The New Crown Affair Smoothing Air Dry Cream Has Upended My Wavy Hair Routine

Lazy girls, take note.

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(Image credit: Getty Images; Crown Affair)
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Let me just say first and foremost, I don't condone going outside in 30 degree weather with wet hair. However! I am not always a rational person, especially when it comes to ensuring that I have a good hair day. I am loyal to air drying to a fault, which clearly includes walking the three blocks to the subway, and one block to the office, while my 2B waves are still damp. Could I reach for my Dyson Supersonic r Hair Dryer? Yes, but that's not the point, especially when I'm short on time and determined to put the new Crown Affair Smoothing Air Dry Cream to the test.

This category of styling products feels like it's having a serious moment, especially as beauty fans are becoming more conscious of damage prevention and overall hair (and scalp) health. That means using hot tools—bless them—on a daily basis isn't as commonplace as it once was a few years ago. But not all air dry products are created equal. The formula has to nail the holy trinity of hold, definition, and frizz-fighting power, which is much easier said than done. So, could one of my favorite hair brands stack up to the new product's claims? Keep scrolling and let's get into it.

The Formula

This lightweight cream promises to smooth frizz 2x (I assume that's compared to using nothing in your hair), hydrate your stands and provide 24-hour hold. It's also designed for medium-to-thick hair types (sorry, fine hair cuties) with wavy, curly, or coily texture. I'm in the fine-to-medium camp with wavy, 2B hair, and while a cream formula is usually too rich for my hair parameters, I already use and love the Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner, so I figured this new product would be worth a shot.

Yuzu ceramide B is the hero ingredient, which "helps strengthen the hair barrier and seal in moisture for smoother, more resilient strands," according to the brand literature. Coconut fruit extract and squalane are also on deck to boost shine and enhance hydration levels, both of which are greatly appreciated this time of year.

The brand also stresses that this formula doesn't need to be reserved just for air-drying; it also provides heat protection up to 450 degrees, and acts as a re-styler for second- or third-day hair. We love a multi-tasking product, especially when your beauty cabinet is low on space.

Application

After I washed my hair with a wave-specific shampoo and conditioner, I threw my hair up into a microfiber towel for a few minutes before applying three pumps of the Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner and combing it through with a wide-tooth comb. Then it was time to add a quarter-sized amount of the Smoothing Air Dry Cream.

I apply my air-drying products with the ponytail technique, smoothing it through from mid-length to ends before lifting up at the roots to enhance the volume and prevent my waves from looking too flat or bottom-heavy. Typically, I apply a curl serum afterward (the Ceremonia Pequi Curl Activator is my go-to) but I wanted to see how this formula stacks up on its own. Then I tucked the front pieces behind my ears, finished my skincare and makeup routines, got dressed, added a few spritzes of winter perfume, and I was out the door. This was true air-drying commitment as it was only 20 degrees Fahrenheit when I left for work.

The Takeaway

By the time I got to work (my commute is typically around 30-40 minutes) my waves were still quite damp. But with the office radiators on full blast, it only took about an hour for my hair to dry. (I'm careful to rest my XXL hair on the outside of my desk chair so I don't flatten it or damage the ends.) To my delight, my hair looked pretty good after the two-ish hour air dry!

For reference, I enjoy a tousled, beachy look; very French girl undone texture. My hair still felt very soft despite the lack of blowdrying to smooth away frizz. The flyaways also weren't any more or less present than they usually are (if I had used another smoothing product to tackle them, I'm sure that would have helped quite a bit), but overall, I was quite pleased with the results of my incredibly low-maintenance hair routine. And by the time I headed to dinner, my waves hadn't fallen or gone super limp. If I had brought the bottle to the office I would have applied a touch more product just to banish a bit more frizz.

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a blonde woman with long wavy hair in a striped sweater
My air-dried hair in all its wavy glory.(Image credit: Hannah Baxter)

I might still incorporate a few blasts of my hair dryer in the morning while the NYC temperatures continue to hover around freezing, especially at the roots where my hair takes longer to dry. I'd also add in a hair oil to smooth the ends and calm the baby hairs around my face. But in my eternal quest for a styling routine that suits my laid-back approach to hair care (even though my blonde, textured tresses are anything but) I definitely plan to keep the Smoothing Air Dry Cream in my rotation.

Keep scrolling for a few more of my favorite products from Crown Affair to use in my air-dry routine.

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Hannah Baxter
Hannah Baxter
Beauty Director

Hannah Baxter is the Beauty Director at Marie Claire. She has previously held roles at The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and Bust Magazine, covering beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle. She authors the Marie Claire newsletter Face Forward. Her writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Allure, The Cut, Elle, InStyle, Glamour, Air Mail, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Byrdie, Nylon and more.

She is also the founder of Anxiety Beer, a weekly newsletter about the intersection of culture and mental health. In her spare time you can catch her reading too many overdue library books, thrifting, or hanging with her hairless cat, Norman. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @hannahbaxward.