As a surfer, I’ve used sea salt surf sprays a ton as I’ve tried to minimize the damage I already do to my hair in the sun by avoiding heat styling as much as possible. Therefore, I do have a bit of experience with surf sprays as they are a great way to avoid heat styling and get a fun surfer hair look, even if you don’t surf.
Before I even go through my recommendations for sea salt sprays, it’s important to understand what makes a good sea salt surf spray. Here are a few things you should look for.
- Doesn’t dry out the hair, as salt can be drying, so adding other ingredients to add moisture is key.
- It should also keep hair feeling soft vs.sticky.
- You should like its smell, whether the natural scent of it or the fragrance that has been added
- How it performs and makes your hair look – gritty is good with sea salt sprays, it’s all about the texture while defining the waves.
In the end, our hair is all so different, some of the best sea salt sprays will be a better fit for some, but not others, pending hair types.
I tried to be as objective as possible in our analysis in this article and the corresponding YouTube video. Therefore, I evaluated the sea salt sprays based on actual product testing (the more subjective part), ingredients, and price/value.
In the evaluation, I made the review brand/product selection based on the criteria below.
Evaluation Criteria for brands/products analyzed.
A mix of highly known brands, premium & lower priced brands, hair care specific brands, and other brands that are fairly new based on a lower number of reviews on Amazon. All of these products are sold on Amazon, there may be other great options not on Amazon, but we have more actual sales data from tools we have for Amazon brands which is why we used that tool for our criteria in selecting both popular and newer brands to the marketplace.
Brands/Products Evaluated:
- Our own brand, that is literally inspired by the surf, so we had to include a surf spray in our lineup
- SURFCHIQUE, of course
- Brands that align with a beach/sunny vibe
- Sun Bum
- Brands that focus just on haircare or are the OG's in the surf spray space:
- Lange (haircare focus)
- Bumble & Bumble (assumed OG in surf spray space and their product is specifically named surf spray)
- Top selling, lower priced brands on Amazon
- Beauty By Earth
- Maple Holistics
- Top ranked products for seal salt spray that are premium priced brand on Amazon (over $5/oz)
- R&D Rockaway Salt Spray
- OUAI Wave Spray
- Top organic ranked products on Amazon marketed to males
- BYRD - top organic ranked search for sea salt spray for men
- Brickell Men's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray for Men - top organic ranked search for sea salt spray for men with men in title of product
- Lesser known, newer brands - Page 3 top organic ranked product on Amazon for sea salt spray, with less than 51 reviews at the time of doing this review
- Deluvia sea salt spray for hair
- Volt surf salt spray (for men noted in product title)
Product Testing
For the actual product testing part, you can check out my YouTube video here, I purchased all products for personal use. I also set out to spray an equal amount of sprays & scrunches (10 sprays and scrunches on each side) after washing my hair with the same shampoo/conditioner. I got videos/photos for all the looks as well made any comments as necessary in the video to describe how my hair felt after using and my opinion on the fragrance.
I also just took a plain video/pic of my hair after showering with no sea salt spray as a placebo and a video with actual post surf hair with no added product.
From an actual product testing perspective, I think all the sea salt surf sprays were great for not having a real crunchy feel as I didn't experience that with any.
From a fragrance perspective, the Deluvia and Byrd were my favorites with fragrances added with the coconut smell, however I couldn't continue to smell any of the product after my hair dried, so I think I just prefer the fresh natural smell of our SURFCHIQUE surf spray the best (I am a bit biased here I admit).
From a final look perspective, just based on using the sea salt sprays on wet hair with no other styling element, it's really a toss-up. I think the SURFCHIQUE, Maple Holistics, or Deluvia products gave me the best natural looking texture, but other people could have different opinions. The product testing is also good for people with my natural hair type as different products can work differently for people based on their hair type.
The pics of my hair after using all the sea salt sprays don't show huge difference with my hair as naturally dried or straight from the ocean, as my hair already has a bit of natural wave to it. However, I definitely think the sea salt sprays defined the waves a bit more and kept my hair together, with less fly aways being seen when you look up close at the after shots.
Sea Salt Surf Spray Ingredients, Pricing/Value, Review Ratings
To be purely objective, we wanted to compare the pricing by ounce and actual ingredients on all products, as that is essentially, in the end, what you are paying for, outside of packaging/warehousing-fulfillment/marketing.
Ingredients
For the ingredient analysis, we used our favorite ingredient tool, incidecoder,com to display the low down on the use types for all ingredients and their thoughts on them. You can copy/paste the ingredients we list below the image below yourself on their site and dig deeper on the actual function for all the ingredients. Incidecoder typically will note if an ingredient is a goodie or a superstar ingredient as well as something icky. Incidecoder.com doesn't like fragrance and essential oils so those will always get an icky - but pending on % used (as in fragrance being lower on the ingredient list), if you're not sensitive to fragrances, shouldn't apply, it's just a personal preference. However, Incidecoder doesn't list what types of ingredients are more expensive than others, so that is something to keep in mind as well.
From an ingredients perspective, our SURFCHIQUE sea salt surf spray had the most superstar ingredients (3) of any products evaluated while also having no icky ingredients, as we didn't have any added fragrance put into ours. Ouai Wave Spray wins the award for the overall number of different ingredients in their product, not sure if all of them are neccessary, but there's a lot of different ingredients mixing together in their formula.
SURFCHIQUE ingredients text (for copy/pasting into Incidecoder.com):
Aqua (Water), Magnesium Sulfate (Salt), Sea (Pacific Sea) Salt, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Water, Glycerin (Vegetable Glycerin), Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Glycerine, Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Sea Kelp) Extract, Juglans regia (Walnut) Leaf Extract, Asparagopsis armata (Red Algae) Extract, Bambusa vulgaris (Bamboo) Extract
Bumble & Bumble (Website & Amazon)
Bumble & Bumble ingredients:
Ascophyllum Nudosum (Seaweed) Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Water\Aqua\Eau, Magnesium Sulfate, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Isoceteth-20, Citric Acid, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Fragrance (Parfum).
Oaui Wave Spray (Website & Amazon)
Ouai ingredients:
Aqua (Water, Eau), Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Isobutylene/Ethylmaleimide/Hydroxyethylmaleimide Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Cystoseira Compressa Extract, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Pca, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Polysilicone-15, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Disodium Edta, Aminomethyl Propanol, Bht, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Phytic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Ci 42090 (Blue 1), Ci 17200 (Red 33), Ci9140 (Yellow 5), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6)
Lange Hair Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Lange Hair ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Magnesium Sulfate, Polysorbate 20, Sea Salt/Maris Sal, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Fragrance/Parfum, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Blue 1/CI 42090, Yellow 5/CI 19140, Glycerin, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.
Byrd Surf Spray (Website & Amazon)
Byrd Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Polysorbate-20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Phenoxyethanol, Sea Salt, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Protein, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Coconut Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid
Brickell Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Brickell ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride), Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Flower Extract, *Green Tea Gunpowder (Camellia sinensis) Extract, *Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Leaf Extract, Argan (Argania spinosa) Oil, DL-Panthenol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Volt Surf Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Volt Ingredients:
Purified water USP, Propylene Glycol, Kaolin USP, Panthenol, Sea Salt, Charcoal Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Epsom Salt.
Rockaway Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Rockaway ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Alcohol Denat., Magnesium Sulfate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PVP, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-12 Dimethicone, 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, Quercus Alba (Oak) Bark Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral
Deluvia Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Deluvia ingredients:
Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Glycerin, ProVitamin B5, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, ProVitamin A, Organic White Willow Bark Extract, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Polysorbate 20, Baking Soda, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Aqua (Purified Water), Dead Sea Salts, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Polysorbate 20, Coconut Vanilla Fragrance Oil.
Beauty by Earth Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Sun Bum Sea Spray (Website & Amazon)
Sun Bum Ingredients:
Water, Magnesium Sulfate, Isoceteth-20, Fragrance, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sea Salt, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Maple Holistics Sea Salt Spray (Website & Amazon)
Pricing:
We were just going on what Amazon was quoting for quick estimates as of 6/28 (pricing always varies/changes). There's a lot of elements that go into pricing (including the large quantities bigger brands can afford to buy to get a lower price) and we address that in our Keeping it Real with Beauty article. I also made sure if the brand didn't natively sell on Amazon to list their website pricing, as a lot of times there is a lot of 3rd party resellers that arbitrage brands/products they find in retail stores and then sell them on Amazon, which isn't true brand pricing.
- Sun Bum - $2.33/oz - 6 oz = $13.99 (reg. $14.99, was currently on Amazon price special)
- Beauty By Earth - $2.50/oz - 6 oz = $14.99 (reg $16.99)
- Deluvia sea salt spray for hair - $2.65/oz - 8 oz = $21.20
- BYRD - $2.67/oz - 6 oz = $15.95
- Maple Holistics - $3.24/oz - 4 oz = $12.95
- Brickell Men's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray for Men - $3.67/oz - 6 oz = $22
- Volt surf sea salt spray - $4.88/oz - 4 oz = $19.50
- SURFCHIQUE - $4.99/oz - 4 oz = $19.99 (larger 8 oz version for more value - $3.75/oz) but using smaller option for this analysis
- Lange - $5.75/oz - 4 oz = $23 (sale price $16.99 - $4.25/oz)
- OUAI Wave Spray - $5.7/oz - 4.9 oz = $28
- R&D Rockaway Salt Spray - $6.2/oz - 4.2 oz = $26
- Bumble Surf Spray - $7.14/oz - 4.2 oz = $30
Amazon # reviews/rating (as of 8/7)
- Sun Bum - 6 oz. 4,933, 4.4
- Beauty By Earth - 6 oz. 4,814 (old blue label version), 4.2
- Deluvia sea salt spray for hair - 8 oz. - 40, 4
- BYRD - 6 oz.1,087, 4.4
- Maple Holistics - 4 oz. 901, 4.1
- Brickell Men's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray for Men - 2 oz. 3,129, 4.3
- Volt surf sea salt spray - 1 oz - 19, 3.7
- SURFCHIQUE - 4/8 oz.20 - 3.9
- Lange - 4 oz. 4,793 - 4.3
- OUAI Wave Spray - 4.9 oz 2,963 - 4.2
- R&D Rockaway Salt Spray - 4.2 oz. 604 - 4.5
- Bumble Surf Spray - 4.2 oz (472 or 806 and 4.4-4.5 pending listing, there are some with much fewer reviews by other resellers)
We will never be able to say what the best sea salt spray is, however hopefully you found this analysis helpful and it gives you direction on what sea salt surf spray products you might want to consider. In the end, it's really about what brands you want to support and the products that also perform well for you.
We hope you give our SURFCHIQUE sea salt spray a try (on Amazon or on our website), check out our brand, me as the founder, and some of our causes, and give us your feedback on how our product worked for you.
*Notes
There are countless articles out there on the "best sea salt sprays" but in reality (as we like to keep it real here at SURFCHIQUE), these articles are just based on the top sellers out there that are more likely to get publishers/websites who write about them, more affiliate commissions. We know this because we actually reached out to one of these "true" and "real" review sites to become an affiliate of ours, and they were happy to write up an article about us and join our program if we paid them $1K plus, but for our day job, we worked on a bigger, more well-known brand in the apparel space and they were willing to work with us for a free write up if we gave them a backlink (SEO organic search listing juice for their site).
In addition, many of those Amazon editorials that you see highlighting "best" products are actually paid for (from a 3rd party) and in order to qualify to pay for those placements you have to have a certain volume of sales as well as review rating - so they are simply relying on ratings already provided vs doing their own analysis/research and may miss some great new brands.
That’s why we wanted to do this full intensive write up and our goal was to be the most thorough review article on sea salt surf sprays out there. Regardless of whether you buy our SURFCHIQUE Sea Salt Surf Spray or other surf sprays, we just hope you find one you like. Also, we do get a small commission if you do click on any of the links in this article and purchase the product. However this evaluation was done as objectively as possible!