Embracing Natural Hair Textures Made Easy: Fighting the Maintenance Battle with the 9 Best Air-Dried Products We've Tested Yet
Embracing Natural Hair Texture: A Journey Towards Minimizing Frizz and Celebrating Curls
In a bid to reduce frizz and celebrate natural hair texture, a woman has embarked on a journey to air dry her hair, leaving behind the heat styling tools she's used for over two decades. This transformation, inspired by the growing trend of embracing one's unique curls, is a testament to the benefits of air drying and the importance of nourishing hair with hydrating, natural products.
Why Air Drying?
Hair Stylist and Trend Forecaster, Tom Smith, explains that heat is one of the greatest causes of hair damage. By opting for natural air drying, we can help our hair recover its natural texture and reduce damage. Air drying methods, when done correctly, can also cut down styling time.
Understanding Your Hair Type
To achieve the best results, it's crucial to understand your hair type and porosity. For fine hair, a texturizing product like sea salt sprays works wonders once the hair is dry. On the other hand, curly and textured hair benefits from moisture-rich creams after washing. The approach to applying and styling hair when air drying depends on the hair type.
Product Recommendations
For straight and wavy hair, products like OUAI Air Dry Foam provide natural, soft waves with a touchable texture. For curly and coily hair, Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream offers a lightweight, silicone-free product that softens and smooths hair. Umberto Giannini Banana Coconut Air-Dry Cream is a hydrating, nourishing product best suited for medium and thick hair types.
For thicker hair that takes a long time to dry, using a medium heat and a low speed with a diffuser attachment can help speed up the drying process without compromising the air-dried result.
Caring for Damaged Hair
The speaker, who has been using heat on her hair for over 25 years, is now dealing with damaged hair. Products like Arkive Headcare The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream and Color Wow Dream Cocktail - Kale Infused have been instrumental in nourishing her hair and improving its appearance. Edward James, a hair stylist, suggests using hydrating leave-in products to prevent breakage when air drying hair.
Tips for Minimizing Frizz
To minimize frizz, it's recommended to avoid touching hair while it's drying. Excessive moving of the hair, such as flipping the head repeatedly, should also be avoided. Instead, pat hair gently with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to remove excess water without causing rough friction that leads to frizz.
Another key tip is to not scrunch out the "crunch" (gel cast) until your hair is fully dry. This helps maintain the curl pattern and reduces frizz.
Embracing Your Curls
By embracing your natural curls as a feature of your identity, moving away from societal beauty standards that may label curls as “messy”, you can truly appreciate your unique texture. Air drying is not just about reducing frizz and styling time; it's about celebrating your natural hair and minimizing damage caused by heat styling tools.
With these tips and the right products, air drying can work for all hair types and textures, helping you achieve a great finish while embracing your natural hair texture.
- The journey towards minimizing frizz and celebrating natural hair texture involves understanding hair type and porosity, as different products work best for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair.
- To maintain hair health and promote its natural texture, opting for air drying methods can help reduce damage caused by heat styling tools.
- For women dealing with damaged hair due to prolonged use of heat styling tools, products like Arkive Headcare The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream and Color Wow Dream Cocktail - Kale Infused can help nourish and improve the appearance of the hair.
- To achieve the best results while air drying and minimizing frizz, it's recommended to avoid touching hair, use a gentle touch with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt, and not scrunch out the "crunch" until the hair is fully dry.
- Embracing natural hair texture is about more than just reducing frizz and styling time – it's about appreciating your unique texture, moving away from societal beauty standards that may label curls as “messy”, and celebrating the beauty of your natural hair.
