Sea Salt Sprays That’ll Give You I-Woke-Up-Like-This Beachy Waves

Sun-kissed skin coupled with carefree, tousled hair—like you've been laying out on the beach all day, basically—sounds dreamy. But if it's not your reality, you can fake it 'til you make it. Those perfectly tousled, piece-y, just-napped-on-a-beach waves? Yeah, those don't just happen. Blake Lively didn't just come out of the womb with gorgeously textured waves, and Chrissy Teigen doesn't emerge from bed each morning with gently mussed "tendrils." No, the secret to getting the ultimate "what, this ol' thing?" beachy waves is to use the actual beach on your hair—via sea salt sprays.

What do sea salt sprays do?

Salt sprays are exactly what they sound like: Sprays that are formulated with your classic sodium chloride (i.e. salt). Some contain a more traditional molecular structure, while others tap sea salt, which also contains minerals that can add grit and nourish. When the formula is done well—i.e. it also contains a mix of softening, volumizing, and shine-enhancing ingredients—you'll be blessed with red carpet–level beachy waves. When it's done poorly, however—i.e. it's mainly just salt and alcohol—you'll be left with a sticky, straw-like mess. Thankfully, we rounded up only the best of the best for you, ahead. Spritz them over damp or dry hair (or both!) for a perfectly wavy finish, even if your beach vacation isn't in the foreseeable future.

OGX

ulta.com

$8.00

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If you're still not totally sold on the idea of salt sprays ("I don't want tangles!" or "I have curly hair!"), try a formula that's less salt, more moisture, like this spray from OGX. It's filled with argan oil and kelp extracts, which leave hair shiny and soft—yet still definitively beachy—for a laid-back, trying-but-not-trying vibe.

Bumble and bumble

sephora.com

$27.00

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The goal of any good salt spray is to help you get Baywatch-worthy, just-romped-in-the-surf beachy waves, and this cult favorite helps get you there 100 percent of the time. Its saltwater base is infused with shine-enhancing fruit oils and hydrating coconut water to keep hair from feeling stiff, along with a mix of UVA- and UVB-protecting agents that'll keep your hair color (whether it's natural or bottled) from fading in the sun.

Not Your Mother's

ulta.com

$7.00

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For just $6, treat your hair to the vacation-ready texture it deserves. This lightweight spray defines waves, adds lots of body, and serves as the perfect heat styling protectant.

Moroccanoil

nordstrom.com

$13.00

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Toss that old sea salt spray you've been using since summer 2016, and upgrade to this mousse. This argan oil-infused formula will give you wind-swept waves that won't feel like they're about to fall off your head due to dehydration by the end of the day.

John Frieda

amazon.com

$14.00

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Don't be fooled by the name—this iconic spray works just as well for any hair color, from brunettes to redheads to raven-haired beauties. The title is a throwback to its '90s counterpart, the O.G. formula that became a decade-long sensation as a result of its ability to create shiny, smooth, piece-y waves in even the straightest of hair. Thankfully, the formula is back and, dare I say, better than before, so you'll be able to get dream-level waves without a time machine.

R+Co

dermstore.com

$29.00

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R+Co has another salt spray, but of the hairstylists we polled, all unanimously agreed this one was the clear winner. "So many salt sprays make hair look dry and damaged when people use them on themselves," says Los Angeles based hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. Not so with this lightweight formulation, which transforms lank strands into textured perfection.

Bed Head

ulta.com

$17.99

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If you are looking for a little bit of hold, a little gritty grip, and a lot of tousled matte texture (but no heavy residue), this brand new offering from Bed Head might be the answer to your hair prayers. Extra credit since sodium chloride is the second ingredient listed...

IGK

sephora.com

$29.00

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This lightweight texturizing spray mimics the effect of salt-soaked waves, leaving your hair looking full, textured, and piece-y. But unlike most sea-salt sprays that give you a shiny, crunchy feel, this salt-free formula (gasp! Yup! It uses wheat proteins, instead) dries down to a semi-matte and flexible finish.

OUAI

nordstrom.com

$26.00

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You'll be able to fake full, voluminous extensions in a flash with this thickening sea salt spray. Transform life-less morning hair to I-woke-up-like-this waves with a few spritz of this rice protein-packed formula all over your hair from root to tip.

Peoples Barber

peoplesparber.com

$25.00

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Don't let the six very simple ingredients fool you. Packed into this non-aerosol, low plastic bottle is an elegant salt spray formulation, light enough for fine strands but sturdy enough for wavy patterns, too.

Colorproof

walmart.com

$16.47

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Yes, we know the headline of this story, and this was perhaps not the content you were craving. But hear us out: The idea is that a gentle blend of sugars and polymers absorb excess oil—meaning you get that scrunchy, textured finish—but without the overly drying, crunchy hangover some salt sprays leave behind.

Davines

amazon.com

$28.00

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Chicago-based hairstylist Ryan Babbitt relies on this salt spray to give his clients the windblown curls they crave. Points awarded for the effortless matte finish that adds hold and body.

O&M

originalmineral.com.au

$29.95

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Just like our skin, the sun can also be harsh on our hair. Thanks to O&M's Surf Bomb Sea Spray, you don't have to compromise your hair's health for a cool-girl style. This offers a long-lasting wavy hold while shielding your hair from sun damage.

Joico

amazon.com

$19.99

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Joico's Beach Shake Texturizing Finisher works best on medium to thick textures. Pick this up when your hair needs a quick refresh, since it works best on completely dry hair. Trick: Flip your hair upside down and liberally apply the spray all over. Then, voilà! Voluminous beachy waves will appear.

Sachajuan

dermstore.com

$34.00

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Amp up your hair's texture while softening and strengthening your strands and hair follicles with vitamin B12 and castor oil. This ocean mist acts as a leave-in conditioner and works magic on freshly washed hair.

Drybar

sephora.com

$26.00

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For dehydrated curls, reach for this ultra-moisturizing formula. Carefree curls are coming right up, with this spritzer, which also works overtime on the hydration front with ingredients like avocado oil and aloe.

ORIBE

amazon.com

$44.00

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Sultry, shiny waves are at your disposal with this moisturizing salt spray. While you're island-hopping this summer, this blend of botanical extracts and oils will keep your texture tousled and nourished without the stiffness most salt sprays come with.

Balmain Paris

net-a-porter.com

$48.00

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This humidity-resistant formula will let your waves live their best freakin' life for hours on end, as it's made to give your hair a long-lasting hold. That means it's one less thing to carry around in your beach bag because you won't need to reapply it throughout the day.

Rahua

dermstore.com

$32.00

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Combining natural elements, like organic pink sea salt for texture and volume, this salt spray delivers sun-kissed waves with a brushable hold. Plus, its intoxicating scent of of guayaba, hibiscus, and passion fruit will transport you to the tropics.

Playa

amazon.com

$40.00

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The name says it all: endless summer spray. This alcohol-free formula uses chia seeds extracts to cloak your hair in a veil of shine that will enhance your curl patten and amp up your volume.

Innersense

amazon.com

$26.00

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Lived-in looking waves are tricky to get. I still can't wrap my mind around the illusion of "effortless" hairstyles, which still require work to pull off. This, on the other hand, makes life easy because it has a special mineral and amethyst crystal-rich formula for bombshell waves that will make you feel like a goddamn goddess.

Alterna Haircare

alternahaircare.com

$32.00

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Get excited: you can finally leave your flat-iron at home, and create piece-y waves without styling tools thanks to this texturizing foam. Shake this bottle up, then mist it throughout your hair to watch its mineral-rich, dead sea salt-infused formula work its magic.

Verb

verbproducts.com

$18.00

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Technically all sea salt sprays add some grit to your hair, because salt is a natural texturizer, but not all sea salt sprays give your hair an amped-up, wind-blown finish in the process. Luckily, this dry spray does. It's essentially a mix between a salt mist and a dry shampoo, so it manages to give your hair a touchable, non-matted texture (and won't weigh down fine hair).

Captain Blankenship

ulta.com

$28.00

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Yes, the idea of spritzing a shimmer-flecked spray over your hair probably conjures flashbacks to your middle-school days, but trust me: This gilded formula is anything but gaudy. Infused with subtle, finely milled flecks of shimmer, the light-hold formula gives hair a softly tousled finish that looks ethereal when the light hits it—as if you got really, really excellent highlights yesterday.

Herbivore Botanicals

amazon.com

$20.00

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This coconut-infused spray contains the same degree of salinity as the Pacific Ocean, so it's the closest you'll get to an actual beach day while sitting on your couch. Extra salt would usually mean extra stickiness, but this formula uses a dose of aloe water to keep your hair moisturized all day.