Brush Up on Your Air-Dry Techniques for Summer

The rising temperatures signal a shift in our hairstyling habits, with one of the biggest trends being the return of air-drying. While some hair types can easily master the look, there is, in fact, an art to the perfect air-dry. Some of us require a bit of effort to enhance hair without it appearing flat or frizzy. The sweet spot lies between prepping your hair with the right products and giving your texture the time to develop naturally. From coils and curls to waves and barely-there bends—these are the must-have techniques for air-drying this season.

Before you even get to the drying part, your haircut is key. When hair is shaped properly for your hair type, the cut can help enhance the look you’re after. Depending on your hair type, longer hair can be easier to air-dry because the added weight helps keep your style from becoming too vertical. The exception is those with fine or thin hair.

The routine for air-drying will be slightly different if you’re looking to add volume versus protect against frizz.

Typically, all hair types will want a degree of volume added. From height at the scalp to movement throughout the mid-lengths, volume shapes your style and adds interest. At the same time—too much volume—by way of frizz and lack of definition, can lead to an unruly finish. For best results, air-dry your hair first, then once dry, add in volume where needed.

Avoiding heat styling can be a great way to revitalize fine and thin hair types. To make sure hair doesn’t fall too flat, consider adding a volumising texturiser like ANTI.GRAVITY to create weightless volume and definition, or a lightweight leave-in like STAYING.ALIVE to repair hair while improving elasticity and hydration, and sealing the cuticle.

To define waves and enhance their movement, KILLER.WAVES or HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY are ideal styling products. KILLER.WAVES is perfect for fine and thin hair types and to refine texture while cutting down on frizz. HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY—the ultimate beach texturiser, is basically summer in a bottle. This beach hair spray is perfect for fine or long hair to create the iconic beach hair Kevin Murphy is known for, with a soft, natural-looking finish.

As an air-dry crème, KILLER.TWIRLS is the perfect layer for any curly or coily (naturally or permed) hair type. In addition to protecting against frizz and refining texture, this formula was created to increase hydration, add shine, and activate curls.

For those who want a more nourishing finish, KILLER.CURLS is a rich, leave-in crème that provides moisture, definition, and control without compromising softness. It enhances elasticity, reduces frizz, and leaves curls looking natural, bouncy, and beautifully shaped.

With the right products and a little patience, thick and coarse hair types can get a great reprieve from heat styling during the warmer months, especially with leave-in treatments. Offering rejuvenation and hydration, YOUNG.AGAIN is a treatment oil that adds shine and condition and leaves hair feeling smoother. Adding to this, SMOOTH.AGAIN is a targeted treatment styler that guards against frizz while also nourishing the hair for a smoother, silkier feel.

Whether you’re looking to amplify your texture or tone it down, having a few heatless hairstyles in your pocket gives you options when the sun is high and hot. 

From taming curls and elongating waves to adding texture to straight hair, braids are a big part of any heatless hairstyle. The key is to find the right products and to pull your hair back at the right time. Too damp and your waves will look more like crimps and too dry and you’ll be dealing with some serious frizz.

While the timing and exact products will be determined by your hair type and routine, products like YOUNG.AGAIN, KILLER.TWIRLS, HAIR.RESORT.SPRAY and UN.TANGLED are great options when it comes to prepping the hair. Then, just remember not to pull your braids too tight and. if possible, use a vertical bobby pin or silk scrunchy— this will cut down on lines of demarcation.

This method works best on straighter hair types or as a way to add movement to second-day styles. Some suggest using socks, while others love a bathrobe tie. We prefer flexible rods, which are usually a plush rod covered in silk. Whichever method you’re using, just remember to add product and be patient. The idea is to place your (mostly dry) hair in a curl set and allow it to dry overnight. In the morning, when hair is taken out, you should have soft curls.

For this method, you’ll find product is usually best when added after. Consider pairing your overnight curls with SHIMMER.SHINE for shine or DOO.OVER for volume, movement and hold.