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It may have been a few years since I’ve been on a beach vacation, but that doesn't mean I can't still rock those beachy, salty waves that come from being ocean-side. It seems like most of the time, we’re busy slathering on hair oils and using anti-frizz shampoos to smooth down our hair, but there’s nothing like accentuating—or faking—some texture. Salt sprays have been around forever, but while they used to be a source of intense scrunch and stickiness, these days they’re better than ever. You can get mega volume, added thickness, and super chic waves with just a few spritzes of these salt sprays. Here, find 25 of the best salt sprays you need to transform limp, pin-straight hair into beautiful, beachy waves.
Pros
- Helps with hair growth
Cons
- Can feel stiff
This sea salt spray adds thickness and volume to fine hair and contains minerals that actually help hair grow longer. With sea salt, kelp, and algae, a few spritzes of this will add texture to any style.
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Can feel sticky
If you want picture-perfect hold and texture in your hair, this salt spray gets it done in just a few spritzes. It dries down to a matte finish, so your hair will never look greasy.
Pros
- Adds texture
Cons
- Pricey
If you are wary of using salt in your hair, this wave spray uses rice proteins instead. You can still get texture, bounce, and volume, without any crunch.
Pros
- Adds volume
Cons
- Can make hair knotted
For a light hold and plenty of volume, this salt spray brings intensity without any weight. Scented with mango and coconut, you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference this spray makes without any heaviness.
Pros
- Adds volume
Cons
- Pricey
We all need a little body in our lives. This spray brings life and volume back to limp, dull hair. Created with sea salt, this product won’t leave your hair feeling sticky or looking stringy.
Pros
- Adds thickness
Cons
- Can feel too lightweight
With the wrong products, a short haircut can look flat and thin on the scalp. This sea salt spray adds natural volume, and thickness, and helps style and texturize shorter styles.
Pros
- Adds texture
Cons
- Pricey
If you’ve always longed for wavy, tousled locks, this spray can transform even pin-straight hair. It uses plant extracts and vitamin C to add volume and texture to the hair, while protecting it from environmental damage.
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Pricey
For dry, damaged hair, adding grit through salt might feel counter intuitive. But this salt spray contains super-hydrating baobab oil, which softens and nourishes the hair while still creating waves.
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Pricey
A salt spray minus the salt? This product uses sugar instead of salt to add that beautiful texture and volume we all desire. This makes it an ideal product for anyone suffering from a dry, itchy scalp who’s wary of using salt in their hair.
Pros
- Adds texture
Cons
- Can feel crunchy
With seaweed and kelp extracts, this salt spray is basically a beach vacation in a bottle. It adds texture and waves to all hair types, even for coarse or curly hair.
Pros
- Adds volume
Cons
- Scent can be too much for some
This spray uses a slew of ingredients that help boost your hair’s volume. With salt, silk proteins, cottonseed oil, and sunflower seed oil, you can achieve towering volume with plenty of added hydration.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly
Cons
- Can feel sticky
If you want to look like you just emerged from the ocean while still protecting it from harm, this clean product prioritizes the environment. The bottle is made using 40% recycled plastic, and the ingredients are all clean, cruelty-free, and vegan.
Pros
- Repairs damage
Cons
- Pricey
Hair that’s been damaged by heat or bleach often looks dull, limp, and completely lacking in volume. This spray repairs keratin bonds, while creating volume and fullness even in the most fragile strands.
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Pricey
Your hair might need a vacation. For strands that are looking lackluster, this salt spray gives back some nourishment, in the form of aloe vera and coconut oil. While salt adds texture and bounce, you’ll find that your strands will start to look healthier and bouncier all on their own.
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Can feel heavy
Texture and volume doesn't have to mean frizz. This sea salt spray uses hydrating castor oil to lock down any flyaways and impart necessary hydration back to your strands.
FAQs
What is a salt spray?
“Salt spray is a product that builds texture mimicking the feel of hair after being in the ocean,” says McCarthy. “It creates roughness, separation, and a matte finish.” For thinner textures, salt sprays can also help add density. “It adds thickness and plumps the shafts of hair,” says Federico.
How can someone use a salt spray to create more texture?
Even people with stick-straight hair can create additional texture with a salt spray. “Using salt spray to add more texture is a very easy thing to do,” says Federico. “When the hair is damp, mist the product, roots through ends, and blow-dry as usual. Continually add the salt spray as you feel needed while drying or at the end of blow-drying for added texture and grit.”
How can someone use a salt spray to create more volume?
Focus your spritzes at the root if your goal is tons of bounce and volume. “It can be used at the root to create more volume, at the mid-shaft and ends to create piece-ness or from root to ends to create all of the above,” says McCarthy.
Can all hair textures use salt sprays?
Yes, but the technique you use might change a bit depending on your hair type and texture. “All textures can use salt spray, but I wouldn’t recommend it across the board,” says McCarthy. “For extremely fine hair, it can create too much separation and I would hesitate to use it in coily hair because it already had so much texture and tends to naturally need moisture.”
If you’re unsure if a salt spray is a good choice for you, “A good rule of thumb is the healthier and shinier the hair, the more liberal one can be with [salt sprays] and the finer, more textured or more damaged the more discretion one should use,” says McCarthy.
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