DIY Sea Salt Hair Spray

I recently chopped off my long locks so I could donate them to Beautiful Lengths who make free wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair due to Chemotherapy. Along with getting used to a new length of hair I’ve also had to get used to having to ‘style’ it more often (I can’t just throw it up in a bun on a bad hair day anymore). After getting sick of straightening my hair all the time, I wanted to try something different.

My hairdresser suggested I try a sea salt hair spray to create a bit of a ‘beachy wave’ but I was appalled by the price (and some of the ingredients) of some of these hair products. Especially when I should theoretically be able to just go to the beach and use some sea water! So I took it on myself to make my own sea salt hair spray. I have to say, I was pretty happy with the result – see the above picture!

Makes about 1 cup of sea salt spray (250mL)
Time  5 mins

Ingredients:

Option 1:

• Take your spray bottle to the beach and fill it up with sea water!

Option 2:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 T sea salt
• 1 t epsom salts
• 1 T liquid coconut oil or macadamia oil (as a moisturiser)
• 3-4 drops your favourite essential oil (I like lemon and wild orange)
• 1 T lemon juice (optional – if you want to lighten your hair)
• 1 t vodka/alcohol (helps to preserve the lemon juice if you’re using it)

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix the warm water with the salts until they completely dissolve. Heat up further over the stove if they’re struggling to dissolve.
2. Allow to cool to room temperature then add the remaining ingredients.
3. I like to blend it all together so that the oil is dispersed evenly amongst the water but it’s not necessary.
4. Transfer to a spray bottle – I picked one up for $2.50 at Officeworks.
5. Store in your bathroom vanity.

How to Use:

1. Give it a good shake before use.
2. Apply after a shower where you’ve washed your hair, or just wet it fully (without washing).
3. Towel-dry your hair thoroughly.
4. Spray the sea-salt spray over your hair (you’ll get a feel for the amount you need after a couple of goes), use your hands to ‘work it into’ your hair.
5. Take handfuls of hair and “scrunch” them to create waves. Allow your hair to dry naturally. I often do some ‘scrunching’ as it’s drying as well.
6. And voila! You have beachy waves!