Air-drying looks like it needs to be straightforward, proper? You hop out of the bathe, towel-dry your hair, and proceed together with your day whereas the air does its factor, saving you treasured styling time and your strands from potential warmth injury. In actuality, so many components, from humidity to your hair well being, can affect how nicely your air-dry seems. To set your self up for achievement, you’ll want an awesome product—even perhaps two, relying in your hair kind and texture. San Diego-based hairstylist Katelyn Ellsworth recommends gels or lotions to nix frizz and create maintain. “They have an inclination to distribute by the hair higher and block in opposition to the humidity, locking in moisture and smoothing out the frizz with out including warmth,” she explains.
We requested our testers to attempt top-rated air-dry hair merchandise at house, evaluating each on ease of software, product texture, frizz-fighting capabilities, total end, and longevity. After combining our testers’ suggestions with insights from hairstylists, we landed on this checklist of the 15 greatest air-dry hair merchandise for naturally clean, hydrated, healthy-looking strands.
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Chia seed, linseed extracts, moringa seed oil | Scent: Citrus and white florals | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
What’s to not love about JVN’s Full Air Dry Cream? Enriched with moringa seed oil and hemisqualane (a silicon various) for light-weight hydration, and chia and linseed extracts to effortlessly improve pure texture, this decide is a one-and-done resolution to the air-dry of your goals. Our tester was positively effusive about each facet of the cream, praising how clean and delicate it left her hair and the way nicely it managed frizz. The light-weight system absorbed rapidly, and the outcomes lasted a number of days, reducing again on the necessity for normal warmth styling. She was additionally obsessive about the scent—an “intoxicating” mix of citrus and white florals—however when you’re delicate to fragrances, it’s essential to know that this one lingers all day.

Candice, tester: “I like the way in which this product feels in my hair a lot. It leaves my hair clean like a dream. The impact lasted for round two days after software, preserving my hair outlined and stuffed with quantity all through that point.“
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Castor oil, Dimethicone | Scent: Mango and flowering water lily | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Cool-girl waves can take some coaxing, even when your hair has a delicate S-shape sample. Enter: Kenra’s Skilled Platinum Air Dry Crème 6, which aspires to boost the hair’s pure physique with refined definition and maintain. Our tester, who has curl kind 2A (aka free waves), cherished how nicely this cream improved manageability, turning her hair from unruly to clean, delicate, and silky with minimal effort. The cream is on the thicker facet consistency-wise however didn’t overwhelm her hair; as an alternative, it supplied the right quantity of definition and management. The one draw back is that the product made her scalp really feel oilier than standard, so she wanted to scrub her hair extra usually to take care of the outcomes.

Amanda, tester: “The cream did an awesome job of styling my unruly waves with minimal effort. The general form, texture, and magnificence of my hair was simpler to cope with after the product dried.“
Formulation: Gel | Key Elements: Amaranthus caudatus seed extract, hydrolyzed rice protein | Scent: Cucumber, oakmoss, ylang-ylang | Measurement: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
In case your straight locks are likely to air-dry flat, limp, and lifeless, a light-weight gel like this one can assist inject some much-needed oomph. It incorporates film-forming polymers and hydrolyzed rice protein to thicken hair, and our tester says it actually works—even on nice, straight strands like hers. After spreading the light-weight gel by her hair and leaving it to dry, she achieved considerably extra texture than standard. It additionally helped moisturize her strands, and though it didn’t eradicate frizz, just a few untamed flyaways accentuated the impression of motion, which was a win in her guide.

Victoria, tester: “It makes my hair seem prefer it has extra texture than it truly does. I feel it helps maintain my hair moisturized all through the day too.”
Formulation: Foam | Key Elements: Kale protein, panthenol | Scent: Wealthy florals and sheer white musk | Measurement: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Avoiding frizz is among the greatest challenges of air-drying, particularly if you think about uncontrollable conditions like humidity. This tremendous light-weight foam from OUAI gives a scrunch-and-go resolution for wavy and curly hair (the categories most inclined to frizz), which calls on moisturizing panthenol and kale protein extract to clean fluffy, static-prone strands. Our tester appreciated the way it tamed frizz whereas enhancing her hair’s pure texture with noticeable carry and bounce. Her strands had been shiny and clean, by no means crunchy or sticky, and the outcomes lasted till the following wash. Though it wasn’t particularly hydrating, it improved the appear and feel of her hair total, and he or she didn’t have to achieve for a hair dryer or curling iron as soon as.

Brittany, tester: “This air-drying foam does a great job of taming frizz and provides my hair some carry and bounce, which isn’t simply achieved with simply blow-drying. It additionally helps handle frizz all through the day whereas making my hair look shinier and smoother.”
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Tames frizz and smooths hair
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Enhances pure texture of hair
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Light-weight system is simple to use
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Dimethicone, argan oil, glycerin | Scent: Floral | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Of all of the price range choices on the market, we expect this feature from TRESemmé is one of the best. That includes a hydrating mix of argan oil and glycerin, it tames frizz and smooths flyaways, reducing down on styling time with out sacrificing your look. Our tester cherished the gel-like consistency, which simply unfold and absorbed in a flash with out leaving any sticky or crunchy residue behind. She was impressed by how nicely it decreased frizz, leaving her hair so shiny it regarded like she’d used warmth styling instruments. This selection had no product buildup or greasiness, only a clean end that lasted a number of days.

Kelsey, tester: “TRESemmé Air Dry Smoothing Cream noticeably decreased my hair frizz. That is one thing I wrestle with, significantly after I air-dry my hair. I usually should blow-dry my hair after every bathe, which then damages my hair additional. This product considerably decreased my blow-dryer use.”
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Smooths and hydrates hair
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Enhances and holds waves/texture
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Tames frizz and provides shine
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Dreamy scent
Formulation: Balm | Key Elements: Tomato ferment, chickpea extract, chia seed | Scent: Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Hair that’s dry and straw-like tends to additionally endure from cussed frizziness. For a hearty dose of hydration that can clean and nourish parched strands, attain for this system from Oribe. It has a mix of chia seed extract, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins to moisturize, and polymers (derived from tomato ferment and chickpea extract) for a long-lasting soft-touch maintain. It prevented our tester’s hair from drying out—even when she added further waves utilizing a curling iron—noticeably smoothing and conditioning her strands every time she used it. She cherished how her hair regarded whereas utilizing this balm; it was shiny with outlined seaside waves that held their kind. Simply be aware to make use of the product sparingly as a result of it may turn out to be crunchy if overapplied.

Ashley, tester: “My hair felt fairly clean and hydrated with continued use of this product, it was delicate, shiny, and manageable.”
Formulation: Foam | Key Elements: Moringa oil, mushroom extract, plant proteins | Scent: Clear | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Frizz-free texture and definition is the last word air-dry success marker, and that’s precisely what this feature from Verb delivers. The tremendous light-weight system is powered by a hydrating mix of moringa oil, squalane, and wheat protein to outline strands and enhance shine. The featherweight foam vanishes into hair and not using a hint, leaving no buildup on strands or roots. Our tester was amazed at how nicely it styled her hair, making a clean, frizz-free texture that rivaled the outcomes of her favourite warmth instruments. Nonetheless, she didn’t love the pump applicator, which made it tough to get the correct quantity of product out of the bottle.

Kelsey, tester: “One noticeable profit was the added texture that it created. I’ve not observed this with different merchandise. I used to be impressed that I used to be capable of air-dry my hair and appear like I had put far more time and approach into my fashion.”
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Babassu, murumuru, hyaluronic acid | Scent: Candy, fruity | Measurement: 2, 8, 16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Curly hair usually requires extra consideration than its straighter counterparts on account of it is spiraled form. To make sure your curls stay bouncy and outlined, do this ultra-hydrating air-dry system from Curlsmith. Filled with myriad moisturizing elements, from babassu oil and murumuru butter to hyaluronic acid and castor seed oil, it left our tester’s curls mild and delicate with a natural-looking construction and maintain. It was extraordinarily light-weight (excellent for layering with different curl-enhancing merchandise) and did an awesome job of lowering frizz and maximizing shine.

Ashley, tester: “My curls had been nicely formed and pulled collectively. This product could be very light-weight and efficient in hydrating my hair with out weighing it down. The Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Curly Hair Cream is a superb product for people in search of a low-maintenance option to amplify their curls with delicate definition.”
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Coconut oil, aloe vera | Scent: Bergamot, lemon zest, mimosa, heliotrope, and black amber | Measurement: 1.7, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
On this planet of air-drying merchandise, cream formulation stand out for his or her hydrating and smoothing capabilities. Simple to distribute by the hair, they assist guard in opposition to frizz and produce kind to waves and curls. This specific cream was a success with our tester, who cherished that it made her waves look each fuller and smoother with a extra uniform curl sample. Enriched with moisturizing coconut oil and aloe vera, it boosted shine and moisturized her parched suggestions, making a wholesome feel and appear that she finally most popular over blow-drying. The outcomes lasted a full day and had been simply revived the next morning with a spritz of water and a contact extra cream.

Amanda, tester: ”My hair was shiny, bouncy, and hydrated with none extreme styling. I additionally like that the cream did not weigh my waves down or go away my hair greasy after utilizing it.”
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Yucca schidigera stem extract, opuntia Ficus-indica stem extract, hydrolyzed soy protein | Scent: Citrus, white tea, lily of the valley | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Should you thought a pleasant clean blowout was the important thing to a shiny end, suppose once more. This Bumble and Bumble system excelled at making our tester’s wavy hair look tremendous shiny. The skinny cream unfold simply and dried with a silky-soft end, nixing frizz and giving refined definition to her hair’s pure texture. It wasn’t significantly volumizing, based on our tester, however including a spritz or two of texturizing spray gave her the definition and fullness she was after.

Ashley, tester: “This product helped handle my frizz greater than different air-dry balms and lotions I’ve tried, and my hair was shiny each time I used it.”
Formulation: Mousse | Key Elements: Bolivian Pink Salt, tsubaki seed oil and meadowfoam seed oil | Scent: Bergamot, yuzu, and lemongrass | Measurement: 5.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
For unparalleled texture, definition, and maintain, mousse is a good choice. This weightless foam from Crown Affair incorporates Bolivian pink salt so as to add easy quantity and beachy texture to all hair sorts whereas preserving frizz at bay. Our tester, who has kind 1A locks, adopted the product directions for straight hair, making use of the mousse earlier than twisting sections of hair and clipping them in place till dry. The end result was crunch-free, frizz-resistant, delicate texture that remained outlined all day. Regardless of containing a Tsubaki seed oil and meadowfoam seed oil mix, she didn’t discover the system significantly hydrating, however what it lacked in moisture, it compensated for in styling prowess.

Candice, tester: “It provides an unbelievable quantity of texture to my straight, flat hair. The impact lasted for round two days after software, preserving my hair outlined and delicate all through that point.“
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Prevents colour fade
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Accentuates waves
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Smooths and hydrates
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Banana extract, sunflower oil, avocado oil | Scent: Banana | Measurement: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
Colour-treated hair could be extra fragile and finicky than hair that’s by no means been dyed, so air-drying it’s a good option to protect its situation. Add a protecting product to your routine and your frazzled locks will thanks. This cream from Solar Bum is formulated to protect in opposition to UV injury and forestall color-fade whereas boosting hydration and enhancing shine. Our tester, whose hair is oily on the root however dry on the ends, cherished how nicely it labored on her mixture hair kind, including moisture with out even a touch of greasiness. She observed the cream felt somewhat sticky on damp hair, particularly if she used an excessive amount of of it, however with only a small dollop her waves had been accentuated and completely shiny.

Nishka, tester: “I observed that my hair is shinier after utilizing this product. My waves really feel more energizing too, and so long as I run a brush by my dried hair, it does appear like I blow-dried it.”
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Boosts quantity
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Tames frizz
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Provides texture
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Leaves a sticky residue
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Could possibly be extra hydrating
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Yuzu extract, plum oil, B nutritional vitamins | Scent: Glowing citrus and recent greens | Measurement: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
In case your hair tends to put flat, it’s tempting to depend on warmth styling to inject some much-needed quantity and physique. With this air-dry cream from Briogeo, you may not should. Our tester says it noticeably enhanced the fullness and texture of her straight hair, giving her a frizz-free tousled look that mimicked the results of scorching rollers. The system incorporates plum oil, a light-weight moisturizer with antioxidant properties to guard in opposition to environmental stressors, however it wasn’t hydrating sufficient for our tester’s hair. Her mane felt pretty matte after making use of this cream however that probably enhanced its magical texturizing skills, so we’re not too fussed about it. The principle strike in opposition to this product is that it didn’t soak up nicely, leaving a sticky residue behind.

Brittany, tester: “My hair is much less frizzy and extra voluminous when utilizing this cream versus after I dry my hair with a blow-dryer. I discovered it to handle frizz successfully all through the day whereas additionally offering some quantity, which I preferred.”
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Algae-based polymer, bentonite clay | Scent: Gentle citrus | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
For individuals who have hair that’s liable to fluffiness and frizz, discovering a product that smooths the hair shaft with out the necessity for warmth is the dream. The Dwelling Proof Model Lab Air-Dry Styler delivers on that entrance. In response to our tester, it absorbed simply and left her hair clean and frizz-free for days. When she utilized it earlier than permitting her hair to dry in braids, the cream helped outline her free waves—most likely due to the inclusion of algae-based polymers and bentonite clay, which work in unison so as to add texture and retain maintain. The product is liable to separation, so give the container a great shake earlier than dishing out it into your palm.

Joline, tester: “It positively smooths my hair in comparison with after I air-dry with none product. It boosted how hydrated my hair felt and regarded all through the day, too.”
Formulation: Cream | Key Elements: Apricot and watermelon extracts, soybean oil, mango butter | Scent: Cardamom, pineapple, and bamboo | Measurement: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Sure
This R+Co Cool Wind pH Excellent Air Dry Cream, labored wonders on our fine-haired tester. The mix of moisturizing elements, together with soybean oil and mango butter helped hydrate, soften, and clean her hair with out including weight. Her waves had been extra pronounced and shiny, too, though it might have been higher at eliminating frizz.

Joline, tester: “I observed that my hair was shinier, and it positively felt softer than regular.”
What to Search for in an Air-Dry Hair Product
- Moisture: If there’s one class of elements it is best to prioritize, it’s moisturizers—our specialists had been unanimous on this. “Search for merchandise with pure oils, like jojoba, argan, and cocoa butter,” says celeb hairstylist Cody Renegar, as these will assist fight frizz as your hair dries, producing a clean end. Moreover, Ellsworth says she loves merchandise that include hyaluronic acid to hydrate the scalp and enhance elasticity.
- Formulation Sort: Lotions are the most typical air-dry system as a result of they work on all hair sorts. Nonetheless, in case you have wavy or curly hair, you may wish to take into account a gel or mousse, Renegar says, as these will add loads of definition and maintain. A clay-based system can be an awesome selection, based on Ellsworth, as it is going to convey out the pure form and texture of your curls.
- Layering: For one of the best end result attainable, experiment with layering merchandise. “I like to start out with a nourishing leave-in conditioner after which layer on a product for maintain like a mousse,” says Megan Schnell, a celeb hairstylist primarily based in Chicago.
How We Examined Air-Dry Hair Merchandise
Byrdie
At Byrdie, we like to check each product we suggest. For this story, we chosen 18 top-rated air-dry merchandise, together with lotions, mousses, foams, and balms, and examined them on numerous hair sorts and textures. After a radical analysis, we landed on this checklist of one of the best choices out there.
- Variety of Merchandise Examined: 18
- Testing Interval: Eight weeks
- Methodology: Ten testers with numerous hair sorts and textures utilized merchandise on moist or damp hair, assessing them on ease of software, outcomes, and the way lengthy they held their fashion.
- Components Thought of: Ease of use, effectiveness, hydration, efficiency
Meet Our Consultants
To create this checklist of one of the best air-dry hair merchandise, we consulted the next hair care professionals:
- Katelyn Ellsworth is a pure colour and extension specialist and founding father of The Roslyn salon in San Diego.
- Megan Schnell is a celeb hairstylist primarily based in Chicago.
- Cody Renegar is a celeb hairstylist primarily based in Los Angeles.
Why Belief Byrdie
Esme Benjamin is a author, editor, and podcaster primarily based in Brooklyn, New York. She has nice, curly hair—a tricky-to-style combo that has required extreme product experimentation over time. Air-dry hair merchandise are a important a part of her hair care routine.