4 Insider Hair Tricks To Air Dry Every Hair Type

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Air drying sounds simple enough: wash your hair, step away from the hairdryer and let nature do its thing. In reality? Without a little intervention, you can end up with flat roots, fluffy lengths, frizz or hair that just doesn’t seem to sit quite right.

The secret to a Great Air Dry is knowing how to work with your natural texture – and using the right products while hair is still damp. Enter Air Dry Spray, our shortcut to effortless texture without heat. Designed to enhance the natural shape of your hair as it dries, it adds definition, movement and just enough hold to make it look like you’ve actually done something.

Whatever your hair type, here’s how to air dry it properly.

 How to air dry straight or fine hair

The problem: Fine or straight hair can easily fall flat when left to its own devices. Longer hair can also become weighed down, leaving you with very little movement through the lengths.

The solution: Start by gently pressing excess water out of freshly washed hair – don’t vigorously rub it with a towel. Apply a small amount of Almost Everything Cream through your mid-lengths and ends to condition and smooth, then mist Air Dry Spray throughout.

Now create the shape you want before your hair dries. Scrunch the lengths with your hands to encourage natural movement, then tuck your hair behind your ears. Leave it there until dry, before untucking and shaking everything out with your fingers. The result? Easy bends and texture that frame the face without requiring a tong.

If you want a little more oomph at the roots, scrunch in some Zhoosh Foam before leaving everything to dry.

How to air dry short hair

The problem: You want your bob or lob to have that perfectly imperfect bend and movement – without it becoming fluffy, triangular or completely shapeless.

The solution: Short hair is all about setting the shape while it’s damp. Apply a little Almost Everything Cream through the lengths, then spritz generously with Air Dry Spray to add texture and encourage natural movement.

Tuck your hair behind your ears as it dries for an easy bend through the front, or use your fingers to scrunch and twist individual sections for something more tousled. Then – crucially – leave it alone.

Once dry, shake it out with your fingers. If you spot any fluffy ends or flyaways, smooth the tiniest amount of Almost Everything Cream over them. And if the roots need more lift, work a little Zhoosh Foam into them for instant volume.

How to air dry wavy or curly hair

The problem: Natural waves and curls can look brilliant when air dried – but they can also quickly become fluffy and undefined if you interfere with them too much.

The solution: Detangle your hair while it’s wet, then scrunch Almost Everything Cream through the lengths to hydrate and define your natural texture. Follow with a generous mist of Air Dry Spray, then scrunch upwards from the ends towards the roots to encourage your existing curl or wave pattern.

Then comes the most important trick: don’t touch it. Playing with your hair while it dries can disturb the curl pattern and create frizz, so let it dry completely before going back in. Once it has, use your fingers to gently break up any sections that need it, and smooth a tiny amount of Almost Everything Cream over flyaways.

How to air dry a fringe

 

The problem: Fringes have minds of their own. Without a hairdryer to persuade them into place, cowlicks, kinks and unwanted gaps can quickly appear.

The solution: Get ahead of them. While your fringe is still damp, apply a tiny amount of Almost Everything Cream followed by a light spritz of Air Dry Spray. Then use your fingers or a comb to position it exactly where you want it to sit.

For curtain bangs, create your parting and sweep each side into shape. For a fuller fringe, comb it into position and use clips to hold any particularly unruly sections flat while they dry.

Once your hair is completely dry, remove the clips and use your fingers to loosen everything up.