Effortless style is hard to come by, usually because it means spending a great deal of time in the mirror trying to look like you haven’t made an effort. Yeah, we can tell. Thankfully hair trends are beginning to reflect the idea that people just don’t have the time they once had. That’s where sea salt spray comes in. It offers all the benefits of natural sea water and the heat of the sun to provide textured, just-messy-enough waves, without having to get seaweed between your toes. After a quick spritz post-shower when your hair is damp, it will dry naturally and, with a small amount of teasing, the product creates a gently tussled and fuss free look, removing all the usual time it takes to look ‘effortless’. Because the salt absorbs the natural oils, hair looks fuller and is easier to style. Think Orlando Bloom and Harry Styles as perfect examples of that tousled look. “Because it’s much lighter than other styling products it can help achieve the desired look without making the hair look greasy like some heavier products might, particularly in warmer weather,” says Kenny Baker, barber at Ruffians barbershop.

Salt spray is versatile, and not designed for wavy hair. It can make thicker hair easier to control, without adding the weight of the usual products like gels or putties. And with a spritz of sea salt spray, those with thinning hair gain a feeling of thicker, more textured tresses.

How To Use Sea Salt Spray

Salt spray works best when sprayed directly around the mid-length, so don’t overload the roots. As with most hair products, salt spray requires a trial-and-error approach when deciding just how much to use. Too much can cause the hair to feel dehydrated, so start small. When to use it depends completely on the look you want. For messier styles, spray it into your palms and scrunch it into damp hair when you’re drying. “Spritz it a few times on to damp hair before styling to give a boost to the body, or apply to dry hair to increase volume and create a matt finish,” says Baker. Not that it only works for deliberately unkempt styles. “For sharper-looking styles, comb your hair once the spray is applied to set the basic shape before blow-drying and applying a styling cream or pomade to finish it off. “I love using it on a modern messy pompadour,” Baker adds. “It gives it a wonderfully soft finish, helps bring out natural movement and the style will keep its shape no matter how many times you run your fingers through it.”