There’s a time for a post about the best tools and products for getting and keeping and blowout… and August is not one of those times. We have all year to battle our manes into submission, but when the temps (and humidity!) are this high, it’s time to embrace your natural texture and enjoy the freedom of letting your hair simply be.
Of course, for most of us, the idea of letting our hair be wild and fancy-free brings the fear of looking a little, well, unkempt. This is where products come in, ladies! When you find the right product for your hair type (and it really should just be one; having to apply a whole arsenal of potions really defeats the whole going-with-the-flow vibe…), finger-styling and running becomes an actual possibility. Click through to check out my air-drying product picks, plus a key tool that CS’s art director swears by!
Don’t Blow It from Bumble and Bumble
This product was specifically designed for air-drying; it adds just enough weight and texture to any hair type, encouraging your natural bend while fighting frizz and flyways.
Briogeo Curl Charisma Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel
Yes, this curly-girl gel counts quinoa as an ingredient (the protein helps to nourish strands), but what’s even more interesting is what it doesn’t contain: sulfates, parabens, or silicones, all of which can damage and/or weigh down curls.
Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Styling Gel Cream from Shea Moisture
For coarser curls, waves, and kinks, this conditioning styling cream/gel hybrid offers the perfect combination of hold and nourishment.
Garnier Fructis Pure and Clean Styling Gel
Another option for a heat-tool-free ‘do? Do the sleek look, using just a bit of a clean-hold gel to keep everything in place.
Summer Ocean Waves Tousled Texture Spray from Bamboo Beach
If you, like me, have fine waves that tend to go limp in the heat, this nourishing salt spray will give your hair lift, bounce, and shine.
Feed Your Do Styling Whip by Yarok
Do you have shorter hair that needs a little help staying put? This light, fluffy hair paste will give you grip without leaving your hair weighed down or dirty-looking.
Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash Detangling Hairbrush
And finally: don’t forget that getting air-dried hair starts when it’s damp—which is why CS art director Jenn Rose Smith swears by her Tangle Teezer. I’ll let her say it herself: “This shower brush is perfect for getting out tangles while your hair is wet, so you can let it dry naturally with curls still intact.”
