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How to dry and style your hair without heat like a pro

If you're short on time or just can't bear the thought of blasting even more heat at your scalp on a hot summer's day, why not give your hair a break and let it air-dry?

"I always adapt any haircuts I do to suit the summer months as I know that when the sun is out, my clients are less likely to spend ages heat-styling their hair. So cut is key," stylist George Northwood tells British Vogue. "I'd recommend having a longer cut with more of an undone feel to it - if your hair is longer then it's less likely to spring up into frizz as the length weighs it down."

Here are a few tips to help you cut down on drying time and keep those tresses tangle-free:

1. Shake it out.

"It sounds a little crazy, but shaking your head up and down for a few seconds helps hair dry faster," Amanda Dyer of Atlanta’s Dyer & Posta salon tells Forbes.

"Remove excess water before using a towel," she adds, "Flip hair upside-down to encourage air flow before fluffing your hair up into your fingers, and lift the root to speed drying time. You can also go outside to help it dry faster."

2. Try a microfibre towel — or reach for the Bounty.

An "ultra-absorbent, light fabric" helps speed up drying time and promotes a smooth finish. Also handy in the air-drying toolkit— but less environmentally friendly — are paper towels.

"The paper won't create as much friction as a towel, so your hair ends up less frizzy. It also absorbs more water than a cloth towel, really speeding up your drying time," claims Adir Abergel, Fekkai celebrity stylist.

3. Go easy, detangle with care.

Never brush damp hair. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb, working up from the ends.

"Rigorous towel-drying tends to make the hair a bit knotty, so lightly comb it through once if necessary, but then don't use a comb again after that — you're trying to work with the natural texture," says Northwood.

4. Control frizz.

If you're frizz-prone, be sure to reach for the leave-in conditioner or anti-frizz serum.

Refinery 29 lists 13 air-drying-approved products to tame the frizz, boost texture, and make heat-free styling a breeze.

5. Style at the same time.

Keep your hair simple this summer and opt for some easy, no-fuss waves.

"With air-drying, a little bit of product is important to stop it from going fluffy. Most hair has a natural wave to it so I'd suggest a wave cream or curl cream," Northwood says.

A little oil on the ends keeps hair looking healthy.

Dyer offers an easy way to create beachy waves:

“You can braid or twist the hair using multiple clips,” she suggests, “Apply a small amount of Bumble and bumble Grooming Creme to add smoothness and light texture. Finish by spraying Bumble and bumble Surf Spray throughout the hair for beach waves.”

6. Sleep on it. (Optional)

If you don't want to leave the house with wet hair, consider washing it the night before. Braid it or twist it, sleep on it, and you'll have great texture in the morning.

See Birchbox's great "sleep your way to dreamy waves" tutorial here.

7. Leave it alone.

Once you've towel-dried your mane and added a little product, stop touching it.

"Just part it where you want and then leave it. The more you play around with the hair after that, the more you'll ruin it," Northwood warns.

Do you ever let your hair air-dry? Share your no-fail tips below. And for more great beauty tips and tricks, check out the videos below.