8 Adorable No-Heat Hairstyles

In the warmer days of spring and summer, it’s probably safe to say that you want to stay cool—and when it comes to your hair, that means stepping away from the heat tools for a little while. (See ya later, curling iron!) You don’t have to sacrifice your look, though—there are plenty of super-cute no-heat hairstyles you can rock on warm days! All it takes are a few products and a little know-how. Keep reading for tips on air drying your hair as well as tutorials for our favorite easy no-heat hairstyles.

How to Air Dry Your Hair to Perfection

When your hair is wet, just apply the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Undone Style Cream, L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray, or L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Ruffled Body Mousse to your hair while it’s wet, and let it air dry. Choose your styling product depending on the finish you’re going for—if you want volume and definition, try an egg-sized dollop of the mousse. If you want waves, try a spritz of the wave spray. And if you want smoothness, try a dime-sized amount of the styling cream (you can also use a teeny bit on dry hair). That’s it! Go ahead and put your blow-dryer, curling iron, and flat iron away for the time being because contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need heat to create a gorgeous look. We promise! Once your hair has air-dried, it’s time to get to work on one of the following pretty no-heat hairstyles—you may never want to use your blow-dryer again!

1. Cotton Candy Bun

If you’re a top knot addict but don’t have the time to wash and style your hair for a super-smooth knot, get excited!

What you’ll need:

Hair-colored hair tie

Rat tail comb

Bobby pins

Hairspray

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Pull your hair into a ponytail. Depending on where you want your bun to be, pull your hair into a ponytail. We especially love how this hairstyle looks with a high bun because it shows off the cotton candy style the most.

Step 2: Spray your hair with hairspray. Split your ponytail in sections and spritz it with hairspray.

Step 3: Tease, tease, tease. Use your rat tail comb to tease your strands down towards the base of your ponytail. The more you tease, the more your bun will look like cotton candy in the end.

Step 4: Create your bun. Take all of your teased hair and wrap it around itself to create your cotton candy bun. Secure it with bobby pins.

Step 5: Spray your hair with hairspray again. To help ensure that your cotton candy look stays in place all day long, give it a final allover spritz.

2. Triple Twisted Low Buns

As bun fanatics, it’s no wonder that we’re head over heels for this triple bun ‘do.

What you’ll need:

Bobby pins

Hairspray

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Divide hair into three sections. Make sure each section is equal.

Step 2: Create your buns. Twist each section of hair into a small bun and pin them place with a couple of bobby pins.

Step 3: Secure your look. Use a strong-hold hairspray to help set your hairstyle for the day.

3. Half-Up Bow

Love traditional half-up ponytails but want to take that basic style to another level? Why not put a bow on it?

What you’ll need:

Mini clear elastic

Bobby pins

Salt spray

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Create your half-up base. Gather a small section of hair from each side of your head while maintaining your part. Tie them together with a mini clear elastic. This hairstyle looks especially classy when your part is still visible, as opposed to traditionally brushed back half-up looks.

Step 2: Add some grip to your half-up pony. Spritz your hair with a salt spray to help give your hair a little extra hold.

Step 3: Tie your bow. Split your half-up pony in half and make two loops to give life to your bow. Secure it with bobby pins in the center of the box and you’re good to go!

4. Upside Down Braided Bun

This no-heat hairstyle gives the saying “business in the front, party in the back” a whole new meaning.

What’ you’ll need:

Clear mini elastic

Hair-colored hair tie

Hairspray

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Begin your upside-down braid. Flip your head over and divide your hair into three sections as you would with a traditional French braid. Braid from the nape of your neck up towards the crown of your head. Once you reach the crown, tie your braid off with a mini clear elastic.

Step 2: Pancake your plait. Before moving on to creating your bun, gently tug (a.k.a. pancake) at your braid to make it appear fuller.

Step 3: Pull your hair into a high ponytail. Gather the rest of your hair and add the braided bit to create your ponytail. Secure with a hair-colored hair tie.

Step 4: Create your bun. Twist your ponytail from base to ends and then wrap it around itself to create your perfect little bun.

Step 5: Seal the deal. Grab your hairspray and give your braided bun a spritz!

5. Messy Braided Crown

Although this no-heat hairstyle looks oh-so-regal, it’s actually a lot easier to put together than you’d think.

What you’ll need:

Salt spray

Mini clear elastics

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Start the first half of your crown. Beginning on one side of your head, split the closest section of hair to your face into three pieces and begin Dutch braiding back towards the nape of your neck. Once you reach about two inches or so behind your ear, stop adding in new pieces and just braid what you have to the ends and secure it with a mini clear elastic.

Step 2: Repeat on the other side of your head. You’ve got this!

Step 3: Tie your braids together. Using a mini clear elastic, combine your two braids together with a clear elastic.

Step 4: Mess it up. Gently tug at your braids for a lived-in look—just be careful not to fully pull any sections out!

6. Bubble Pony

Ponytails are standard for a reason. But it’s time to jazz things up! This modern take will let you show off your length while adding quite a bit of shape.

What you’ll need:

Hair-colored hair tie

Rat tail comb

Mini clear elastics

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Pull your hair into a ponytail. Gather all of your hair into a high ponytail around the crown of your head and secure it with a hair-colored hair tie.

Step 2: Tease, tease, tease. Using your rat tail comb, tease your ponytail from the ends down towards the base to give it a bit more volume and hold.

Step 3: Create your first bubble. About an inch below your original hair tie, use a clear mini elastic to tie off your first bubble. Gently tug at the bubble, and once it’s reached your desired level of plumpness, take a strand of hair to wrap around the clear elastic for a more polished look.

Step 4: Keep making bubbles. Repeat Step 3 until you reach the ends of your hair.

7. Textured Wrap Pony

This voluminous textured ponytail can be worn from desk to happy hour with ease.

What you’ll need:

Hair-colored hair tie

Salt spray

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Pull your hair into a ponytail. Easy!  

Step 2: Conceal your hair tie. With a small section of hair wrapped and pinned in place underneath, you’ll be able to make your ponytail instantly classy and office-friendly.

Step 3: Add texture. To give your voluminous pony a bit more texture, spritz it with salt spray and give it a few scrunches for a purposefully ruffled finish.

8. High Shine Bun

All it takes is the use of a little shine cream after hopping out of the shower to bring this no-heat hairstyle to life.

What you’ll need:

Fine tooth comb

Hair-colored hair tie

Mini clear elastic

Bobby pins

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Create a mid-height ponytail. Using your fine tooth comb, smooth all of your hair back into a mid-level pony and secure it with a hair-colored hair tie.

Step 2: Twist your pony. Do this all the way to the ends and tie it off a mini clear elastic.

Step 3: Loosely coil your bun. Although your twisted pony is tied off with a mini clear elastic, it will loosen up a bit for more volume. At this point you’ll want to wrap it up loosely around itself and pin it in place with a few bobby pins.