Buzz
1. L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water delivers intense hydration to your hair in just eight seconds, as the name implies!
2. A fine continuous water mister revitalizes your hair in the morning after a night's sleep. Keep that air-dried style looking flawless!
3. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Air Dry Cream is a budget-friendly, scrunch-and-go solution with a massive fan base to support its effectiveness.
4. For those willing to invest a bit more, Moroccan Oil Intense Curl Cream works wonders in enhancing and defining your beautiful curls.
5. Kitsch Pro Coconut Oil Deep-Moisturizing Conditioner Bar offers intense hydration and is perfect for travel, as it doesn’t require a liquids bag for TSA.
6. SheaMoisture Curl Mousse is a game-changer for individuals with curly or wavy hair who’ve struggled to find the ideal air-dry routine...until now.
7. SoCozy Curl Spray Leave-In Conditioner is designed for both kids and adults with curly hair and sensitive scalps, delivering stunning results with its hydrating and detangling blend of vitamin B5, jojoba oil, keratin, and other nourishing ingredients.
8. TGIN Miracle Repairx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask revives and shields your natural hair texture when other products fall short.
9. Verb Ghost Oil effortlessly controls frizz and flyaways. It’s the ultimate hair oil for those with coarse, thick hair, and reviewers with hair textures up to 4c can’t stop praising it!
I discovered this product after colleagues featured it in their stories. After testing nearly every hair oil available, I can confidently say this is the real deal. It’s perfect for finishing your look after heat styling (like with a curling iron or straightener) or soothing your hair post-blow-dry. As this story highlights, it’s also excellent for applying before air drying. I always keep a bottle in my medicine cabinet!
Promising review: "This is THE oil. My hair is naturally curly but extremely frizzy due to past color/bleaching damage and the natural frizziness of curly hair. Before this oil, my curls lacked definition! I use Garnier Triple Nutrition leave-in conditioner, plop for about 20 minutes, then air dry for 10–15 minutes before applying the oil. I will repurchase this forever as long as it’s available! My scalp gets oily, and my ends are always dry, forcing me to wash every other day, but now I can stretch it to two days! If you’re hesitant, just try it! My mom has even started using the same combo (Garnier and this oil)! As for scent, it’s virtually odorless to me. For shampoo and conditioner, I use Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil!" —Brandy
Get it from Amazon for $18 or Sephora for $20 (vegan).
10. Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray is designed to treat your hair and eliminate frizz for up to 48 hours...something we all need.
11. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo effectively removes buildup from dry shampoo and other products, leaving your scalp feeling genuinely refreshed. I understand the struggle. Truly.
12. Bread Beauty Supply Hair Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner is formulated with super-fruit oils to deliver lightweight hydration for individuals with 3a–4c hair, leaving curls and coils feeling incredibly soft.
Bread Beauty Supply, a Black woman-owned business, was established by Maeva Heim in 2020.
My colleague Kayla Boyd uses this silicone-free conditioner and air dries her hair (as seen in this stunning review photo!). Here’s her take:
"I recently started using Bread products and love how lightweight and user-friendly they are. My mixed-texture hair, which has been frequently dyed, tends to get very dry. After using this deep conditioner, my hair felt significantly softer and healthier. Plus, the scent is absolutely amazing. It’s definitely one of my new favorite wash-day products."
Promising review: "I’ve never used a better conditioner. It leaves my hair silky smooth whether I blow-dry or air-dry. I rarely leave reviews, but I love this product so much... TRY IT! LOVE!!!" —BrandyM2020
Get it from Bread Beauty Supply or Sephora for $28.
13. And Bread Hair Oil Everyday Gloss enhances the shine of 3a–4c curls without leaving a greasy residue. The secret ingredient? Australian Kakadu plum. (Remember this phrase because your friends will definitely ask how to achieve that glossy look.)
Bread is a Black-owned haircare brand that focuses on creating products for curls, braids, and all natural hairstyles. It’s especially ideal for those with 3a–4c hair, and the Instagram-worthy packaging is a bonus.
Promising review: "My hair is about 1 1/2 inches long, thick, and healthy, with no chemical treatments. I use a nickel-sized amount of this oil after washing my hair while it’s still damp, then let it air dry. The next day, my hair looks incredible — soft, silky, and not weighed down or oily. If I use it on dry hair, a nickel-sized amount might be too much, as it can look oily. The scent is like lemon candy, and it’s absolutely divine. The packaging and screw top aren’t my favorite, though. I often have to wipe excess oil off the threads. A pump might make it harder to control the amount, but it’s a minor issue." —sirres
Get it from Bread or Sephora for $24.
14. BestLan Hair Finishing Stick resembles a mascara wand but uses shaping cream to control flyaways on days when air drying and styling your hair into a bun or ponytail is all you can manage.
15. Biotin Shampoo is crafted with tea tree, jojoba, and argan oils and is sulfate-free. Reviewers praise its effectiveness in reducing hair loss and preventing dandruff. (Who doesn’t love a testimonial with before-and-after photos?)
16. Elizavecca Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment functions like a hair mask but delivers even more impressive results, thanks to Ceramide 3 and collagen. Every time I use it, my hair looks and feels significantly healthier.
17. Crave Naturals Detangling Brush effortlessly glides through wet hair without pulling or breaking strands. Tangles don’t stand a chance.
18. A Wet Brush works wonders on unruly hair and might even save you money on detangling spray you’d normally use.
19. Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 revitalizes damaged hair, creating a noticeable, silky difference when left on for at least 10 minutes, as it repairs broken bonds. Many reviewers with severely damaged hair, who previously couldn’t air dry, say this product finally allows them to do so.
BTW, it's vegan, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. Use this *before* shampoo and conditioner.
Promising review: "After going blonder, my hair started breaking a lot, and I considered dyeing it darker. But I wanted to see if this product could help. My stylist uses it during appointments, so I needed a weekly hair mask. I tried it today, and it made my frizzy blonde hair incredibly soft and manageable. I could air dry it without styling, and I plan to use it weekly until my hair gets healthier." —evelin corral
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $28.
Read our full review of Olaplex No. 3 for all the details!
20. JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream defines and enhances curls. Don’t just take my word for it — reviewers with fine hair, who’ve struggled to find the right products, swear by it! Plus, it offers UV protection for your hair.
JVN is a hair care line by Jonathan Van Ness (yes, from Queer Eye and other amazing ventures!) designed to drive change in the beauty industry and celebrate everyone’s unique beauty. Cheers to that!
Promising review: "Leaves my slightly graying, wavy hair soft, less frizzy, and lightweight. Perfect for my low-maintenance, wash-and-air-dry routine. I also love the packaging." —megawf
Get it from Sephora or JVN for $24 (vegan, cruelty-free, and comes in recyclable packaging).
21. Mane Club One Hit Wonder 10-in-1 Spray handles nearly every styling need for blowouts, except for finishing hairspray. It delivers a sleek, smooth blowout without cluttering your cabinet with multiple products. (That’s how I use it.) Plus, many reviewers who air dry their hair absolutely love this affordable miracle spray.
I have naturally curly, thick hair that’s endured everything — hot tools, at-home dyes, countless shampoos, conditioners, dry shampoos, oils, and more for the sake of reviews. Many products fail, are mediocre, or are too pricey to recommend. Most end up in the trash or gifted to friends. But THIS product? It’s my go-to for wet hair before blow drying. Normally, I’d use a heat protector, oil, or leave-in conditioner, but this 10-in-1 treatment replaces them all! Often, I don’t even need finishing oil (a step I’ve relied on for years). It’s that good! Here’s my freshly blow-dried hair using this spray and the Amika blow dryer brush. The brush is great, but this spray doubles its effectiveness. My hair feels softer, looks shinier, and stays fresh for days — perfect since I wash my hair every four days. Time to declutter my hair products!
Promising review: "I love this. I’m lazy with long, thin hair. This is EVERYTHING. I spray and go. I always air dry, and this works wonders. Smoothing and shine-enhancing. ❤" —Michelle S.
Get it from Mane Club for $8 or Amazon for $9.95 (cruelty-free, vegan).
22. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer is a lifesaver whether you’re blow-drying your hair or letting it air dry. It’s perfect for both styles, making it a must-have.
23. Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It Fine Hair Air Dry Styler works great on its own or paired with the primer to add enviable texture to your hair.
It also provides UV protection!
Promising review: "I love this product! On days when I air dry my hair, it keeps frizz at bay and leaves my hair feeling soft. My best method: let my hair air dry slightly after a shower, then apply a small amount of the product. I avoid massaging it into the roots and instead smooth it over, focusing on the strands and ends. Let it air dry a bit more, brush through, and voila!" —Megz56
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $31.
24. Kitsch Microfiber Hair Towel gently absorbs water while you go about your day. Believe me, it outperforms any other towel turban. I own three. Plus, it significantly speeds up air drying.
25. And Kitsch Spiral Hair Ties keep your hair out of your face without leaving awkward creases like traditional elastic bands.
26. Herstyler Hair Repair Serum, infused with hydrating argan oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E, helps you control flyaways and move on with your day.
27. CreaClip (as seen on Shark Tank) helps you finally achieve the at-home trim you’ve been too nervous to attempt or previously botched. Its built-in level ensures a perfectly even cut!
28. John Frieda Volume Lift Thickening Spray has garnered a loyal following among fine-haired reviewers who typically struggle to maintain waves.
29. Or try John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Air Dry Waves Styling Foam as another low-maintenance option, especially if you have a preference for the texture of your hair products.
