There’s much to be admired about the French. From their expertly tailored finery to their effortless beauty and delectable pastries, Paris and the people inside it mesmerized me. Between museum tours and shopping sprees, I spent time sitting at cafes along the Seine, simply observing the chic passersby who strolled unhurriedly—a stark difference from my NYC commutes. There was a certain ease about their gaits and appearances that I envied; something so chic about their nonchalant approach to beauty and fashion. (Hence the relaxed jeans-and-oversized-coat formula that everyone in the arrondissements had mastered.) But the one thing I figured I could achieve at home is what I’m calling “laissez-faire hair”—my natural texture, just played up and perfected with air-dry stylers.
“An air-dry styler is a product meant to enhance your hair's natural texture without the need for any hot tools,” explains Flower Avila, professional hairstylist and Oli G educator. “What someone would look for depends on their hair type and desired look. For example, someone with very curly hair might look for something hydrating with a strong hold, and someone with fine, straight hair might want something that will give their hair more texture and volume,” she adds.
I quickly abandoned my heat tools and let my hair fall into its natural waves and twists for the rest of the trip, but came back from my French escapades with a mission—the find the best products to preserve my air-dried texture. Below, the 12 best for instant French-girl hair, no matter where in the world.
Who What Wear associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia with air-dried hair in Paris.
The Best Air-Dry Stylers, At a Glance
- Best Cream: JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream
- Best Mousse: Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse
- Best Drugstore: Odele Air Dry Styler
- Best Budget: Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Air Dry Crème
- Best for Frizz: Briogeo Style + Treat Air Dry Hair Styling Cream
Best Cream: JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream
Pros: Controls frizz, shapes texture, moisturizes strands
Cons: None worth noting
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Squalane, chia seed extract, moringa seed oil | Hair type: All
If you have dry strands that need a little moisture or prefer cream hair products to foam, JVN Hair's Complete Air Dry Cream is the best option out there. This multi-tasking formula is designed to suit all textures, defining the shape and movement of each. Squalane and hemisqualane help strengthen hair, while chia-seed extract adds natural, flexible hold. Not only will your texture look more pronounced and smooth after air-drying, but your strands will look much shinier thanks to moringa seed oil, which makes hair glossy.
Customer review: “I've been on the hunt for probably 2 years now for a good air-dry/curl cream for my hair. My hair is in between 2A-2B, it's thick but the strand itself is fairly thin, so finding something that won't weigh it down was hard. I can confidently say this is a winner! It's light enough that I can put a good amount, but it's also strong enough to show the texture and curl pattern of my hair! I recommend to anyone who needs something that's lightweight but strong enough to hold all day!”
Brascia with air-dried, smoothed hair in Paris.
Best Mousse: Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse
Pros: Lightweight, adds touchable texture, volumizes hair
Cons: On the expensive side
Formula: Mousse | Key ingredients: Pink Bolivian salt, Tsubaki Meadows blend, plant protein blend | Hair type: All
One of the products I reach for the most when shaping my natural texture into something presentable is this Crown Affair mousse. Ultra lightweight and hair-loving, this formula works wonders on all hair types and textures—defining curls and waves, adding body, and hydrating dry strands. You can use this foam in a myriad of ways, either scrunching a few pumps into your strands for boosted curls, adding it directly to the roots for more volume, or running it through your hair with your fingers for loose, French-girl waves.
Customer review: “Perfect air-dry mousse for wavy hair. Not only are the waves defined, but the product also works in battling the Florida humidity. My hair has never looked so good air-drying.”
Best Serum: Rōz Milk Hair Serum
Pros: Versatile formula, lightweight, minimizes frizz
Cons: Quite expensive
Formula: Serum | Key ingredients: BotaniComplex, red algae, hyaluronic acid | Hair type: All
Heat protectant, hydrating serum, and air-drying aficionado rolled up into one, the Rōz Milk Hair Serum is the stuff of dreams. I keep this serum close on days when I want to give my air-dried strands an extra dose of hydration and control my natural frizz. While it works wonders as an air-dry styler, this serum also shines in the heat-styling department—adding a top layer of shine to my strands and protecting my hair up to 450℉ when I use hot tools.
Customer review: “This serum is one of this year's best discoveries! From its cute packaging and sturdy container to a product that delivers on its promise. It leaves hair frizz-free, fully hydrated, and shiny. I love it, and it's become a daily essential for me.”
Brascia holding the Rōz Milk Hair Serum.
Best Drugstore: Odele Air Dry Styler
Pros: Moderate price, unisex fragrance, controls frizz
Cons: Can feel slightly crunchy if not distributed evenly
Formula: Gel | Key ingredients: Amaranth, rice protein | Hair type: All types, fine to medium texture
If I could bottle French-girl hair and put it at a reasonable price, Odele’s Air Dry Styler would be the outcome. It tames frizz, gives hair barely-there definition, and offers just enough shine. I trusted this bottle during humid summer heatwaves, and my natural waves defied the frizzy odds (and ended up looking perfectly beachy) thanks to this little tube. All texture, no frizz, and definitely no crunch.
Customer review: “So cheap and the best simple styling product out there! My hair looks so bouncy with this styler without having to bring out my curling iron.”
Best Budget: Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Air Dry Crème
Pros: Low-priced, strengthens hair, improves damaged strands
Cons: None!
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Panethenol, mango seed butter, avocado oil | Hair type: All
If you're after frizz control and tons of shine, this is the air-dry cream for you. It tames flyaways and smooths hair for a polished finish. Plus, it works on all hair types and works hard to repair split ends and damaged cuticles. But the best part is that this cream performs like a high-end product and goes for just $12.
Customer review: “I started using this because I have very thin hair that also likes to be frizzy often. This product is nice and light; it looks like air-dried hair, but better kept. Smooth, enhances my waves, and wears nicely overnight to the next day still looking good. I had my sister buy it, and she is in love with it too.”
Best for Frizz: Briogeo Style + Treat Air Dry Hair Styling Cream
Pros: Minimizes frizz for up to 24 hours, nourishes hair, amplifies texture
Cons: Can feel heavy if applied too liberally
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Super-B complex, plum oil, yuzu extract | Hair type: All
If frizz is your main concern, allow me to turn your attention towards Briogeos’s Air Dry Styling Cream. This ultra-moisturizing, texture-boosting cream is great for anyone who wants to enhance their natural waves or curls while eliminating frizz for up to 24 hours (and yes, it works in humidity, too). Though it’s packed with hair-loving oils, this cream doesn’t leave a greasy residue and won’t weigh your strands down.
Customer review: “Love this product! And I've tried many! I mostly air dry and most products leave your hair either crunchy or frizzy. I love how this cream gives me nice soft curls with no frizz!”
Best for Fine Hair: Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Hair Styling Balm
Pros: Lightweight, no residue, heavenly scent
Cons: On the pricey end
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Chia seed, brio-fermented bamboo leaf, brassica oil copolymer | Hair type: All hair types, fine to medium texture
I’ve tried so many products to make my natural hair dry nicely, and this pretty butter yellow bottle from Oribe always stays in rotation. Whether I’m running this product through my strands to let my waves dry long and loose or scrunching it into my mane to give my hair some movement and texture, I can trust that its style-preserving, smoothing, and frizz-controlling formula will do its job. It doesn’t hurt that it’s packed with strand-loving ingredients that make my hair feel smoother with each use, either.
Customer review: “This is hands-down the best styling product I’ve ever used. I have naturally wavy hair, but hate the feeling of product and can’t stand when my curls are too bouncy and tight. My hair is medium-long, and I use two pumps of this product before brushing out with a definer brush. I skip the scrunch to keep the waves loose, let it air-dry, and end up with the perfect beachy waves I’ve always wanted. There’s a bit of a cast (which helps define the wave), so I just squeeze/lightly scrunch it out with some hair oil. Truly a life-changing product for me.”
Brascia holding the Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Styling Balm.
Best for Curls: Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream
Pros: Enhances curls, detangles hair, works for all curl types
Cons: Requires a damp hair sweet spot to work correctly
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, wild murumuru | Hair type: Curly, fine to medium texture
Don't let this lightweight air-dry cream fool you—it packs a major punch. With hydrating ingredients such as murumuru butter and hyaluronic acid, it gives hair tons of softness and shine. It also moonlights as a hydrating detangler, which means that you’re getting several products for the price of one. Girl math.
Customer review: “I had this years ago and wasn't using it properly. Now I know to apply to soaking wet/very damp hair. It gives my curls definition and light hold for 2 days. Since my hair is finer, it doesn't usually last longer than this anyways, so this product is perfect for me! 2C/3A curls.”
Best for Waves: Ouai Air Dry Foam
Pros: Dries hair quickly, nourishes strands, eliminates frizz
Cons: None
Formula: Foam | Key ingredients: Kale protein blend, panthenol | Hair type: Wavy and curly, fine to medium
Ouai is practically synonymous with the beach at this point, and their Air Dry Foam is the one to try if you’re after beachy waves sans sea salt sprays and, well, the beach. This featherlight foam cuts down on dry-time and speeds up your shower-to-street process, all while shaping and smoothing your strands into a frizz-free, texture-forward veil. Plus, its nourishing ingredients keep your strands hydrated without greasy or clumpy residues.
Customer review: “Absolutely the best product for my natural curls. So defining, but doesn't weigh anything down, and isn't crunchy at all! I wish there was a refill option though, I go through so many bottles sharing it with my fiancé, who has longer hair than I do lol.”
Best for Damaged Hair: IGK Best Interest Bond-Building Air Dry Styling Cream
Pros: Hydrates hair, helps heal split and damaged strands, boosts shine
Cons: Not the best at frizz control
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Biomimetic bond-building technology, vegan silk, sunflower extract | Hair type: All
You never really know how an air-drying session will turn out, but when I want enhanced natural waves that I know will turn out beautiful every time, I reach for IGK’s Best Interest cream. This air-dry styler is outfitted with a bond-building technology that helps reseal split or damaged strands, making my hair not only look better, but feel better with every wear. Its ultra-light formula never feels crunchy or goopy (in fact, it’s completely undetectable), and its strand-shaping qualities give me perfect mermaid waves without any extra product.
Customer review: “IGK’s Best Interest is a game-changer for low-maintenance hair care. This lightweight styler deeply nourishes while enhancing natural texture—perfect for air-drying without frizz. It leaves hair soft, manageable, and healthy-looking without feeling heavy or greasy.”
Brascia holding the IGK Best Interest Bond-Building Air Dry Styling Cream.
Best Fast-Drying: Living Proof StyleLab Air-Dry Hair Styling Cream
Pros: Silicone-free, preserves natural style without falling flat, minimizes drying time
Cons: None
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Algae-based polymer, bentonite clay, proprietary smoothing technology | Hair type: All
If you’re someone who prefers to streamline their routine, you’ll love this multitasking product. This luscious cream boosts shine, minimizes frizz, and plays up your natural texture with its nourishing formula, enhanced by texturizing bentonite clay and specialty frizz-controlling properties. But the best part is that it cuts down on drying time dramatically, so you can have effortlessly styled hair by the time you leave the house on your commute to work.
Customer review: “Works exactly as described. Hair dries in beautiful, frizz-free curls. Haven’t used a heat tool in months. Can even brush them out after dry, and they still hold. Smell is lovely, not overpowering. Make sure to shake the product well.”
Best Leave-In: Oli G Atomic Hair Repair Leave-in Treatment
Pros: Conditions hair, controls frizz, offers heat protection
Cons: Some shoppers say it weighs hair down
Formula: Cream | Key ingredients: Oligopeptides, botanical proteins, biotin | Hair type: All
If Avila had to pick a favorite product to air-dry with, she’d select the Oli G Atomic Hair Repair Leave-in Treatment. “This product is universal for all hair types and works wonderfully as an air-dry styling product while maintaining the health of your hair,” she explains. Whether your hair simply needs more hydration or damage control after being overprocessed, this peptide, protein, and biotin-packed formula works harmoniously to improve the density and flexibility of your strands.
Customer review: “I used this leave-in conditioner on my hair prior to putting in my braids. I've had my braids in for about 2 weeks, and my hair feels hydrated even though it's braided … The texture is nice as it's not too thick nor watery, great balance. It also detangled my hair very well and made it that much more manageable. I'm always concerned when using a leave-in and then heat on my hair as I fear I will look like a licked cat because it's too thick/heavy, but this product didn't do that, my hair was manageable and soft. If you're in the market for a new leave-in conditioner that won't break the bank but will take care of your hair, this is the one for you!”
What to Look For in Air-Dry Stylers
- Hair type: One of the paramount aspects of an air-dry styler is its compatibility with your hair type. They all, somewhat, do the same thing: Define your natural texture, smooth frizz, and prolong the life of your hairstyle. But if you’re using a product designed for fine hair (like the Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Hair Styling Balm) while you have thick hair, you won’t get the same style-perfecting benefits.
- Air-dry process: You also need to take into consideration the best time to apply. The Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream needs to be applied while your curls are somewhere between wet and damp to fully absorb the nutrients, whereas the Rōz Milk Hair Serum can be applied to dry, day two or three hair to revive frizzy strands. Whatever your process, your products should be compatible.
- Extra benefits: It’s 2025, which means that your products should do so much more than just make your hair air-dry nicely. Creams like the Oli G Atomic Hair Repair Leave-in Treatment deeply condition the hair and provide heat protectant. The Briogeo Style + Treat Air Dry Hair Styling Cream can offer up to 24-hour frizz control, and the Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse is a texturizing product, too.
What is the right way to air-dry your hair?
“For curly hair or hair prone to frizz, I would apply your products first while the hair is still very wet, as this helps with frizz,” starts Avila. “Then, if needed, use a microfiber towel to gently ‘scrunch’ the excess water from your hair.” Et voilà!
How should you air-dry your hair without creating frizz?
“Try to avoid touching your hair or moving it around too much while it is drying, as the friction can create frizz,” the stylist recommends. “You can try ‘plopping’ your hair, which is basically flipping your hair upside down and gently wrapping a microfiber towel around your head so your hair stays in place,” as this helps with volume, she explains.
Is it better to blow-dry or air-dry your hair?
“I think it depends on your individual hair type [and] lifestyle,” says Avila. “If you have curly hair, blow-drying regularly may dry your hair out, so I would recommend air-drying. For someone who washes their hair right before bed, I would recommend blow-drying to avoid getting dandruff.”
Why Trust Us
AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
