The Grooming Journal
Sea Salt Hair Spray | What It Does & How To Use It
What is sea salt spray and what does it do? Learn more about this wonderful new hair styling product for men and take your hair styling game to the next level!
Post updated 24th May 2023 - While sea salt sprays are usually a pre-styling aid, they can be used on your hair no matter what products you have already applied. Compared to regular hair sprays and gels, sea salt sprays serve as a lighter, natural alternative—without weighing your hair down or leading to gunky product buildup. Discover our top picks and find out more about how you can use sea salt hair spray and why it's good for your hair.
What Is Sea Salt Hair Spray & What Does It Do For Your Hair?
Sea salt spray is a product that gives you that perfect beach hair look without having to go near the ocean. Named after their key ingredient, these sprays are rich in minerals, consisting of sea salt and other ingredients like water, alcohol, or glycerin. The smell can vary from floral to fruity, but it always has a salty undertone.
When applied to limp or straight locks, sea salt sprays offer an extra infusion of volume, texture, and thickness for styling. The texture also varies in thickness: some sprays are more watery than others, making them easier to distribute evenly throughout your hair for a more natural-looking effect.
Trust us: when the sea salt air settles on your scalp, you'll see a change almost instantly. Check out some of our favourite products and uses below.
Humanery's Top 4 Recommendations on Sea Salt Hair Spray for Men
Alott Sea Salt Spray
Why We Love It: The Sea Salt Spray by alott is enriched with fortifying ingredients that are gentle enough for daily use and creates enough hold to maintain a hair style for the whole day. Housed in a recyclable glass bottle which can be reused, this is our top choice for men's sea salt hair sprays.
Key Ingredients: Epsom Salts, Magnesium and Aloe Vera
Ruffians Marine Salt Spray
Why We Love It: The Ruffians Marine Salt Spray adds texture to your hair to create that sought-after beachy look. Infused with seaweed extracts, this spray protects your hair from sun damage, adds vitamins and minerals to your locks and offers a flexible hold. Perfect for when you need a quick touch up, spritz this salt spray into your hair for effortless waves.
Key Ingredients: Sea Salt, Seaweed Extracts
John Masters Organics Sea Mist Spray
Why We Love It: John Masters Organics Sea Mist Spray is perfect for those days where your hair needs a lick more texture. The light scent instantly invigorates, while nourishing ingredients work to add volume, minus the crunch. Suitable for all hair types.
Key Ingredients: Sea Salt, Lavender, Aloe Vera
Murdock London Sea Salt Spray
Why We Love It: With a volumising and texturising formula, the Murdock London Sea Salt Spray is ideal for tired and flat hair that needs a boost. Infused with a blend of nourishing oils such as Sweet Orange, it hydrates deep down, while natural extracts such as Grapefruit Peel Extract leave your facial hair soft and volumised.
Key Ingredients: Sea Salt, Grapefruit Peel Extract.
How Do I Apply Sea Salt Hair Spray?
1. Start with clean, damp/towel-dried hair: You should achieve the best results by applying a sea salt spray to damp hair.
2. Shake the bottle: Make sure all the ingredients are well-mixed.
3. Apply the sea salt spray: Hold the bottle about 6 to 8 inches away from your head and mist the spray evenly throughout the hair. For texture apply to the lengths of the hair, for volume you will need to focus on the roots.
4. Scrunch: Use your fingers to encourage natural waves and achieve a desired style. This action will also help to evenly distribute the product.
5. Air dry or blowdry: You can either let your hair dry naturally, or use a hairdryer on a low heat and use your hands to enhance the waves.
6. Optional additional styling: Once your hair is dry, you can use other men's hair styling products on top of the sea salt spray to emphasise and set the style.
4 Great Ways To Use Sea Salt Spray
• Pre-styler: Apply your favourite sea salt spray to damp hair, and use your hands to scrunch the hair to achieve an effortless 'beachy' hairstyle. Either let your hair dry naturally, or use a hairdryer on a medium to low heat to help style and set the hair.
• Volume and Texture: Spray the sea salt styler into the roots of dry hair to help build volume into flat hair. Massage into the base of the hair, using your fingertips, to lift the hair.
• Refresher: Use a sea salt spray to revive unwashed hair. Sea salt absorbs excess oil so if you don't have time to wash your hair to can use it as an alternative to a dry shampoo.
• Set and Finish: As well as a pre-styler, a sea salt spray can also be used to finish off your hairstyle. Spray a light mist over your styled hair to add a bit more texture and set your hair in place.
How Much Sea Salt Spray Should I Use?
As much as we’d love to give you an exact amount, there is no “perfect” number of sprays. Ultimately, the number of sprays you need will depend on your hair’s length, thickness, and what type of style you’re trying to achieve!
If you have fine or short hair, we recommend using just one spray per application; if you have longer hair, you may need several applications before getting the results you want.
Our advice: start slow, and add as you go until you achieve the desired look.
Will Sea Salt Dry Out My Hair?
The salt in water molecules attracts moisture, so sea salt sprays can certainly pull hydration out of your hair—even if you're surfing at sea! However, high-quality sea salt spray formulations typically include additional nourishing ingredients to counteract dryness.
If you still feel your hair is drying out, consider adding a serum or other natural oils to your hair routine. Also, remember to regularly wash your hair with a sulphate-free shampoo to keep your strands healthy and happy!
Is A Sea Salt Spray Suitable For All Hair Types?
A sea salt spray is generally suitable for a wide range of hair types. It is particularly popular for men with medium thickness and medium length hair. Plus, it's ideal for you guys with straight or wavy hair who are looking an effortlessly, natural, textured look.
However, it might not be quite as effective on very fine or thin hair as it can potentially weigh the hair down and make it feel stiff. This is, of course, also dependent on the product.
Also, for anyone with dry or damaged hair, you may find it dries the hair our further. So, it's important to use it sparingly and alongside hydrating haircare products.
How Often Can I Use A Sea Salt Spray?
How often you use a sea salt spray to style your hair will depend on the product you are using, and also the condition of your hair. We advise you use a sea salt spray 'occasionally' - meaning it's best not to use it everyday to avoid drying out your hair.
Using a sea salt spray up to 3 times a week should be sufficient to achieve your desired 'beachy' hairstyle but without removing essential moisture from your hair.
As with all hair products, it's important to take note of the condition of your hair and see how it responds to the product. If you find your hair is becoming brittle or dry, trying using the sea salt spray less frequently.
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