If there's one thing I love about summer, it's the ease and effortlessness that comes with it. Last-minute plans, the simplicity of getting dressed in warmer weather, minimal makeup on sun-kissed skin, and my personal favourite: the ability to let my hair air dry at any time.
I've spent years perfecting my air-dry routine; at this point, I have it down to a science. So, naturally, I'm sharing it with you.
But first, a quick caveat: your exact formula will come down to your hair type, and I think it's worth noting that mine is quite smooth and straight. I will say, though, I've shared the products below with plenty of friends and family, and they've all worked well for them too.
Ok, now let’s get into it!
PRE SHOWER
A great air dry starts pre-wash. Since I won’t be brushing my hair after I get out of the shower (because I don’t want to disrupt my natural wave pattern), I take the time to do it beforehand. I love this brush for gently detangling and this one for stimulating the scalp (key for healthy hair!). If I have the time, I’ll use them one after the other.
A tip for those with straighter, finer hair: when I want to use a treatment, I find pre-shower to be the ideal time. That way, I can shampoo it out completely and avoid weighing my hair down. If your hair isn't as fine as mine, feel free to disregard!
IN-SHOWER
In-shower portion is pretty standard: shampoo and conditioner.
Personally, I like a double shampoo. I'll usually use this one or this one twice, except once a week, when I'll use a scrub (one of these two) first, followed by my regular shampoo. Then I'll apply conditioner, which I'll work through with a comb before rinsing.
POST SHOWER
Straight out of the shower, I wrap my hair in one of these life-changing microfibre hair towels. I mostly appreciate it for its ability to stay put on top of my head, but it also helps cut down drying time, prevent breakage and reduce frizz. I usually leave it on for 10–15 minutes while I do my skincare, body care and get dressed.
As I mentioned earlier—and this took some getting used to—I don't brush my hair after the shower because I find I get much less wave in my air dry if I do (unless things are looking particularly unruly, in which case I'll smooth just the crown to about my ears). Of course, if your hair has more texture than mine, you might prefer to run a comb through. Play around and see what works best for you!
PRODUCT
If there's one part of this routine that really makes a difference, it's what I apply once I get out of the shower.
First, I'll do a pump or two of this Milk Hair Serum, a smoothing leave-in conditioner that never weighs my hair down. Truly a fantastic product, whether I'm air drying or not. Adore it and have for years! I use my fingers to distribute it evenly throughout my hair.
Second, two to three pumps of this Texturizing Air Dry Mousse, which may just be my personal air-dry MVP. It enhances and defines my texture beautifully while—very importantly—leaving it soft and not the least bit crunchy. I scrunch it in, working from the ends of my hair upward.
Now, we wait. Let your hair air dry completely and try your best not to touch it too much.
OPTIONAL ADD ONS:
If your hair is super straight, you can also try this method for adding a bit more movement.
Occasionally, if I want to bump things up a notch, I’ll add a wave or two with my curling iron very haphazardly, once hair is dry. The goal is just to enhance what’s already there, not to curl every strand.
I’ll also sometimes finish with a light mist of this Wave Texturizing Spray for a more lived-in feel.
ACCESSORIZE
Some accessories to complement your air dry.
The end!
In case you’re interested in giving any of the above a try, our friends at RŌZ, Crown Affair and Violet Grey have shared a code for us:
RŌZ: ANNAPORTE15
Crown Affair: ANNA
Violet Grey: ANNA15
And if you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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