Sea salt spray is an effective way to get that beachy and textured look for your hair in a matter of seconds.
Beyond its styling versatility, sea salt sprays are a terrific natural alternative to other men’s hair styling products which are notorious for being noxious and environmentally unfriendly.
Here are a few sea salt sprays that can give you a reliably perfect hairstyle every day:
1. Best Overall: Byrd Texturizing Surf Spray
This choice is affordable and best suited for hair that’s wavy, thick, or straight. It’s handy and easy to carry and can help repair damage to roots while reducing the shine that oils can create.
This salt spray gives a textured look that will volumize your hair style, and create effortless waves. That being said, it doesn’t have a lot of “staying power,” and may need to be applied multiple times a day. It may leave a thin layer of grit and is made of coconut oil so it does have a slight coconut odor.
Pros
- Great volume and texture creation
- No harsh chemicals
Cons
- Coconut oil creates coconut scent
- May have a slightly gritty feeling
What You Need To Know
This is the best choice among affordable salt sprays, but it may not have the same staying power as the best sea salt spray brands.
2. Best for Fine/Straight Hair: Pete and Pedro SALT Sea Salt Spray
This is the best sea salt spray for fine straight hair as it texturizes and adds instant volume. It has a very low shine, as it doesn’t have a lot of oil in the formula that creates that shine. After you apply this product, you’ll find that it gives a very soft feeling to your hair.
This product uses ocean kelp ingredients that lend a subtle nourishing effect to the hair. Although many reviewers enjoyed the experience this salt spray gives, some questioned if it was able to add as much volume as advertised.
Pros
- Great for guys with thinner hair
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Size doesn’t meet travel size restrictions
What You Need To Know
Because this ocean kelp fortified salt spray doesn’t make your hair gritty and adds great texture and volume, it’s a perfect choice for guys with fine or particularly long hair.
3. Best for Thick Hair: Sun Bum Texturizing Sea Spray
With this salt spray, hair is separated into its individual strands — which gives every strand protection from humidity and the elements and gives perfect ocean-washed waves, leaving your hair with a content and confident look.
The texture this gives is slightly volumizing, and it has a subtle matte-finish and soft hold. If you’re a guy who lives in a damp environment that makes wet hair a constant occurrence, this is a great choice to protect hair from endless frizz.
This product has a range of natural ingredients, from sea kelp and seaweed to Hawaiian black lave sea salt.
Pros
- Gives great matte finish
- Perfect to protect hair in damp environment
- Good deal for price
Cons
- Only one size, not travel size appropriate
What You Need To Know
Guys who have thick hair and want to make sure they get a salt spray experience that effectively hits all of their hair, this product offers an excellent choice and doesn’t leave hair feeling heavy.
4. Blind Barber 40 Proof Sea Salt Spray
This product offers waves and great body to dry hair — it’s actually fully water-based which means, unlike other products, it’s easy to wash right out if necessary. If you’re on the search for hair spray products with a great hold, the search is over.
Due to its chemical content, the smell is far from subtle and may be hard to deal with for some guys — however it does help create more complex hairstyles because of this increased hold. No need for a barber to get a new look with this — just shake up the bottle and achieve a new ‘do with waves.
Pros
- Excellent “barber” experience, strong hold
- Provides a strong set to damp hair, protects from damage
Cons
- More chemicals than other products
- Strong odor can be hard to deal with
What You Need To Know
This is a strong product for guys who are on the search for a strong hold and don’t mind having to add some chemicals to achieve this effect.
5. R+Co Rockaway Salt Spray
This is a sea salt texturizing spray that is great for providing a bit of extra volume without grit. If you have to deal with frizzy hair after drying, this spray can help provide body and fullness. You’re sure to get the tousled beachy waves look you’re going for with sea salt spray hair products.
Unlike other products, Rockaway Salt Spray has natural key ingredients like cranesbill, yarrow root extract, and sage, which offers great texturizing spray qualities without a lot of added chemicals. If you prefer a healthy alternative to more chemical-based products, you’ll love this one.
Pros
- Naturally offers waves and light finish
- Add texture without harsh chemicals
Cons
- Delivery to US only
What You Need To Know
For guys in a dry environment, who want to protect their hair on a daily basis, it’s time to add this salt spray to your fashion repertoire.
6. Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray
If you’ve tried a couple of sea salt sprays and want to experience a more fashion-oriented formula from a designer brand, try building your hairstyles with this product. It gives a matte finish and can create a messy or tousled look — just sprits over wet or dry hair.
Too much of this beach waves spray may dry your hair out, so try not to overuse it.
Pros
- Great for creating a beachy look and feel
- Matte finish, no shine
Cons
- May give hair a crunchy texture
- May dry hair out
What You Need To Know
If fashion is the number one priority, you’ll find this hair mist provides an excellent tousled look that also gives your hair a full-body look.
7. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
This is one of the best beach hair products out there. If you’re looking for a beach wave spray that will give you a look like you’ve been on the beach all day being hit by cool wave sprays, the search is over. After a good shake and application, this Bumble and Bumble will give a great set to your hair.
Although bumble and bumble is good for many types of hair, it is particularly suited to chemically treated hair that may be dry.
Pros
- Bumble and Bumble offers brand name fashion recognition
- Gives great sea salt spray benefits like matte finish and beachy waves
- Comes in travel size appropriate sizes
Cons
- Pricey
What You Need To Know
Men (and women) swear by Bumble and bumble products. One application of this spray will give your hair the style it deserves before heading out the door in the morning.
4 Tips on Buying a Sea Salt Spray
When buying a sea salt spray, consider the following:
1. Ingredients
Sea salt spray often includes kaolinite clay (a common ingredient found in men’s hair clay) in its formula, which helps to provide a more natural look that isn’t oily. Natural clay also adds a bit more texture, volume, and grip. Although sea salt spray is water-based, they often contain essential oils or herbal extract to provide a pleasant scent; we’ll talk about this a bit more later on.
2. Hold Strength
Being a natural product, salt spray usually has a light to medium hold. However, if you apply too much sea salt spray, benefits might start to taper off, and you’ll find that your hair will feel gritty, so use it sparingly. Sea salt spray is a light product that’s not intended to lock in a style.
3. Scent
Essential oils, like sandalwood and tea tree oil, give the mist a natural scent, which is typically masculine. Expect only a very light fragrance and one that dissipates about an hour after application.
4. Style Intent
Sea salt spray is great to use for various intents, including the following:
- Color-Treated Hair: Sea salt sprays do not contain sulfates – an ingredient that can strip dye from hair.
- Volumizing: Many men often use sea salt spray for thin hair because it effectively adds volume and texture.
- Hair Length: Sea salt spray can work for guys with any length of hair. However, those with a few inches in length will enjoy the extra volume and texture a spray can add.
- Hair Style: If you often style your hair to be slightly messy, a sea salt spray is a great way to achieve this without having too firm of a hold like other hair styling products.