Real Salt As An Ingredient
While we looked at many hair sprays that aim to make hair wavy, we only picked products that contain actual salt as an ingredients. Many products marketed as "sea sprays" do not actually contain salt. Even though they often produce the same wavy effect, those products will be addressed in a separate post.
Sodium Chloride (Table Salt) vs. Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)
Most products contain sodium chloride, aka plain old table salt. Some of the products claim to specifically contain "sea salt". Salt will give your hair a nice wave and a beachy look, but keep in mind that the salt will also "dry out" your hair.
Some products on the list use a different type of salt: magnesium sulfate, or epsom salt. Epsom salt for hair is great because it accomplishes the same waves without leaving the hair more brittle or dry.
"Several researchers have found that hair is stronger and curl retention is increased when magnesium sulfate is incorporated into the rinsing and neutralizing agent used to re-form the disulfide bonds. They also noted that its use enhanced the curl pattern and imparted a greater stability to high humidity."
Naturally Curly
Even though magnesium sulfate is less harsh than sodium chloride, all the products that contain the former ingredient also contained alcohol, which is indeed drying.
All in all, keep in mind that a sea salt spray could dry out your hair. The key is to pick a product that is also moisturizing (such as our best picks below). Make sure to condition your hair and use leave-in treatments if using sea salt sprays regularly.
Below are our top picks for the best sea salt spray for all hair types.
Best: Herbivore Sea Mist Coconut + Sea Salt Beach Wave Hair Mist
This product from Herbivore Botanicals is made with Pacific sea salt, and contains a base of water and soothing aloe vera water. It gives you waves that are soft, easy to style and don't feel sticky or crunchy. It has a pleasant tropical scent of coconut, vanilla, and lime. Herbivore Botanicals is 100% vegan, and this product is no exception.
Is it vegan? Yes
Does it contain silicones? No
Water, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Water, Sodium Chloride (Pacific Sea Salt), Leucidal (Radish Root Ferment), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Pulp Co2, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Essential Oil.
R+Co Sail Soft Wave Spray
R+Co
Sail Soft Wave Spray
$29
Suitable for all hair types, this wave spray from R+Co is formulated to give you beachy waves while also keeping hair soft, manageable, and shiny. It does contain silicones, so keep this in mind if you're trying to avoid them. If contains magnesium sulfate instead of sea salt, and the spray bottle works really well to get an even coating on your hair.
Is it vegan? Yes
Does it contain silicones? Yes
Aqua/Water/Eau, Alcohol Denat., Magnesium Sulfate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PVP, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Flower Extract, Quercus Alba (Oak) Bark Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Extract, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Extract, Geranium Maculatum (Cranesbill) Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Melissa Officinalis (Balm Mint) Leaf Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Sea Kelp) Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Undeceth-5, Undeceth-11, Silicone Quaternium-16, Butyloctanol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, BHT, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum/Fragrance, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene
Best Drugstore: Pacifica Beauty Salty Waves Texture Spray
This is an affordable buy from Pacifica, and it's made from a base of water and salt. It gives a boost of texture and wave to even the thinnest hair. It does contain fragrance and has a banana and coconut scent. It also contains glycerin for a boost of hydration and sea kelp, banana, and chia extract. This product is vegan and does not contain silicones.
Is it vegan? Yes
Does it contain silicones? No
Aqua (purified), sodium chloride (salt), polysorbate-20, glycerin (vegetable), musa sapientum (banana) fruit extract, salvia hispanica seed extract (chia seed extract), chlorella pyrenoidosa extract (algae extract), ascophyllum nodosum extract (kelp extract), parfum (natural).
Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray
Inspired by the Galapagos islands, this sea spray will give you tousled wavy beach hair without the crunchiness. It's made with natural pink sea salt for texture and volume. It has a lovely tropic scent and smells like hibiscus, passion fruit, and guayaba. Purchases of this product support The Pink Flamingos Project, which protects endangered species in the Galapagos islands. We love an ethical brand, and Rahua checks all our boxes.
Is it vegan? Yes
Does it contain silicones? No
Aqua, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt), Glycerin, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Psidium Guajava (Guayaba) Fruit Juice, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Passiflora Incarnata (Passion) Fruit Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glycosides, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Hibiscus) Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Alcohol (SDA 38B Lavender Oil) Lavandula Angustifolia, Eclipta Prostrata Extract (King Of Hair), Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil.
Gisou Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray
This texturizing wave spray from Gisou contains both magnesium sulfate and sea salt for beachy waves. It doubles as a heat protectant, which means you can also apply it prior to using hot tools or blow-drying. It won't leave your hair feeling crunchy and it's also hydrating. It contains fragrance and has a lovely smell.
Is it vegan? No (contains propolis which is a bee by-product)
Does it contains silicones? No
Water/Aqua, Alcohol Denat., Magnesium Sulfate, VP/VA Copolymer, Polyquaternium-72, Mirsalehi Propolis Cera (Wax), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4/Cl 14700, Benzophenone-4, Parfum/Fragrances, Red 33/Cl 17200, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Yellow 5/Cl 19140, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
Captain Blankenship Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray
If you're looking for a product that contains organic ingredients packaged in sustainable glass, this is your winner. The Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray by Captain Blankenship contains real sea salt as well as aloe vera juice for hydration and sea kelp for extra shine and nourishment. It's not sticky and doesn't leave hair feeling dry, and it doesn't contain silicones. It's scented with essential oils and has a beachy rose smell.
Is it vegan? Yes
Does it contain silicones? No
Water, Sea Salt, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice,* Macrocystis Pyrifera (Sea Kelp) Extract,* Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil,* Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil.*
Hask Hawaiian Sea Salt Makin Waves Texture Spray
The most affordable option on this list is from Hask, a cruelty-free drugstore hair care brand. It contains both table salt and sea salt and it's effective at giving you a beachy, wavy look. It gives more hold than other products on this list, so this is something to keep in mind. It contains fragrance and has a summery smell. Trying to avoid silicones in your hair? This product is not for you.
Is it vegan? No, as it contains hydrolyzed pearl
Does it contain silicones? Yes
Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Glycerin, Sodium chloride, Glycol distearate, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Crambe maritima (blue seakale) leaf extract, Hydrolyzed pearl, Hawaiian sea salt/Maris sal/Sel marin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 distearate, Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Sodium hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Magnesium nitrate, Sodium benzoate, Magnesium chloride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Polyquaternium-68, Panthenol, Dimethiconol, Citric acid, Butylene glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, Amyl cinnamal, Benzyl salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool.
Final Verdict
Our top pick for the best sea salt spray is . If you don't mind silicones, R+Co's Sail Soft Wave Spray is also a great product. Finally, if you're looking for a drugstore option, we recommend Pacifica's Salty Waves Texture Spray.
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