Letting your frizzy, curly hair air-dry can work... but only if you do this.

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If you ask me about air-drying and whether I’m a fan of it, ABSOLUTELY NOT. Air-drying takes so much time, and it’s not always better for your hair. And the worst part? Your wet hair is hanging all over the place… it’s just YUCK…

BUT… I know that a lot of people love air-drying their hair, and I can’t say I blame them. Blow-drying can also be a lot of work, although I’ll always choose blow-drying over air-drying (except in the summer, but we’ll talk more about that in this article).

Okay, but how do you get the best results when air-drying your hair, especially if you have fine, wavy, or curly hair? We know that using a diffuser can enhance the definition and volume of our waves and curls. Doesn’t air-drying cause a lot of frizz?

If you want to air-dry your hair, make sure there aren’t any products in your hair yet. This is because you want to use lightweight products so your hair doesn’t take FOREVER to dry. So avoid heavy creams and leave-ins, thick hair gels, etc., and swap them out for lightweight styling products like leave-in spray (yes, it really exists), foam, mousse, and hairspray.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to get the best results when air-drying your hair:

✅ After washing your hair, apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner (such as a leave-in spray). It’s much lighter than regular leave-in conditioners, but it still gives you the “slip” you need to define your curls. One of my favorites is the Fable and Mane Detangling Leave-In Conditioner.

✅ Next, choose your styling products. I would choose a styling product that provides enough hold without needing to combine it with another product, such as the Define Styling Foam from Curly Secret.

✅ You can divide your hair into sections and define your curls for maximum definition. If you're short on time, you can style your hair upside down and make sure all of your hair is coated with the foam. You can also use a styling brush to ensure the product is distributed evenly. Then, apply a little oil to your hair and scrunch it in.

✅ I usually style my hair while it’s wet—but not soaking wet! Afterward, you can use a cotton towel to micro-plop; this also removes excess water from your hair. However, don’t do this immediately after applying products—wait a few minutes until all the products have been absorbed into your hair a bit. My favorite towel—which is very soft and doesn’t cause unnecessary frizz—is The Perfect Haircare Hair Towel

✅ What I do in the summer is blow-dry my roots with a diffuser until they’re 70% dry, and the lengths a little bit. Then I let the rest air-dry. If it’s really hot outside, I’d rather let my hair air-dry than use the diffuser.

✅ To reduce frizz, use a silk scarf as a sort of shawl around your shoulders. This reduces the friction that can cause your hair to frizz.

✅ And if your hair needs even more hold, try using hairspray after plopping. I really like this one from Bounce Curl.

✅ TWO HOURS LATER (or longer)… Your hair might be dry by now, and you’ll want to scrunch out the “crunch” (if there is any) with a silk scarf and a light oil. I LOVE Curly Secret Scrunching Oil—it’s my absolute favorite!

Curly Secret Scrunching Oil with papaya and hemp seed oil

Are you a fan of air-drying? Try out these tips and let me know what you think!