To tread through an avalanche of hair care advice is akin to a deep plunge into an ocean. However, one question which can often come up is whether salt water is good for your hair.
Indeed, when you take a dip in the ocean you may get that perfect beach waves without having to curl your hair. Nonetheless, too much exposure to sea water might make it feel dried up and feeble.
Having worked as a stylist for more than 10 years I have learned so much about how environmental factors like salt water can affect the health of human hair. This topic has been extensively studied by many beauty industry workers during their course.
Whereas some people might think that using salt water adds texture and volume to their hairs; others may discover that it makes theirs feel brittle and straw-like.
When you attempt using a salt-based product on your hair, if it doesn’t seem right for you, please stop using it.
However, there are ways to mitigate the drying effects of salt water. Deep conditioning treatments can help bring back moisture into your locks making them soft and healthy again.
And if you want textured hair without drying it out? Salt sprays will be your best friend especially if you possess oily hair so they are definitely worth a try.
Though salt waters give beautiful strands of beachy looking hairs sometimes this must be treated with caution due to its negative side effects. You should understand how sea water affects your hair and therefore find alternative products that will keep them in check regardless of the time spent by the ocean.
Salt Water vs Seawater
Not all bodies of water have equal amounts of salinity in form of salts dissolved in them; hence not all salty content is created equal.
Salinity or amount of dissolved salt in a body varies from one body’s sample to another; even though many people consider anything salty as belonging to seawaters while ignoring such differences as those among Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea which are both seen as saltwater bodies.
The name “seawater” itself implies its saltiness, mainly consisting of sodium chloride. It is for this reason that seawater has a distinct salty taste. Thus, when we talk about seawater it actually means a kind of saltwater.
Finally, why does salty water including seawater have such an impact on your hair? All boils down to the structure of the hair shaft and how it interacts with the water molecules carrying salts.
Saltwater in your hair – How come?
When you swim in saltwater, tiny crystals of salt penetrate into your hair shaft and temporarily break some bonds within its molecules. This can change the shape of your hair or cause slight waves and curls which give them a natural beach look.
Essentially, saltwater merely enhances one’s natural texture producing those effortless looking waves that most people like.
Salt Water on Hair: Pros and Cons
Using saline waters for one’s hair has both positive aspects and factors to be careful about.
Here is their breakdown:
Pros:
1. Beachy Waves: I am a sea lover and let me tell you why these easy-going beach waves are so magnetic! My tousled tresses acquire an endearingly carefree appearance after I douse them in sea water.
2. Added Body and Volume: I’ve noticed that my strands seem thicker and feel fuller after plunges in the ocean. These waters contain some amount of salts which adds volume to individual hairs hence they appear bouncy while moving unlike anything else made with styling appliances alone.
3. Salt water helps to exfoliate my scalp and cleanse it. It is responsible for cleaning off any buildup on the scalp, which leaves me feeling revitalized. This makes me feel comfortable that my hair will grow healthy in a follicle and that it has more blood flowing to it.
4. Anti-fungal Properties: It can be frustrating dealing with dandruff but I have found that salt water comes to the rescue. Since salt water has natural anti-fungus properties, so it is able to fight off flakes and make sure my scalp is properly clean and balanced.
Possible Disadvantages
1. Drying Effect: Although, I love how salt water gives a boost of texture to my hair; I always remember about its drying effect.
I know very well that too much exposure to saltwater will dehydrate my hair leaving them weak and brittle especially after coloring them before.
2. Damage to Hair and Scalp: As enjoyable as basking in the sun or swimming throughout the day may be, I am conscious of what frequent contact with salty water can cause on your body and head.
Therefore, wearing a swim cap or using protective hair products are some of the measures that I should take in order to avoid detrimental effects of saltwater on both my hair strands and scalp.
Hair Type Considerations
When people decide whether they want their hairs dipped into seawater, one should consider his/her kind of hair in particular. Whilst there are cases where salt sprays are ideal for some people; this may not always be the case with everyone else. There is a classification based on various kinds of hairs:
Frizzy, Coarse, or Heavily Processed Hair:
Caution must be exercised when employing saltwater if someone has frizzy, coarse or heavily processed locks like Linda Fashion who advises individuals with such locks “I would advise against using spray containing sodium chloride for people having dry course or frizzy hairs.
It tends to suck the moisture and natural oil out of the hair, giving texture but potentially leaving it dry and brittle. On the other hand, salt spray can be useful for fine oily hair because they absorb excess oil” (New York fashion magazine).
According to Linda Fashion, such treatment like coloring or relaxing weakens the strands; therefore, they are more susceptible to drying caused by salty water which leads to further breakage or damage.
Fine and Oily Hair:
Those with fine or oily hair can transform their looks using salt sprays. After absorbing excessive oils from the head, hair is left looking freshened up as well as fuller.
On one hand unlike frizzed or heavily processed hairs, fine and oily ones are less affected by saltwater’s dehydration effects. However, it is still important to use salt sprays moderately so that one does not over dry their hair or scalp.
In short whether you use salt spray or seawater largely depends on your type of hairs: those that add texture and volume for some types, might as well lead to dryness together with damage among others (www.newyork.com).
As such people should make wise choices based on their personal understanding of what their hairs require when adopting seawater in their daily routine.
If your hair is naturally curly but hasn’t been dyed, saltwater can be a great way to have those desirable beach waves. This makes the salt make your hair have more natural curls which gives it that relaxed, messy look that is just perfect for going to the beach.
But if your hair has been colored with dye, you might not enjoy this effect. The treatment tends to accentuate any frizziness thereby making your hair feel wilder than before.
This is even more so in color-treated hair which is usually more porous and prone to damage.
Color treated hair is already damaged from the process of coloring, particularly if you have had bleaching or highlighting.
Saltwater also removes moisture from the hair causing it to dry out and break easily. Thus in such cases salt water may not be a good option for creating beachy waves.
Luckily, you do not need to use salt water on your color-treated locks in order to get that effortless beachy wave look. Perhaps try using other methods that will give you the same result like curl-boosting creams or mousse or heat styling processes.
Creative Ways of Using Saltwater in Your Hair
Salt water can make your hair have beachy waves and texture, but this should be done in a manner that minimizes damage and dryness. The following are some of the ways to incorporate salt water into your haircare routine.
Sea Salt Spray Products:
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray: This is among the most popular sea spray which is suitable for all types of hairs, giving it a natural undone look.
Sun Bum Sea Spray: This spray is great for those who have color treated hair as it has ingredients like Hawaiian sea salt and sea kelp which prevents over-drying.
Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray: It adds volume to fine or oily hair without weighing it down.
Amika Un.done Volume and Matte Texture Spray: For rough or heavily processed locks, this spray brings immediate height while fighting frizz without having any actual salt hence less harsh on tresses.
Alternatives to Salt Water Spray
If you don’t prefer using salt water sprays but still want textured beachy finish, consider these professional recommended alternatives:
L’Oreal’s Curl Expression 10 in 1 Cream-In-Mousse: A mousse applied on wet strands will provide light hold, shield against heat damage, softness as well as moisture thus making curly waves appear clearly defined.
Redken’s Spray Wax: Add definition to damp or dry locks with this wax that gives a messy shape and waxy hold comparable to salt spray minus affecting hair health status.
To create wave-like curls with these products twist your hair around your finger as you style so that they separate. Play around with different techniques and products to get the best beachy look depending on your hair type while keeping it healthy and hydrated.
DIY Sea Salt Spray
Are you feeling adventurous? Would you like to try creating homemade sea salt spray? This is an excellent option if you want to make a natural hair product without the addition of any preservatives. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon sea salt or Epsom salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon of argan, jojoba, or extra virgin coconut oil
• 2 drops of essential oil (optional, for fragrance)
Directions:
1. In a small pot, put all the ingredients together and simmer until the salt dissolves completely.
2. Take off from heat and leave the mixture to cool at room temperature once it melts.
3. Pour into a spritzer or spray bottle after it cools down. You may use a funnel if necessary so that there are no spills.
4. For fragrance purposes, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil in your sea salt spray. Examples include lavender and rosemary among others. However, ignore essential oils when you have very oily or fine hairs.
There you have it! Your own DIY sea salt spray which will always work wonders whenever you want those beachy curls and textured locks without much hassle. You can play around with different smells and ratios to get what suits your hair type best according to your preferences.
How to Use Salt Spray on Hair
A salt spray in your hair can give a breezy wave look that many girls covet! How do we nail it?
Begin with wet hair: Spray salt mist on wet hair, concentrating more on the mid-lengths and ends; and not directly at the roots to prevent over drying or fizzing out.
Start small: Start with a small amount of sea salt spray as you can add more if necessary later. Applying too much at once can lead to frizz, particularly around the roots.
Equally spread it: Use your fingers or comb to distribute equally all through your hair to ensure they are completely covered in the solution.
Style as preferred: Allow your hair air dry for a natural look or use a blow dryer fitted with diffuser attachment to bring out curls and volume.
Watch for drying effects: Also note that salt water is very drying to one’s hair; therefore a deep conditioner should be worked into the hair care routine so as nourish and protect it from being dried up by salt.
Vary Frequency: You may need to change how often you use the product depending on how it affects your hair after using it once every two weeks, twice per month or even once a week applying a deep conditioner could help offset any dehydration caused by salt spray and maintain moisture levels in your locks.
These instructions will give you an easy way of getting beachy waves and textured locks via application of salt sprays while still keeping healthy moisturized head of hairs.
FAQs
Can salt water thicken hair?
Yes, because when each strand absorbs water from saltwater, which increases its diameter resulting in thicker strands characterized by more volumes when looked at closely but after shampooing this effect will disappear immediately.
How long does it take for salt water to leave your hair?
In case you have been using leave-in spray made from salty water can remain there until you wash next time but just remember that once you get back home from swimming in seashore or ocean, it’s necessary to have your hair washed before sleep.
Does salt make your hair grow?
Indeed, saltwater is known for promoting hair growth especially in people with scalp issues such as dandruff; therefore it cleanses the scalp of any pollutants and also enhances blood circulation thus stimulating healthy hair follicles.
Can salt water turn dyed hair blonder?
Often times regular exposure of dyed hairs to salty waters may cause alterations in their colors most especially bright fashion shades and toned blondes being more vulnerable to fading away from these treatments faster than ever expected although not much can be realized with respect to the darkened shades such as black and brown but a few ends might have an appearance of seeming tanned.
Does sea water go blonde orange?
Being exposed frequently either through natural seawater at the beach or under pools containing high amounts of salt may lead to some degree of brassiness on blond strands that are color-treated which may increase chances of sporting orange tones over time.
