2. Minimal product is key
I briefly mentioned above how you have to be careful with adding product to your hair when dry styling so that you don’t result in visible product buildup on your strands. Have you ever woke up the next morning to a white, cakey substance on your curls from your product? Eek! That’s the worst.
While spritzing your hair with a little moisture helps alleviate product build up by assisting with absorption, do know that you only need a little of your styler. Don’t go overboard and risk have a dull look to your hair the next day!
I will typically use the equivalent to a fingertip dab of a cream styler with a little more substantial amount of a non-flaking, oil infused gel for each twist.
3. Style in smaller sections for more definition
One of the biggest concerns with styling your hair while dry is loss of definition. The more definition we have the more likely our hair will last throughout the week.
One key to ensuring that you actually have defined curls the next day is to style in smaller sections. While there’s no need to go pencil thin, if you’re one who likes to style in chunky twists because it’s easier with shorter time consumption, you may want to shoot for a small to medium size instead.
4. Seal your ends
I cannot express enough the importance of sealing your ends. Even with a fresh trim and spritz there’s a risk of having free loose ends that will dry with no curl. This was one of the biggest issues I faced whenever I styled my hair dry. I would have defined curls but my ends looked frazzled and lack luster. Terrible and it basically killed my style.
Now, whenever I dry style, I make sure that I fully saturate the ends of my hair. About a half inch to an inch up should do the trick. I also make sure I add a little extra gel and twist the end around my finger, as I would do if I was wet styling, to make sure my ends are sealed and moisturized and won’t come out looking ehh the next day.
Also know that with fully wetting the ends of your strands alone there shouldn’t be an issue with drying in a couple of hours.
5. Rollers may be necessary
To piggy back off of tip #4, with sealing your ends keep in mind that you can use rollers if you find that it works best for you. This turns a basic twist out into a twist and curl, or braid and curl for braid outs.
I would still saturate my ends completely with either water or a setting lotion and then roll about an inch or two up just to ensure your ends will be nice and curled in the morning.
Are you one who likes to dry style? What are your favorite tips to achieve optimal results?