Air-Drying 101: Style Essentials When It’s Sweltering

We all love a little heat — but when it starts impacting our style, something’s gotta give. For many, this summer has been a late bloomer. But as those top temps start to roll in, we’re all feeling the heat. Whether your aim is to save time, turn down your AC or finally learn how to air-dry your hair, we’re sharing our most-loved tips to ensure a flawless (read: effortless) finish.

The concept of air-drying is fairly straightforward. After shampooing and conditioning, you apply a few products and let your hair dry. Then, in a few hours you have your finished style.  

But in reality, for some, there is a learning curve associated with air-drying your hair like tackling frizz or refining texture. Whether you air-dry your hair year-round or are looking for tips to tackle it once and for all as the mercury soars, we’re sharing all the secrets.

Choose products that are tailored to your hair type. Some may need a boost of volume while others need to smooth or define their texture, and in time you’ll find a routine that suits you, and only you.

Consider combing your hair out in the shower. Again, this will really depend on your hair type. Some hair types find that applying products and then combing post-shower works well, while others will find this technique causing their hair to fall flat. Test out which option works best for you and your texture pattern.

Blot dry, gently. Once out of the shower, you want to remove excess moisture from your hair before applying product. However, if you rub too aggressively, you can disturb the natural texture pattern and/or cause excess frizz by roughing up the cuticle. Instead, gently blot dry with a microfiber towel.

Give yourself time. If you’ve previously relied on heat styling, your hair could take a bit of time to spring back. Instead of focusing on the perfect air-dry, start by enhancing the health of your hair with moisturising and conditioning ingredients.

Scrunch, plop or comb — you decide. Your method of applying product and setting your hair will be determined by your hair type, texture and the style you wish to achieve. If you’re looking to enhance your texture a scrunching motion works well on fine or wavy hair. To cut down on frizz and encourage refined curls, many find a plopping routine to be beneficial. And those who have straight hair or a well-defined curl pattern love combing product through for an even finish.  If your hair is on the straighter side, you can use flat clips or braids to enhance movement and create bends within the hair as it dries.

Then, hands off until your hair is completely dry. One of the most important rules of air-drying your hair is not disturbing it too much as it dries. Because touching it or manipulating it as it dries can lead to frizz or an unrefined finish. For best results, let the hair completely dry before touching it.

The most important thing to note is that no two heads of hair will be the same, and that is the beauty of air-drying.

KILLER.CURLS SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER + KILLER.TWIRLS (Or your favourite product from the CURL regimen.

Everyone needs a high dose of nourishment, and this especially rings true for curly and coily hair. Formulated with Organic Oat Milk, KILLER.CURLS WASH + RINSE is packed with fatty acids to strengthen and retain moisture. Follow this shampoo and conditioner with KILLER.TWIRLS air-dry crème to refine your texture and protect against humidity. Practice makes perfect with any new regimen, so start small and use less product than you would think and add as needed.

ANGEL.WASH & RINSE + STAYING.ALIVE + YOUNG.AGAIN

You still want control, but this hair type benefits from products that won’t weigh the hair down. For this reason a combination of shampoo and conditioner to promote healthy hair and adds volume is key. Start with ANGEL.WASH + RINSE to enhance fullness while gently cleansing and restoring the hair. On damp hair, apply STAYING.ALIVE which helps repair and restore dry or damaged hair with silk proteins that smooth. Then, either layer on damp hair or wait until it’s dry and add a touch of YOUNG.AGAIN to increase shine, control and moisture. If you’re looking to enhance your wave, scrunch in KILLER.WAVES to add hold and movement or MOTION.LOTION for a frizz-free, defined finish.

If you have blonde or highlighted hair, swap ANGEL.WASH for BLONDE.ANGEL.WASH + BLONDE.ANGEL and swap YOUNG.AGAIN for SHIMMER.ME BLONDE to counteract warmth and brighten your hue.