How to Air-dry Your Hair, No Matter Your Hair Type or Length

Considering this summer has essentially been a never-ending heat wave for the majority of us, a beauty routine that requires minimal effort, and well, minimal heat is about all we can muster at this point. But, while we’re trying to survive in the Sahara that has become our everyday lives, we also still need to look like it isn’t fazing us, of course.

That’s where figuring out how to air-dry hair like a pro comes in to play. Not only can it cut styling time in half, but it also gets you out the door without turning you into a sweaty mess. Considering the fact that not every hair type is the same and not everyone has model strands that can step out of the shower and dry into that perfect “off-duty” look, we asked the pros for some tips to achieving shower-to-desk greatness.

What you can do the night before to prep

All of our stylist experts agreed that to get air-dry success, you have to hydrate your hair the night before. Chuck Amos, a Pantene celebrity stylist known for styling the curls of singer Jillian Hervey, recommends leaving in a small amount of an overnight mask like Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner ($4.99).

Dove’s Celebrity Stylist Mark Townsend (and the mane man behind everyone from the Olsens to Rachel McAdams) posed the question that if you’re showering in the morning to air-dry your hair, why not sleep in a conditioning mask or treatment like coconut oil? “Nothing beats natural when it comes to hair masks, so apply coconut oil to your locks from midshaft down. In the morning, just shampoo twice and skip the conditioner,” says Townsend.

For straight-haired ladies

Volumizing hair products are a must-have for women with straight hair. (Photo: Getty Images)

If you typically rely on your blow dryer in order to add volume, don’t fret. Kérastase’s Consulting Hairstylist Matt Fugate (who is known for creating some of the coolest red carpet hairstyles, on Lena Dunham and Jaimie Alexander as of late) suggests massaging the roots of the hair in order to re-create that volume. “Hair massages are the quickest way to add body and volume to the hair. Keep massaging the roots of the hair with your hands until you achieve the body you are looking for,” Fugate says.

Townsend also suggests starting off with mousse — but being strategic about where you place it. He says, “Apply Dove Nourishing Curl Whipped Crème Mousse ($4.89) at your roots and massage with your fingers to make sure you are lifting the root. Don’t forget to get your crown and your sides. The mousse will plump up your hair and give you the volume you need.”

How curly girls can battle frizz

When air-drying curly hair, work with your curls, not against them. (Photo: Getty Images)

For girls with curls, air-drying seems to always result in a frizzy mess — or at least way more frizz than was intended. Again, adding moisture is the key here, said our stylists. “A lot of curly girls think humidity makes their hair frizzy, but it’s actually the strength of one’s hair. It’s important to keep hair strong and moisturized in order to achieve beautiful, frizz-free curls. My favorite piece of advice for curly girls is to use products that add moisture and strength to hair, especially in areas that are the most depleted of moisture and nutrients,” says Amos. He also likes to use Pantene Style Series Maximum Hold Mousse ($4.86) to help strengthen curly hair so it can stay practically frizz-free all day long.

Townsend agrees on the moisture front, recommending to apply Oribe Curl Control Silkening Crème ($38) to damp hair and then “do nothing!” Townsend says, “Don’t brush your hair, don’t comb your hair, and don’t rake your fingers through your hair. Once the moisturizing products are applied, let your curls do your thing. If you want to really ensure the curl pattern, twirl ringlets around your index finger while applying the product, but then don’t touch!”

Fugate literally echoes this sentiment, preferring to use Kérastase’s Discipline Oleo-Curl ($42) and again twirl the curls only when applying the product, but then leaving the hair alone after.

For natural-hair ladies

Locking in moisture is a major key for natural-haired ladies when air-drying. (Photo: Getty Images)

If you’re air-drying your natural hair, again, as much moisture is needed as possible. Amos suggests starting this process with your shampoo and conditioner (which many of you probably do already), ensuring that they’re ultra-hydrating. If your hair is thicker as opposed to fine to medium natural hair, Amos adds that you should use a deep conditioner on top of your shampoo routine with a product like Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner ($4.99). Then, rinse that all out and use a moisturizing detangler to help add extra moisture when you’re combing out your hair.

When you’re styling, Amos notes that for fine to medium natural hair, you can scrunch the ends and leave it to air-dry. “If your hair is thicker and kinkier, though, I suggest sectioning off hair into chunky braids or double-stranded twists to help control your thick locks, while giving the scalp air to breathe during the drying process. When your hair is fully dried, take out the braids or twists, fluff hair at roots with a wide-tooth comb, and you are ready for bouncy, beautiful curls all day,” says Amos.

If you’ve got short hair, you can still air-dry

Use your fingers to perfect a hairdo that complements shorter lengths when air-drying. (Photo: Getty Images)

For short-haired ladies, don’t be afraid to just let your hair air-dry with a little bit of product. If your hair is straight, Townsend suggests using a styling cream like R + Co.’s Jackpot ($25) to get a fuller feeling to the hair and to add texture. “Unlike curly hair, straight hair needs to be played with a bit when it’s damp to dry beautifully,” says Townsend. He suggests applying a quarter-sized amount of the product to the hair and playing with it in your fingers to style.

If your hair is short and curly, you’ll want to style it basically the same as above for curly hair (remember moisture is key!), but Fugate says that when it’s short, you’re able to play around with it a little more and can definitely manipulate it when it’s wet to get it to look how you want — if you do it dry, it will frizz more.

Amos also recommends gently massaging the hair in a clockwise, circular motion to help bring the curls back to their original state (while still wet). Then, let them dry without touching and you’ll have shiny and practically frizz-free curls all day!

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