I’ve shared my natural hair spray recipe and my Beach Waves Sea Salt Spray before. I like both of them but wondered if I could combine them to make one everyday hair product.
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
Turns out, combining these two recipes is not only possible, but awesome.
I have naturally baby-fine hair and even though it is naturally wavy, it doesn’t naturally hold style well. My hair is also long and blonde, so it gets easily weighed down and looks dirty if I put certain hair products in it.
I stumbled upon my beach waves spray and homemade hair spray when looking for natural hair products that would give my hair some body without weighing it down or making it look greasy.
This texturizing spray combines the texturizing ability of my original sea spray with the extra hold of my homemade hair spray for a long-lasting texturizing spray. (It is what I used to style my hair for this picture)
I also added essential oils to this recipe for scent and to stimulate hair growth. I spend a lot of time outside in the summer, and these oils help protect hair and encourage new hair growth.
Natural Texturizing Spray
This spray is incredibly inexpensive and simple to make and it has worked better on my hair than any store-bought product I’ve ever tried. In fact, even if you buy a top of the line glass spray bottle to use for this recipe (which can be re-used many times) and use all of the optional ingredients, this 8 ounce recipe still costs much less than a 4-ounce bottle of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, which is one of the few conventional products that I’ve ever really liked.
NOTE: I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the glass spray bottle in the picture above. I got it on Zulily and it is sometimes in stock but can be hard to find. I also recently tried this glass spray bottle and like it better since it can spray a fine mist or a thicker spray. Another option is to use an old apple cider vinegar bottle and just replace the top with a regular spray bottle top.
Texturizing Spray Recipe
Yield
Materials
- 1 cup distilled water (heated but not boiling)
- 1 TBSP Epsom salt
- 1 TBSP organic white sugar
- 1 tsp spiced rum (optional -- acts as a preservative and prevents sticking)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
- 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
- 10 drops clary sage essential oil (optional)
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil (optional)
- 1 tsp coconut conditioner (optional -- helps prevent the spray top from sticking)
Instructions
- Pour the hot water into a glass spray bottle.
- Add all of the other ingredients.
- Shake until ingredients are dissolved.
To Use
- Spray into dry hair and scrunch until the spray dries.
- For extra volume, use a curling iron to loosely curl 1-inch sections of hair and scrunch again.
Notes
TIP: For easy morning hair, braid dry hair in to a french braid (or french braid pigtails) at night and spray with this spray. In the morning, use dry shampoo if needed and unbraid hair. Re-spray and scrunch for all-day texture and waves.
Ever made a homemade hair product? How did it work? Tell me below!
I’m new to your wellness blog and am considering trying your texturizing spray. Is the ingredient “spiced rum” really spiced rum?! Is there a good substitute? L
Any kind of alcohol will work. It can also be left out, but it is helpful for speeding drying
Thank you for your reply. I am excited to have discovered your blog.
I just made this and put it in my hair and it’s amazing! I’ve tried a few ‘natural alternatives’ to things in the past but am usually disappointed. The no-shampoo thing: Eh. The DIY honey hair lighteners: Pffth. But THIS – holy moley, I smell awesome and my fine, sad, growing-out-a-pixie-cut-awkward-stage hair is acting all sassy for a change. Love it! 😀
Can I use Witch Hazel instead of the Rum? I don’t have it.
You could try it…
Did you ever try with Witch Hazel? And did it work for you?
Great recipe, I love love love it. In fact I created a video review to show the result. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqWeBlgxagc
nice video, thanks
Hi Katie,
Can you substitute ACV for the alcohol in this recipe?
Thanks!
Anu
I haven’t tried, but please let me know if you do! I would think it would work….
Just followed the recipe exactly and used it for the first time today… totally impressed with how well it works. I haven’t worn my hair down in a long time because I couldn’t get it the way I like it and didn’t want to use expensive (often chemical-filled) products to achieve the look–but this spray did it easily, cheaply, and naturally. Thank you!!
Hi Katie,
Thank You! I just love your all-natural products. Can i add some peroxide into this hair spray for lightening? If not then ,In the chamomile tea method,won’t the alcohol help in preserving it,do is it necessary to store it in a refrigerator?
and how much peroxide/chamomile tea should i use?
Dear Wellness Mama,
I love your website and continue to learn much from you. I appreciate all that you do and share. I am currently studying to be a certified doula and preparing to be a mom in the near nurture. So, far I have loved all of your recipes and information. I often recommend them to all my friends. Thank you so very much.
I have very curly hair and live in rural Alaska. This particular recipe did not work for me at all. It may be great if someone has straight or wavy hair but for curly haired people I would not recommend it unless you have endless amounts of water to use to get it out your hair. I do not have endless amounts of water.
My husband lovingly combs my hair for me when it needs it about once a week or so. This spray left my hair with a sticky and tangled clumpy consistency. Because of the sugar in the recipe various things clung to my hair and it was very hard to get them out. It was one of the most challenging hair experiences that we have shared. I lost a lot of hair too. It took a total of a whole hour to get most of it out. Even then, there was still some that persisted. Please, if you have curly hair do not use this recipe unless you have endless amounts of water to spare on your hair.
wow this actually works well and is simple!
This looks great. I no longer have conditioner in the house because I use acv rinse and rub a bit of coconut oil into my hair when needed. My hair’s thick and wavy. Would you suggest adding oil to the recipe, instead of conditioner? If so, one teaspoon? Thanks so much!
Hi Katie, I have read all the comments on this and on your natural hairspray recipes and I am concerned. I want to dump the toxins and got with a natural hairspray. I have thin, fine, stick straight, organic color treated hair that has absolutely no body on it’s own. I blow dry and then then use a curling iron on it. After I comb it out and get it looking decent I use hairspray. Would this be a hairspray I can use after all of that or is this one you need to use before styling?
Katie, what is the reason behind using sugar in the spray ? I know it makes more bubbles in a cold process soap, and is a wonderful exfoliant in scrubs …but I don’t get the point of using in my hair. I also have the baby fine you do and would love to have alot of body… and not have to have it cut so frequently…
Laur
When it solidifies as the spray dries, the sugar just gives that good hold that I am used to in a hairspray.
Hi
Loving all your tips, ideas, recipes etc. I am on a mission to turn as much as possible into a natural, friendlier version of what we currently use, throughout our lives :o)
I wondered if you have a natural make it yourself alternative to hair gel? I have naturally curly hair and i prefer hair gel to style with over all other products I’ve tried, but would love to switch it to a friendlier version :o)
Many thanks for any help in advance :o)
xx
My husband uses aloe vera gel in his hair. You might give it a try.
Can this be used as a root lifter in wet hair? Im looking for a natural way to give my hair more body without making it wavy.
Yes 🙂
Do you have to wash your hair every time you use this? I only wash every other day, and I’m wondering how Day 2 is after using this spray. Do you use some more the second day? Thanks!
I’ve gone multiple days and usually just a scrunch with damp hands is enough to reactivate it and I just use dry shampoo if needed
Hi KAtie!
What is the shelf life for this spray approx? Also curious what the clary sage’s purpose is in this? I have seen it in many of your hair recipes but when i read up on it i haven’t read anything about it being useful for hair in particular. Just curious 🙂
Thank you!!
how can i tell the date of your posts – other than looking at the comments?
I try to write all of my posts so that they are not time sensitive, and the ones that are I usually update so they are relevant no matter when you read it.
What do the oils do? Is it for smell or something else?
Thanks
Yes.
Saw it, made it, used it! My hair is thin and a bit wavy, I use surf hair goop to make it textured; this stuff is AWESOME! I appreciate the share!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So easy and there are ways to experiment with it with different oils and such. Thanks so much!!!!
Ohmagosh!! I thought I was in love with Beach Waves. This stuff is spetacular! I used to buy a product for this style and felt guilty every time I used it. My naturally wavy hair is now naturally sassy and curly. Thanks, Katie, for your great recipes and informative site! 🙂