10 Heat-Free Hacks for Healthy Hair All Summer
It’s no secret that straightening, curling, and blow drying really takes a toll on your hair. Plus, who the heck wants to spend all that time working up a sweat when it’s already crazy hot outside? Skip the steamy styling dramz with these no-iron-or-dryer-required fixes that make air drying a frizz-free cinch.
1/9Detangle in the shower
Aside from belting out Bieber jams, you can also start prepping your hair while you suds up. After applying conditioner, use a wide-tooth comb (like The Wet Brush Pro Detangling Comb) to glide through any knots. Once you’re tangle-free, rinse the conditioner out with cool water. Combing through your coated strands will prevent breakage and frizz and the blast of chilly water will seal the cuticle and boost shine.
2/9Use a microfiber towel
Step up your post-shower gear! Unlike regular bath towels, microfiber version are designed to draw water from your hair really quickly and way more gently which prevents frizz. This is especially helpful for girls with really thick hair that takes for-ev-er to dry.
3/9Try a low bun with a side part
This style has two personalities — sleek in the a.m., soft and swingy after school. Apply a quarter-size dab of a lightweight serum (try Living Proof Satin Hair Serum) from root to tip, suggests Tim Wandrey, the national style education director at Red Door spa. Then create a deep side part, gather your hair at the nape of your neck, and twist it into a low chignon. “You can leave it in the bun all day and then once it's dry, let it out and switch to the opposite part for lots of volume and touchable, pretty waves,” Wandrey explains.
4/9Or opt for double buns!
After smoothing in a styling cream (Bumble and Bumble’s Don’t Blow It was created to enhance air dried hair!), part your hair right in the center starting at your hair line and ending at your neck. Separate both halves of your hair (like you’re creating pigtails), and twist both sections into buns, explains Bumble and Bumble stylist Mackenzey Forrey. Roll away from your face to create pretty, face-framing waves when you take the knots out later on.
5/9Wake up to mermaid hair
“Before hitting the sheets, mix together a dime-sized dab of gel and the same amount of leave-in conditioner. This will shape your hair without making it crunchy,” says James Corbett, owner of James Corbett Studio in NYC. Apply the mix from root to tips, then weave hair into a loose braid, leaving a few inches loose at the bottom. Shake it all out when you wake and you’ll have killer beach babe texture. Bonus: You can literally say “I woke up like this.”
6/9Wear a scrunchie
The throwback hair accessory isn’t just a cute style that celebs like Selena Gomez love. It’s also a genius way to tie up your hair with no damage or creasing. “Twist your wet strands into a high topknot, and secure it with a fun scrunchie,” suggests Corbett. “When your hair is dry, you can take it down and you’ll have tons of bounce, lift at the root, and not a single crease.” This denim version from ASOS will match any outfit!
7/9Toss on a beanie
According to Wandrey, hairstylists have been using this trick to tame shorter hair forever! If you have a bob or pixie, you can’t twist it into a chignon or braid, but you can slip on a beanie to tame frizz and prevent cowlicks while your hair dries. It sounds weird, but it totally works!
8/9Use a silk pillowcase
Want to skip a shampoo, stretch out yesterday’s style, and hit snooze eleventeen times in the morning? “Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase,” says celebrity stylist and Cricket Co ambassador Melissa Peverini. The slippery texture keeps your strands smooth all night long as you toss and turn and you’ll wake up #flawless.
9/9Define your curls
Curly girls, this is for you! After combing through your freshly washed hair (and drying with a microfiber towel!), squeeze a nickel-sized drop of Kérastase Oléo Curl into your hands, rub them together, and apply it to your hair, twisting the curls in the direction that they usually spin and then inserting a pin to “set” each curl, suggests Wandrey. Go about your a.m. routine as usual (check your Snaps, eat some cereal, apply lipgloss) and when your hair is about 70% dry, remove the pins and rake your curls out a bit just at the root. Voila! Dream curls.
