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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.
I use this all the time and it works great, even on my hair that can be hard to tame and really hard to get to hold a curl. In fact, I used this in the cover for my recent cookbook, and I got a lot of questions about how I got my hair to stay like that and if I used natural products (I did).
My whole protocol for the cookbook cover hair was texturizing spray and dry shampoo for volume, this ceramic curling wand for curl/waves, and sugar and salt spray to set.
Hair Spray Supplies
- hot water
- epsom salts
- Himalayan or Sea Salt (optional but adds stiffness
- aloe vera gel
- natural conditioner (I’ve used this Organix coconut one and Dr. Bronners Lavender Coconut ) or a few drops of almond oil or jajoba oil (optional- you may not need it if you have fine/oily hair)
- 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)
Ingredients for Hair Spray
- 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)
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1/2 tsp conditioner (optional- don’t use if you have fine/oily hair)
- 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)
Hair Spray Instructions
- 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 accommodate 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.
How to Use
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!)
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!
DIY Dry Shampoo for Dark or Light Hair
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?
You probably can… It’s just for the moisture and shine… Let me know how it works!
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!
Hmm! I’ve got to try this. My hair is like that, too… doesn’t want to be stick straight, but not quite a wave, either. I better get to rinsing some quinoa. 😉 Do you know how long a shelf life it has?
This is fantastic! I buy those beach hair sprays and they are expensive! I’m definitely gonna try this!
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.
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…
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!
Thanks 🙂
What are your thoughts on using rubbing alcohol instead of vodka?
Inspired by the commercial versions that have mostly the same ingredients but are really expensive 🙂 and thanks 🙂
Hi,
Thanks for the tips!
I was interested in making this, and I would like to know if this recipe needs a natural preservative in it for shelf life, especially if we’re using an essential oil in it. Can bacteria even survive in a salt based solution?
Thanks!
Well, yes, it can.It’s best to store it in the fridge if you are concerned.
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!
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!
Awwww… Thanks 🙂 let me know how it works for you
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?
It does leave hair a little stiff, but it hold the waves in. It is surprisingly like actual beach hair…
yes that salt does wonders for thin hair
This. Is. So. Cool! I can’t wait to try it!
I know this was posted awhile ago but I wanted to say thanks. Also, you do not have a big nose, you look lovely without make-up (what I can see you), you have good photography skills, good to see your daughter eating an apple and the bookshelf is neat.
You have nothing to apologize for lovely lady.
I made this a while ago and used it for a while until I realized that the salt was drying out my hair from the tips up. They felt like straw. This is bad since my hair has always been really healthy.
Once a week or so- do a oil treatment to your hair-
I love coconut oil but most any will do –
Drench hair in oil and leave on wrapped in a towel for a half hour to an hour-
Oil ruins everything -so use a towel you dont care for.
Then wash out- begin by working shampoo in and then adding in water,
this helps break down the oil and your hair is beautiful and healthy looking again!
Hope that is helpful and lets you enjoy beach hair when you want without drying out your hair.
Great tip for oil removing: dish detergent is awesome for removing oil stains, even the gunked up mechanic oil stains.
Dawn brand-name dish soap is GREAT for removing clothes stains… The secret with oil stains is to try getting rid of it as soon as possible. I always have a little oil perfume roll-on bottle filled with it in my purse for accidents when eating out.
Mayonnaise is fantastic for removing oil too, even vaseline (that’s how I discovered it! 1920’s fancy dress…), it emulsifies it all super fast, and washes out with soap/shampoo. A bit weird, I know, but useful especially if dish soap turns out to be a bit harsh or ineffective.
Leaves the worst feeling on my hair! Feels dry and icky. Or better yet, feels like straw!
That’s pretty much what sea salt spray does! It can feel kind of icky but the texture really helps with styling as clean hair is often so hard to style & hold in place.
Thanks wellness mama, i am so thankful to use your receipe today. This is what i was looking for long ago. I used it today,but my whole hair was white,and i started itching alot. Is there something that i used that was wrong? Will u please tell me? I so much needed this for my hair. What i used was: hot water,alo vera gel, epsom salt,conditioner and drops of scent. What did i do wrong pls? Diana.
What kind of conditioner did you use?
Can I substitute kosher salt for the sea salt?
Yes, but it might be a bit more flaky…
I’ve been using for about 6 months and I really like it. I wash at night, use the spray and let my hair dry while I sleep. Just a little more spray in the morning cures bed head. The build up of salt will make your hair feel dry, I find that this is easily cured with a good conditioner like coconut oil, smashed avocado or mayo once weekly fixes the issue. Good luck!