How to Style Hair Without Heat

Messy bun: Try this classic updo when your hair is unruly. There’s no heat required, making it a quick hairstyle that’ll make you and your hair happy. Put your hair up in a high ponytail, securing it with a hair elastic that matches your hair color. Wrap another elastic around the end of your ponytail, and then start rolling your hair upwards. Spread the hair around the base of your ponytail in the shape of a doughnut and secure it with bobby pins.^[7]

• Try using a hair donut for a cleaner look.
• Pull some hair out of your bun to frame your face for maximum cuteness.

Mini space buns: Two little space buns on top of your head are a great way to show off your spunk. To achieve this fun look, section off the top part of your hair into two sections. Create two side pigtails, and then twist the hair around the base of each pigtail. Secure with an elastic or bobby pin, and you’re out of this world!^[8]

• You can also make larger space buns on bad hair days using all of your hair. Instead of sectioning off the top of your hair to make pigtails, create two large pigtails and repeat the rest of the steps.

Bubble ponytail: Put a playful spin on the classic ponytail. All you need to do is put your hair up in a high ponytail. Next, wrap clear elastics around a small section of the ponytail. Push the elastic upwards to create a bubble. Keep adding elastics until you have little bubbles down your ponytail.^[9]

• The size of your bubbles is up to you! Put the elastics closer together for smaller bubbles, or keep them farther apart for larger bubbles.

Braided crown: This half-up, half-down hairstyle is adorable for all hair lengths! Simply brush out your hair, and then section off a big chunk of hair above your right ear. Braid this section toward the back of your head and away from your face, and then secure it with an elastic. Repeat this on the left side. Finally, connect the two braids with an elastic.^[10]

• Tie a ribbon around where the braids connect for an even cuter look.
• If you can’t braid, no worries! You can also achieve this heatless look by twisting your hair and pulling it back instead.

Claw clip updo: This heatless hairstyle is super simple and flattering. You just need a claw clip and your hair! Simply gather your hair at the base of your scalp—like you would if putting it in a low ponytail. Twist your hair into a long rope, wrap it around itself once to create the start of a bun, and then secure it with a claw clip.^[11]

• Maneuver the hair sticking out of the clip with your fingers for your desired look.

Use hair smoothing products before and after washing. We generally favor heat tools because they make our hair look flawless, but you can get the same look without heat by using the right products. Anti-frizz or smoothing shampoos and conditioners prep your hair for heatless styling, and smoothing and shine serums keep your locks looking fresh and flawless.^[12]

Straighten your hair without heat by brushing wet hair. Now, this is usually a big no-no in the hairstyling world, but an exception can be made if you use the right brush and have a straight or wavy hair type. Invest in a brush made specifically for wet hair—these are usually called “wet brushes.” Try this method if you have type 1 or 2 hair that’s medium or fine.^[13]

• Avoid this method if you have thick or densely curly hair as it could result in damage and frizzier hair.
• Using smoothing products in your hair can tame frizz and lock in moisture to give you smooth, shiny locks.
• You can also give your hair a nice blowout by washing your hair and blow-drying your roots with a vent brush so they're 60% dry. From there, pin up your hair in 3 sections (top, middle, and bottom). Drop out the bottom section, roll up your hair with a large brush, and use the concentrator nozzle on your blow dryer to dry the section. Then, continue with the other 2 sections.

Wrap and pin wet hair around your head. This method can be time-consuming, but the results are totally worth it! Blow-dry your hair using cold air until it’s almost dry. Then, wrap sections around your head and use bobby pins to hold it in place. Go to bed, and undo everything the next morning for silky and straight hair.^[14]

• This technique is called toca and works best on naturally wavy or frizzy hair.

Dry your hair with microfiber towels to beat frizz. Thanks to their frictionless fibers, these towels help your hair stay smooth and frizz-free. Unlike terry cloth towels—which are the most common type of bath towel—microfiber towels absorb moisture without building heat.^[15]

• Pair your microfiber towel with an anti-frizz serum or leave-in-conditioner for extra smoothness.

Add accessories to your heatless look for some extra flare. You can’t go wrong with a headband, sparkly clip, or bow! Hair accessories are a great way to spice up your look, tie your whole outfit together, and hide any hair imperfections.

Use the cool setting of your hair dryer to speed up the drying process. This is an excellent heatless trick for when you’re in a rush or wake up to find that your hair is still wet. Simply turn on the hairdryer’s cool setting and focus on the parts of your style—braid, wrap, curler, etc.—that are still wet.

Try applying mousse or sea salt spray before doing a heatless hairstyle. These texturizing products help combat frizz and mold your hair. Before braiding or wrapping your hair overnight, consider adding a few pumps or mousse or a spritz of sea salt spray to help the waves or curls form.^[16]