Sea salt spray gives hair a tousled, beachy texture without a stiff finish. The seven picks here run from a light texture spray for any hair type to men's twin packs and matte formulas, and each is judged on what its Amazon Australia listing says, its rating and how many people rated it.
The how to choose section at the end covers hold, finish, hair type and bottle size, the points where the listings differ most.
Best overall sea salt spray: Not Your Mother's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray
Best overall sea salt spray: the Not Your Mother's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, because the listing says it adds tousled waves and a light matte finish to any hair type, and it is the lowest priced pick on this page.
The listing describes tousled waves and a light matte finish on any hair type, from a spray infused with natural Dead Sea salt and sea kelp. It says to use it on clean, damp or dry hair, then air dry naturally, use a diffuser or lightly blow dry. The bottle is about 237 ml. It holds 4.4 stars from 3,575 ratings, tied for the highest rating on this page, with the most ratings of the four 4.4 picks.
It suits anyone trying sea salt spray for the first time, because it does not ask you to choose between men's and women's formulas or a hair type. The honest catch: the listing describes texture and a light matte finish, not firm hold, so it suits relaxed waves more than a style that has to stay set.
Best for straight and curly hair: L3VEL3 Sea Salt Texturizing Spray
Best for straight and curly hair: the L3VEL3 Sea Salt Texturizing Spray, because the listing says it suits straight, curly, short or long hair and has castor oil so hair stays soft and touchable.
The listing describes a texturizing and volumizing salt spray for natural, messy texture or relaxed curls with added fullness. It says castor oil keeps hair soft and touchable without the crunch, and it gives light hold for easy reshaping and a natural look. It is listed as versatile for all hair types and for both men and women, in a 250 ml bottle. It has 4.4 stars from 3,511 ratings.
It suits curls and straight hair alike, and anyone sharing one bottle between a man and a woman. The honest catch: it costs more than the Not Your Mother's, and the hold is light.
Best for beach waves: Sun Bum Sea Spray
Best for beach waves: the Sun Bum Sea Spray, because the listing calls it a texturizing sea spray for the days you are not at the beach but want to look like you were.
The listing describes extra body, waves and texture from a lightweight formula that adds strand separation and definition and blocks humidity that causes frizz, with a matte finish and UV protection. It says to apply to damp or dry hair, scrunch it in and air dry, with a spray at the roots for extra lift. It is listed as vegan, gluten, cruelty and paraben free, in a 177 ml bottle. It has 4.3 stars from 6,936 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants the classic beach wave look and the most rated unisex spray here. The honest catch: the rating is shared across listing variations, so the count may not all belong to this bottle, and 4.3 stars sits a notch under the top two.
Best twin pack for men: Viking Revolution Sea Salt Spray
Best twin pack for men: the Viking Revolution Sea Salt Spray for Men, because it comes as two 240 ml bottles with kelp, aloe vera and red algae extract.
The listing describes a sea salt spray that lifts and volumizes hair, enhances natural curls and waves and creates a natural beach hair look. It can be a pre styler for a boost of volume or used on its own for a textured look. The listed ingredients include Dead Sea salt, aloe vera, kelp and red algae extract, and the listing offers a Viking Promise to take care of you if you are not satisfied. Two bottles make 480 ml in all. It has 4.2 stars from 12,293 ratings, the most ratings on this page.
It suits men who use a lot of spray or want a spare bottle on hand, and it makes an easy gift (our gifts for men guide has more ideas). The honest catch: it has the lowest rating of the seven picks at 4.2 stars.
Best light hold for men: Uppercut Deluxe Sea Salt Spray
Best light hold for men: the Uppercut Deluxe Sea Salt Spray, because the listing calls it a men's light hold, natural finish salt spray for wet or dry hair.
The listing describes a fine mist from a mist applicator rather than a traditional pump, with a lightweight hold complex. On damp hair it acts as a pre styling primer before blow drying for volume, texture and control, and on dry hair it gives natural, loose, lived in looks. The listing says a fine layer of salt lets hairs lightly grab onto each other for a natural matte finish, or it can sit under your favourite pomade or clay. The bottle is 150 ml. It has 4.4 stars from 954 ratings.
It suits men who already use a pomade or clay and want a light base under it. The honest catch: it costs more per ml than any other pick here, and 954 ratings is the smallest count on this page.
Best matte finish: Slick Gorilla Sea Salt Spray for Men
Best matte finish: the Slick Gorilla Sea Salt Spray for Men, because it is listed as a matte hair texture spray and has over 4,000 ratings.
The listing describes beach inspired texture with volume, separation and a matte finish, helping relaxed waves and tousled styles look defined without a stiff or crunchy feel. It says to use it on fine, flat or thicker hair for root lift and fuller looking body, and that the style stays touchable, flexible and easy to rework. Aloe vera, vitamin B5 and seaweed extract are named in a water based mist, in a 200 ml bottle, and it can be used alone or before clay, wax or pomade. It has 4.3 stars from 4,153 ratings.
It suits men with fine or flat hair who want root lift and a dry, matte look. The honest catch: it is a men's spray and costs more than the leading picks for 200 ml.
Best flexible hold: Fudge Urban Sea Salt Spray
Best flexible hold: the Fudge Urban Sea Salt Spray, because the listing calls it a unisex texturizing and volumizing spray with flexible hold.
The listing describes tousled, textured looks with added volume and flexibility, a mineral infused formula and texture you can rework with your fingertips. The directions say to spray onto damp hair and scrunch for a beach inspired look, and the listing says it holds all day and suits various hair types. The bottle is 150 ml. It has 4.4 stars from 2,064 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants to reshape a style through the day without reaching for another product. The honest catch: it costs more than the leading picks for a 150 ml bottle.
How to choose a sea salt spray
How much hold you want
Sea salt sprays add texture first and hold second. The L3VEL3 and Uppercut listings say light hold, the Fudge listing says flexible hold you can rework with your fingertips, and the Not Your Mother's listing describes a light matte finish. None of the listings here promises firm hold, so if a style has to stay put, the Uppercut and Slick Gorilla listings both suggest layering a pomade, clay or wax over the spray.
Matte, natural or flexible finish
The Sun Bum and Slick Gorilla listings both say matte finish, the Not Your Mother's says light matte, and the Uppercut says natural matte finish. The L3VEL3 listing says a natural look. Choose matte for a dry, textured look and natural or flexible for something softer you can reshape.
Match the spray to your hair type
The Not Your Mother's says any hair type. The L3VEL3 says straight, curly, short or long. The Slick Gorilla says fine, flat or thicker hair, and the Viking says it enhances natural curls and waves. If curls need more definition than a salt spray gives, our curl cream guide covers the next step.
Men's, unisex or any hair
The Viking, Uppercut and Slick Gorilla are listed for men, the Fudge as unisex, and the L3VEL3 for men and women. The Sun Bum is listed as unisex adult. Every listing describes salt and texture, so the real differences are the extras: aloe vera, vitamin B5, castor oil, minerals or kelp.
Bottle size and twin packs
The bottles run from 150 ml (Uppercut and Fudge) to 177 ml (Sun Bum), 200 ml (Slick Gorilla), 250 ml (L3VEL3) and about 237 ml (Not Your Mother's). The Viking is the only twin pack, at 2 x 240 ml. Compare size with the rating, not the front label alone.
Alone or as a pre styler
Several listings describe a second job. The Uppercut says it works as a primer before blow drying, the Viking says pre styler for volume, and the Slick Gorilla says before clay, wax or pomade. The Not Your Mother's listing says you can air dry, use a diffuser or lightly blow dry, and our hair diffuser guide compares diffusers.
Read the ratings with their counts
Four picks sit at 4.4 stars, but on very different counts: 3,575 for the Not Your Mother's, 3,511 for the L3VEL3, 2,064 for the Fudge and 954 for the Uppercut. The Viking has the most ratings at 12,293 but the lowest score at 4.2. A higher count makes a rating more reliable, so weigh both.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sea salt spray in Australia?
The best sea salt spray for most people is Not Your Mother's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. The listing says it adds tousled waves and a light matte finish to any hair type, and it holds 4.4 stars from 3,575 ratings. The L3VEL3 and Sun Bum are the next picks to compare.
What does sea salt spray do to your hair?
Sea salt spray adds texture, grip and a matte, beachy look. The Uppercut Deluxe listing says a fine layer of salt lets hairs lightly grab onto each other for a natural matte finish, and the Sun Bum listing describes extra body, waves and texture. None of the listings here promises firm hold.
What is the best sea salt spray for curly hair?
The L3VEL3 Sea Salt Texturizing Spray is our pick for curls: the listing says it suits straight, curly, short or long hair and creates relaxed curls with added fullness, with castor oil to keep hair soft. The Viking Revolution listing also says it enhances natural curls and waves, and comes as two 240 ml bottles.
What is the best sea salt spray for straight hair?
For straight hair the L3VEL3 listing says it suits straight, curly, short or long hair, and the Slick Gorilla listing says it works on fine, flat or thicker hair to build root lift and fuller looking body. The Sun Bum listing suggests spraying the roots for extra lift.
What is the best sea salt spray for men?
The Viking Revolution Sea Salt Spray for Men is our twin pack pick for men: two 240 ml bottles with 4.2 stars from 12,293 ratings. For a light hold choose the Uppercut Deluxe at 4.4 stars, and for a matte finish choose the Slick Gorilla at 4.3 stars from 4,153 ratings.
Is the Slick Gorilla sea salt spray any good?
The Slick Gorilla Sea Salt Spray for Men holds 4.3 stars from 4,153 ratings. The listing describes volume, separation and a matte finish without a stiff or crunchy feel, in a 200 ml bottle. The catch is that it is a men's spray and costs more than the Not Your Mother's or Sun Bum.
How do you use sea salt spray?
The listings give the directions. The Not Your Mother's listing says to use it on clean, damp or dry hair and air dry, diffuse or lightly blow dry. The Sun Bum listing says to scrunch it in with your hands and air dry, and the Fudge listing says to spray damp hair and scrunch.
Does sea salt spray leave hair crunchy or stiff?
Two listings here address it directly. The L3VEL3 listing says castor oil keeps hair soft and touchable without the crunch, and the Slick Gorilla listing describes texture without a stiff or crunchy feel. They hold 4.4 and 4.3 stars from 3,511 and 4,153 ratings.
Is there a Toni and Guy sea salt spray on this page?
No. This page compares seven sprays we checked on Amazon Australia: Not Your Mother's, L3VEL3, Sun Bum, Viking Revolution, Uppercut Deluxe, Slick Gorilla and Fudge Urban. The Not Your Mother's is the top pick at 4.4 stars from 3,575 ratings, and the Fudge Urban is the flexible hold pick.
