Second to Dry Shampoo, sea salt spray is probably my most used hair product, and it’s also super easy to make yourself!
Sea salt spray or beach waves spray has gained popularity lately, and it’s the product most often used for those popular beachy waves. It gives off surfer girl vibes. Many of the sea salt sprays leave hair feeling dry, as the salt pulls moisture and natural oils out.
The gold standard of beach sprays for hair (in my opinion) is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray with hydrating kelp. While this spray works great it’s still a conventional hair product and has some ingredients I prefer not to use. I do like that it uses magnesium sulfate (aka Epsom Salt) instead of sea salt, which makes it less drying to the hair. It also has some natural oils (aka conditioner) to replenish hair.
Creating Your Own Beach Waves Spray
I set out to create my own version of sea salt spray for hair that didn’t have any of the questionable ingredients. The result is one of the simplest natural hair care recipes to make. And it costs so much less than store-bought versions.
It adds great texture and volume to hair without harsh chemicals. If you make it yourself, you can also customize it to your hair type to get the texture you want.
If you have drier hair, then feel free to experiment by adding some jojoba or argan oil. For a light hold, omit the sea salt and just use the Epsom salts. For those with wavy hair or curly hair, this sea salt spray can help tame frizz for a tousled look.
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 on the cover of my cookbook. 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.
Sea Salt Spray Supplies
You’ll need a spray bottle that holds at least 10 oz. I originally used a glass bottle made from an old apple cider vinegar bottle and a regular spray top.
Because this is a natural product and doesn’t have a preservative (other than the salt and alcohol), it won’t last as long as store-bought versions. It’s best to keep it in the fridge and use it within a few weeks. If you don’t think you’ll use it that quickly then cut the recipe in half.
All About That Base
Sometimes I’ll use chamomile tea or black tea instead of water in this recipe. Chamomile helps lighten hair by accentuating natural highlights. Black tea helps to darken hair. If you’re using tea though, the spray will only last approximately 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge. If it smells off or develops a different texture before that, then pitch it.
To help deter microbe growth it’s important to use either distilled or filtered water in this recipe. If using filtered water boil it first and then allow it to cool a bit before using.
Essential Oils for Sea Salt Spray
You don’t have to add essential oils but it adds a nice scent to hair. Read more about the best essential oils for hair here. My favorites for this salt spray are lavender and citrus but here are some good options.
DIY Sea Salt Spray For Hair
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup water filtered or distilled
- 2 TBSP Epsom salts
- ½ tsp Himalayan salt or sea salt
- 1 tsp aloe vera gel
- ½ tsp natural conditioner
- 5-10 drops essential oils
- 1 tsp lemon juice optional to lighten hair
- 1 tsp alcohol optional to extend shelf life
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a spray bottle.
- Put the cap on the bottle and shake for several minutes, until Epsom salt and sea salt are dissolved.
- Shake well before each use.
Notes
How to Use Sea Salt Spray For Hair
Spray on damp hair and scrunch with a towel to dry for loose beach waves. Spray on dry hair and on roots for volume and hair texture without the waves. It helps thinning hair and fine hair to look fuller.
If you have thin, straight hair and you want all-day natural waves: Wash your hair the night before and spray it with the sea salt wave spray while still damp. Then, either french braid it into pigtails or wrap it in a tight scrunched bun on top of your head. and leave overnight to air dry.
Spritz with a little more salt water spray and remove the braid/bun. Voila- all-day beach waves. Spray with additional spray and scrunch if you want a hairstyle with more stiffness.
Best Sea Salt Sprays to Buy
Don’t have time to make it? Here are some paraben-free and overall healthy sea salt spray for hair options.
- Beauty by Earth Sea Salt and Texturizing Spray
- Brickell Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
- Alaffia Purely Coconut Texturizing Spray
Ever used Sea Salt Spray? Ever made your own hair products? Tell me below!
Don’t apologize for those beautiful pictures! You both look beautiful. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Can you add honey to this spray?
Yep
What effect would the honey have?
Honey is a humectant so it pulls in moisture.
Yes, and keep it in the fridge as the sugars in the honey will feed any bacteria that are/end up in the bottle.
Honey is a humectant and will draw moisture to itself. This means the mix may stay a little dampish on your hair, especially in humid climates.
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.
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…
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.
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…
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!
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!
Do I need to store this in the fridge?
Nope…
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,
I tired that as well, I Hated it!! It made my hair so dry and dead looking, it was sticky also. Not for me at all. I can’t wait to try this. I love how my hair looks at the beach.
I have very thin hair but I am going to try this. Does anyone have a recipe for homemade hair spray? thanks
Boiling lemons gives an amazing thick hair spray. Sometimes doesn’t come out of the bottle so you might have to put on my hand.
Found this and interesting to note I should have been using oranges (though my mostly gray could use some lemons :))
https://www.diynatural.com/diy-hair-spray-homemade/
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
Yay! So glad it worked so well for you!
Can you use it with shorter hair…like the inverted bob?
yep… though it will probably just give volume/texture and slightly looser waves, but it should work well…