Sea Salt Spray vs. Texture Spray: Which One is Right for You?
When it comes to achieving beachy waves, voluminous hair, or effortless texture, many people turn to styling sprays. Two of the most popular options on the market are sea salt spray and texture spray. While both can give you that tousled, textured look, they serve different purposes and have distinct ingredients. So, which one should you choose? Here’s a breakdown of each product to help you decide which works best for your hair type and styling needs.
Sea Salt Spray
What It Is: Sea salt spray is a hair product infused with salt and other ingredients that mimic the natural texture and waves you’d get from spending time at the beach. It's designed to give your hair volume, body, and a slight crunch, much like how your hair would feel after swimming in salty ocean water.
Key Benefits:
- Beachy Waves: Sea salt spray is most known for helping you achieve that effortless, wavy beach look. It’s great for adding texture and definition to natural waves or curls.
- Volume & Fullness: Sea salt adds grit to your hair, which helps to increase volume, especially for fine or flat hair.
- Light Hold: It offers a light hold, making it ideal for a tousled, “just-got-out-of-the-ocean” look.
- Matte Finish: Sea salt sprays tend to give a matte finish, so they’re ideal for a natural, non-shiny texture.
How It Works:
Sea salt spray works by absorbing moisture from your hair and creating separation between strands. This leads to a messy, textured look with added volume. However, it can sometimes make your hair feel dry or rough due to the salt content, so it’s best for those looking for a more lived-in, slightly gritty texture.
How to Use:
Spray onto damp hair and scrunch with your hands, or apply to dry hair for a more textured finish. You can also use a diffuser while blow-drying for added volume and waves.
Texture Spray
What It Is: Texture spray is a styling product designed to add volume, definition, and texture without the crunchiness of sea salt spray. It usually contains ingredients like polymers, starch, or proteins to give hair more body and a fuller appearance.
Key Benefits:
- Enhanced Volume: Texture spray is formulated to provide lift and body without weighing your hair down. It’s ideal for those looking to give their hair a thicker, fuller appearance.
- Soft Hold: Unlike sea salt spray, texture spray tends to provide a soft hold with flexible movement, giving you volume and texture without stiffness.
- Shiny Finish: Some texture sprays offer a more polished, glossy finish, depending on the formula, which makes them great for smoother styles.
- Lightweight: Texture spray is often lighter than sea salt spray and won’t dry out your hair as much.
How It Works:
Texture spray works by creating separation between the strands and adding volume to the roots. It often contains lightweight ingredients that provide soft, buildable texture without the crunchy or sticky feeling you might get from sea salt spray.
How to Use:
Spray onto dry hair at the roots and throughout the length for added texture. You can also spray it into sections for more defined volume, or use it at the roots for lift.
The takeaway? It depends on your hair type and the finish you’re after. Sea salt spray gives that beachy, tousled texture with a matte feel — great for wavy or curly hair. Texture spray adds soft volume and light hold without stiffness, making it ideal for fine or straight hair. Both are styling staples — just pick your vibe, and let the spray do the work.