By The Striking Viking Editorial Team. Published 10.07.2026. Last updated 10.07.2026.
To use sea salt spray, mist it onto damp, towel-dried hair from the mid-lengths to the ends, scrunch or finger-style it into shape, then let it air dry or dry it on low to medium heat. Damp hair is where you get waves and body. Dry hair is for a quick refresh later in the day. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that hair is delicate when it is wet (guidance updated 2024), so pat it dry instead of rubbing it, and keep the dryer gentle.
The rest of this guide covers what changes with how you dry it, how much to spray, and how to pick a hold level that fits your haircut. We make a sea salt spray in three hold levels, so we have opinions on that last part.
Damp hair or dry hair?
Both work, for different jobs. This table sets out the three ways we would use it. The pairings are our suggestions, built on how the spray is meant to be used (spray onto damp or dry hair, scrunch, then air dry or blow-dry) and on the American Academy of Dermatology's advice to limit blow drying and stay on low or medium heat. Your hair gets the final vote.
| Method | Start with | Finish with | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damp, air dry | Towel-dried hair, still damp | Nothing. Leave it alone | Loose, lived-in waves with no heat and the least effort |
| Damp, diffuse or blow-dry | Towel-dried hair, still damp | A dryer on low or medium heat, kept moving | More lift at the roots, straighter hair, or a morning when you cannot wait for it to dry |
| Dry refresh | Dry, already-styled hair | A scrunch with your fingers | Bringing back texture on day two or at the spots that went flat |
What you'll need
- A sea salt spray
- A towel, or an old cotton t-shirt
- A wide-tooth comb, if your hair tangles when wet
- A diffuser or a dryer with a low or medium setting, if you want more lift
How to use sea salt spray, step by step
1. Start with clean, towel-dried hair
Wrap your hair in a towel or an old t-shirt and squeeze. The American Academy of Dermatology says that wrapping hair this way absorbs the moisture gently, and that roughly rubbing it dry can cause damage. You are aiming for damp, not dripping.
If it tangles, work through it with a wide-tooth comb, since the same guidance recommends a wide-tooth comb over a brush for wet hair. Our guide to combs versus brushes was written for beards, and the logic carries over.
2. Spray from the mid-lengths to the ends
Hold the bottle a few inches from your head and spray in sweeps, working from the mid-lengths to the ends. Skip the roots unless you want lift there. Start with a few sprays. On short hair, that may be all you need.
3. Scrunch or finger-style it
Scrunch upward with your hands for waves, or push your fingers through from the back to the front for a looser, messier shape. Do not brush it out afterwards, because that undoes the texture you just built.
4. Choose how it dries
You have two options. Air drying is the lowest-effort route and gives a softer, looser result. If you want more lift, use a diffuser or a dryer. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice is to limit blow drying and use low or medium heat, so keep the dryer on the gentler end, and keep it moving instead of aiming it at one spot.
5. Leave it alone while it dries
Resist the urge to keep checking it. Handle it as little as possible until it is dry, then adjust.
6. Adjust once it is dry
Use your fingers to loosen anything stiff. If a section has gone flat, add one or two sprays there and scrunch. The same mist-and-scrunch works on day two, when you want texture back without starting from wet hair.
Which hold level should you pick?
Hold is how firmly the style stays where you put it. Our Striking Viking Sea Salt Spray for Men in Blue Ocean comes in Light, Medium and Strong hold, so you can change the level without changing the routine. Our Sea Salt Hair Spray in Citrus is a Strong hold. As with the table above, this is our suggestion for where to start.
| If your style is | Start with | Move up if |
|---|---|---|
| Short and textured, where you want movement | Light | The texture is gone by lunchtime |
| Medium length, loose waves, air dried | Medium | The waves drop out before the day ends |
| Longer hair, or a shape you want to stay put | Strong | You are already at the top. Add one more spray at the ends instead |
The simple rule is to start at the lightest hold that does the job. You can add a spray or step up a level tomorrow. If you want a scent to go with it, Blue Ocean and Citrus are both available.
Common problems and quick fixes
It feels stiff or crunchy
You probably used too many sprays in one spot. Use fewer next time and spread them across more hair. Let the hair dry fully before you touch it, then loosen it with your fingers. If it still dries stiff, drop down a hold level.
It feels sticky
Same fix, with one addition: keep your hands off it until it is dry.
It goes flat or the waves drop out
Apply it to damp hair instead of dry, scrunch, and give it time to set before you touch it. If it still drops, try the diffuse method, or step up a hold level.
It feels coated after a few days
That is product building up. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying shampoo to the scalp so you wash away built-up products without drying out the length, and using conditioner after washing, since it moisturizes and detangles hair. Wash the spray out when you wash.
Sea salt spray FAQ
Do you put sea salt spray on wet or dry hair?
On damp hair, for waves and body. Towel-dry first so the hair is damp rather than dripping, spray, scrunch and let it dry. Use it on dry hair only for a refresh, when a style has gone flat and you want a little texture back.
How many sprays of sea salt spray should you use?
Start with a few and spread them from the mid-lengths to the ends. Add more once the hair is dry if you want more texture. There is no fixed number, because it depends on how long and how thick your hair is, and you can always add a spray but you cannot take one out.
How often can you use sea salt spray?
Use it on the days you want the texture, and wash it out when you wash. The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing based on how often your hair gets dirty or oily rather than on a fixed schedule, and using conditioner after washing.
Does sea salt spray work on short or straight hair?
You can use it on either. On short hair, use fewer sprays and aim for the mid-lengths. On straight hair, try the diffuse or blow-dry method from the table above first, because a little heat and a scrunch can give the shape more help than air drying alone.
Can you use sea salt spray on your beard?
Our sea salt spray is made for the hair on your head. For your beard, use products made for beards, and see our long beard care routine for how to build one.
The short version
Towel-dry your hair until it is damp, spray from the mid-lengths to the ends, scrunch, and let it dry on its own or on low to medium heat. Use damp hair for waves, dry hair for a refresh, and pick the lightest hold that does the job.
Next step: browse the Striking Viking hair care range and pick your hold.
Keep reading
- Spring style refresh: how to update your beard and hair for warmer weather
- Combs vs brushes: when to use which on a beard
- Long beard care: the routine that protects the ends
Filed under: Hair styling
