I Just Got Back from Paris—These 12 Products Help Me Achieve Effortless French-Girl Hair in NYC

There’s much to be admired about the French. From their expertly tailored finery to their effortless beauty and delectable pastries, Paris and the people inside it mesmerized me. Between museum tours and shopping sprees, I spent time sitting at cafes along the Seine, simply observing the chic passersby who strolled unhurriedly—a stark difference from my NYC commutes. There was a certain ease about their gaits and appearances that I envied; something so chic about their nonchalant approach to beauty and fashion. (Hence the relaxed jeans-and-oversized-coat formula that everyone in the arrondissements had mastered.) But the one thing I figured I could achieve at home is what I’m calling “laissez-faire hair”—my natural texture, just played up and perfected with air-dry stylers.

“An air-dry styler is a product meant to enhance your hair’s natural texture without the need for any hot tools,” explains Flower Avila, professional hairstylist and Oli G educator. “What someone would look for depends on their hair type and desired look. For example, someone with very curly hair might look for something hydrating with a strong hold, and someone with fine, straight hair might want something that will give their hair more texture and volume,” she adds.

I quickly abandoned my heat tools and let my hair fall into its natural waves and twists for the rest of the trip, but came back from my French escapades with a mission—the find the best products to preserve my air-dried texture. Below, the 12 best for instant French-girl hair, no matter where in the world.

• Hair type: One of the paramount aspects of an air-dry styler is its compatibility with your hair type. They all, somewhat, do the same thing: Define your natural texture, smooth frizz, and prolong the life of your hairstyle. But if you’re using a product designed for fine hair (like the Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Hair Styling Balm) while you have thick hair, you won’t get the same style-perfecting benefits.
• Air-dry process: You also need to take into consideration the best time to apply. The Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream needs to be applied while your curls are somewhere between wet and damp to fully absorb the nutrients, whereas the Rōz Milk Hair Serum can be applied to dry, day two or three hair to revive frizzy strands. Whatever your process, your products should be compatible.
• Extra benefits: It’s 2025, which means that your products should do so much more than just make your hair air-dry nicely. Creams like the Oli G Atomic Hair Repair Leave-in Treatment deeply condition the hair and provide heat protectant. The Briogeo Style + Treat Air Dry Hair Styling Cream can offer up to 24-hour frizz control, and the Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Hair Mousse is a texturizing product, too.