I grew up on lakes near cottage country Ontario, but in my twenties, I spent my first summer surfing, kiteboarding, and teaching sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. My friends and I basically lived in the water, and in our salty hair. We loved the effortless style the ocean gave to our hair and we'd challenge each other to see how long we could go without washing it out. One of my buddies even went “10 days, just salt.” 

When summer ended, I searched for a way to keep that same windswept, textured look when I no longer had easy access to the beach. But nothing felt as authentic as the real thing. Every “beach spray” I tried fell short: too synthetic, too drying, and made with harsh ingredients like alcohols that dried out my hair while leaving the texture crunchy. So I decided to create something better.

Boiling the ocean
Using my chemical engineering background and design engineering practices, I got to work. After 80+ formulations, Salty Hair was created. Each bottle starts with the real thing: real ocean water we source in Nova Scotia (because nothing else does the trick), which we filter and concentrate. Then we add plant-based hydrating gels including those from seaweed to prevent dryness and add volume. Authentic ocean texture, inspired by surfers and engineered to be good for your hair.

Built with feedback
As a kiteboarder based out of Halifax, I had access to the best test group I could ask for: surfers, beach lovers, and stylists who live and breathe saltwater. Their feedback shaped the process. The formula was refined until it truly captured the feeling of a post-surf hair day.

That teamwork is still at the core of Salty Hair today. From collaborating with university engineering students on new product development to partnering with surf shops and local retailers, every win has been shared with a community who believes in what we’re building.

The next step in innovation: Surf Shampoo Bar
As much as I stretch my salty hair texture, I was still presented with another problem: eventually, you have to wash your hair. Traditional shampoos stripped away the texture and left my hair flat. So I set my sights on building something better.

The result is our Surf Shampoo Bar: a plastic-free, surf-inspired bar that cleanses gently, hydrates deeply, and helps maintain that subtle beach-inspired texture. It’s made for anyone who wants to stretch their “beach hair day” just a little longer. 

From the Ocean, For the Ocean
Our mission is more than innovating great hair. For every product sold, we donate $1 to restore coral reefs and kelp forests. We’re proud to be Made in Canada, using sustainable ingredients, ocean inspiration, and science-backed innovation to create products that are good for your hair and the planet.

Stay Salty,

Mike Petrosoniak
Chemical Engineer, Ocean Enthusiast, and Founder of Salty Hair