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The beauty of the air-dry is the time it saves.
Katie Thompson
Its all about the technique.
We spoke toDevachanstylist Taylor Tugman to get her professional tips for the perfect air-dry on three different hair types.
Step 1:After shampooing and conditioning, detangle your hair in the shower.
Katie Thompson
Use your hands; skip the comb.
Using a comb can also stretch your natural texture, which can leave your waves looking limp.
For a more natural wave, tryDevacurl Wave Maker Touchable Texture Whip($26).
Katie Thompson
Resist the urge to towel dry first.
Step 3:Once the product is in place, Tugman recommends the plopping method.
(We know it sounds strange.
Katie Thompson
Go with it.)
Lay a microfiber towel or T-shirt out on a flat surface, like your bed or couch.
Lean over and place the ends of your hair in the center of the towel.
Katie Thompson
Use your hands to accordion your curls so that they scrunch up like a Slinky.
Then wrap your hair up into the towel by twisting and knotting the fabric.
(Rubbing or even squeezing your hair with a towelespecially a regular terrycloth bath towelcan create major frizz.)
Katie Thompson
Continue to get dressed and apply makeup, leaving the towel in place.
you could also leave the towel on overnight.
Step 4:Once you remove the towel, your hair will still be a little damp.
Katie Thompson
Usually, air-drying can leave curls looking frizzy or crunchy.
The goal: Natural curls that dont frizz up or feel stiff.
Putting product on dry hair is like trying to get dish soap to go in dry sponge.
Katie Thompson
Hair can absorb cream-based products better when its soaking wet.
The key to this tool is the scrunch technique.
This helps the curls clump together and encourages definition.
Katie Thompson
Step 3:Repeat the scrunching process with a microfiber towel to take out any excess water.
This will help you get more volume, and it also helps the hair dry a bit faster.
For Coils
Shrinkage.
Katie Thompson
When a wash-and-go goes wrong, super-curly hair can shrivel up to half its length (ugh).
Not to mention it can take HOURS to dry without the help of a blowdryer.
The secret to flawless kinks and coils without twisting or braiding?
Katie Thompson
Finger detangle your hair when its saturated with conditioner.
This helps to cut down on frizz during the air-dry process.
This will help check that each coil gets covered in product.
Katie Thompson
Step 3:Work through one section of hair at a time, starting at the back.
With super curly hair, you might use more tension when working in product, says Tugman.
You dont have to create definitionits already there.
Katie Thompson
Step 4:Use a paper towel to squeeze out the excess water.
Repeat the applying, raking, and blotting process on each section, working from back to front.
To speed up drying, use metal clips to lift hair at the root.
This lets air get to the lower layers of hair.
Then, twirl and stretch the curl to smooth it out.
This is also a winning technique for refreshing second-day hair.
Hair: Taylor Tugman forDevachan Salon.
Makeup: Marygene atSee Management.
You might also like: How to Get Beach Waves with a Flatiron
