5 Tips for Awesome Air-Dried Hair

As the weather heats up, you may be ready to ditch that hair dryer for an easier, cooler style. Lucky you, there are a lot of tricks you can use to make your hair look as though you’ve spent hours fixing it… when all you did was wash it.

Here’s what you need to know.

Braid It

If you’re looking for large, beach waves, your best bet is a loose braid after you’ve towel-dried your hair. Keep the braid loose and tie it off with a ribbon or band that doesn’t leave a mark. Once your hair is dry, take out the braid and you’re ready to go.

Stick It in a Bun

Tying your hair into a bun when it’s still wet will provide more of a ringlet appearance once you pull it out. If you want to maintain those curls, you may need to add a little something to set them – mousse before you tie it and a hairspray when you let it all fall down.

T-Shirt Trick

Every girl has a few old t-shirts that aren’t even fit for the gym any longer. Cut these into wide strips and roll your hair into them, tying them off to hold them in place. Yep, you’re meant to sleep in these. In the morning, you’re going to love the way your hair falls.

Volumizer

Most of the volumizers out there are designed for use with heat styling, but you’ll find a few meant to work with air-dried hair. Ask your stylist to help you choose choose the right one, and you may need nothing else than a towel and a comb for the perfect look.

Shower Right

The truth is that gorgeous air-dried hair starts in the shower. You’ll want to condition first, then shampoo, and then run a quick conditioner over the ends of your hair. When you step out of the shower, use a wide-toothed comb to remove all the knots. Then, it’s time for the towel. But remember, an ultra-absorbant towel will save you plenty of time – and save your hair from knotting and breaking. Try to avoid the turban if you can; it puts a lot of pressure on the roots and the ends (and you may have to resort to breaking out the hair dryer to seal them again)!