The 20 Best Products to Air Dry Your Hair With

Reed’s recommendation for fighting frizz involves double duty. He suggests mixing the Arkive Good Habit Hybrid Oil with the Arkive Prologue Primer—the combo pretty much guarantees a smooth and sleek finish. The oil is formulated with jojoba and baobab oil, both of which help lock in moisture and keep ends looking healthy and hydrated.

Pros: Adds instant shine, Easy to distribute throughout hair 

Cons: Stronger options for drier hair types

Got tangles? We highly recommend scooping up this miracle-working primer. A few sprays make brushing through knots about 1000 times more manageable. The product is formulated with tons of nutrients (read: chia seeds, avocado, kiwi, spinach, sunflower seeds) to keep hair hydrated—and protected from the sun’s UV rays, which can mess with hair color. 

Pros: Pleasant smell; Concentrated and lightweight

Cons: Can leave greasy residue for some hair types

Frizz might be the most common complaint when it comes to air drying hair, but my fine hair girls know that lifeless, flat hair is a whole other issue. If you don’t want to use heat to get a little lift at your root, reach for this spray. It will help enhance your waves or curls and create a fuller-bodied look. An added bonus? The mist gives a gorgeous shine to strands. 

Pros: Increased elasticity and suppleness

Cons: Strong smell can be irritating; Hold doesn't last all day

Leaving your waves or curls to their own devices can be risky business. If you’re going to let it dry au naturale—all the power to you. But, if you want a little help enhancing and defining your style without changing the natural shape, Alterna has you covered. This air dry balm is going to add the perfect amount of softness and shine. 

Pros: Lightweight; Leaves hair feeling softer 

Cons: Can feel too crunchy for some 

Hot tools can do some mega damage to your hair. While air drying is *chef’s kiss* for getting hair back to a healthy state, you can be left staring at split ends in the interim. Enter this mango-infused leave-in. The wildly nourishing cream isn’t going to just prevent future breakage—it’s going to do its part to seal your pre-existing split ends. 

Pros: Great for thicker hair types; Can be applied to wet or dry hair

Cons: Can be too greasy for some

Leave it to Jennifer Aniston to create one of the best air dry products out there. Her brand’s lightweight hair oil does it all: destroys frizz, seals split ends, adds moisture, and boosts shine. It gets bonus points for being super lightweight. As someone with super fine hair, I can attest to the fact that this oil won’t leave you looking greasy.  

Pros: Great for protecting from heat; Scent is subtle and fresh

Cons: Will need more than a few drops

This drugstore fave performs as well as any of its luxe counterparts. Formulated specifically for air drying, this cream provides the separation and soft finish that makes air drying alluring.

Pros: Affordable; A little goes a long way

Cons: Not ideal for short, straight hair

We trust JVN—that is Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness—implicitly, so it’s no wonder his air dry cream leaves hair, as he might say, gorgeous. The key ingredient? Hemi-squalane, which acts as a more hydrating replacement to the typical silicones often seen in hair products.

Pros: Keeps frizz away for most of the day; Great for adding volume

Cons: Can weigh down thinner hair types; Feels sticky 

Arguably one of the best things about beach waves is that you get them at the beach. Mentally, you’ll be there with this coconut-scented gel, which leaves waves and curls feeling soft, not crunchy.

Pros: Leaves no white cast; Very lightweight and smells great

Cons: Minimal hold

This is called the "perfect air-dry crème" for a reason. This clean and cruelty-free product works to hydrate your towel-dried hair while leaving it soft and touchable. Just smooth it through your hair after a shower, and you're good to go.

Pros: Long-lasting hold; Instantly combats flyaways and frizz

Cons: Strong, masculine fragrance

This isn't just a tall glass of water. Kristin Ess' hair water comes out in a super-fine, consistent mist for even application. It also has a proprietary strengthening complex with castor oil to smooth the appearance of damaged hair cuticles and protect your locks from environmental stressors.

Pros: Great for reviving unwashed hair 

Cons: Super-fine mist—will need to apply longer for thicker hair types

Looking for the perfect beach-day hair? Best for wavy and curly-haired girls, the Ouai Air Dry Foam helps achieve that natural, tousled, and textured vibe. It refines the curl pattern and tones down frizz. Don't worry, you won't feel any crunchiness.

Pros: A non-sticky mousse

Cons: Not ideal for fine hair types

This remains a hairstylist favorite—it's in nearly every kit backstage and on set. If you have natural waves, this mousse will define them with a touch of hold but won't make them crunchy.

Pros: Pleasant smell

Cons: Adds minimal volume; Can be very drying

For fine to medium hair that wilts under the weight of most leave-in products, meet your airy new BFF. The foam formula is so light you won't notice any crunch left behind—just soft strands.

Pros: Quickly builds body; No hydrocarbon propellants

Cons: Strong tea tree oil smell; Can be messy

Consider this in-shower styler the ultimate hair multitasker. Designed for women with textured hair, it enhances the definition of curls, while also adding body and shine for a seriously voluminous effect.

Pros: Free of parabens and silicone; Great for all hair types

Cons: Takes a longer time to dry hair 

If your hair is prone to frizz, this styling cream is great for achieving a no-fuss look. When applied after the shower, it smoothes down flyaways in seconds and has a sleek finish.

Pros: Excellent at controlling frizz

Cons: Can make thinner hair types oily

Dubbed liquid gold (and rightfully so), this hair oil is infused with extracts like sandalwood, jasmine, and edelweiss flower, which work to deeply condition and repair damaged and brittle strands.

Pros: Great for reviving ends; Absorbs quickly

Cons: Pricey

Dry, frizz-prone hair can use an extra boost of hydration to stay sleek, especially in the heat. This formula delivers some much needed moisture with olive and coconut-derived silicone alternatives, and boosts shine in a major way.

Pros: A little goes a long way; Great for humidity resistance

Cons: Can be too heavy for some hair types

This is a styling cream infused with ingredients that fight frizz and static. This leave-in version is ideal for dry and brittle hair because it restores elasticity and bounce while hydrating and conditioning natural locks.

Pros: Pleasant smell; Great for maintaining curls

Cons: Adds minimal shine; Bottle is cumbersome to use

Joico's line is perfect for locking in lasting shine and volume. It offers two lines—one for thin/normal hair and another for thick/full hair—but both have no sticky residue and minimize drying time when applied to damp hair.

Pros: Lightweight; Long-lasting control

Cons: Can leave thiner hair types with a greasy feel