7 Mistakes You're Making When You Air-Dry Your Hair

Want a shaggy, messy air-dry? Put your hair in a series of looped ponytails (like Rey from Star Wars), says Matt Fugate, Kérastase Paris consulting hairstylist, which will give your strands texture and bounce when you take the loops out. 

For a sleek, polished air-dry, use Elixir Ultime Bi-Phase Spray Oil and comb your hair out smoothly. "Then secure it with a clip, layering a Kleenex between clip and hair, right behind each ear, so you don't get a crease," he says.

Braids and twists are great for giving air-dried hair some shape, but make sure you don't have too much hair in the braid or it won't dry, says Fugate. 

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According to Nick Stenson, Matrix SoColor stylist, one of the biggest mistakes people make is not using product to encourage their hair to air-dry in a particular shape or style. "If you have curly hair that gets frizzy once dry, use a product that will make your curls more defined," he suggests. To help hair dry straight, try a gel, like Matrix Biolage Agave Nectar Control Gel, to add weight; when it's 100% dry, you should brush it out to bring back some movement, says Stenson. 

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Piling on the gels, creams, and mousses will result in limp or greasy locks. According to Richard Marin, Remington celebrity stylist, if your hair is prone to oiliness, use one great product for your specific hair type. A few of his favorites: Schwarzkopf got2b Phenomenal Thickening Styling Cream for fine hair, HASK Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shine Oil for thick hair, Leonor Greyl Sérum de Soie Sublimateur Nourishing Hair Serum for wavy hair. 

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"When air-drying longer hair, it's crucial that you do not let it dry in its natural part," says Tim Wandrey, national style education director at Red Door Spa. That's because long, wet hair is heavy, and it will pull your roots very flat as it dries. "Massage a small amount of volumizing spray or light mousse into your roots, then part your hair on the opposite side. Once it's dry, pull the hair back over to your natural part. It will have a nice amount of lift that still looks effortless."

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Scrubbing might seem like the most efficient way to dry sopping wet hair, but you're doing more harm than good. "I think one of the most common mistakes women tend to make with air-drying hair is rubbing it with a towel," says Mara Roszak, celebrity stylist for L'Oréal Paris. "This motion causes friction and can lead to breakage and frizz." (That's just one reason why your hair keeps breaking; here are five more.) Instead, squeeze the excess water out of your hair.

Yes, it's a time-saver, but it also causes damage. "Women try to save time by washing their hair before going to bed, but wet hair is extra susceptible to damage and breakage, and the combination of a cotton pillowcase and tossing and turning can cause tension that breaks hair and also causes tons of tangles," says Gabriel Samra, Pantene celebrity stylist. "Either let it dry before hitting the pillow, or wash it in the morning."

Most women pay attention to the ends of their hair, but spending a little time on your roots can make a big difference in how your hair looks. One easy way to prevent flat hair, according to Paul Norton, Joico celebrity stylist: Apply product to wet hair, then flip your head upside down and tousle the roots with your fingers, which will create volume. "Next, take sections from bottom to top and begin to create individual twists in all different directions, as well as different sizes," he says. "Once completed, you can simply air-dry until fully dry or gently collect the hair on the top of your head to form a bun, and secure it until dry."