How To Air Dry Hair, No Matter The Texture

A blowout isn’t always the key to fabulous hair.

Sometimes it’s nice to let your hair’s natural texture shine, whether you want to take a break from heat or you don’t have time for a blow drying session. However, effective air drying isn’t as simple as leaving the shower and going about your business.

In this guide, we’ll be sharing how to properly air dry hair for bouncy, frizz-free locks. It doesn’t matter if you’re team straight, wavy, curly, fine, or thick – there’s an air drying method out there for you!

Is Air Drying Your Hair Bad?

It’s complicated.

Heat styling has long been seen as the enemy of healthy hair. High temperatures can lead to damage in the form of frizz, dryness, and breakage, since they harm the hair cuticle and strip it of its natural oils.

Air drying can seem like the safer option, but it’s not that simple.

First, you’ll need to understand the anatomy of a hair strand. It comes with three layers:

• The cuticle – the outermost layer
• The cortex – the middle layer
• The medulla – the innermost layer

Heat causes damage to the cuticle, but moisture can put a lot of stress on the inner layers. Too much water causes the swelling within the strand, which weakens hair over time by causing loss of elasticity, breakage, frizz, and dryness. When you air dry hair, you’re likely prolonging the amount of time your hair stays wet, therefore leaving it more vulnerable and fragile.

With that said, it doesn’t mean that both drying options will harm your hair. You just have to approach the process strategically.

The Pros & Cons Of Air Drying

Pros:

• No heat or heat-related damage.
• Preserves the hair cuticle’s lipid layer, which maintains moisture, structure, and shine.
• Creates a natural, effortless look.

Cons:

• Can cause damage to inner layers of hair strands.
• Can lead to frizz & build-up.
• Leaves hair in a fragile state for longer.

How To Effectively Air Dry Hair

It is possible to air dry hair without causing moisture-related damage. Follow these steps to prevent frizz and breakage!

What To Do:

• Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to nourish hair and prevent frizz from the start.
• Use a protective leave-in product, like a leave-in conditioner or an air-dry cream.
• Don’t start with hair that’s dripping wet; squeeze as much water out as possible initially.
• Speed up the drying process by using a microfiber hair towel (avoid rough jersey towels) to remove excess moisture; gently pat hair rather than rubbing or tousling hair (this creates friction that leads to frizz and flyaways).

What Not To Do:

• Avoid touching wet, vulnerable hair.
• Don’t sleep with wet hair; like any damp/moist area, a wet scalp can attract bacteria and fungus. Instead, air dry during the day.

Who Should Air Dry Hair?

Anyone can air dry their hair, but it’s especially beneficial for people with …

• Heat damaged hair, so the hair cuticle can start to repair itself.
• Color-treated hair, since heat can strip away vibrancy.

In terms of hair textures, those with fine, wavy, straight, or curly hair benefit from air drying.

Air Drying Fine Hair: What To Know

Air drying should be a relatively quick and easy process. Fine hair doesn’t absorb water as quickly as thick hair, so it’s less susceptible to air drying-related damage.

However, air drying may leave fine hair flat and limp, so it’s important to take the following steps:

Step 1: Try a volumizing shampoo and conditioner – just make sure they also provide enough moisture.
Step 2: Remove tangles and create your part immediately after washing by using a wide-tooth comb.
Step 3: In addition to a leave-in product for moisture and protection, consider a thickening or texturizing product to add volume.

Air Drying Thick Hair: What To Know

Thick hair can absorb a lot of water. This means it will take longer to air dry, and it may be more prone to damage. You’ll need to take proactive measures to avoid frizz:

• Consider a co-wash or cleansing conditioner instead of a shampoo, since shampoo can strip hair of its natural oils.
• Do a cool rinse to seal the hair cuticles; lukewarm water is fine if you don’t like the idea of a cold shower.
• Brush through hair with a wide-tooth comb in the shower; it’s important to do this step while hair is still actively wet rather than during the drying phase to avoid frizz.
• Make sure to use a protective leave-in product all over your hair.
• Create volume and texture by gently twisting sections of your hair; hair dries in the shape it’s left in.

Air Drying Curly Hair: What To Know

Just like thick hair, curly hair often takes longer to air dry. Textured hair absorbs more water than straight hair, since there are more places for the moisture to hold on to. Still, you can safely air dry your hair with the right routine:

• Avoid shampoos with drying ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and gluten.
• Once hair starts to feel dry, gently twist sections to eliminate frizz and boost natural texture, then shake it out.
• Try the plopping method by ‘plopping’ all of your wet hair into a microfiber hair towel or turban; start by detangling your hair in the shower with a wide-tooth comb, twist out excess moisture, apply a protective curl-boosting product, flip your head upside down and gather your hair into the center of your towel, twist the towel around your hair like a turban, wait, and unravel in about 20 minutes.

Conclusion – How To Air Dry Hair

Air drying can be a welcome break from heat styling, but it’s important to take measures that prevent moisture damage. Speed up the process, prevent frizz, and boost volume by working with protective products and tools. Whether you have fast-drying fine hair or thick and curly locks, you can still achieve your hair goals without the use of damaging heat!