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You might reserve air-drying your hair for those lazy weekends you spend in sweats. But ditching your blow dryer or flat iron doesn't mean you have to look like a slob. With time-saving tips and savvy techniques, you can incorporate air-drying into your hair routine without sacrificing style.
Benefits
Air-drying is much better for your hair than blow-drying. The heat from a blow dryer damages your hair and makes it more prone to splitting and breakage. Air-drying is ideal if you have a jam-packed schedule -- you can go about your business while your hair dries. Plus, air-drying doesn't use any energy because it doesn't require special equipment, so it's better for the environment.
Towel Tips
Your hair will air-dry faster if you blot the excess water from your locks with a towel first. However, your hair is super-fragile and breaks easily when wet, so always be gentle. Never rub your hair with a towel -- strands of hair may break and you'll end up with a bad case of the frizzies. Instead, pat your hair with the towel. Or wrap a moisture-absorbing microfiber hair towel around your head while you have breakfast or put on your makeup.
Air-Drying Tips
Comb through your hair before letting it air-dry to prevent tangles and matting. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. Sectioning your hair can help it air-dry more quickly and evenly and you can "mold" your hair into your desired style. For example, use clips to divide your hair for faster drying and lift the hair near your part to add volume.
Styling Wet Hair
O.K., so you won't end up with that stick-straight look if you air-dry your hair. But you don't need a blow dryer for styled hair. Damp hair looks fresh and polished in a loose braid, for example. You can also braid damp hair at night and -- presto!-- take it out in the morning for gorgeous loose waves. Or towel-dry your hair until it's damp, scrunch it with your favorite styling gel, form it into a loose bun and add a headband for a casual, low-maintenance look.
