Only Have a Hot Minute for a No-Heat Style?
These Air-Dried Styling Tips Should Do the Trick
Let’s be real for a second–it’s not like heat is ever going to be a non-go-to strategy for achieving the perfect style.
But lately, the hottest way to get a damn good style for your clients is to avoid the heat and opt for something a little less damaging to your client’s hair.
It’s a hot trend at the moment–and we’re all about it–but more than that, it’s one you should understand inside and out, regardless of how you feel about it.
Why?
We’ve got at least one good reason. Think about it this way.
There are going to be plenty of times when your clients are on a time crunch, meaning they can’t sit in your chair for hours on end to achieve the perfect heat-assisted style (we’re looking at you, blowouts).
Here’s the problem.
Obviously, as a badass stylist, you’re going to want to make sure that anyone who walks out of your salon or shop is looking chic AF.
You’re not just going to send someone out of your shop with wet hair without a semblance of a style, right?
That’s where these heatless styling tips will come in handy.
Trust us; whether you’re into the heatless styling thing or not, you’re going to be glad you read this blog and have a few tricks up your sleeve the next time a client says something like, “I’d love to leave the salon with curls, but I just don’t have time.”
Quick, No-Heat Styling Tips Every Cosmetologist Should Know
Air Dry Beach Waves
Beachy looks are always a must–and just like a real beach look, no heat is necessary to replicate that vibe.
If you’ve got a client who’s obsessed with a beachy, wavy look but doesn’t want/ can’t sit through the time it takes to use heat to get there, try this strategy.
Towel dry that hair, of course.
Focus on the mids and ends to ensure optimal product absorption.
You’ll want to make sure you really get excess moisture out here, so make sure you’ve worked your client’s hair with a towel as best as you can.
Grab your fave air-dry crème and get to work on your client’s hair.
Work it through, ensuring that the middle of the strands down to the ends are getting a bulk of the love.
Now, get to loosely braiding that freshly worked hair.
Make sure you’re not using a ton of tension here; you’ll want these braids to be as casual and low-key as possible for a casual, low-key end result.
Braid as you want, implementing loose braids wherever you see fit. Go a little nuts if you want; there’s no wrong way to do this.
Here’s a pro tip–don’t secure the braids at the end. Let them hang loosely and dry this way. You don’t want indentions, right? This will contribute to a more natural look, anyway.
Let the braids air dry, then release them. Voila! Your client has stunning, casual beach waves; no heat is needed.
Air Dry Voluminous Waves/ Curls
Got a client that has a pretty solid curl or waves to their hair already and wants to walk out of the salon with voluminous curls sans heat?
We’ve got you covered.
No rule says big, bold curls must come from heat–these quick tips can help you design an amazing, air-dried look that’s sure to please your big-curl-loving clients.
First, towel dry your client’s head, snag your fave air-dry crème, and work through the mids and ends vigorously. Use your judgment on the amount–if your client has a ton of length and density, you’ll obviously need to be more generous with your air-dry crème.
Got a client who loves extra volume?
Opt for a volumizing mousse you love and include it at the base of your client’s roots for a little extra lift.
Then, work the product in, have your client flip their head over, and give that hair a little extra love to work the product through once more.
Gather your client’s hair at the top of their head and twist a high bun into place (with a clip, pin, or scrunchie that won’t leave indentions).
Now, let that hair air dry, take it out, and watch your client walk out of your salon with perfect, big waves that never needed a touch of heat.
Air Dry Cool-Girl S-bends
Don’t let those straight-haired clients of yours lose out on the naturally beautiful, air-dried styles.
If you’ve got a client in a total rush (or, you know, one who really needs to lay off the thermal tools because that happens sometimes), opt for an S-bend style that needs no heat.
What do we love about this style? It’s simple, it’s safe, and it’s straight-hair approved.
How can you accomplish this look?
First, towel-dry your client’s mid-to-ends so their hair can soak up as much product as possible. Apply your go-to curl cream to mids and ends first, then take a little and add to the roots to help minimize frizz.
Snag your fave texturizing spray, re-direct hair semi-forcefully to ensure a good face-frame look, then tuck or pin hair behind ears to help support that wave. Grab some clips, bend hair gently and subtly, pin it up, and let it air dry while you take care of the rest of the appointment.
When it’s time to take those clips out, your client will see gorgeous but subtle bends that look absolutely effortless.
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We’re here to make sure you’re prepped and ready to have the best career ever–and that includes helpful tips like these.
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