Is Salt Water Good for Curly Hair?

Is salt water good for curly hair?

Of course it is! But there are a few things to be cautious about too.

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Everybody loves a beautiful day on the beach listening to the waves and the kids laughing and splashing in the water.

There’s something tranquil about the ocean, but dangerous at the same time.

That’s one of the reasons using sea salt in the hair is so appealing, it’s tranquil- you feel confident that you look good and dangerous at the same time- watch out! Curls coming through!

Salt water IS good for curly hair! It’s great for holding the curls in place without looking crunchy or like there is product in the hair.

But salt water is NOT good for curly hair either if it is used too frequently, it can dry out the hair and create a salt buildup crust on the outside of the cuticle.

What are the benefits of Sea Salt Water for Curly Hair?

Sea Salt is a tool to be used for-

Making hair look thicker
Helping add more texture to wavy and curly hair
Lightly holding that texture
Treating oily scalp

Why Does Salt Water Make Hair Wavy?

The salt doesn’t make the hair itself wavy, but accentuates and compliments the natural shape that is already there.

Most people have curly or wavy hair, even if it seems mostly straight. It depends on the environment where you live and how the hair is typically treated.

If you live in a humid environment the hair will most likely be more curly, or frizzy, which is the hair responding to the water in the air AND needing more moisture OR needing a coat of some salt spray.

What happens is the salt dries onto the hair and crystalizes on the shingle-like cuticle of the hair, which is what gives the hair look thicker and gives it it’s texture.

As the salt crystalizes, it shrinks the cuticle just a tad, as it dries making the curl or wavy shape more noticeable.

Salt water also has a mild and light hold on the hair that helps the curls and waves hold their shape without the help of curl gels or other curl products that might weigh the hair down or make the hair crunchy.

Not your Mother’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Texturizing Spray 8oz 3 Pack For $14.37

Not your Mother’s Sea Salt Texturizing Spray for Curly Hair is excellent because the brand is sulfate surfactant-free, paraben-free, dye-free, gluten-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. Both safe for naturally curly and color-treated hair.

Salt Water and Hair Structure

Salt water can have a significant impact on the structure of your hair. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which forms a complex network of strands. Each strand is composed of multiple layers, including the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair and plays a crucial role in protecting the inner layers.

When salt water comes into contact with your hair, the high salt concentration can disrupt the natural structure of the hair. The salt works by removing moisture from the hair and causing the cuticle to swell. This makes the hair more prone to damage, tangles, and frizz. Additionally, salt can also strip away the natural oils that keep your hair moisturized, leading to dryness and further damage.

Disruption of Natural Curl Patterns

Salt water can also disrupt the natural curl patterns of your hair. This is especially noticeable for individuals with naturally curly or wavy hair. The high salt concentration in salt water can cause the curls to become looser or even straighten out temporarily.

The salt water works by altering the hydrogen bonds within the hair, which contribute to its overall structure and curl pattern. The salt breaks these bonds, causing the curls to lose their shape. While some people may enjoy the temporary beachy waves that salt water can create, others may find it frustrating if they want to maintain their natural curl pattern.

Salt Water and Natural Oils

Salt water has a tendency to strip away the natural oils that are produced by the scalp to keep the hair moisturized and healthy. These natural oils act as a protective barrier, preventing the hair from becoming dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. When salt water removes these oils, it can leave the hair feeling dry and parched.

Additionally, the removal of natural oils can lead to an increase in oil production by the scalp as it tries to compensate for the loss. This can result in an oily scalp and overproduction of sebum, which can make the hair appear greasy and weighed down.

What are the Adverse Effects of Salt Water on Hair?

Salt water can have several adverse effects on the hair, including dryness, damage, and a disruption of natural curl patterns. To care for your hair health when exposed to salt water, it is important to take some preventive and protective measures:

How to Care for Hair Health with Salt Water

Rinse with Fresh Water: After swimming in salt water, make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water. This helps remove any residual salt and prevents further damage.
Use a Leave-In Conditioner: Applying a leave-in conditioner before swimming can act as a barrier between your hair and the salt water, reducing the drying and damaging effects.
Protect with a Hair Mask: Regularly using a hydrating hair mask can help restore moisture and nourishment to the hair, counteracting the drying effects of salt water.
Avoid Heat Styling: Excessive heat styling can further damage hair that has been exposed to salt water. Try to limit the use of heat tools and opt for air-drying or heatless styling methods.
Deep Condition Regularly: Deep conditioning treatments can help restore moisture and repair any damage caused by salt water. Look for products that are specifically designed for damaged or dry hair.

Is Salt Water Good for Curly Hair AND Skin Routines?

Though salt is known for its healing properties, it is also rich with minerals like magnesium, potassium, and selenium, and other anti-fungal properties that help treat true dandruff.

Sea salt is also beneficial in fighting bacteria on the skin and scalp that might be causing breakouts, acne, and fungal dandruff.

The Difference Between Dandruff and Dry Scalp

Salt water can also be used as a scalp cleanser. The salt soaks up the sebum, natural scalp oil, while exfoliating the scalp and stimulating blood circulation, which helps the hair grow faster.

With that being said, if sea salt is use daily as a styling agent or a cleanser, it WILL build up on the hair and scalp causing more dryness. So if you choose to use it as a cleanser, be sure to use a hydrating mask and conditioner also.

How to Make Homemade Conditioner – 21 Ingredients Found in your Kitchen

How to Grow Hair Fast – The BEST Hair Mask for All Hair Types

Or flip flop between this natural shampoo and another alternative cleanser, Apple Cider Vinegar. Using a hydrating conditioner or mask afterwards too, of course.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse- Recipe and Benefits

Exfoliating the scalp with sea salt is an excellent way to stimulate circulation and blood-flow as well as remove dead skin from the scalp that might be causing flakiness.

DIY recipe salt water spray that won't dry out hair

How to Use Sea Salt for Curly Hair

Sea Salt spray needs to be for curly hair – sea salt spray for curly hair – it should be sprayed into damp hair, upside-down for the most volume, to style wavy hair.

👉 Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo (if it’s been a while, don’t use a clarifier too often or as a regular cleanser) or a cleanser of your choice

Kenra Clarifying Shampoo Safe All Hair Types and Chemically Treated Hair 10oz for $14.39

👉 Use your choice of silicone and sulfate-free conditioner, homemade or store-bought

Is Silicone Free Shampoo Good?

👉 When your hair is still damp, generously spray sea salt into your hair, either upside down or while your hair is falling to the side, and scrunch the hair with your hand

Note: If your hair is dry, you will not need to apply as much sea salt spray for curly hair

Not your Mother’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Texturizing Spray 8oz 3 Pack For $14.37

Viking Revolution Manscape Sea Salt Spray for Men 8oz For $9.88

👉 Allow your hair to air-dry, or dry the hair with a blow-dryer with a diffuser attachment

Best Blow Dryer for Natural Hair

How to Scrunch Curly Hair

👉 To scrunch you place your palm under the length of your hair and lift your hand, catching the hair as it is raised upwards, grabbing the hair to encourage waves and even curls.

When blow drying the hair with a diffuser attachment, you replace your hand with the diffuser tool, which is usually a wide ‘diffuser’ of the air coming from the blow dryer. This ensures that the hot air doesn’t burn the hair or make the curly or wavy hair extra frizzy.

How to Replicate Sea Salt Water – Recipe DIY Sea Salt Spray

You don’t have to go to the beach to use salt water in your hair. You can make your own sea salt spray for curly hair!

To replicate salt water, add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to 8 ounces of water (measuring 1 cup), distilled water works best.

In Grams – This equals 7 grams of sea salt and 243 grams of water.

Add this mixture to a spray bottle and store for up to 2 months. Shake before use.

If you want to change it up just a tad, use rose water and a drop (a single drop!) of essential oil to the mix for fragrance.

To see which essential oils are safe for hair please see –

How to Make Homemade Conditioner – 21 Ingredients Found in your Kitchen

Sea salt water kills and cleanses bacteria from the scalp and soaks up excess oil. However, keep in mind that you need to hydrate after using salt to dry out the scalp too. UNLESS you have fungal dandruff, which is oily, stinky, and very flaky.

The Difference Between Dandruff and Dry Scalp

If your scalp is flaky, it might not be dandruff but just dry scalp! Try adding a pinch of sea salt to a facial mask or hair mask mixed with honey and coconut oil, leave it for 10 minutes and rinse the mask off. Both oils are well known for their healing and hydrating properties.

DIY Recipe Sea Salt Spray that Doesn’t Dry Out Hair

Creating a DIY sea salt spray at home is a great option for those who want to achieve beachy waves without subjecting their hair to the drying effects of traditional salt sprays. Here’s a simple recipe for a sea salt spray that won’t dry out your hair-

Ingredients:

1 cup distilled water
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon leave-in conditioner – or coconut oil
1 teaspoon argan oil (optional)
2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil for scent (optional)

Instructions:

Pour the distilled water into a spray bottle.
Add the sea salt to the water and shake well until the salt dissolves.
Add the leave-in conditioner to the mixture and shake again to combine.
If desired, add the argan oil and essential oil for added moisture and shine.
Shake the mixture well before each use.

How Long does the DIY Sea Salt Spray Last?

The shelf life of a DIY sea salt spray can vary depending on the ingredients used and how it is stored. On average, a homemade sea salt spray can last anywhere from 1-3 months. However, it is important to note that natural ingredients and preservatives are not typically used in DIY recipes, so the spray may have a shorter lifespan compared to commercial products.

To extend the shelf life of your DIY sea salt spray, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. This way you’re less likely to find gross floaties growing in your bottle. Also, make sure to use clean spray bottles and avoid introducing any contaminants into the mixture.

Do You Have to Use Distilled Water to Make it?

While using distilled water is ideal for making a DIY sea salt spray, it is not a strict requirement. Distilled water is free from impurities and minerals that can potentially affect the consistency and performance of the spray. However, if distilled water is not readily available, filtered or boiled water can be used as an alternative.

Using tap water can introduce minerals and impurities that may result in a less effective spray or cause residue buildup on the hair. To minimize these risks, boiling tap water for a few minutes to kill any potential bacteria or using a water filter can help improve the quality of the water used in the DIY sea salt spray.

Does the DIY Recipe Sea Salt Spray work on straight hair too?

If your hair is truly straight, this means that the follicles are shaped like a cylinder, instead of curved, shaping the hair perfectly straight as it grows out of the scalp.

Curved follicles create wavy and curly hair.

Sea salt water is worth trying on your straight hair to see if you might have wavy hair, but if your hair is truly straight, salt water won’t help you.

Is Salt Water Bad for Hair? When Should you NOT use Sea Salt Water?

Salt water isn’t known for making locks silky-smooth, but for extra texture. So I do not recommend using it if you are wanting smooth hair.

Be aware that over-use of salt water will build up on your hair. Just like swimming in the ocean will.

When the hair is extra dry, it breaks more easily… salt dries out moisture
When hair has buildup, it becomes dull and tangly
Sometimes when hair has buildup of salt and is dry, it takes longer to style

But don’t let this stop you from enjoying a beautiful day in the sun by the water! Just be sure to clarify the salt off of the hair, and hydrate the hair properly.

There is plenty of prevention techniques you can use to ensure the protection of your hair from damage from ocean water and salt sprays.

How to Protect Curly Hair from Sea Salt

Wet the hair with clean water first
Put on conditioner without rinsing it out (the hair will soak up the conditioner leaving no room for the salt water)
Braid the hair and keep it pulled up to prevent tangles and damage from knots

To be honest, I recommend the same precautions for sea water as I do for pool water.

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What to Do if you Use Too Much Sea Salt Spray for Curly Hair

Simply use a clarifying shampoo, or a baking-soda mixture to remove the salt buildup on the hair once a week, if you are using salt water regularly on the hair and scalp.

How to Use Clarifying Shampoo

Be sure to condition the hair after every clarifying treatment and use a hydrating mask to ensure the sufficient amount of moisture is back in the hair.

FAQ Is Salt Water Good for Curly Hair?

Does Salt Water Ruin Curls?

No. Sea salt does not ruin curls, but you do have to be careful about sea salt drying out curls and building up on the hair.

Is Salt Water Good for Natural Hair?

Yes and no. Like mentioned above, salt has a lot of healing benefits but has drying properties as well. If used properly and the hair is being clarified regularly when a sea salt spray is used daily and a conditioner is being applied every time it’s washed then yes, it is very good for the hair.

What Water is Best for Curly Hair?

Clean water for washing. Unless you want to occasionally use a sea salt exfoliant cleanser for the scalp. But follow up with a deep moisture conditioner or mask.

How do you Protect Your Hair from Salt Water?