Is Sea Salt Spray Bad For Hair?

Everything you need to know about salty hair sprays, including ways to use them for styling your tresses.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Swati Mutha, MBBS, DDV
Written by Arshiya Syeda, BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Dip

Edited by Ramona Sinha, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach

Fact-checked by Medha Deb, Integrated MA • Nov 16, 2023

Image: Shutterstock

Sea salt spray offers a beachy textured look to your hair. These are must-have hair styling products that work great on all hair lengths and types. But is sea salt spray bad for hair? Some believe it may help achieve that carefree, voluminous, and a refreshing hair look. This article answers all the questions about sea salt spray, its benefits, and the best way to use it. Keep reading.

In This Article

What Is Sea Salt Spray?

Sea salt spray bottle and spoon full of sea salt

Image: Shutterstock

Sea salt spray is a hairspray that contains seawater or saltwater. The saltwater absorbs moisture and gets trapped inside the hair cuticles. Many people use sea salt spray for hair as it adds volume and texture. It makes the hair look straight out of the ocean, dripping with beach vibes!

Let’s take a quick look at why sea salt spray is so loved by women, men, and hair stylists worldwide. Scroll down.

Benefits Of Sea Salt Spray

Woman at the beach with curls attained by spraying sea salt on hair

Image: IStock

Sea salt hair spray comes quite handy if you want your natural hair to look like curly hair or a beachy wave hairstyle without having to use loads of hair products. Here are the benefits of using sea salt spray:

Adds texture to the hair.
Adds volume and body to the hair.
Enhances and defines natural waves and curls.
Reduces frizz.
Perks up limp hair.
Helps achieve beach waves hairstyle easily.
A little goes a long way.
Fixes the hair quickly.

While sea salt spray carries various benefits and is ideal for all hair types, a common question that often arises is, does it work well on straight hair as well? Check out the section below as we answer this question in detail.

Does Sea Salt Spray Work On Straight Hair?

Woman uses sea salt spray on straight hair

Image: Shutterstock

Yes, as mentioned earlier, sea salt spray is suitable for all hair types and can help achieve effortlessly bouncy and free-flowing tresses. It bestows endless volume and body to the strands, while also adding subtle texture. While you may not get the same result as someone with curly hair, you can expect subtle waves. For best results, use sea salt spray on damp hair. That will add some grittiness to your straight hair shafts and then you can style your locks to create soft, beachy waves.

Quite naturally, sea salt hair spray is loved by so many people. But if you use sea salt hair spray regularly, you may have wondered, ‘Is sea salt spray bad for hair? Scroll down to the next section to find out if it can damage your hair.

Can Sea Salt Spray Be Bad For Hair?

Image: Shutterstock

Sea salt sprays add beach waves, volume, and texture to your hair. However, the salt in the seawater or spray has an osmotic action. It draws out all the water from the hair, leaving it dry, weak, and brittle. Moreover, sea salt sprays also contain alcohol, which further dries the hair.

But let’s face it – nothing works as well as a sea salt spray for that textured beach wave hair texture. If you cannot give up using it, here are some of the best hair styling techniques to use sea salt spray on your hair.

Quick Tip

Choose sea salt products that contain nourishing serums or natural oils as they are less likely to damage your mane and can keep hair moisturized.

Best Way To Use Sea Salt Spray

Image: Shutterstock

Comb your hair to detangle the knots. Skip this step if you have just washed your hair.
It works best on damp hair, so spray your hair with water. Skip this step if you have just washed your hair.
Divide your hair into four sections.
Spritz the sea salt spray on all the sections.
Use a scrunching motion to add volume and texture.
Use a blow dryer with a diffuser.
Apply a serum or argan oil to retain moisture and shine.

Quick Tip

The number of sprays needed for a perfect style depends on your hair length and thickness. One spray of a sea salt product is enough for fine or short hair.

Frequent use of sea salt spray can lead to damaged hair. That is why you need to take extra care to restore your hair health. Here are a few hair styling tips that will come in handy.

Tips To Reduce Hair Damage Due To Sea Salt Spray

Hair oil massage can prevent hair damage from sea salt spray

Image: Shutterstock

Use a coconut oil or castor oil mask once a week to strengthen your hair.
Use avocado or banana to hydrate your hair strands.
Get a hair spa treatment once a month.
Shampoo your hair twice a week to get rid of sea salt residue.
Use a deep conditioner every time you wash your hair.
Apply argan oil or a hair serum.

Avoid using heating tools frequently. Use a heat protectant while styling your hair.
Use the sea salt spray on your hair strands from a distance.
Drink 2-3 liters of water per day.
Use gentle cleansers that are free of sulfates and parabens so that there is less drying of the hair.
Improve your consumption of good fats – olive oil, seeds and nuts, seafood, etc. – to internally hydrate the hair strands.
Repeated usage of hairsprays can weaken the hair. Hence, consume a hair vitamin containing all necessary nutrients to strengthen hair roots after consulting your doctor.

Samantha Duguay, a blogger, shared her personal experience with using a natural sea salt spray for her hair. She says, “This really is the best sea salt spray I’ve used in my hair…Other sprays leave your hair feeling too crunchy or don’t do much to enhance the natural wave and texture in your hair (i).”

Infographic: How To Apply Sea Salt Spray

A sea salt spray can benefit your hair as well as cause damage. However, using it in a limited quantity and in the right way can reduce the damage. Check out the infographic below to learn a few simplified steps to apply a sea salt spray on your hair to reduce damage.

how to apply sea salt spray (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

Sea salt spray is a great way to add a voluminous and carefree look to your beach hair. The benefits of using sea salt spray include adding texture to your hair, reducing frizz, and enhancing your natural waves. However, overuse of sea salt spray may be bad for your hair as it sucks the moisture and leaves your hair dry. To ensure that you use sea salt spray in the best way, apply argan oil after to retain moisture. Additionally, staying hydrated and following a proper skincare routine can save your hair from further damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sea salt spray bad for thinning hair?

Not if used in moderation. Sea salt spray adds texture and volume to thinning hair. However, overuse may lead to brittle, breakage-prone hair.

Does salt water cause gray hair?

There is a lack of evidence to suggest that excessive contact with salt water leads to hair graying.

Can you use sea salt hair spray everyday?

No. Too much of it can dry out your hair and make it brittle, thereby causing your hair to break easily.

How many times a week should I use sea salt spray?

The recommended usage of the spray is not more than twice or thrice a week.

Is sea salt spray the same as texturizing spray?

No. Sea salt spray gives you those effortless, beachy waves thanks to the salt water and other natural ingredients it contains that add texture and volume. Texturizing spray, on the other hand, is a dry spray that adds grip and texture to hair with powders and other ingredients. It doesn’t have any shine and instead gives a matte finish while adding volume.

Is it safe to use sea salt spray on color-treated hair?

No, as sea salt spray can harm color-treated hair. Coloring can cause dryness, and too much sea salt spray can make it worse. If you do use the spray, restore moisture by using a moisturizing conditioner, and avoid using hot tools that can damage your hair further.

Key Takeaways

Sea salt spray adds volume and texture to your hair and enhances your natural curls.
But its frequent use may lead to dryness and brittleness.
Keeping your hair conditioned with oils and hair masks can help balance the side effects of sea salt spray use.

Is a sea salt hairspray good or bad for your hair? Find out in this video! Explore the pros and cons of using sea salt spray to help you decide if it’s right for you.