The 17 Best Sea Salt Sprays for Every Hair Type & Budget

• For naturally straight/wavy hair: Nexxus Between Washes Beach Waves Sea Salt Spray; TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Sea Salt Spray
• For fine/thin hair: Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray; Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray; Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray; Sachajuan Ocean Mist
• For naturally curly hair: Herbivore Coconut Sea Mist Texturizing Salt Spray; OGX Moroccan Sea Salt Spray; Playa Beauty Endless Summer Spray
• For all hair types: Tigi Catwalk Session Series Salt Spray; Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray; Lush Sea Spray; Verb Sea Spray; Osmo Matt Salt Spray; Byrd Texturizing Surf Spray; Beauty by Earth Sea Salt Spray; Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

Sea salt sprays have become a go-to product for creating textured waves without heat styling. But with so many on the market, it’s hard to know which one to choose.

A way to get that beachy look without entering the water, these hair products use sea salt to give texture, waves, and volume. This makes them perfect for refreshing your hair in between washes with almost no effort required from you.

So how do sea salt sprays work? Well, there aren’t any published studies on the products but brands and stylists claim that the sea salt absorbs moisture from the hair and lifts cuticles, leaving behind a gritty texture and thicker look when it dries and crystallizes.

We’ve rounded up the best sea salt sprays for every hair type and budget, as indicated by dollar signs. We consider them among the best because each product fills at least one of the following criteria:

• recommended by a hair care professional
• has a high-quality formula that won’t excessively dry out your hair
• includes additional ingredients designed to boost hair health

For naturally straight or wavy hair

Nexxus Between Washes Beach Waves Sea Salt Spray

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: sea salt
• Hair types: straight, wavy
• Pros: refreshes hair in between washes, lightweight
• Cons: stronger scent

For days in between washes, try this Nexxus spray. It’s designed to create texturized waves that will hold with just a few spritzes.

How to use: Spray a generous amount on damp or dry hair. If you’re looking for more volume, just spray the roots and blow-dry your hair afterward.

TRESemmé Perfectly (Un)Done Sea Salt Spray

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: sea kelp extract
• Hair types: straight, wavy
• Pros: lightweight, non-sticky, attractive scent
• Cons: may not hold all day

This TRESemmé spray gives you natural-looking texture without that crunchy feel. Sea kelp extract is included to boost waves.

How to use: For naturally wavy hair, apply to damp hair and scrunch. For naturally straight types, the product instructions recommend twisting your hair while damp to increase waves.

For fine or thin hair

Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: magnesium-rich marine botanicals, dead sea salts
• Hair types: all
• Pros: firm hold, lightweight
• Cons: spray bottle can be difficult to use

Wanting a beachy finish with a firm hold? This texturizing spray formula features marine botanicals to give extra thickness and volume to hair while adding a layer of protection.

How to use: Spray generously onto dry or wet hair and leave to air dry or blow-dry, depending on your preference.

Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: citrus oil, wheat amino acids, hydrolyzed silk
• Hair types: fine and medium textures
• Pros: pleasant fragrance, creates shine and softness, lightweight
• Cons: pricy

Flooded with citrus oils, this spray also boasts moisturizing wheat amino acids and shine-inducing hydrolyzed silk. The result? A soft and natural texture.

It’s formulated without sulfates and isn’t tested on animals.

How to use: Simply spray onto damp or dry hair and scrunch. Style as usual.

Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: pink sea salt, guava, hibiscus, passion fruit
• Hair types: fine to medium
• Pros: tropical scent, light hold, nourishes hair
• Cons: thicker hair types may need a stronger hold

For loose, brushable waves, take a look at this island-inspired spray. Natural pink sea salt provides the texture while a number of floral and fruity ingredients deliver scent, shine, and softness.

How to use: When hair is damp or dry, spritz this product from the roots to the ends. Gently tousle hair and style as you typically would.

Sachajuan Ocean Mist

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: salt
• Hair types: all
• Pros: natural matte finish, long lasting
• Cons: divisive scent, can be too crunchy for some

Combining the best of a hairspray and saltwater spray, this mist from Sachajuan adds a slightly disheveled texture so you’re left with a cool, less-than-perfect look. Volume and a matte finish are other bonuses.

Many online reviewers say this product works great for fine hair, but reviews for thin hair are mixed.

How to use: Spray onto clean hair that’s wet or dry and scrunch to distribute. Leave to air dry or use a blow dryer or diffuser to style. If you have long hair, twist the hair into a low bun for an hour after applying the product.

For naturally curly hair

Herbivore Coconut Sea Mist Texturizing Salt Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: aloe vera, sea salt
• Hair type: all
• Pros: pleasant coconut fragrance, lightweight, hydrating
• Cons: may be tough to create waves in straight hair

Made from a vegan-friendly formula, this spray contains aloe vera to counteract the drying effects of sea salt. It also features a natural coconut fragrance and can be used to give life to limp hair or even on the body for a quick refresh.

While this spray can be used for all hair types, it’s free of sulfates and silicones, making it a good choice for curly hair.

How to use: Spray on your hair any time it needs a textural boost.

OGX Moroccan Sea Salt Spray

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: Moroccan argan oil, sea salt, sea kelp
• Hair types: all
• Pros: gentle on hair, nourishing ingredients, soothing scent
• Cons: can be drying for some hair types

This spray can be used for all hair types, but some online reviewers with curly hair especially like it for taming frizz. Curly hair can be especially prone to the drying effects of salt, but the argan oil in this spray can help moisturize.

Plus, it comes in an eco-friendly bottle and isn’t tested on animals.

How to use: Spray onto damp or dry hair and scrunch in with your fingers. Either let your hair air dry or use a diffuser or blow-dryer for extra volume.

Playa Beauty Endless Summer Spray

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: sea salt, marine collagen, cane sugar
• Hair types: all, particularly fine or coarse hair
• Pros: gentle, non-drying formula, provides fullness, includes protectant against ultraviolet (UV) rays
• Cons: may feel sticky

Playa Beauty spray uses sea salt straight from southern California for its tousled look. It swaps the typical alcohol for pure cane sugar, resulting in a gentle formula that won’t leave hair dry or sticky.

Marine collagen adds nourishment, while black seed promotes shine. Though this product can be used on all hair types, it may help enhance natural curl.

How to use: Spray all over damp or dry hair, tousling hair at the roots with your fingers. Focusing on the scalp and using a blow-dryer or diffuser afterward will create extra volume.

For all hair types

Tigi Catwalk Session Series Salt Spray

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: sea salt
• Hair types: all
• Pros: long lasting, combats frizz and humidity
• Cons: may feel sticky, has a strong scent

Tigi texturizing spray offers a defined, voluminous look with a light hold. Plus, it guarantees to keep hair looking good, even in humid, frizz-causing conditions.

How to use: Spray on wet hair for extra volume or dry hair for subtler texture.

Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: Dead Sea salt, sea kelp
• Hair types: all
• Pros: pleasant fragrance, cruelty-free formula
• Cons: some reports of greasiness after application

For gently tousled waves and a light matte finish, try this Not Your Mother texturizing spray. Pro tip: Use it for keeping an updo in place throughout the day (or night).

Online reviewers report that this spray smells great.

How to use: You can use this product on damp or dry hair. After misting it through the mid-lengths and ends, scrunch your hair with your fingers. Leave to air dry or opt for a diffuser or blow-dryer for additional volume.

Lush Sea Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: carrageenan, seawater
• Hair types: all
• Pros: Appealing citrus floral scent, vegan formula, non-sticky
• Cons: fragrance may be overpowering for some, reports of issues with the spray bottle

This spray’s main selling point is its scent. Sure, it does all the usual volumizing magic, but it also adds a floral touch with a blend of neroli, orange flower, and rosewood. It also provides a shiny finish and light hold that’s easy to wash out.

This product is vegan, and like all Lush products, it isn’t tested on animals. Lush also uses only recycled, recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials in its packaging.

How to use: Spritz onto damp or dry hair any time you need extra texture or volume.

Verb Sea Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: green tea extract, kelp extract, sea salt, sweet almond fruit extract
• Hair types: all
• Pros: lightweight, refreshing scent, vegan formula
• Cons: may require frequent application to keep its hold

This lightweight mist gives relaxed waves. Its formula includes antioxidant-rich green tea extract and sunflower seed extract to combat dryness and protect against UV rays.

It’s also free of sulfates and parabens, and online reviewers report it has a nice, lightweight smell.

How to use: Spray onto sections of damp or dry hair, using your fingers to create loose waves by twisting. For a subtly textured look, leave to air dry. For bigger waves, use a diffuser.

Osmo Matt Salt Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: sandalwood extract, bergamot extract
• Hair types: all
• Pros: lightweight, long lasting
• Cons: can result in a greasy look and feel if using too much

This lightweight spray includes sandalwood and bergamot extract to moisturize the hair and scalp while reducing oiliness. The formula results in a long lasting matte style that still moves as it naturally should.

How to use: Shake before use, then apply sparingly to sections of dry hair. Extra volume can be created by spraying onto damp hair and blow-drying.

Byrd Texturizing Surf Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: vitamin B5, sea buckthorn extract, quinoa proteins, sea salt, coconut water
• Hair types: all
• Pros: provides a natural UV barrier, shiny finish, cruelty-free formula
• Cons: not for those who prefer a matte finish

With a salty coconut formula and scent, this spray will leave hair looking texturized and shiny. Nourishing and protective ingredients come in the form of vitamin B5, sea buckthorn extract, and quinoa proteins.

It’s free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, and isn’t tested on animals.

How to use: Spray onto damp or dry hair, style, and either air dry or blow-dry.

Beauty by Earth Sea Salt Spray

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: aloe vera, argan oil, sea salt
• Hair types: all
• Pros: light hold, safe for colored hair, appealing fragrance, natural formula
• Cons: scent may be overpowering for some

Only using natural and organic ingredients, Beauty by Earth salty spray will jazz up your hair with fresh tousled waves. Extra volume comes from a mixture of aloe vera and botanical extracts.

How to use: Spritz onto damp or dry hair from the roots to the ends and scrunch in with your fingers. For extra volume, use on wet hair.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: seaweed extract, kelp extract
• Hair types: all
• Pros: cruelty-free formula, moisturizing, easy to apply
• Cons: pricy, can be difficult to brush out

Mimic the feel of the ocean with this product. Designed to add volume and texture, its cruelty-free formula includes seaweed and kelp extract to keep locks moisturized.

How to use: Spray an even amount onto dry or damp hair, twist strands, and style as you usually would.

Not feeling these picks? Here’s some guidance on how to choose a sea salt spray.

When shopping for a sea salt hair spray, it’s important to look for one that offers a lightweight matte texture, says Heffy Wheeler, Osmo brand ambassador and owner of HX Hair. This will help create the volume you’re looking for. “Ideally,” Wheeler adds, the product “should not feel wet or sticky.”

Most sea salt sprays “work well for all hair types,” notes Bruno Marc, hairstylist and Joico’s Europe, United Kingdom, and Ireland ambassador. “However, it is worthwhile checking this on the packaging prior to purchase, as some can be formulated for [a] specific hair type.”

Those with straighter hair, for example, may prioritize volume and texture, while thick, curly hair owners may want to reduce frizz.

But to keep your hair looking healthy, avoid formulas containing just salt and alcohol. “The blend is crucial,” says Marc. Look for products that contain plenty of moisturizing and protective ingredients, such as oils and plant proteins.

How you should use sea salt spray depends on your hair type and what you’re trying to achieve.

For fine hair

Those with fine hair should use the product sparingly, says Marc. Gently spritz “in short sharp bursts whilst simultaneously using your fingers to break the product up and shape your hair.”

If you want a textured look throughout your hair, avoid overspraying your roots and focus on the mid-lengths and ends.

For flat roots

If you’re looking to liven up your flat roots, concentrate the spray near your scalp when your hair is wet.

And if you have long locks and want to create a statement, Marc recommends “styling your hair into a wave and then flipping your head upside down to apply your salt spray.”

What does sea salt spray do for your hair?

The formula is said to absorb oil and moisture from the hair, quickly giving it a wavy, textured finish. Its grittiness can also add body to finer hair types, creating natural-looking volume.

Can you leave sea salt spray in your hair?

Yes, you can leave sea salt spray in your hair and don’t have to wash it out after each application.

But note that your hair may start to look and feel dry or even greasy after several days of use without a wash in between.

Can I use sea salt spray daily?

Sprays that contain salt can dry out your hair if used every day, so it’s recommended to only use these products two or three times a week.

You can also boost your hair health in between uses by opting for hydrating shampoos, conditioners, masks, and oils.

How much sea salt spray can I use?

It depends on the type of hair you have. Thicker hair types can often withstand more of the product while finer hair probably only needs a few spritzes.

Try not to go overboard to avoid drying your hair out or leaving an obvious coating. The motto: Start slow and build up gradually if you need it.

When should I apply sea salt spray?

You can apply sea salt spray whenever you like. Most products work on damp or dry hair, so you can use them straight after washing your hair or on days in between washes.

If applying to wet hair, let hair air dry afterward or style as usual with a blow-dryer or diffuser.