How To Make Your Own Beach Spray

I’ve always envied women who can emerge from a pool, let their hair air dry and walk away with perfect beach waves. I’ve only met a handful of these rare creatures in my lifetime (cue images of Blake Lively), but it’s never stopped me from hoping. This summer, I vowed to make my own DIY sea salt beach spray, stash it in my bag and stop being a wimp when it comes to spontaneous, water-inclined adventures.

I have an irrational fear of pool parties and lake-house getaways. Ten percent of my anxiety comes from the thought of walking around in a swimsuit, but the other 90 comes from my hair. More specifically, the thought of what my hair might do when it’s exposed to chlorine, lake water or any water for that matter. To give you a visual, the first three words that come to mind are frizzy, tangled and ginormous. You see, I was born with naturally curly hair that has a mind of its own—sometimes the mind of a bonafide psychopath.

For me, wet hair is only tamed with a fistful of mousse or an hour-long blowout. I’ve long considered investing in the Prada of all beach-wave products, Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray, but the price tag has always kept me away. If you're anything like me, then you've often wondered if it was possible to recreate the a product that was just as good with items you already own. The answer? Yes. It's possible, ladies, and here's how I made it.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup warm water
2. 1 tbsp. sea salt
3. 1 tbsp. hair gel
4. 1 tsp. alcohol
5. 1 tbsp. coconut oil
6. 8 oz. spray bottle

Instructions:

1. Mix sea salt in warm water until it’s dissolved.
2. Add hair gel, alcohol and coconut oil. Mix until all ingredients are blended.
3. Allow mixture to cool and pour into spray bottle. Spray all over hair, comb through and scrunch. For curly girls: Loosely braid your hair after scrunching it and allow it to dry halfway. Then, unwrap the braid and style.

Verdict

As a curly-haired girl, no beach spray will ever be perfect. There's just no way a single product could tame my mane. I tried this spray after a shower with pretty good results. My hair wasn't flawless by any means, but the spray could get me by on a Sunday morning or in a water emergency. For me, gel seemed to be the key ingredient. It gave the product extra hold, and I might even consider adding a touch more to my next batch.

If you're simply hoping for more control (and less anxiety) after exiting the water, this spray is worth your time and effort. If you're wishing for red-carpet waves, you'll want to pass.

Images: Morgan Olsen