“Heatless curls” for you girls with textured hair typically involve your standard air-dry. However, if your strand pattern is looser, such as 2A or 2B waves (which have relatively straight roots and wavy ends), you might need a little more assistance giving body and structure.
If this situation is familiar to you, try this straightforward fix for success. We’ve gathered all the info on how to air-dry the hair, and I was blown away by how flawlessly tousled and bouncy her beach waves were — she genuinely looked like she just got out of a blowout. Know how to master this “clip and twist” technique and how you can nail it!
Here’s How To Master The Art Of The Clip & Twist Air-Dry Technique
Start The Process In The Shower
You should first condition your strands with nourishing, moisturising treatments, as you would with any air-dry. However, if your waves are looser, you should towel-dry your hair a little before using a light styling product to add volume (unlike those who have distinct curls, who will want to put products on their drenched hair). Simply use a soft microfiber towel to absorb any additional moisture; this will reduce frizz because microfiber towels have less friction on the hair strands than terry cloth does.
Leave-In Conditioner FTW
Apply two pumps of a leave-in conditioner and two pumps of hair oil to your mid-lengths to ends, then use a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle it. You should be patient throughout this process because wet hair is an extremely fragile matter. There’s no hurry to cut your way through tangles and snarls.
Now, Clip & Twist!
When your hair is well moisturised and detangled, it’s time to clip it up. Take two front pieces of your hair and twist them away from your face. Then, create a half-up, half-down style by wrapping both portions around your head and fastening the ends with a tiny to medium-sized hair clip at the back of your head. Ensure that the clip latches firmly.
Finish It Off!
Gather the remainder of your hair and divide it into two parts. With both hands, twist each section once more away from your face. For now, you may look like you have a long wizard beard, but a quirky ‘do is the price we pay for salon-quality heatless waves. Let the strands hang and clip the ends in front of your face. When twisting the bottom, make sure to incorporate all of the hair because any that are missed may fall limp. It’s important to divide the bottom sections into four rather than two if you have thicker hair; an additional hair clip will be required to hold it in place.
It’s Time To Let Your Hair Loose
Then all you have to do is attempt to remain still while your hair dries, which takes about 45 minutes on average, but you could need to use the clips for longer or shorter periods of time depending on how porous your hair is and how long it takes to dry. Remove the clips once it is 90% dry, shake out your strands, and let the rest of it air dry as it is.
Are you ready to try the clip & twist method?
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