Soft Hair Clay vs. Sea Salt Spray: When to Use Each and How to Use Both

Want more texture, a little lift, or more control over your style? Sea salt spray and soft hair clay do different jobs. The easiest way to choose is to start with the finish you want: relaxed volume, matte definition, or both.

This guide compares Ryan James Sea Salt Spray with Ryan James Soft Hair Clay. The clay here is the soft, medium-hold version, not the hard-version clay.

The quick choice

  • Sea salt spray: choose it for added volume, tousled texture, and light, flexible hold.
  • Soft hair clay: choose it for definition, a natural matte finish, and medium, reworkable hold.
  • Both together: use spray to build texture and volume, then soft clay to define and control the finished shape.

When to use sea salt spray

If your hair looks flat or you want a relaxed, lived-in style, start with sea salt spray. It adds texture and body with light hold, making it a good choice when movement matters more than a precisely shaped finish.

Use it alone for an easy, finger-styled look. Air-dry for a relaxed finish, or blow-dry while lifting at the roots for extra volume.

How to apply it

  1. Start with towel-dried hair. It should be damp, not soaking wet.
  2. Shake the bottle and spray from 6–8 inches away, working section by section. Avoid your eyes.
  3. Scrunch or finger-style from roots to ends.
  4. Air-dry, or blow-dry while lifting the roots for more volume.

Start lightly and see how your hair responds before adding more. The sea salt spray product page has the application details.

When to use soft hair clay

Choose soft hair clay when you want a more defined shape with medium hold and a low-shine, natural matte finish. Its soft, reworkable texture keeps styling flexible rather than stiff.

Clay alone is a good starting point when your hair already has enough body and you mainly want separation and control. Shape with your fingers for texture, or use a comb for a more defined style.

How to apply it

  1. Scoop a small amount and rub it between your palms.
  2. Work it evenly through dry or towel-dried hair.
  3. Shape with your fingers or a comb.
  4. Add a little more only if you need extra hold or texture.

For the layered routine below, use clay on dry hair so you can see the volume and shape before adding your finishing product. The clay can also be used on towel-dried hair on its own, as described on the soft hair clay product page.

How to use sea salt spray and soft hair clay together

Use both when you want texture and volume plus more definition than spray alone provides. Give each product one job: spray builds the foundation, and clay finishes the shape.

  1. Spray on damp hair. Towel-dry, shake the bottle, and apply sea salt spray from 6–8 inches away. Distribute it with your fingers, avoiding your eyes.
  2. Dry and shape. Air-dry for a relaxed look, or blow-dry while lifting at the roots for more volume. Let your hair dry before the next step.
  3. Finish with soft clay. Rub a small amount between your palms and work through dry hair in light passes.
  4. Define the final look. Use your fingers to separate sections or guide your hair into place. Add a little more clay only if needed.

Remember the order: damp-hair spray → dry and shape → dry-hair clay. This lets you build volume first, then add medium, flexible hold without starting with a heavy application.

Match the routine to your goal

Relaxed texture and movement: sea salt spray alone, followed by air-drying.

Matte definition and flexible control: soft clay alone, shaped with your fingers or a comb.

More volume with a defined finish: sea salt spray on damp hair, blow-dry with root lift, then a small amount of soft clay on dry hair.

Avoid overdoing it

If your hair feels overloaded, use less product next time rather than adding more to fix the shape. If volume is the goal, focus on lifting at the roots as you dry before reaching for extra clay. If spray alone gives you texture but not enough control, try a small clay finish.

Start with the simplest routine that gives you the result you want: sea salt spray for texture and volume, soft hair clay for matte definition and medium hold, or both in that order.

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