Buzz
1. Eva NYC's Lazy Jane Air Dry Shampoo helps you achieve a relaxed, textured finish without using heat tools or dealing with frizz. Infused with hemp seed oil and sea lavender, this formula provides Omega-3, Omega-6, and antioxidants to lock in moisture and smooth your hair.
I've been using this along with Eva NYC's Lazy Jane Conditioner and Salt-Free Wave Spray, and they've truly transformed my hair! On most days, my hair can't decide whether to be straight, wavy, or slightly curly, and since I work from home, I skip the blow-drying, straightening, and curling — I just let it do its own thing. This trio adds volume, enhances texture, minimizes frizz, and makes my hair so much more manageable!
Raving review: "Smells AMAZING! It's definitely given my hair the body I was hoping for. My thin hair feels light and clean. It gives the volume I need, and I think this is my favorite shampoo so far." —Linzy B.
Available from Eva NYC for $14 or at Target for $12.99.
2. Bumble and Bumble's Don't Blow It Air Dry Styler is perfect for fine hair. If you’ve struggled with heavy products in the past, this one is worth trying! The lightweight cream provides UV protection and brings out your natural texture with polymers that keep your hair airy and voluminous.
3. Elizavecca's Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment acts like a miracle hair mask, repairing your strands in just five minutes. Packed with Ceramide 3 and collagen, this formula rejuvenates all hair types, whether your hair is over-processed or 4c and prone to dryness. Some users even claim that this $8 treatment rivals Olaplex No. 3!
4. Curlsmith's Weightless Air Dry Cream has earned rave reviews from those dealing with postpartum hair loss, stubborn frizz, mixed curls, and dry hair. If you're seeking a protein-free styling option, this one’s a must-try, bb!
Raving reviews: "As I've gotten older, my hair has become curlier (don’t ask me why!), and I’ve tried a lot of curl products. Some were hits, others were misses. But I absolutely love this leave-in curl cream because it defines my 2c/3a curls, exactly what I need! It’s easy to apply in the shower, doesn’t take much product, and never leaves my curls crunchy, greasy, or flaky." —Aura
"I lost this product for two days and had to go back to my old products. That’s when I realized how much of a game changer this is! I will NEVER use anything else. No gel needed. This hydrates and defines my hair like nothing else. My curls are healthy, shiny, bouncy, and best of all… NO FRIZZ. Worth every penny. Get it, get it, get it!" —Mary
Available at Ulta for $27 or Amazon for $28.
5. OGX's Locking + Coconut Curls Air Dry Cream is an excellent option for an easy, scrunch-and-go routine. With over 9,000 5-star reviews, you'll see that users have swapped their expensive products for this $8 gem, and it never disappoints!
6. JVN's Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream lets your natural waves and curls shine. This soft, buildable formula enhances your texture, shields your hair from UV damage, and softens strands with squalane, chia seed extract, and moringa seed oil. In the words of JVN themselves, "Can you believe?"
Glowing review: "I have thick, dry, and frizzy hair. When I air dry it without any product, it becomes super puffy, feels rough, and looks lifeless. When I learned that this product smooths frizz, softens hair, and adds shine, I was thrilled! It definitely delivered!
Available at Sephora for $12+ or Amazon for $14+ (two sizes available).
7. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Soft Waves Spray is described as "summer hair in a bottle," and reviewers are loving it. A blend of Dead Sea salt, sea kelp, and aloe creates effortlessly tousled waves that will have you snapping selfies. And it’s only $7, can you believe it?!
8. Verb's Ghost Oil is getting rave reviews. With over 7,000 5-star ratings, it’s clear that many users swear by just 2–3 drops of this oil from roots to ends, giving their hair fullness, body, and a sleek finish — all without needing heat tools or putting in extra effort, which, let’s be honest, is the ultimate goal, right?
Here’s Elizabeth Lilly from Mytourer giving this product her full endorsement:
"I first discovered this after some colleagues shared it on their stories, and having tried almost every hair oil out there, I can confidently say this is the real deal. It’s perfect for smoothing your hair after heat styling (like using a curling iron or flat iron), calming down your hair after blow-drying, or as this story suggests, applying before air drying. I always have a bottle on hand in my medicine cabinet!"
Raving review: "Verb is truly dominating the market. Honestly, I’m so impressed with this purchase. I’m Filipino, and we usually have thick, coarse hair. I also struggle with a ton of frizz, and this completely solved that issue!!!!" —Avavalentinn
Available on Amazon or Sephora for $20+ (two sizes available).
9. BestLan's Hair Finishing Stick is your secret weapon if you woke up with flyaways after sleeping on wet hair. Use the mascara-style wand to tame those stubborn baby hairs that just won't stay put.
10. Kristin Ess's One Signature Hair Water with Castor Oil revives your second-day hair with its unique "Zip-Up Technology," a special formula that actually *zips up* split ends and smooths out damaged cuticles. It’s perfect for those mornings when you wake up with a serious case of bed head but still need to look put-together.
Review worth reading: "This product does it all. It detangles. It refreshes your hair (especially if you have waves or curls). It works as a setting spray for rolling or curling your hair. It’s a fantastic finishing spray after dry shampoo, giving your hair volume and a fresh scent. It's also fantastic for setting curls with a blow dryer. I love how versatile this product is. It’s been a huge help with my 4-year-old’s hair (another bonus!). I'm excited to try more Kristin Ess products after this! Add it to your cart, you won't regret it." —Ulta Reviewer
Get it from Ulta for $12.
11. Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day (PhD) In-Shower Styler is a breeze to use. After shampooing and conditioning your hair, just apply it and rinse it out. You'll be left with shiny, soft, and voluminous hair that looks like it belongs on a runway.
12. Ouai's Air Dry Foam effortlessly detangles hair and delivers instant waves with its light, non-crunchy, kale-infused formula. Skip the time-consuming braids or heatless curlers and go straight to the wave results.
Promising review: "This is incredible! I’ve been searching my whole life for a product to give my fine (yet thick) 2a hair curls, beachy waves, or at least some volume. I’ve tried every sea salt spray and wave formula, but this foam is the ONLY one that’s ever worked for me. It adds so much volume and waves! I almost have curls! And they last until my next wash — even after a few days!" —sarahlibb
Get it from Sephora or Amazon for $28.
13. Odele's Air Dry Styler is suitable for all hair types, but those with curly hair particularly love its ability to gently hydrate and separate curls into bouncy, defined shapes. At only $12, it’s as affordable as two lattes, so why not give it a go??
Promising review: "This is exactly what I’ve been searching for! I have fine hair with loose curls that curl up at the ends. I used to need several products and a diffuser to get the look I wanted, but now I only use this and end up with perfectly defined, bouncy curls that hardly ever frizz or fall flat. I also love that I can touch up my hair by mixing a little with leave-in conditioner. The scent is a bit too grassy for my taste, but it fades quickly and doesn’t stick around. It's truly been a game-changer and simplified my routine. I wish they’d offer it in bulk! It works better than anything else I’ve tried, regardless of price." —Lolajean
Available at Odele or Target for $11.99.
14. K18's Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is a must-have for anyone who frequently bleaches, colors, or styles with heat tools. This four-minute wonder fixes all types of damage and leaves your hair feeling silky, as if you just left the salon.
Here's a note from my BF Shopping colleague Melanie Aman:
"I bleach my dark brown-black Asian hair blonde every six to eight weeks, so I was curious when I first heard stylists at my salon raving about K18. Turns out, the world loves it too — it was sold out at Sephora when I first tried to buy it. I ended up getting a tiny tester on Amazon and was amazed at how much softer my hair felt. Seriously, I couldn’t stop touching my hair, and even my boyfriend noticed it felt noticeably silkier.
Olaplex was my go-to until I tried K18, and I still love it, but what I adore about K18 is that it's a leave-in treatment, not an in-shower mask. The 10-minute wait for Olaplex was unbearable, especially when I wasn’t doing the full shower routine (you know, the ones where you exfoliate and shave). With K18, you leave it in your hair for four minutes post-shower to activate, and then you can style or let it air dry like I do.
I've found my hair feels softest the next day, so don’t be discouraged if it seems the same on the day you use it. One last thing: it’s a bit pricey, but a little goes a long way. The 5-mL tube I bought has lasted around five washes, and eventually K18 becomes a maintenance product so you won’t need to use it every time you wash your hair."
Available at Amazon or Sephora for $29+ (available in two sizes).
15. Moroccanoil's Mending Infusion Styling Hair Serum quickly nourishes and visibly seals split ends, so if you’re a few weeks away from your next haircut, no one will know the difference.
Promising review: "Loooove this. I know it says to use it on dry hair, but I prefer to apply it on my wet hair after showering because wet hair is like a sponge, so it absorbs sooooo much better. My hair is long and thick, and this makes it incredibly soft. I’m obsessed." —ewoodqc
Available at Amazon or Sephora for $32.
16. Ceremonia's Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner helps tackle dryness, breakage, and damage with its restorative guava formula that leaves your hair looking shiny and feeling smooth.
Promising reviews: "I’ve been using this product consistently after every hair wash for the past few months and I’m really loving the results. It works great for my thick, dry hair and helps it air dry with less frizz. I’d recommend it to anyone with hair that has trouble staying curly or straight but tends to be frizzy." —reganetate
"At first, I wasn’t sure how well this would work on my thick, 4b/c hair. But it didn’t disappoint. It’s not too thick but thick enough to instantly soften and hydrate my hair. Love this product!" —Misse415
Available at Sephora for $24.
17. Kitsch's Microfiber Hair Towel absorbs water five times faster than a regular towel, so even if you shower in the morning and don't plan to blow dry, you can still leave the house with dry hair.
When someone insists that heat tools are the only way to achieve a great hair day:
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
