Want effortless, beachy waves all-year round? You need to know how to use sea salt spray. It's hands down the best product in your hair arsenal for achieving it.
If you’ve had a go at using the hair styling hero previously and ended up with a crunchy mess, you’re not alone. When it comes to using sea salt spray correctly, there are a few common mistakes – from overusing the product to applying it incorrectly.
To help you achieve the tousled texture you’re looking for, we asked some of our favourite hairstylists to give their tips and tricks on how to use sea salt spray effectively.
11 best sea salt sprays, according to a beauty editor
Gallery11 Photos
By Denise Primbet and Shani Cohen
“Sea salt spray is designed to create texture, movement and that slightly undone, lived-in finish that many people associate with beach hair,” Adam Reed, hairstylist and founder of Arkive by Adam Reed tells GLAMOUR. “It adds grip to the hair, encourages natural texture and can make styles feel fuller and less polished. I think of it as a styling product that helps hair look effortless, while actually doing quite a lot of the work behind the scenes.”
“It really can do something for everyone,” adds Harriet Barber, founder of B Hairdressing and Paul Mitchell educator. “From thick hair to fine hair, it’s all about using it correctly.”
Hair By Sam McKnight Sundaze Sea Spray
Bumble and bumble Surf Spray
The type of finish you’re looking for will impact how and when you apply the product. “Sea salt spray works best on damp hair before styling. Applying it at this stage allows the product to distribute evenly and helps create texture as the hair dries,” explains Adam. “It can also be used on dry hair as a finishing product if you want to revive movement or add a little more separation throughout the day.”
Whether you’re applying to damp or dry hair, all of our experts agree that applying the product slow and steadily is the best way to avoid ending up with a dry or stiff finish. “Start with less than you think you need, a few sprays is often enough,” says Natalie Ashworth, founder of Gemini Hair & Beauty Paul Mitchell Educator. “You can always add more, but too much can leave hair feeling stiff or dry.”
The best shampoo for dry hair to hydrate thirsty strands
Gallery15 Photos
By Elle Turner and Annabelle Spranklen
Unlike mousse, which creates volume in the hair – especially when applied at the root – sea salt spray is best applied to mid-lengths and ends. “For natural texture, scrunch the hair gently as it dries,” adds Adam. “For a more polished result, apply it before blow-drying and use it to build subtle movement and body into the hair.”
For more controlled use, he shares his favourite tricks for using sea salt spray like a pro. “Spray it into your hands first and work it through selectively where you want texture rather than applying it everywhere,” he continues.
As mentioned, if overused, sea salt spray can create dryness and stiffness in the hair – far from the effortless waves that it can help to achieve when used correctly. “Sea salt sprays work by roughening the hair slightly to create texture, which is why they can sometimes leave the hair feeling dehydrated if overused,” explains Adam. “The easiest way to counteract that is to make sure you’re balancing texture with moisture. A good conditioner, leave-in treatment or lightweight hair oil can help maintain softness while still enjoying the benefits of texture.”
If you’re on the way out and find yourself in a sticky situation with limited time to fix it, don’t panic! “If this happens you could use some serum to help soften,” Natalie advises and avoid this happening by “layering the product over time rather than use too much at once.”
If you’re after a textured finish every day, can you use sea salt spray to achieve it? Yes, but there are some caveats. “This can definitely be done daily, with the right product you don’t have to worry about over doing it,” shares Natalie. “If you do find that you have the right amount of product in your hair, say on day two, but the hair needs a little revamp, using water to reactivate the product could work well or using a dry conditioning spray.”
Adam advises using it only when needed. “Most people will benefit from using it when they want texture rather than every single day,” he says. However, if you are using sea salt spray on a daily basis, try looking for more conditioning formulas to help retain moisture and avoid dryness.
Kevin.Murphy Hair.Resort.Spray
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Texturising Sea Spray