DIY Sea Salt Hair Spray (2024)

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How to make sea salt spray, and why would you?

Sea salt spray for hair is a trendy product that tries to recreate the breezy look many people get after being at the beach. 

I get it; I do love my beach hair. The seawater adds volume and makes my hair super curly and cute with basically zero effort, so when I saw they were selling seawater sprays I got curious.

Since most items in the shops cost a bunch of money, are filled with ingredients that I don’t know, and the packaging is plastic, I decided to research what makes a sea salt spray good and to learn how to DIY one at home. 

After some trial and error, I found the best formula.

Keep reading to find everything you need to know about how to make a DIY sea salt spray for your hair, that is a cheap and sustainable alternative to store-bought ones.

Ingredients Needed

Epson salt:

Epson salt (Magnesium sulfate) is the best choice here. It is used in most sea sprays that you can find in the store, and it’s a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. 

Epsom salt is a completely different compound than table salt. It is suitable for hair since it can add volume, texture, and more definition to your locks. The magnesium also nourishes and strengthens your hair and scalp. 

Light oil: 

Jojoba oil: It will moisturize (1) and nourish all types of hair, but it’s particularly effective on curly, dry, and textured hair. It’s light, impermeable, and sits on the surface of the hair shaft, sealing in moisture (when your hair is damp) and helping to protect the hair from dryness and breakage. (2) It also minimizes frizz and can give you a pretty shiny look. (3) Cliganic’s organic jojoba oil is a good option.

Argan oil: Because it contains oleic acid and linoleic acid, it’s a great choice for lubricating the hair shaft and it helps to maintain hair moisture. (4, 5, 7) Here’s a good argan oil from Cliganic.

Almond oil: It is another very nourishing choice, that softens, strengthens, and moisturizes the hair. (6) It is shown to protect against UV radiation and increase the hair’s elasticity. (7) If you want to make the DIY with almond oil, check this one from Pure Body Naturals.

Glycerin:

Glycerin boosts the strength of hair by facilitating moisture content into hair roots (8), keeps frizz away, helps to define curls, and keeps your locks bouncy, enhancing their natural curl pattern. You won’t need a lot, so you can get this little glass bottle from De La Cruz.

Filtered or distilled water:

Using filtered or distilled will cut down on the chance of introducing a contaminant to your DIY recipe. Also, if you live in an area where the water is hard (meaning it has high mineral content), it may affect how the DIY sea salt spray works. 

Essential oil (Optional):

You can add a couple of drops of essential oil of your choice. Some good options for hair include: 

• Lemongrass: Effective dandruff treatment.
• Lavender: It can help to produce more hair follicles to help thicken and strengthen hair. I had lavender on hand, so I added a few drops. 🙂
• Rosemary: It stimulates the roots, improves hair growth, and increases circulation in the scalp.

DIY Sea Salt Spray: Step-by-Step Guide

Ingredients:

1 cup (236ml) filtered water
1 tsp (5g) Epson salt (for more ‘texture’, add 1,5 tsp)
1 tsp (5ml) vegetable glycerin
1 tsp (5ml) jojoba oil
5 drops essential oil (optional) 

Equipment needed:

You will need a spray bottle, a pot (to heat the water), funnel to transfer to the spray bottle.

Instructions:

1. Warm up your filter or distilled water, but don’t boil it. 
2. Add the Epsom salt and stir until it gets dissolved.
3. After that, add the glycerin, and in the end jojoba oil. Mix well.
4. In the end, once the mixture cools down, you can add your preferred essential oil.
5. Mix well, and transfer to a spray bottle.

How to use:

The separation of the jojoba oil is normal, so before each application, ensure to shake the bottle well to evenly distribute the ingredients.

Spray directly on wet or dry hair, and scrunch gently the hair. Be generous with the spray. You can flip your hair upside down, apply the sea salt spray, and scrunch. You can also spray it first in your hands and then apply it on the hair by scrunching. 

When I wake up, usually my hair is more flat, curls are all smashed, and messy. After I apply a generous amount of the spray, and wait for the hair to dry off, my natural curl pattern is enhanced, and there is more volume to the curls:

Safety precautions:

• Check for allergies to any of the ingredients before starting. You can perform a patch test on a small area of skin to ensure there are no adverse reactions. 
• Essential oils are quite potent. If adding them for fragrance, use a minimal amount to prevent skin irritation.
• Store the sea salt spray in a cool, dark place. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, as this can affect the quality of the ingredients. 

Shelf life: 

Generally, you can try to use the spray for 3 to 6 months. But keep in mind it may vary depending on factors such as storage conditions and ingredient quality.

If there are any changes in color, texture, or scent, it may be that there has been some contamination, and the spray spoiled.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Adds volume & texture to your hair 
• Enhances your natural curl pattern
• Helps with styling your hair
• Affordable
• Natural & eco-friendly
• Easy to make
• Easy to modify

Cons: 

• It can dry your hair – Because of this, it is recommended to not use it daily. If your hair is chemically treated, bleached, or has high porosity, it is already prone to losing excessive moisture and risk excessive dryness, so this spray may not be the best for the long term. Tip: Before using the sea salt spray, it is best to prep the hair, and apply a leave-in conditioner.
• May irritate your skin – If your scalp is sensitive, test a small amount of the spray first or consider diluting it to minimize potential irritation.

FAQs

Can I use any type of salt for the spray? 

While table salt is not recommended due to its high iodine content, natural sea salt or Epsom salt is ideal for the spray. 

Will the spray make my hair feel sticky or crunchy? 

When applied in moderation, the spray should enhance texture without leaving hair sticky or crunchy. 

How often should I use sea salt spray on my hair? 

The frequency depends on your hair type and desired look. Start with 2-3 times a week and adjust as needed. 

Can I add essential oils for fragrance? 

Yes, adding a few drops of essential oils like lavender, lemongrass, or rosemary can provide a pleasant fragrance and possible benefits for your hair. 

Is it suitable for all hair types? 

Yes, the DIY recipe can be adapted for various hair types.  

Can I use the sea salt spray on wet or dry hair? 

The spray is versatile and can be applied to both wet and dry hair. Experiment to find what works best for you. 

Can I use the spray on color-treated hair? 

Yes, the spray is generally safe for color-treated hair. 

How do I avoid the spray drying out my hair? 

Use a leave-in conditioner before using the sea salt spray to maintain moisture and prevent dryness. 

Can I use tap water instead of distilled water? 

It’s recommended to use distilled water to prevent mineral build-up in the spray. Tap water may contain impurities that could affect the quality. While filtered water is an alright option, and can remove impurities, including chlorine, and sediment, it cannot remove all impurities such as heavy metals bacteria, and viruses. Distilled water, on the other hand, produces almost pure water, with virtually no impurities. 

Conclusion

Sea salt spray is a great choice if you’re looking to add texture and volume to your hair and enhance your hair’s natural curl pattern. 

It’s easy to make, affordable, effective, and much more natural than the store-bought options.

Feel free to share your experience with DIY sea salt spray in the comments below! 

If you enjoy this article, you can check more of my DIY recipes, including:

• Non-greasy DIY lotion bar
• Effective 3-ingredient homemade deodorant (no coconut oil)
• DIY mosquito repellent
• DIY coffee scrub
• DIY natural air-freshener spray

Resources:

1. G.K. Sandha. ‘JOJOBA OIL AS AN ORGANIC, SHELF-STABLE STANDARD OIL-PHASE BASE FOR COSMETIC INDUSTRY.’ Introduction –  https://www.rasayanjournal.co.in/vol-2/issue-2/10.pdf 
2. Heba A. Gad. 2021. ‘’Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity’’. 24 May 2021. 7.2. Cosmetic Products – https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/11/1711 
3. Nadim A. Shaath, Ph.D. 2012. The Wonders of Jojoba. 08.31.12. Health and Cosmetic Benefits – https://www.happi.com/contents/view_features/2012-08-31/the-wonders-of-jojoba/ 
4. Urszula Goik. 2019.The Properties and Application of Argan Oil in Cosmetology.  29 January 2019. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejlt.201800313
5. Dom Guillaume, Ph.D. 2011. Argan Oil. Argan Tree and Argan Oil – https://altmedrev.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/v16-3-275.pdf 
6. Kumar Sumit. 2012. Herbal Cosmetics: Used for Skin and Hair. Advantages of Herbal Medicine. 10/10/2012. Page 5. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ashish-Baldi/publication/235944029_Herbal_Cosmetics_Used_for_Skin_and_Hair/links/09e4151497b76aa3c5000000/Herbal-Cosmetics-Used-for-Skin-and-Hair.pdf 
7. Venkataram Mysore. 2022. Hair Oils: Indigenous Knowledge Revisited. TYPES OF HAIR OILS. 24/05/22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9231528/ 
8. Dr A.R.Padmawar. 2018. GLYCOL AND GLYCERIN: PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE HERBAL INDUSTRY AS SOLVENT/CO-SOLVENT. GLYCERIN. Page 154.  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ajay-Padmawar/publication/324942324_GLYCOL_AND_GLYCERIN_PIVOTAL_ROLE_IN_HERBAL_INDUSTRY_AS_SOLVENTCO-SOLVENT/links/5aec0feb458515f59981f33c/GLYCOL-AND-GLYCERIN-PIVOTAL-ROLE-IN-HERBAL-INDUSTRY-AS-SOLVENT-CO-SOLVENT.pdf