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If the last thing you want to do today is spend hours blow-drying your hair, we’ve got just the thing for you: styling products that give you definition without the heat.
Not only does air-drying your strands minimize styling time, but it also protects your hair against heat damage. However, without the right products, your mane can descend into a frizz fest, whether you’re air drying thick, wavy hair or superfine strands. To avoid this, pick up an air dry hair product that will help define your natural texture and ditch your heat tools once and for all.
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The Best Air Drying Hair Styling Products at a Glance
Meet the Expert
Chaz Dean is a celebrity hairstylist, colorist and the founder of WEN hair and body care line. Dean has over 25 years of experience, and his salon has served the likes of Ming-Na Wen, Nicole Murphy, Gilles Marini, Alyssa Milano, Gwyneth Paltrow and others. WEN is also the winner of multiple QVC Beauty Awards.
How I Vetted the Best Air Dry Hair Products
To compile this list of the 15 best air dry hair products, I researched trend reports and scoured the internet for popular brands to see what people were talking about. Ultimately, I considered over 20 products and asked fellow PureWow editors to test different formulas, ranking them on scent, ease of application, texture, finish and longevity.
Marissa
“The brand calls this the ‘plain white T’ of styling products, and I must concur,” says PureWow associate SEO editor Marissa Wu. “After applying the Air Dry Styler to wet hair, I let my strands dry before combing out with a boar bristle brush. (Mine is from Altesse Studio, $320.) If I could only choose one daily styler, it’d probably be this. After 24 hours, my hair retained its body and shape—miracle of miracles because by the end of the day, it’s usually piecey, flat and separated, with a little frizz. The gel is super moisturizing and gave my hair a little extra gloss. It also does well if you tousle it for a reset.” The gel-based formula includes amaranth seed extract and hydrolyzed rice protein—the former for hydration and the latter for volume. It works best when applied to damp hair, as the brand notes that it may flake if you apply it to soaking wet strands.
$12 at Amazon
$13 at Ulta
Nicole Frazzini/Sephora
“I love using Color Wow Dream Coat when blow drying my hair, so I was curious to try this companion product,” says PureWow audience development strategist Nicole Frazzini. “All you have to do is spray it all over wet hair, which makes the application super easy. It did have me skeptical since most products for curly and wavy hair need to be really worked into your strands. However, the results were better than I expected: My waves definitely clumped and had some definition, more than if I was to use no product at all, but not as well as I would have hoped. I will say, my frizz was totally tamed by this product, which is a true feat (as in, I’ve tried dozens of products to do just that, and few have actually been effective). If you’re looking for something to enhance your natural texture and really make those curls and waves sing, this may not be the holy grail you’re looking for. But, if you’re looking for something to tame frizz while giving your natural texture a boost, give this product a try.” The Dream Coat uses hydrolyzed keratin to reduce frizz, add moisture and strengthen the hair, in addition to three proprietary polymers meant to moisturize and condition while providing bounce and elasticity.
$24 at Sephora
$24 at Ulta
Candace Davison/Ulta
“With baby fine hair, flyaways are a given. That’s why I love this styling cream,” says PureWow vice president of editorial Candace Davison. “My hair dries smooth and frizz-free, without being weighed down. It’s like I used a straightener, only I didn’t touch a single heat tool.” This air-dry hair product comes in on the pricier side—$36 for five ounces—but as Davison attests, can give flat, fine hair a boost with low effort. Prickly pear extract strengthens your hair, while yucca schidigera stem extract can calm inflammation, provide antioxidants and promote hair growth. The Don’t Blow It Fine (Hair) Styler works best on fine-to-medium hair and promises texture, bounce and airiness. Plus, it’s packaged in a lovely floral scent featuring citrus and white tea.
$36 at Ulta
$36 at Nordstrom
Marissa Wu/Amazon
You may be thinking, “Isn’t pomade for people with short hair?” Wu once thought this, too, until she went out of town for a wedding and her only hairstyling product that would pass through TSA was R+Co Bleu’s Elastic Styling Pomade. “It had been sitting on my vanity for months,” she admits. “But I thought, why not. It was the only thing that wouldn’t be confiscated, and it promised structure, which I desperately needed. I’ve only seen pomade applied to dry hair, but I applied mine to wet before air-drying. The paste is super sticky, even after I worked it through my hands, but it’s water soluble and gilded right through my hair. After it dried, I wrapped my hair in a curl headband (mine’s from Kitsch, $18) and went to bed. The next day, they were by far the best curls of the testing process with the most longevity. True to its claims, the pomade gave my hair plenty of structure and volume, plus a little shine, and the curls separated nicely while holding their shape the entire day.”
$39 at R+Co Bleu
$39 at Amazon
Ulta
“Holy volume, Batman! I was seriously impressed with how this lightweight foam gave my thin, fine hair major lift at the roots,” Davison says. “Plus, it didn’t leave my ends looking stringy, which often happens when I add products. It’s become a go-to every time I step out of the shower, though I will note that the volume comes at a cost—if you’re out on a windy day, expect some serious snarls and tangles to unfurl later. But still, worth it.” Though it’s billed for wavy hair, it works on all hair types. Kale protein and panthenol are the key ingredients; the former promotes growth and cell turnover, while the latter seals the cuticle to prevent frizz and split ends. It’s available in the brand’s North Bondi scent, with bergamot, lemon, rose de mai and violet. Note that you should apply to completely wet hair (just ring out the excess water first).
$28 at Ulta
$28 at Sephora
Nicole Frazzini/Amazon
I haven’t worn my wavy hair natural in a hot minute, but this air dry cream has me changing my tune,” Frazzini says. “It was so smooth and easy to apply—the directions specify that you rake the product through your hair and then ensure strands are coated using the praying hands method—which worked. It really accentuated my natural hair texture and made my waves look almost curly at first, which I absolutely loved. It also tamed my frizz pretty well, which is a big concern for me (although you’ll definitely need to do a refresh for second-day hair). I will say, if you’re looking for something volumizing, this probably isn’t the product for you, but if you want something to bring out and enhance your natural waves or curls (while smelling amazing), give this product a try.”
$27 at Amazon
$13 at Ulta
Delia Curtis/Amazon
“The R+Co. Air Dry Crème was very easy to use and is quite buildable,” reports PureWow assistant editor Delia Curtis. “It didn’t completely rid me of frizz, but definitely calmed it down and tamed it significantly (which was wonderful as someone with majorly frizz prone hair). My hair’s waves were defined and the product created soft tousle-able and ultra touchable locks. The cream has a clean and fresh salty oceanic scent. I really loved using it and I’ve been reaching for it more often than a curl cream made specifically for my hair type/texture, etc.” Additionally, the cream is a great pick for those with color-treated hair, thanks to hydration-packing ingredients including fruit extracts, soybean oil and mango butter. The Dark Waves scent is a mélange of cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo and blonde woods. For best results, the brand recommends applying to towel-dried hair before styling.
$36 at R+Co
$36 at Amazon
Stephanie Maida/Ulta
“Aside from my twice-annual color touchup, I am extremely low-maintenance when it comes to my hair, so any product that doesn’t require a ton of extra time and effort is a plus in my book,” says PureWow senior commerce editor Stephanie Maida. “Since this Living Proof styler can be applied in the shower after I shampoo and condition, it’s right up my alley. The thick, creamy formula just needs to stay on for five minutes before rinsing, and I find that it actually helps detangle my hair even further after conditioning. Following a brief stint in a towel wrap, I let my strands air dry, and after using this product, my naturally wavy hair looks more thick and glossy than dry and frizzy. My waves have more body and stay together, and my usual halo of flyaways and frizz is impressively dissipated, but the formula doesn’t leave behind a residue.”
$36 at Ulta
$36 at Sephora
Delia Curtis/Nordstrom
I really enjoyed using the Aveda Phomollient to add a bit more structure to my hair,” Curtis says. “It’s easy to apply, though the formula is a bit loose and watery. The product instructs you to apply it from root to tip with three to five pumps, which I followed. It left my hair feeling soft and not stiff. From the get-go, it defined my waves even before my hair was fully dry. It has a very green and herbaceous scent to it which I thought was really nice. My only qualm was that once my hair was fully dry, my hair was just a *tiny* bit crunchy on the ends.”
$30 at Nordstrom
$50; $40 at QVC (2-pack)
Stephanie Meraz/Sephora
“I’m a really big fan of Moroccanoil products, especially their hair masks, so I was really excited to get my hands on the styling cream,” says Purewow associate fashion commerce editor Stephanie Meraz. “The cream formula is incredibly lightweight and, when rubbed and warmed in the palm of my hands, transforms into a clear layer that looks like it’s packed full of hydration. I smoothed it onto my air-dried hair and brushed through, and it was as simple as that! While it didn’t completely transform my hair and make it look or feel like it was blown-out at the salon, it did do a great job at calming fly-aways and stopping frizz in its tracks. I probably could have added more because I have thick hair and a lot of it, but I started with a nickel size just to be safe. I also liked the fact that my hair felt like it absorbed the hydration, because it overall felt a bit softer and less coily. I also really enjoy the light scent of it—Moroccanoil products always have a similar smell to them that reminds me of a mixture of nuts and coconut.”
$36 at Sephora
$36 at Amazon
Sephora
Similarly to Aveda, Crown Affair also produces a lightweight, volumizing styling mousse. “I noticed that it didn’t provide much of a shine compared to other products I tested,” Wu notes. “However, it delivers on body/volume while also giving a bit of shape, which my stick-straight appreciated. There’s no residue when I comb it out, which is a plus, and you can ‘reset’ by tousling your hair for a fresh look. The scent is also so pleasant—probably my favorite of all the different stylers I tested. The standout feature to me was definitely the way it held up after a full (and sweaty) day. I simply turned my hair upside down, fluffed it, and it was good as new—you wouldn’t have even guessed I was sweating profusely.”
$38 at Sephora
$38 at Crown Affair
Ulta
“The problem I have with many texture sprays is that they’re both drying and leave my hair feeling crispy. I found Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe spray a happy medium between natural-feeling, soft locks and the volume and grit that I need,” Wu says. “I think this works best on dry hair, but I also tested it on wet hair, air dried and set in a curl headband, to great results. The only con for me is that the scent is pretty strong initially—coconut bonanza. I will also note that even if I apply the spray to dry hair, I don’t get crazy beach waves. I suspect, though, that those whose hair holds shape better may have more pronounced results. But at $7, you can’t beat the price.”
$7 at Ulta
$7 at Target
Ulta
“I’m a big Kristin Ess fan and use four of their products almost every day (curly shampoo, curly conditioner, blow dry mist, and working serum),” says PureWow tester Jackie Fayl. “I have naturally curly and frizzy hair, so I tend to gravitate to creams or gels if I want to wear my curls or will turn to straightening my hair instead. That being said, anything that says ‘frizz calming’, I’m all for! The air dry creme was easy to apply; I raked it through my hair and then scrunched. It definitely has that signature hair cream smell, but it’s not bad and didn’t really linger in my hair. It made my hair feel very soft and smooth after, which is something I love with a product. However, I felt like it didn’t stand up to the ‘frizz calming’ as much as I would hope. My hair was definitely still frizzy after applying and I didn’t step outside, so humidity wasn’t even a factor. I felt like I could’ve added some of the working serum with it, but that defeats the purpose of the cream, which is that it’s supposed to work on its own. For a naturally curly and frizzy-haired girl, I was slightly disappointed but I still think it would be a great product to add alongside my other daily products.”
$12 at Ulta
$11 at Amazon
Prose
“I nearly always air dry my hair and use a Prose Curl Cream that was made specifically for my waves,” Curtis shares. “I love the formula so much. I tousle in a generous amount to damp hair and scrunch like no one’s business. The cream itself is very lightweight, mildly scented and doesn’t leave heavy build up in my hair. I find that my hair isn’t super frizzy and actually maintains a nice healthy wave. I also love how the formula is created with your hair type and texture in mind, as well as accounting for environmental factors like weather, water and more. I’d definitely recommend checking out the brand to find something that works well regardless of your hair type.”
$30 at Prose
Amazon
“The Frizz Ease Air Dry Styling Foam smells like stepping into the salon. It’s got a bit of a hairspray-like fragrance that immediately makes me feel like I’m about to have someone do my hair for me,” Curtis says. “The formula was a very loose texture and I ended up opting for more than the two to three recommended pumps because of how thick my hair is. I probably did about five and was able to distribute from root to tip (which is something I’m always wary about because products tend to pill in my hair), but found that my wet hair took well to the product. It doesn’t feel crunchy or crisp despite the directions explaining that you should scrunch the product into your hair to enhance the natural shape of your waves or curls. Even on day two hair, I find that it’s still bouncy and wavy. My hair does feel a touch dryer than usual, so I’m wondering if it might be a little bit dehydrating, but I’m sure that could be supplemented with an oil.”
$12; $9 at Amazon
$13 at Target
What to Look for in an Air-Dry Hair Product
Sometimes, your hair just needs a break from the heat—and that’s the beauty of air dry hair products. You get the volume, texture, shine and shape without frying your strands. However, to get the most out of your product, there are a handful of things to keep in mind.
First, you’ll want to consider your hair type and texture. For fine and thin hair, lightweight products (like a mousse or gel) are the way to go because they won’t weigh down strands. However, those with thick and curly textures usually need more moisture, so heavier creams and oils are the best bet. Meanwhile, wavy hair tends to respond well to mousses and foams, which define beachy locks.
Then there’s the application. While it will vary from product to product, Dean advises applying it to soaking wet hair. (You can wring it out; it doesn’t need to be dripping.) Granted, it may not work for all products, but try it at least once, and you may find the results are better.
“(When you apply products to damp hair), two things happen,” Dean elaborates. “Number one, they don’t absorb into the hair shaft. Number two is if it’s damp, it means you’ve usually already towel dried it, which means you’ve already started to cause frizz. by towel drying it. Now you’ve already lost the battle because your hair is already frizzy and you’re not going to win that battle. If you put (product) in soaking wet hair, it absorbs into the hair and you’re avoiding that frizz.” He gives the example of putting up wallpaper. If you allowed the surface to partially dry before sticking on the wallpaper, it’d be bumpy and uneven. The same thing is happening with your hair when it’s damp.
When looking at ingredients, Dean advises prioritizing high-quality essential oils, botanicals, extracts and even hyaluronic acid. Skip synthetics if you can, and be weary of high-protein formulas. “Protein is a hardening agent,” he notes. “It’s meant to strengthen (your hair), but if your hair is dry and brittle and you add (protein to it), you’re causing it to be more dry and brittle and you then have breakage.”
How to Air Dry Frizzy, Thick and Wavy Hair, According to a Beauty Editor Who’s Tried It All
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you’re looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
