How to Air Dry Product Free and Still Look Presentable

[@Nemisha17]

I've given up the styling part of the Curly Girl Method because honestly, it's TOO MUCH! But I still want healthy hair and I love doing routines like these where its just leave-in conditioners and nothing else. Keeps my hair well moisturised/conditioned from wash day to wash day, And Im OK with it not being its waviest ever. Health of hair for the win!

[@ioanaschifirnet3814]

That’s an awesome attitude! I definitely want to focus on that more. And if we keep our hair healthy it will make it so much easier to do whatever styles we want with it later!

[@brittanyloo4315]

My hair is maybe 3-4 inches longer than Courtney’s. I am not able to spend the time running my fingers through it as it dries. Something I found that works really well for me to have straight ish hair that’s smooth is to put a very loose braid in my air starting at about ear height. I put that in when my hair is like 85-90% air dried until it’s 95-99% dried and then take it back out. That seems to tackle the bit of frizziness for me but leaves things quite smooth with just a tiny bit of wave bends in it.

[@ioanaschifirnet3814]

Thank you so much for putting this together!! It’s been so fun seeing your hair journey because it’s helped me learn my hair so much. And I love your love of chemistry and ingredients! I’m starting to simplify my routine due to your recent three product washdays and I feel like I’m finally enjoying my hair rather than fighting it! Thank you! ❤

[@Terecita47]

**SIGH** I have recently had the revelation that my 50 year old hair (it is growing back after losing a bunch from a medication) is not totally FRIED like I thought it was, but is instead frizzy because it is wavy. I previously had stick straight hair and I didn't even know what the term "frizz" meant. LOL. I found your videos and thought hmmmmmm, could my hair just maybe be wavy? Uhhhh, YEP! I was shocked. Now, I am starting to understand why I was struggling with my hair these couple years. It simply changed texture. I love that I can air dry it and let it be straighter OR do the things and create waves. Who knew. Thank you!

[@emilynwright]

I appreciate this video so much! I cut my hair short in April and have been air drying. I was sick of trying to figure it out plus lots of travel abroad was planned for the year. I didn’t want to bring lots of liquid product. Being allergic to fragrance, it’s not like I can just pick up anything to use. The tips at the end are useful. I can say they are working for me! Yay!

[@mariannap.6792]

Thank you so much Courtney! I have the same pattern as you and sometimes I just can't do a full routine and I end up air drying them which makes them straight-y and very very frizzy, so I'm definitely going to try this one!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Hope it helps! Nothing wrong with scaling down on a full routine!

[@bluefroggy99]

Thank you so much for this video! I was an air dryer before starting my curly hair journey and it would always look kinda wonky and end up in a ponytail. I’ll have to try this routine. My hair is finer, but a little curlier than yours. Those extra tips were helpful. Also, it was cool seeing my comment on the screen at the beginning of the video. 🥰

[@Blister_in_the_sun]

Yes! I love this as I’ve been switching to air drying/less products more lately. Thanks so much for the tips!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

You are so welcome! Glad they helped!

[@frankmandy1981]

This was such a great video. I loved seeing how you air dry and hearing all the reasons behind why you do. You give me some great ideas. I love watching your videos.

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@karissathatcher9206]

Thank you for making this Courtney! I go product free most days. Its hard for me to source gels that I like. My hair type is curlier than yours, so when I tried this, I found my hair was frizzier than yours. I might not have conditioned enough. But my hair probably wouldn't be as straight as yours.

[@nicolaroberts6878]

Thank you Courtney. I do have course hair so will try the tips. Have fallen off the wagon after 7 months and have straightened once or twice. However, have noticed it now wont stay straight even after using straightners. Starts to pouff out after an hour or so. Trying this may help as I'm sort of inbetween right now. Wont wave as tidy as I'd like, and wont stay straight like it used to, so trying this may give me the break i need 🤞

[@ioanaschifirnet3814]

I’m struggling with the same! Curious if this worked for you?

[@BionAvastar3000]

Your hair looks LITERALLY perfect

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Awe, thank you!

[@brendascott4781]

I like the natural air dried look. I would like to see your hair parted in the middle with the bangs not brushed back

[@archiebelitsky3368]

I’ve just washed my hair the usual way and sit to have my breakfast and watch your new video… And now I want to rewash🤦🏼‍♀️😆😆Thank you so much for this video I’m really struggling when try to do something like that and now I have a strategy 🙏🏻

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

😂😂So glad you have a new strategy!

[@archiebelitsky3368]

@@SwavyCurlyCourtney omg it should’ve been “washed” not “wasted”🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️😆😆😆

[@janabeckman545]

Thanks for this. I will add a few steps to my "do little" styling days. I am fragile 2A, so I do scrunch a bit while I blow dry it to get the sop out. My hair dries faster if I dry about 10%. (Thick, fine hair). I get a nice, soft wave.I use this method, especially if I plan on wearing a headband or weave/braid/twist across the front. I am going to try using Curl Smith Frizz Control shampoo and cleanser next time I go more casual. I use a root lift product on top if I am feeling ambitious 😉 Courtney, you are right about finding what works for me. I can not get decent curl clumps using the brush. I brush the conditioner, squish to condish, then use a wide tooth comb to start creating clumps, and then scrunch, making sure to keep my hair wet enough. Then I scrunch in styling products. Am going to try layering gel over mousse next wavy day.

[@OneGulshan]

Oh nooo, my hair got frizzy just watching you head bang. There’s no way this would work for me, but thank you for sharing Courtney 💛

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Oh no lol! Could you try shaking it out at the roots with your fingers! Kinda like I do when I am scrunching out the crunch and fluffying it a little.

[@DaraS84]

Brushing the hair upside down, GENIUS! I think that's why it always looked weird when I try. I just did the whole wash day thing today but I'm gonna try this next time. My hair is fine and 2B waves so this will probably work!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Hope it helps you as well! Thank you!

[@karenkeith4606]

Hi Courtney! Love your video. My hair is curlier and dryer than yours. When I don't curl my hair, I use a hair oil after it dries. If I do not, I will have friz for about three days untill my scalp's normal oils have time to do it's thing. I normally wash every 4 to 5 days.

[@MotherCoconuts811]

I swear if my hair looked like that air dried I’d never style it again 😆 I have looser waves and fine hair but end up looking like Professor Trelawney if I brush and air dry. Nothing can stop the poof!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Awe! lol Thank you!

[@michellefendrich9942]

I have really enjoyed your video's, and I've found them very helpful in my curly hair journey. The one brand wash days have been great. I've found my new love the Shea Moisture line, using the same shampoo and conditioner you just used with the milk gel. My hair turns out amazing. Agains thanks for all the great tips and tricks, keep it up!!!

[@teri2466]

I do the same things except the head shaking. I'd get vertigo lol. I make sure no hair is plastered to my scalp, though. It's an excellent & easy routine. ❤

[@MichelleCannon]

Love seeing how you do it. I do it differently. I do use some sort of curl cream or leave in. I still Do all those squishing and microplopping to get my girl clumps together. Then either I hover diffuse followed by pixie diffusing 1 minute in each section followed by your drawing, OR I go straight to air drying. Either way I have lots of waves and curls with none of the product. 👌

[@Nemisha17]

love this! been doing the same with a leave-in. I do all the techniques but no styling and still get pretty decent hair with some waves (im happy with it)

[@karissathatcher9206]

This is very similar to my routine! It works well as long as I have a good shampoo/conditioner and leave some conditioner in. 👍

[@EverythingAndNothing08]

I used to style my hair wavy every time I washed. Now I can count on one hand the number of times I've styled my hair wavy in the past couple of months. Part of it is just not having the time and part of it is laziness. I wash and condition, use a leave-in, some heat protection and then I just do a rough blowdry until my hair is pretty much dry. It leaves my hair mostly straight which is fine since I'm not looking for perfection.

[@tiffanyfaver9801]

Thank you for the tips. I will have to try the Shea Moisture dandruff shampoo. I love sulfates to cleanse my scalp, I wash too often, I do not use heat, and do not use styling products. I guess that means my hair just does what it wants lol.

[@CJbrieflittlecandle]

I do this but with way more leave in because of my coarse hair. I will try brushing upside down right before air drying next time.

[@ceystal]

I do this routine fairly often. My hair is coarse so I actually just take the conditioner im using and mix a few drops of oil into it before applying it as a leave in. After my hair is 80% dry I slightly rewet the ends to match the dampness of my roots and simply braid my hair. Then I just leave it in for a day or 2 and my hair isnt frizzy and still feels nice and soft

[@Soulutions89]

A big perk of having wavy hair is you can switch it up from straight to more curly.

[@c.a.schmidt345]

Ich mache das öfters mal.. einfach mal nur Co-wash und keine weiteren Produkte im Haar..und es fühlt sich einfach nur gut an,mal nichts in den Haaren zu haben..ich lasse dann auch lufttrocknen..und meine überschulterlangen,blond gesträhnten med-high por Haare lieben es..❤❤..und ich sehe nach über 4 Jahren CGM Methode wie gesund und schön meine 2b-c Wellen/Locken mittlerweile sind..

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Love this! 4 years! Thats awesome!

[@Star-dj1kw]

Shout out to one of my favorite Courtney tips! Using the Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner as a co-wash. ( I only co-wash when I shampoo out Olaplex but this works like a charm 😉) I found a big pump size bottle of this product at Marshall’s. IMO co-wash is a product where I would NOT spend big bucks, ahem Curlsmith….

[@kellybear3]

I never have great results with air drying product free so I'm excited to try this! What kind of haircut do you have-is it shorter or longer in the front than the back?

[@RociBran]

Thank you for this! I typically air dry hair so this is helpful. ❤

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Glad this helped! Thank you!

[@paulitulove1508]

Sadly this method didn't work for me😢 probably because I have a slightly more curly hair. Anyway I did find the video really useful in making my own low energy routine. Basically is the same as yours but I swapped the conditioner for a hair mask (more moisture) and when the hair is still very damp I braided it . Works really well and don't damage my curls. 😊

[@emmadickey5602]

I think my hair is just a tiny bit too tight of a wave/curl to get away with this. But I've been using the Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream and just raking it through my hair when I just can't style it. The tiny bit of hold in it makes all the difference for me.

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Great idea! love that this works for you!

[@Manda698]

Awesome!! Thank you!!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Glad this helps! Thank you!

[@Micci75]

I wish I could do that with my hair, I look like a grumpy cat when my hair is dry 🙃

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Oh no! lol

[@lesliefazio5819]

Does this work for a lot of you? My hair is wavy/curly. If I use 0 products and air dry…..it’s still wavy/curly? It is not as consistent, with parts curlier than others, but it wouldn’t dry straight because it’s not straight hair? Am I doing something wrong because I would LOVE for my hair to airdry like this but it definitely stays wavy/curly no matter if it has products in it, if I brush it (it gets poofy with brushing), or if I run my fingers through it….thoughts?

[@kdwerner]

Mine is the exact same! The front couple pieces will be mostly flat but the rest is so wavy…so basically none of it looks good with nothing in it 😬😂

[@doesnotFempute]

that's why I started CG In the first place... because my frizzy "straight" hair had ringlets around my face / neck if I air dry, and my bangs would stick straight up 😅 I had to straighten it and douse with serums or hairspray - and still had a halo of frizz and ringlet baby hairs by the end of the day. I thought I just had unruly straight hair that couldn't be managed ... this definitely won't work for me. But I appreciate all her hard work and sharing with us!

[@MyLadyGodiva]

Already saved on my favourites. I never skip on the Miracle Shield, really glad to see it in this routine! 😃

[@amandaferrara2992]

I always have broken strands at those exact spots. I think they get broken when I wear my sunglasses on top of my head and they get tangled in the hinges.

[@Elizabeth_Lucy]

I wish this would work for me. My hair turns I to a giant poof ball. I would love for my hair to dry this way!!!!!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

What if you used a leave-in or even a curl cream. Sounds like a curl cream could be something to try!

[@Star-dj1kw]

✅ very helpful

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Beading_Kate]

Hm… Sometimes this kind of routine gives me better curls than overload of products. Loose waves, average thickness, high porosity virgin (not bleached, not dyed) hair. To be honest I am still trying to figure out what’s best for my hair, and it all feels like a hit or miss guessing game. But I know for sure that now my hair looks better than ever before, because I invested a lot of time and effort to retrieve its natural beauty.

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

It sounds like you have come quite the way in your journey! It can be tough!

[@julieshick6444]

Does the conditioner have coconut? When I use types of products as a hydrate it makes my hair feel like straw. Almost dryer?? Do you know why that would be?

[@bethwarlo46]

I have the same problem. I try to stay away from anything with coconut. I don’t know why my hair is sensitive to it tho.

[@QuickSilverHair]

Coconut oil can create a coating around your hair instead of adsorbing in. Which then can lead your hair into a moisture imbalance. I have low-medium porosity hair and coconut oil generally makes my hair feel greasy, dry, and staticky all at the same time. Because it is sitting on top of my hair.

[@deedeewohler3726]

Where did you get your brush!

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

Bounce Curl! there is a link in the description for it!

[@melissagill7830]

Where is your brush from?

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

From bounce curl! If you scroll down in the description there is a link for them! I love it so much!

[@KayoEll]

Only four hours to air dry? Cool beans.

[@marionallen2222]

Sounds like just what I need … somehow after the last time I got my hair colored and cut I now have super curly how … plus she fried it somehow … ugh … so now I’m on this journey of wavy hair … I really appreciate you and all your tips 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@marionallen2222]

Happy Saturday!!! 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@MewsView]

This week was a product free week for me. I have no energy as I'm pushing through the first trimester while chasing a toddler who is protesting naps before turning 2. 🫠 I did still diffuse. I just couldn't deal with wet hair and felt better just having it closer to dry before going about the rest of my day.

[@SwavyCurlyCourtney]

I know how that goes! Hang in there! Congratulations! Yay!

[@WavyCurlyGina]

Just got Miracle-Shield and can't wait to try it 😀