I’ve Been Air-Drying My Hair for Over a Decade—7 Expert-Backed Products I Swear By

As someone who’s worked in beauty for over five years, I take a bit of pride in the amount of knowledge I’ve developed across all things hair, nails, makeup, and skincare. You name it, I’ve probably covered it. I’ve also spent countless hours interviewing industry experts and learning about the latest launches. Prior to my career, though, there were some topics that I had limited knowledge on. One example: heat tools.

From my preteen years through college, I would religiously straighten my curly hair. But outside of my salon appointments, I wasn’t using heat on my hair—I always air-dried it. So needless to say, I was genuinely floored when I learned that I could use a diffuser to dry my curls without messing with my natural pattern.

In my early 20s, I decided to stop straightening my hair altogether, but I still limited how much heat I used. To be fair, I spent so many years damaging my hair that now I only use a diffuser on my hair when I go in for my curly cuts. Outside of that, I’m always air-drying my hair, which means using the right products to get the best results is crucial for me. Although I have my own top picks that I’m willing to share, I also wanted to know which products the best hairstylists in the biz loved too. Curious to know what they had to say? See their insights ahead.

Best Mousse: The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam Curl Enhance

Best Gel: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Curl Gel Crème

Best Spray: R+Co Rockaway Salt Spray

Best Anti-Frizz Cream: Ouai Anti-Frizz Hair Styling Cream