You are here:Home Natural Living DIY Beach Waves Spray

DIY Beach Waves Spray

57 Comments

DIY Beach Waves Sea Salt Spray Recipe Cheap and works great DIY Beach Waves Spray

Second to Dry Shampoo, sea salt spray is probably my most used hair product, and it is also super easy to make yourself!

Sea Salt spray  or Beach Waves Spray has gained popularity lately, and it is the product most often used for those beachy waves that are so popular. Many of the sea salt sprays are also drying to the hair, as salt pulls moisture and natural oils out.

The gold standard of beach sprays for hair (in my opinion) is Bumble to Bumble Surf Spray, which does work great, but costs $25 a bottle which is about $24.50 out of my price range for hair products. This particular brand uses Magnesium Sulfate (aka Epsom Salt) instead of Sea Salt, which makes it less drying to hair. It also has some natural oils (aka Conditioner) to replenish hair.

This is one of the simplest natural hair care recipes to make at home, and it literally costs about 1/50th of the store bought versions. It adds great texture and volume to hair without the chemicals. If you make it yourself, you can also customize to your hair type to get the texture you want.

DIY Beach Spray Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of hot water (not boiling)- Can also use strong Chamomile Tea as the base if you want to lighten hair or black tea as the base if you want to darken hair, but you will need to keep in the fridge.
  • 2 tablespoons epsom salts (or more for extra texture)
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan or Sea Salt (optional but adds stiffness- I get it here)
  • 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel (I get it here)
  • 1/2 tsp conditioner (I’ve used this Organix coconut one and Dr. Bronners Lavender Coconut ) or a few drops of almond oil or jajoba oil
  • optional: a few drops of essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume for scent- Lavender and citrus are great options
  • optional: 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vodka or alcohol- if you want to lighten hair (the lemon juice lightens and the alcohol preserves)

How to Make:

Get a spray bottle that holds at least 10 ounces. I used a glass bottle made from an old apple cider vinegar bottle and a regular spray top. I also tripled the recipe to accomodate the size of my bottle. Put the hot water (or tea) in the spray bottle and add the epsom salts, sea salt (optional), aloe vera, conditioner, scent (optional) and lemon juice/vodka (if using). Put the cap on the bottle and shake for 1-2 minutes or until epsom salts and sea salt are dissolved. Store in the fridge if using lemon juice or tea base, or at room temperature if you aren’t. Will last 3-4 months or longer.

To Use:

DIY Sea Salt Texturizing Spray Recipe DIY Beach Waves Spray

Spray on damp hair and scrunch with a towel to dry for loose beach waves. (See picture of me- please excuse how large my nose looks in this picture and the fact that I am not wearing any make-up! Also, please excuse my lack of hair photography skills!)

Spray on dry hair and on roots for volume and texture without the waves. (See picture of the volume it gave my three year old. Excuse the apple eating and unorganized bookshelf!)

diy beach waves spray recipe DIY Beach Waves Spray

If your hair is straight and thin and you want all-day waves: Wash hair the night before and spray hair with Beach Spray while still damp. Then, either french braid into pigtails or wrap in a tight scrunched bun on top of your head. and leave overnight. By morning, your hair should be dry. Spritz with a little more spray and take out the braid/bun. Voila- all day beach waves. Spray with additional spray and scrunch if you want more stiffness.

Ever used Sea Salt Spray? Ever made your own hair products? Tell me below!

pf print icon DIY Beach Waves SprayPrint pf pdf icon DIY Beach Waves SprayPDF
Filed Under: Natural Living Tagged With: , ,

Related Posts

Like What You Read?

Sign up for exclusive Wellness Mama updates to get my newsletter, coupon codes, & bonuses emailed FREE! (No spam ever, I promise!)

About Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Many of the links on my site, especially those from Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs, Tropical Traditions and OraWellness are affiliate links. Should you click on these links and decide to purchase anything, I will receive a small commission and you will have my sincere thanks for supporting Wellness Mama!

DISCLAIMER: The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

  • Smoochagator

    This. Is. So. Cool! I can’t wait to try it! Also, it’s nice to see a picture of you FINALLY :-)

  • http://www.globallaservision.com/ San Diego LASIK

    I love it!!  Having the Beach wave hair without going to the beach.  I often do mine through curling iron then using my hands to separate the waves.  I will try this one soon, but one question, won’t it leave the hair stiff and dry?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It does leave hair a little stiff, but it hold the waves in. It is surprisingly like actual beach hair…

  • http://www.femfusionfitness.com/ Brianne

    I can’t wait to try this! I’m almost out of my “Dream Curls” spray, which is very similar to the beach waves spray… So you’ve saved me a trip to the store! 
    And I agree with Smoochagator above — nice to see a picture of YOU! You’re lovely! 

  • ChiropracticConsultant

    Now that’s something new and really helpful. saves you a lot of money. how did you discover these? by the way the hair in the photos looks gorgeous! 

  • http://profiles.google.com/chan.rambo Chan Rambo

    That is AWESOME! I’ve seen “homemade salt spray” recipes before, but they always call for adding some commercial hair gel, which for me defeats the purpose of avoiding those chemicals. I make my own shampoo and conditioner, but have not had any success with homemade styling product yet – this looks like it could be my first big win in that arena. Thank you!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Inspired by the commercial versions that have mostly the same ingredients but are really expensive :) and thanks :)

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Awwww… Thanks :) let me know how it works for you

  • Cari Osborne

    I just want to say THANK YOU! I have recently educated myself about the dangers of chemicals in household products and as I’ve been looking for alternative solutions I came across your site. It is THE most complete (and useful) site I’ve found for making your own without being too complicated, and the things I’ve tried so far really work! Thank you so much!

  • http://www.facebook.com/amy.stadler.7 Amy Stadler

    I have thicker hair that is sadly prone to frizz :( does this cause a lot of frizz or control frizz at all? It looks great and I hate having to dry & straighten my hair everyday or pull it back in a pony tail when I don’t feel like it.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Mine frizzes somewhat easily too and this didn’t cause frizz at all. I’d add a little extra oil or conditioner if you’re worried about it though…

  • roxanne

    This is fantastic!  I buy those beach hair sprays and they are expensive!  I’m definitely gonna try this!

  • http://thismasterofnone.wordpress.com/ Lytlejoc

    Thanks to another great blog (Crunchy Betty, if you’re wondering!), I tried rinsing my hair with the water that quinoa has been washed in. Pour it through your hair after washing, leave in for 3 minutes, then rinse out. I have fine hair that wants to wave, but can’t so much and this little trick gives me silky waves. It’s amazing! I am definitely trying your recipe, though. I absolutely love beach hair! Thanks for the share!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Thanks :-)

  • Jenny P

    I have everything but the aloe vera gel, do you think I could get the same effect without it?  Or should I go grab a little for this? 

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You probably can… It’s just for the moisture and shine… Let me know how it works!

  • Drinkpinkandlose

    Can you use it with shorter hair…like the inverted bob?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    yep… though it will probably just give volume/texture and slightly looser waves, but it should work well…

  • Pingback: Seven Quick Takes « Smoochagator

  • Kym Camac

    I have decided to embrace my curls cant afford store bought stuff and they leave my curls crunchy. just made this and dryed my hair with a diffuser wow my curls are spiral and defined firm no crunch. i will never use anything else thankyou

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yay! So glad it worked so well for you!

  • Regina

    I have very thin hair but I am going to try this. Does anyone have a recipe for homemade hair spray? thanks

  • Jaden

    I bought not your mothers beach spray stuff, and it doesn’t work at all for my hair. Excited to try this out! Hope it works,

  • Guest

    Do I need to store this in the fridge?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Nope…

  • Erica

    We are in the midst of a lifestyle change in our house. First I switched to all natural homemade cleaning supplies. Hair products were a bit scarier…. I have naturally curly, thin (since having kids), hair and admit that I am a hair product junkie. I made the coconut milk shampoo and was soooo surprised at the results. With a small amount of coconut oil run through my hair after it was dry, the frizz disappeared! It was a bit limp though, especially since I’m used to dream curls daily, so I mixed up a batch of the beach spray….. Love it! I didn’t have any aloe, but went for it. My hair is not as soft to touch, but I looks great, ringlets and all! Thanks so much Wellness Mama! Can’t wait till the new baby comes in feb. to try out some more recipes!

  • Elaine Kwok

    Would this work as an alternative to dry shampoo, if I have the time to let it dry out?

    My hair is very fine and oily, and I’m trying to find a great, volumizing option for the in-between wash days. I’ve been using cornstarch and commercial dry shampoos, and they just leave it somewhat less greasy and flat.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yes, I actually use a mix because my hair is very similar. I spray this on and let it dry, and then use an old powder brush with arrowroot powder to touch up any oily places…

  • Elaine Kwok

    It worked perfectly and kept my roots dry even through the next day! (though it was kind of stiff and required some styling). Thanks for the great recipe!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504518815 Cheryl Lynn

    Hey I just wanted to ask what the Aloe Vera Gel is for? I just made it and tried it once, I smell wonderfully beach like its amazing, it worked okay, I think I need to try on wet hair as my hair is pretty straight and limp. The way I made it was Epson Salt, Aloe Vera Gel, Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner as well as the the Coconut Milk anti-breakage Serum, and i used a water base.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It probably will be easier on damp hair. The aloe just adds a bit of texture, but you can omit it if you’d like…

  • http://twitter.com/Taylantisalysn Taylantis

    Can you add honey to this spray?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yep

  • Pingback: DIY Natural Beauty & Skin Care Tips | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Homemade Natural Beauty Products - 7 Ingredients and 20+ recipes | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: My Typical Day: Health + Parenting + Cleaning | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Optimizing Wellness- 10 Health Changes that Make A Big Difference | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: DIY Coconut Lime Beach Waves Hair Spray | TheHippyHomemaker

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=620567393 Beth McCormack

    Don’t apologize for those beautiful pictures! You both look beautiful. Thanks for the recipe!!!

  • Yolanda Dobler

    I made this and my hair is thick and well not curly but wavy and frizzy. It made my hair stiff, should I add some more distilled water to it??

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Adding more water might help…

  • http://twitter.com/kymbeee Kim Kirby

    What effect would the honey have?

  • http://www.facebook.com/rachaelshannon2 Rachael Louise Shannon

    I made this today, and although I am LOVING the curls, it’s flaking out of my hair like dandruff! Ick! Any ideas?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Hmm… I’ll see if I can recreate and figure out why. Did you follow it exactly?

  • http://www.facebook.com/rachaelshannon2 Rachael Louise Shannon

    Yep. All except for the himalayan salt.

  • Pingback: Best home made mist/spray - Page 2 - CurlTalk

  • Pingback: DIY spray gel made with KCCC | already anne

  • http://www.facebook.com/ashlee.n.williams3 Ashlee Nicolle Williams

    Love this stuff…
    And I love your daughter’s hair, I’m so jealous!

  • Tia

    Howdy! I was just wondering if I could use some other alternative to Almond or Jajoba oil. Would coconut work?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    you can omit the oil… coconut will stay hard so it won’t work…

  • http://www.facebook.com/topkitty1 Kristie Whetsell Chambers

    I love , love this !!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jill Hartness

    Honey is a humectant so it pulls in moisture.

  • Pingback: DIY Beach Waves Sea Salt Spay — Homestead and Survival

  • Melisa Crosby

    I absolutely love this stuff. After I developed autoimmune thyroid disease my once thick and wavy hair fell out and grew back in thin and lank. I’m finally able to grow it out again but any attempt to braid my hair or put it into any kind of undo was foiled by its slippery, lank texture. Enter the sea salt spray! Suddenly my hair will hold in braids or rolls and even loose it has far more body. I am thrilled. My only question: will this damage my hair if I use it long term? Should I condition more frequently if I use the salt spray regularly?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I do a coconut oil and honey treatment once a week to make sure it isn’t damaged and I havent had any trouble (and I’m hard on my hair in the summer with swimming, time in the sun, etc)

  • Jessica

    WM, I’m finally out of my other {chemical} hair goop & am going to try making this sometime this week! One question though–my epsom salts have eucalyptus & lavender scent added. Will that throw off the recipe or just count as the added scent? Thanks so much! Love all your posts!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It might… you could use just salt instead though…