Fashion

How To DIY An Effective & Cheap Sea Salt Spray

by Emma Matthews

One of my favorite summer styling products is DIY sea salt spray. It’s easy to use, effective, and can even be made in the comfort of your own home with some basic household ingredients. Who said coconut oil never comes in handy?

I first heard about making your own spray after watching a YouTube tutorial by AwesomenessTV. Since then, I've been using the DIY mixture on a daily basis, all year round. Not only is it cheaper than the real-deal, which can often cost around $15 to $25 depending on the brand, but it’s a throw-it-all-together recipe that takes only minutes. There’s no need for scales or measuring cups: It’s that simple.

Another major plus point is the fact that DIY sea salt spray is a heat-free product. Sure, you can create beachy, boho waves with a curling iron or straightener, but constant use of hot tools can damage your locks by stripping hair of its natural oils and proteins. This can result in breakages and lack of moisture.

Don't let that put you off creating summertime waves, though. Given that the look is currently so popular thanks to festivals, BBQs, and other seasonal events (to which we plan on channeling Vanessa Hudgens and all our other favorite Coachella queens!), now seems like the perfect time to whip up a batch of homemade salt spray for heatless boho waves.

Grab a spray bottle and let’s get started.

What You’ll Need

For this DIY, you'll need the following ingredients.

  • Spray Bottle
  • Coconut Oil
  • Epsom Salt
  • Sea Salt
  • Conditioner
  • Warm Water

1. Pour Warm Water Into Spray Bottle

Start by pouring hot water into a spray bottle. It doesn’t need to be boiling; just make sure it’s warm enough to melt the ingredients we’ll be adding later on.

2. Add Epsom & Sea Salt

Next, add a handful of epsom and sea salt. Both of these ingredients can usually be purchased from your local drugstore or from Amazon. The salt should give your locks texture and volume by absorbing oil and moisture from your hair.

3. Spoon Coconut Oil Into A Bowl

To counteract the drying effect of the salt, add coconut oil to the mixture. If yours comes in a jar like mine, the easiest way to pour it in the bottle is to spoon it into a bowl. Then, pop the bowl in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds until it's melted.

4. Pour Into Spray Bottle

Once the coconut oil has melted, give it a stir and pour it into the spray bottle.

5. Squeeze In Conditioner

Another ingredient that we’re going to add to the mixture is conditioner. Again, this helps balance out the salt and will ensure the spray doesn’t do more harm than good to your hair.

You only need to put a very small amount of conditioner. After all, you don’t want the spray to make your mane greasy. I recommend squeezing it in and measuring by eye. That way you’ll be able to see exactly how much you’re putting in.

6. Shake Everything Together

The next step is easy. Simply shake the bottle until the ingredients have mixed together. Throw-it-all-together DIYs really are the best, aren’t they?

7. Spray & Style

Now the only thing left to do is spritz the mixture on your hair and style it. Personally, I scrunch my hair up after I apply it. This helps create the textured, messy boho waves I prefer. But, if you're more into a sleek, polished finish, use the spray with a blow dryer and other styling products.

With the DIY mixture working just as well as any sea salt spray I've bought in the past, it proves that investing in seasonal trends doesn't have to cost a bomb. You can don an incredible hairstyle this summer and still save a couple of bucks to spend on other June/July beauty essentials. Now, who's ready to hit the beach?

Images: Emma Matthews

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