get On Board

Sold on sea salt spray yet? While they may not come with the same soul-soothing effects as a dip in the ocean, they are undoubtedly a worthwhile tool in your haircare arsenal. Not to mention there’s no need to stress about sun damage – we’ll take it.

This article by Brian Underwood was originally published on Women’s Health US.