Sarah Yang
Picture this: You’re heading back up to your hotel room after a day of swimming in the ocean and baking on your lounge chair, reading your latest Kindle download (The Let Them Theory by Mel and Sawyer Robbins, thank you very much). A day in the sun has left your skin bronzed and hair, dare I say… perfect? Fully expecting to wash your head before dinner, you’re stopped dead by your reflection in the mirror—your mane a curtain of delicate curls and tousled texture styled by the saltwater—and decide to instead show off the 'do that the waves designed.
If this sounds highly personal, it’s because this was me not even 48 hours ago—but now I sit in my New York City apartment itching for ways to re-create that beachy, bedhead hair that I’ve saved 10 million times to my S/S 25 Pinterest board. Remembering that I happen to be a beauty editor, I reached into my Rolodex of celebrity hairstylists to ask which products I should be using to impart dreamy mermaid waves, and the answer was unanimous: sea salt sprays.
“A good sea salt spray gives hair a natural texture and body without leaving it dry, sticky, or crunchy—it should feel like you’ve been at the beach, but better,” explains the celebrity hairstylist behind Lindsay Lohan’s “almond milk” waves and countless stars’ textured blowouts, Dimitris Giannetos. “[It] adds grit, soft hold, and enhances natural waves or bends in the hair, making it look effortlessly lived in.”
While you can take a curling iron or straightener to your strands to create these loose, lazy waves, what’s even easier is taking a few spritzes of this type of spray to your hair and calling it a day. Curious, I took a look back on what sea salt sprays past Who What Wear editors have sworn by and added my own two cents.
Below, the 13 best sea salt sprays for mesmerizing mermaid waves that will rival your Pinterest saves.
The Best Sea Salt Sprays, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Oribe Aprés Beach Wave and Shine Spray
- Best Drugstore: Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
- Best Splurge: Balmain Hair Texturizing Salt Spray
- Best for Dry Hair: Ouai Texturizing Wave Spray
- Best Texturizing: Bumble and Bumble Surf Sea Salt Spray
Best Overall: Oribe Aprés Beach Wave and Shine Spray
Pros: Heavenly smell, hydrating formula, works on all hair types
Cons: Wish it had longer hold
Size: 8.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, safflower-seed oil, marigold-flower extract, amber extract | Hair type: Straight, wavy, curly, coily | Fragrance-free: No
Oribe's salt spray is a whiz when it comes to creating realistic, marine-like texture—containing a bespoke beach-wave complex that boosts volume from the root and provides a light hold. One half of the formula moisturizes your hair thanks to a blend of safflower seed oil, marigold flower, and amber extract, while the other half works hard to provide UV and heat protection, diminish frizz, and boost your natural shine. Basically, it’s your smoothing hair oil, texturizing spray, anti-frizz cocktail, and heat protectant all in one.
Customer review: “I have thin hair that is often hidden in a pony tail or hat when the weather permits. This stuff made me feel like a model who just emerged from the sea with just the right amount of volume and shine galore!”
Best Texturizing: Bumble and Bumble Surf Sea Salt Spray
Pros: Lightweight formula has been trusted by pros for years
Cons: Pricey for amount of product
Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Seaweed, kelp extracts, minerals | Hair type: Fine, medium | Fragrance-free: No
It's safe to say that Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray is a go-to in almost everyone’s collections, and celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight would have to agree. “I love Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray,” says Knight. “An OG classic.” This mattifying formula utilizes magnesium sulfate (epsom salt), seaweed extract, and kelp extract to moisturize the hair and add shine, making your hair easier to style.
Customer review: “A little pricey for how much I go through, but by far the best salt spray I’ve tried. I have fine but wavy/curly hair (and lots of it). This is the best one and done product with no heat tools or anything else required.”
Best Vegan: 14th Night The Natural Surf Spray
Pros: Good-for-you ingredients, softens hair
Cons: On the expensive side
Size: 4 oz. | Key ingredients: Salt water, aloe, red algae, argan oil | Hair type: Fine | Fragrance-free: No
I became a personal fan of this sunrise-pink product about a year ago and have made it my summer styling companion ever since. Its formula is packed with vegan hair-loving ingredients, including salt water for texture, aloe for hydration, red algae for revitalizing antioxidants, and a mix of pomegranate and argan oils for nourishment. Just a few spritzes on towel-dried, damp hair imparts surfer-girl waves and super-soft texture, cementing a spot in my carefully curated hair collection for years to come.
Customer review: “The best wave spray on the market! Gives your hair the softest, natural waves!”
Best With UV Protection: Sun Bum Sea Spray
Pros: Work on all hair types, protects strands from sun damage
Cons: TBH, we can’t think of any!
Size: 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Hawaiian black lava sea salt, sea kelp | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
Sun Bum's formula not only leaves some nice waves, but it also blocks humidity and provides UV protection. Its strand-separating formula encourages wave formation and volume while imparting a sweet, summery scent that makes you not only look like you came from the beach, but smell like it, too. Plus, it works hard to shield your mane with a layer of UV protection (essential for summer days).
Customer review: “I absolutely love the Sun Bum Sea Salt Spray! My hair is naturally bone straight, and this product gives it beautiful waves and added volume without any dryness or crunchiness. It feels lightweight and leaves my hair looking effortlessly textured, perfect for that beachy, lived-in look. I also appreciate that it doesn’t make my hair sticky or stiff like some other sea salt sprays I’ve tried. If you’re looking for an easy way to achieve soft, natural waves, I highly recommend giving this a try!”
Best for Dry Hair: Ouai Texturizing Wave Spray
Pros: Color- and treatment-safe, non-drying
Cons: Some reviewers quote an overpowering smell
Size: 3, 6 oz. | Key ingredients: Rice water, upcycled jackfruit, vitamin B5 | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
Instead of sea salt, Ouai's Texturizing Wave Spray is made with rice protein, so it's safe for hair that is very dry, color- and keratin-treated. And you don't just get beachy-wave benefits here—the spray has a floral fragrance with notes of bergamot, Italian lemon, rose de mai, violet, and white musk.
Customer review: “This product works miracles for curls! The hold is all day and the scent is very nice without being over powering! I highly recommend this to anyone looking to bring out those curls!”
Best Drugstore: Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
Pros: Low-price formula can keep up with luxe competitors
Cons: Not the best texturizing agent for very thick hair
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Dead sea salt, kelp extract, sunflower seed extract | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
Formulated with sea salt and sea kelp, this sulfate-free spray gives your locks texture and volume with a matte finish. Its strand-separating cocktail is the secret to lazy bedhead waves at a more palatable price, plus it adds a layer of UV protection to your hair for those long summer days. Its coconut-forward scent is one of the best details, leaving a trail of tropical fragrance in the air wherever you go.
Customer review: “This is a great product for no heat waves right after the shower. It smells great and was so easy to use. My hair looked wavy all day and it lasted the next day too.”
Best Splurge: Balmain Hair Texturizing Salt Spray
Pros: A celeb hairstylist favorite, protects dry and damaged hair
Cons: On the pricey side
Size: 6.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Sea salt, silk amino acids | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
This luxe texturizing spray from the Parisian fashion house is Giannetos's top pick and a great investment for spring and summer beach hair. Infused with silk amino acids and sea salt, this formula tenders loose waves with impressive fullness and touchable grip. Plus, it’s safe for people with damaged and dry hair, casting a layer of protection against environmental pollutants.
Giannetos's review: “Honestly, Balmain Hair’s Texturizing Salt Spray is a staple for me. It smells amazing and gives the perfect touchable texture with a soft, luxe scent and never leaves the hair feeling stiff or tangled. It layers beautifully with other styling products and works on both air-dried and heat-styled looks. It also gives that effortless, cool-girl finish without looking like you tried too hard—which is exactly the vibe my clients are always after.”
Best for Volume: Sachajuan Ocean Mist
Pros: Also a leave-in conditioner, hydrating, texturizing
Cons: Expensive for product size
Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin B12, castor oil | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
Sachajuan's light-scented spray delivers beachy waves and a whole lot of volume. All there is to do is spray it on your roots and midway down your hair for an effortless texture that has enough grip and volume to form a perfectly undone updo or wear down for cascading siren waves.
Customer review: “I read about this brand as highly recommended for beachy hair. My hair is naturally curly but I wanted to define and accentuate curls and avoid straightening my hair which used to be my go-to look. I squirt this product all over my hair, take wet sections and twist them as tight as I can and let them air dry. While drying the curls open a bit and turn out just perfectly! If they are too tight I just flounce them a bit to open. I can even get another day out of my hair with it.”
Best for Dyed Hair: R+Co Rockaway Salt Spray
Pros: Offers realistic beach waves, protects color-treated hair
Cons: Can feel stiff
Size: 4.2 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, cranesbill, yarrow plant extract, balm mint | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
Fake a day at the beach with R+Co's Rockaway Salt Spray. It's infused with cranesbill (which enlarges the hair shaft and boosts the appearance of thicker hair), yarrow-plant extract (which adds body and texture), and balm mint to protect each strand and any permanent color dyes.
Customer review: “This is my new go-to texturizing spray. R+co products are worth the price. I have stick-straight hair and this adds great texture. I will dry my hair most of the way before drying, then blow dry my hair a little bit more after applying to get the best results. If you let it air dry your hair might come out a little bit stiff.”
Best for Thinning Hair: Reverie Mare Mediterranean Sea Mist
Pros: Improves appearance of thickness, nourishing formula strengthens strands
Cons: Shoppers disagree on scent
Size: 5 oz. | Key ingredients: Mediterranean sea salt, rice seed extract, algae | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
The long-lasting formula is the secret to full, bouncy hair no matter your thickness. It contains rice protein extract, algae extract, and Mediterranean sea salt to give the hair texture, volume, and hydration while boosting the appearance of thicker hair, making this a great option for those with thin or thinning hair.
Customer review: “This has made such a difference in my fine straight hair! I spray it wet hair and blow it out. My hair has so much more root volume and some grit which helps my super slippery hair hold!”
Best for Damaged Hair: Unite Hair Beach Day
Pros: Safe for several hair types, has good hold
Cons: Some reviewers report a briny scent
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Magnesium sulfate, glycerin, moringa seed extract | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
I love that you can use this product on wet or dry hair. It's infused with magnesium sulfate for that breezy texture plus glycerin and moringa-seed extract to hold those waves and protect the hair from pollution. Its thickening agents work hard to boost the density of your hair, and what's more is that this product is safe for use on all hair types—dry, damaged, color-treated strands, and even extensions.
Customer review: “I really love this beach spray. I use this spray then dry my hair with a diffuser and I love the look. It gives body and thickness without feeling dry or frizzy like a lot of beach sprays do.”
Best for Softness: L'Ange Hair Sea Salt Texturizing Spray
Pros: Hydrates strands while texturizing, boosts shine
Cons: Some shoppers don’t get wavy results
Size: 4 oz. | Key ingredients: Sea salt, sea kelp, algae | Hair type: All | Fragrance-free: No
If a non-crunchy finish is what you’re after, then the reformulated L’Ange sea salt spray is one of your best bets. This formula leaves your hair shiny and silky, leaving your strands with a soft-to-the-touch feel and strengthening the hair with its antioxidant-rich ingredient list. To top things off, it even has UV protection.
Customer review: “Just a few sprays of this product after styling and you’ll love it! The scent is refreshing, your hair will get the right amount of volume you’re looking for without the stiff, crunchy feel of heavy hairspray. Can be used as needed for freshening up. I love this product and use it frequently.”
Best Hydrating: Briogeo Soft Wave Spray
Pros: Offers beachy texture minus the dryness
Cons: Not made for curly hair
Size: 5.8 oz. | Key ingredients: Coconut sugar, banana extract, aloe vera | Hair type: Straight, wavy | Fragrance-free: No
If you already have dry hair and don’t want to stir the pot with a typical sea salt spray, Knight suggests this salt-free alternative for beachy hair, minus the dehydrating stuff. “Briogeo Soft Wave Spray is a newer technology that actually uses coconut sugar instead of salt, which is less drying, and aloe vera juice for softness, and hydration,” explains Knight. Different from the others above, this formula includes banana extract, which pulls on its high levels of potassium to protect and nourish dry strands.
Customer review: “It tames fly aways. It makes my curls cleaner and bouncier. It gives my hair a gorgeous shine and it smells like a tropical vacation. This is the second bottle I’ve gotten. It was running low and I couldn’t be without it. Definitely keeping it on hand from now on.”
Hot Tools for Beachy Waves
Amika's three-barrel hot tool might be one of the easiest ways to get beachy waves. It doesn't leave any creases, and the negative-ion technology in the device seals the cuticle.
You can customize the heat settings up to 430°F with this gold-barrel curling iron. It delivers constant, even heat while in use.
T3's styling wand has a smart microchip inside that monitors and adjusts the power to maintain a consistent temperature. The ceramic barrel ensures the hair stays frizz-free and shiny.
FAQ
What are the best ingredients to look for in a sea salt spray?
As you’ve likely gathered from the extensive list above, there are seemingly endless ingredient combinations within sea salt sprays, but at the core of (almost) every formula is magnesium sulfate, dead sea salt, or plain sea salt—aka, salt. However, there are also saltless texturizing sprays that offer beachy waves without this briny component, including Briogeo’s Soft Wave Spray and Ouai’s Texturizing Wave Spray, which get their movement from coconut sugar and rice protein.
As for the other ingredients, you should typically keep your eye out for hydrating ingredients that cancel out the drying effect of salt, often including other aquatic elements sea kelp and algae.
Do sea salt sprays dry out your hair?
While sea salts are typically based upon a commonly dehydrating ingredient, salt, they should not be noticeably drying on your hair. Most sea salt sprays are fortified with other hydrating or vitamin-rich marine ingredients that strengthen the strands and balance the scales that its salt frontman may tip. However, sea salt sprays aren’t the best products for everyone. “I wouldn’t use it on hair that’s super dry, heavily processed, or right after a fresh color service since salt can pull moisture and dull the tone,” explains Giannetos.
When is it best to use sea salt spray?
Contrary to its name, you don’t have to be at the beach to use a sea salt spray. You can spritz these wave-making formulas onto wet or dry hair, depending on your specific product’s instructions, and you can allow it to air dry for a more natural, curl-forward effect or style it with a heat tool to get a look with extra volume.
However, Knight also advises users with curly hair to take caution. “Some curly hair textures can be brittle, [so] I’d advise using a leave-in conditioner before the salt spray to avoid drying it out too much,” he explains. “Experiment, and make sure to keep your hair hydrated, always!”
How We Tested
Years ago, a Who What Wear beauty editor rounded up the best sea salt sprays according to her own personal testing. I assessed her picks and gave this running list a facelift, adding a few of my own favorites for beachy waves, and consulted the pros for a few of their tried-and-true recommendations, including professional tips on how and when to use sea salt sprays. The result is the list above, consisting of these 13 products and all of the reasons you shouldn’t hesitate to add them to your cart here and now.
Who's Who
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hairstylist based between Los Angeles, New York, and Paris who regularly works with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, and Gigi Hadid.
- Sami Knight is a Los Angeles–based hairstylist whose work has been seen on the likes of Lily-Rose Depp, Adele, Laufey, and more.
- Sarah Yang is a lifestyle writer who often covers beauty, health, and wellness. She tested and reported on many of the products in the original story.
- Alyssa Brascia is an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear who has spent years searching for the perfect sea salt spray. She’s finally found her answers with these tried-and-true picks, which she assembled via her own testing, Sarah Yang’s recommendations, and celebrity hairstylists’ picks.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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