How to Make Hair Shiny when Air Drying

Co-authored by Michael Van den Abbeel

Last Updated: November 10, 2021 References

The less heat you subject your hair to, the healthier it is. Blow-drying is particularly damaging to your tresses. However, sometimes it seems like blow-drying is the only way to leave your hair feeling shiny and smooth. You don’t have to compromise between healthy hair and sleek, shiny hair. With these tips, you can let your hair air dry and get all the shine and gloss that you desire.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Washing Your Hair

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Don’t skip the conditioner. Using shampoo every time you shower can dry out your hair, but you should condition every time. It will soften your hair, hydrate it, and help smooth the cuticle to create shine.^{[1]
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Research source} Look for conditioners made for your hair type, and make sure you’re applying it properly.^{[2]
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- If you have fine hair, avoid applying conditioner to your roots. That can weigh down your hair. Instead, start halfway down the hair and coat your hair to the tips.
- If your hair is medium or thick, you can coat your hair from root to tip. Let it sit on your hair for a minute or two so that you can absorb maximum moisture.
- If your hair feels weighed down or oily, rinse with a clarifying shampoo before conditioning. This will clear off any excess build-up, making your hair feel lighter and letting the shine come through!
2
Use cool water. Don’t worry – you don’t have to stand in an ice cold water. In fact, warm water will open the cuticle of your hair and help your conditioner soak into the shaft. However, before you step out of the shower, give your hair a quick rinse with cold water. The cooler water seals the cuticle of the hair, locking in that moisture you just gave it with your conditioner.^{[3]
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Dry with an ultra-absorbent towel. A lot of towels can rough up the shaft of the hair, leaving it frizzy and damaged. You can skip any sort of towel and use your hands to gently wring out the excess water in your hair. If you want to speed up the drying process, consider buying a ultra-absorbent, microfiber towel that will reduce friction on your fragile hair.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have a good towel handy, you can even use a t-shirt to soak up the excess water.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Working with Wet Hair

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Apply a product. To get super sleek, shiny hair, you have to be willing to use a bit of product. The key is to look for light products, to keep your hair from looking oily or stringy. Mists and anything with “light” in the product name are a good bet. Make sure to avoid products that are heat activated, because they will be useless without blow-drying.
- Light oils, styling creams, and hydrating mists can all help your hair dry shiny and smooth. When it comes to finding the perfect product, it may be a bit of trial and error.
- Look for products made specifically for your hair type (fine, coarse, thick, thin, dry, and so on).
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Brush your hair gently. Wet hair is fragile, so you want to be extremely gentle as you comb or brush it. This step is important because it helps to distribute the product over the hair. Brushing your hair down also helps the cuticle lay flat, reducing frizz and increasing shine.^{[5]
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- There are brushes made specifically for wet hair with microfiber bristles to help dry your hair while also smoothing it.^{[6]
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- Brushes with flexible rubber bristles are also good for wet hair, because they bend as they move through the hair, reducing snagging and unnecessary damage.
3
Reapply product as your hair dries. Depending on your hair, you may or may not need to do this. Some hair starts to frizz as it air dries. If this happens, you can rub a bit of product between your palms and gently smooth out any frizz. Avoid applying product near the roots so your hair isn’t weighed down.^{[7]
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Avoid touching your hair. As your hair dries, playing with it can cause frizz. As much as you want to rake your fingers through it, avoid the temptation! The less you touch it, the better. The same rule goes once it is dried. The oils from your hands can make your hair look stringy, so hands off!^{[8]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do I air dry my hair to make it look good?

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Michael Van den Abbeel is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting, styling, and coloring hair for over 17 years. Michael loves showing his clients how to wash and wear their hair easily and effortlessly. Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar is recognized as a Diamond Top Tier level Wella salon.

Michael Van den Abbeel

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Use your blow dryer with the directional nozzle. The directional nozzle helps concentrate the hot air on the area you're working with, so you're not causing a bunch of fly-aways. It's also needed to work from the scalp on down. When the cuticle lays down, it lays from the scalp, and by blowing your hair from the scalp, you end up laying the cuticle down smoother, and closed cuticle is going to give you more light reflections.
Question

How can I make my hair shiny?

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Michael Van den Abbeel is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting, styling, and coloring hair for over 17 years. Michael loves showing his clients how to wash and wear their hair easily and effortlessly. Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar is recognized as a Diamond Top Tier level Wella salon.

Michael Van den Abbeel

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Try rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar for more shine. When you rinse with something acidic, it will close your cuticle, which allows your hair to reflect more light. You can find commercial haircare products that have an acidic pH, but if you're looking for a DIY option, you can use apple cider vinegar.
Question

What kind of brush is best for your hair?

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Michael Van den Abbeel is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting, styling, and coloring hair for over 17 years. Michael loves showing his clients how to wash and wear their hair easily and effortlessly. Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar is recognized as a Diamond Top Tier level Wella salon.

Michael Van den Abbeel

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Go with a boar bristle brush! Boar bristle brushes really add shine because they spread the oils from your scalp throughout your hair.