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Just 27 Hair Styling Products That *Don’t* Involve Heat
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More It’s too darn hot out to be messing around with heat tools. I am a contributor and former editor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2020, where I'm focused on everything from home decor to beauty to where to buy the world's most comfortable high heels. Promising reviews: "It’s very quick to learn how to use this, and the results are fabulous! I love how my hair looked the next morning. It was slightly uncomfortable to sleep with it the first time I used it, but the second time, I did not notice it. Comes with the heartless curler and two scrunchies made of the same material, but lacks a claw clip to secure it in place when wrapping your hair." —Abby A. "Love these heatless curling rods. I will never put heat on my hair ever again. I have thick, long hair, and it is the most effortless thing ever. It looks like I curled my hair for two hours. Realistically, it only takes five minutes." —Lexi Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in 11 colors). Promising reviews: "Possibly my favorite hair product of all time. Powder Play is amazing, one of three holy grail styling products that I never go without. I have long, thick, straight hair that gets weighed down by itself so it goes flat on top despite having plenty of body through the lengths. This stuff doesn't require an expert styling hand (just toss a sprinkle in and rub at it a little) and even though it goes on white, it disappears into my dark hair with very little manipulation. It volumizes just as well as most wet products I've tried, lasts into day two (just rub it in a bit to reactivate it if it falls), and doesn't require the use of a blow-dryer. It also adds a ton of grip to pins and elastics so they really stay put. The bottles are small, but you don't need a lot at a time so they still last a while." —Sarah C. "Instant volume. This powder is a game-changer for fine or flat hair. Just a small tap at the roots gives instant lift and texture without feeling sticky or heavy. It’s colorless, blends in easily, and has a light scent that fades quickly. Perfect for quick styling or refreshing second-day hair. I love that it adds grip for updos too. A little goes a long way, so the tiny bottle lasts longer than you'd expect. If you want volume without teasing or heat, this is a must-have in your hair kit." —Alex Promising reviews: "I love the beautiful scrunchie with the bun roll! What an amazing concept! It goes up super easy and stays in place until I remove it. I love putting my hair up and out of the way at night, then having a perfect blow out in the morning. Saves so much time! Very comfortable and does not pull at small hairs." —Karen E. "This works so well! I waffled about trying it for about a year before I did, and it really does work! My blowout lasts three days using this (then I have to wash my hair) with zero styling needed in the morning after I take it out of the sleepy tie and it is so comfortable to sleep in. I have long hair and usually try to pile it on top of my head at night to get it out of my way- this is an amazing solution." —Justine M. Get it from Sleepy Tie for $29.99 (available in three sizes and 13 colors). Promising reviews: "I have long, straight, baby-fine hair halfway down my back. When I wash my hair, it gets tangled the most. I just got out of the shower...and am fascinated by how well this thing worked through my WET hair. I hardly lost any hair! Being 56, I am lucky to have all this hair! Having a tool like this ensures I will keep as much as I can!" —Blind Man Frank "I'm a skeptic of anything to claim to detangle your hair. I have long (to my butt long) and thick color-treated hair. I was so excited to try this when it came in and just about died of amazement when I put it through my hair. I have the worst tangly hair and it usually hurts to brush the knots out of it. This didn't pull my hair at all and it went through my hair like a dream. I couldn't believe it, I had to run around the house and have every one try it for themselves. I know what I'm buying all my girlfriends for Xmas! Lol. I'm excited to try it on my wet hair after a shower. I normally have to wait for my hair to air dry before I attempt to even get a brush through it. Fingers crossed it's as amazing on wet hair as it dry. I love this product so much and want to buy an extra just incase these aren't available in the future. I'd be devastated." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 10 styles). Just tap the powder onto your hair and run it through your roots with your hands. Once distributed through the hair, it'll absorb grease. Promising review:s "Anyone with bangs knows how much of a hassle they can be when the sun cranks up the heat. After a few hours they start to gather up the oil on your forehead and split into weird strands. Washing just my bangs is so much work, and those spray on dry shampoos never seem to work right/ get all over the place. This little puff is the perfect solution. Just a couple taps and my oily hair looks freshly washed. It does leave it feeling almost a bit waxy, but it means my hair stays fresh and in the shape - even overnight. And for those with sensitive skin, it does not cause breakouts! It’s a permanent addition in my bag for easy and quick touch-ups." —Alison "This product is amazinggggg! It revived my blow-out for two weeks in hot old Florida and left no cast or flakes. I def recommend this product!" —Lori Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in six colors, two scents and refills). Promising reviews: "I have been washing my 4b/4c hair two times a week, mainly to moisturize and refresh my curls. This product will help me eliminate one of those wash days. It pumps new life into my hair. I am impressed!" —Sherri Owens "I have short (about an inch long) 4B hair, and I use this product every single day when I’m styling my hair. It “wakes up” my curls and rehydrates my hair so that I can use my moisturizer more effectively, Actually, since I started using this, I find that I need to put less moisturizer in my hair; this product helps add moisture itself, so some days, I don’t need additional product at all! Finally, it has a really pleasant scent that doesn’t linger, and makes my hair SOOOO SOFT! I highly recommend it!!" —MALAKYT Get it from Amazon for $19.26+ (available in one or two packs). Promising reviews: "I love this product. It’s not heavy, sticky or stiff. It leaves my hair bouncy, soft and full. I brush it through my towel dried hair and scrunch - letting my hair air dry. It turns out beautifully without any other work." —Mad4Terriers "I have fine, slightly wavy hair. Other holding products needed a heavy application to hold, leaving my hair feeling like it needed to be washed too soon. A lighter application didn't hold more than day. This product works so well I can go days with just a quick run of my wet fingers through my hair. It doesn't take a lot to get the wavy hold I want. Highly recommend." —Pat S. Promising review: "I am genuinely shocked by how effective these are. I have really thick, curly hair that always lays too flat at my roots. Nothing I have tried before these have helped at all. These are a game changer! I wash my hair, apply all of my products and style my hair then I put these clips in and leave them until my hair dries. When I remove them, my hair has so much volume at and around the roots. These clips are such a simple idea but they work amazingly well. I really like the new soft/bendy ones. They are easy to work with even with one hand, they stay in place and are just as strong as the originals. I would definitely recommend these clips to anyone with curly hair that needs some added volume at the root." —Dylan & Tiffany Bennett Promising reviews: "Wonderful with Afro coils. My dad once told me I have beautiful coils, and all I needed instead of a relaxer was a good conditioner, and this treatment is exactly that. I have thick, low-porosity hair packed into very dense coils, so dryness and shrinkage are always challenging. I used this treatment with a gentle shampoo, and vinegar rinse, using only a leave-in serum and light gel post-treatment for setting. My hair is so soft, and shiny; I typically wear it out in a textured Afro and this is the most definition I’ve achieved with so few products and air drying in twists. I’m extremely happy and satisfied with this product and look forward to further results. Its affordability makes it an instant staple." —Sterling Rose "I have added this product to my cart multiple times before I finally bit the bullet and ordered-- My hair is very thick and is half way down my back. I rarely use 'heat' on my hair (let air dry/don't own straightener/don't curl often) so I don't have a ton of damage but, I do dye it at home frequently and go longer than I should in between trims so my dead ends tend to get a bit wild. I washed my hair well with clarifying shampoo and then towel dried it so it was mostly dry before coating all the hair with this mask. I then put it in a loose bun on top of my head and let it set for 20 minutes before rinsing it out and my hair was noticeably smoother and shinier than before. Will definitely be re-ordering!" —Morgan Rackliff Promising reviews: "I love these pins so much. I have a set of regular-sized ones from years ago that still work perfectly and hold my hair very well, but for some hairstyles, they are too long and show on the opposite side, so I was really happy when I found these shorter ones! They really hold a tight grip and are SO EASY to use. You gotta have a set!" —Anriel "I was so afraid these would end up in the 'hair doodads my uncoordinated self can’t figure out' box. But, these are EASY to use, nearly EFFORTLESS! Beautiful updo in seconds!" —Judith F. Get them from Amazon for $7+ (available in two- and three-packs and in two colors sent at random). Promising review: "Did an amazing job at curling my hair! I have straight-wavy long hair, and it doesn't usually hold a curl, but this was the easiest and longest curl without using any harmful products. I just washed my hair as usual and ran some curl-enhancing mousse through it while damp and rolled my hair into the flex rods, and went to sleep. Woke up the next morning and took the rods out, and voila! The best curls I've ever had with almost little to no effort. They were soft and comfortable to sleep in, and the curls lasted two days." —CR Apply this directly to wet hair, avoiding the roots, massage it in for eight seconds, then rinse. Practically NO effort required. You can use one dose for fine- to medium-textured hair, two to three doses for thick- to curly-textured hair, and add one more dose if you have long hair. Promising reviews: "I don’t usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c-type hair and struggle a lot with breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn’t take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I never would have thought this brand would work on my hair. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen. Thank you so much!! ♥️" —Theressa Hailey "I have really long hair (almost to my waist) that gets frizzy if allowed to air dry w/o product(s) or heat. I was pleasantly surprised that it took very little of this product to truly saturate my hair post-conditioner (I went in thinking I might only get 2 or 3 uses out of the bottle. Reality is more like 7 or 8 uses!). Be forewarned that you will experience a "warming sensation" on your scalp, but it's not unpleasant and the directions on the bottle do mention this. After I applied this product I lightly towel dried my hair and put nothing else in it. I was pleasantly surprised that not only did my hair dry faster than usual but there was truly LESS FRIZZ! 5 SOLID STARS 🌟" —Dana Riley Promising reviews: "I’ll be honest: When I read the reviews, I was nervous. Only because there were no reviews for my hair type. I’m 3c, so for those that are natural and understand, my hair is very kinky curly. As a Black woman, it’s important that I find products that work for my texture. I grabbed this to touch up my color and make it more vibrant, so I don’t have to always dye it. It worked amazingly. A great refresher for gingers wanting to boost their color, and no big commitment. It’s definitely a buildable color. I see working on this maybe every few weeks for a touch-up. Love it!" —The Alexis Henry "Recommended by my hair stylist. Smells awesome, leaves my hair soft AND puts color back in my hair? The whole package, really." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 23 colors). Promising review: "LOVE this stuff. My hair is very thin and fine but curly and prone to be very frizzy. I have to use a lot of leave in conditioner and smoothing serum which makes my hair look limp and flyaway after a few hours. Enter Kendra Platinum! Once I'm done finger-curling and air drying, it can be very flyaway and in need of texture, but most things weigh my hair down and it ends up looking dirty or unkempt. This texturizer is awesome. I stick a finger in it and take out maybe a dime sized portion or less, rub it in my palms then "pat" and scrunch my hair with it, and use what's left on my fingertips to add focused application to the ends and some of the individual curls that aren't behaving or still look kinda frizzy. I then shape it and go. This takes all of 3 minutes. It doesn't feel sticky in my hair as the day goes on and by the time I get home at night my hair still looks great. I don't wash it but every few days and this usually means wetting my hair and starting all over again every morning but using this texturizer, I wake up with "good hair" and need maybe only a spritz of water for reshaping and I'm set. You can use this daily and it doesn't seem to build up either, although I normally don't need it more than 2 days in a row because by that point my hair just doesn't need it, it's holding its own texture-wise. Somehow using this product had allowed me to go a little longer between washings, too." —AnnieChiTown Get it from Amazon for $25+ (available in one or two packs). Promising reviews: "This is my favorite product for my hair because it is so weightless- I use it after every wash. Sometimes product that is meant to emphasize curls/waves is way too heavy and crunchy for my fine hair. I just have some wave in my hair, and it is not coarse or thick, so this lightweight mousse is perfect for me - especially since I never dry my hair after washing it. The title is not kidding about it being "Air Dry" foam. Never crunchy, helps bring out the little waves in my hair very effectively, and my hair never feels weighed down with product." —Jacklin "I am a low-maintenance kinda of person and I have fine hair. Every product before this one has been too heavy. I always look like I have too much product. BUT with other products if I don't use more, my curls just turn to frizz and the curls fall flat. To save my curls, I had to blow dry. So on important days I had not choice. That all ended when I tried Air Dry Foam!! Curls are better when air dried, I can't believe it took someone so long to come up with this product. This is a total game changer for me. I will not need to worry about not having time to blow dry. Seriously, ready to give away all my other styling products." –The Wendy Promising reviews: "This saved my hair. My hair was falling and thinning. I had to chop my long hair off to my neck and started a new hair care routine using this oil. So far, I’ve noticed new hair growth in just 2 weeks of using. I don’t see my scalp anymore due to fuller hair growth. Also, I noticed my once brittle hair became curly again so this oil helped rejuvenate my curls which was damaged due to using too much heating tools. I bought 3 more bottles for my mom, aunt and myself. I massage my scalp with this every 4-5 days when I need to wash my hair. I usually keep the product on overnight and tie my head with a bonnet so I can sleep. Definitely will keep using since I’ve been using other rosemary and castor oil brands for some time but this is my favorite." —Jo "I'm in my mid-40s, and I've noticed more hair shedding in recent years. My hair is also a bit drier, even though I stopped using heat. I read that rosemary is helpful in scalp health and encourages hair growth and health. I put this on the end of my hair after each wash. In addition, I use it as a scalp treatment once a week. I section my hair, place it on my scalp, and massage it in. I sleep with it in, and wash my hair in the morning. I've been using this for about 1-2 months. My hair is softer and appears healthier. My hair is starting to feel thicker close to my scalp. Loving the results!" —Angela J. Promising reviews: "I have never been able to make good buns even with the perfect bun donut accessories and all types of other things I’ve tried, but THIS!!! I AM ABSOLUTELY PURCHASING MORE OF THESE!!!! It was only $5, and it saved me 30 minutes every morning before work since buns are required!!! Perfect for the military because it holds amazing as well! It comes in a pack of two, and it's the best purchase I think I’ve ever made for my hair. Thank you so much to whoever made these!!!" —Haley "The Andlane Hair Bun Maker French Twist Hair Fold Wrap Snap is a total game-changer for styling my hair effortlessly. I used to spend so long trying to get a clean bun or French twist, but with this tool, I’m done in seconds. The design is smart and well-made—just pull your ponytail through, roll up, snap, and you’ve got a polished up‑do that stays put. Whether I’m heading to work, a formal event, or just want to look pulled-together on the fly, this bun maker delivers. It’s gentle on my hair, keeps it looking sleek (no fly‑aways or frizz), and saves me from spending time or money at the salon. If you want a simple, effective tool that gives pro results at home, this is it." —Heather Get it from Amazon for $5.49+ (available in five colors). Promising reviews: "I love this product!! Prior to getting it, I could not let my hair air dry without looking as if I had stuck my fingers in an electric socket! I had to use the flat iron constantly and bunch of styling products and still looked so dry, damaged, and frizzy. With this, I haven’t used anything including the flat iron after a few applications. I don’t rinse it off. I apply on damp hair as directed and leave it there to dry. Then I comb my hair and it looks so smooth and healthy!! And it smells soooo good! 1000% keeper!" —Nyx "I LOVE this stuff. I recommend it to everyone and compliments on my shiny hair all the time. I use it once every 3 or 4 weeks. Walk out of the shower and let my hair air dry and my hair has never looked better. No frizz (on my typically frizzy hair). I have never been able to go without product and I have been now daily! " —J. Bentley Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in a tube or jar). Promising reviews: "I've experimented with many hair products in the past, ranging from different prices, and this one surpasses them all. My hair is naturally curly and requires moisture and product to be sprayed in after shampoo and conditioning. I am thrilled with the results of this serum. After air drying my hair, this serum leaves my curls feeling soft and moisturized, which is difficult to achieve without feeling crunchy or covered in cream. It is sulfate-free and comes at a reasonable price. I use it daily and will purchase it again when needed." —Maryfrances Gattine "Love this!! My hair is super depleted of moisture, and this pumped moisture right in and made each strand more visibly plumper." —Heather Promising review: "Works great, it feels almost like a dry shampoo with color and it lasted me about 3 days before I have to spray more on. You need to let it dry or you will have color all over your fingers. If you get it on your skin, just get a wet cloth and wipe it off. Very pleased with the purchase, only thing is it's a small can, but I've used it 4 times and still have more in the can. Will buy again." —JerzeyGirl Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in 11 shades). Promising reviews: "This is legit the best for a slicked-back bun. It instantly makes my hair look put together and professional. Takes 2 seconds to run it over my hair, and it stays slicked back all day (even in this 95-degree weather). It’s so effortless, and I always get compliments on my slicked back bun and what I use to keep it neat. You don’t need a lot, so I feel like this will last forever, but I will be repurchasing. Much better and more effective than hair spray. Wish I had found this sooner." —Jessica "My daughter is a ballet dancer and always needs her hair slicked back and flawless. I read good things about this wax and decided to try it out. She loves it! It works all day and is effortless to apply. My daughter is 14 and can apply it by herself. It’s almost like using a giant glue stick. It ashes out easily and does not give her hair a crusty appearance." —Amy Promising review: "I am obsessed with this product. Not only does it smell good, but it also does not have a sticky texture or leave any residue in your hair. I use a small amount after I get out of the shower, throw my hair up in a claw clip, and let my hair dry naturally. The next morning, I wake up, and I have a head full of natural beach waves. My hair is very, very thick, but this makes it feel soft and smell wonderful. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for beautiful hair with minimal effort." —Lauren Brajer Get it from Amazon for $26+ (available in two sizes). Kit includes 20 large rollers and 20 small rollers. Promising reviews: "I’ve never had the willingness to wake up extra early to style my hair (I love sleep too much) so to be able to put these in and go to sleep and wake up with beautiful curls / waves is an appreciated time saver. The instructions say to use damp hair, but at first use I learned my hair type doesn’t like that and didn’t curl. However, when I use them with completely dry hair I get the look I want. I’d say if you have a hair type that pretty much molds to how you put it up (like gets wavy when you do a twist bun) use it with dry hair." —Tricia Parent "I have been wanting curlers I can easily install for loose waves. I tend to break my hair when I do twisted or braided styles, and these curlers mitigated that issue. Also, they’re comfortable to sleep in. After watching YouTube videos to find tips, it seems installing them on dry hair works best. Otherwise, my hair would take too long to dry. This install is on lightly straightened (4b) natural hair. I separated my hair into four sections, applied a light oil, and used 5 small curlers per section. The waves came out perfectly by applying the curler closer to my head and wrapping the hair around. I couldn’t grasp rolling from the ends upward. I like the fuller look and decided to use a wide-toothed comb to fluff. I’ll have to curl them each night because I don’t use holding products and the waves will eventually fall. Overall, these are great curlers for a heatless look!" —Astrid Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in seven colors). Promising review: "So I live in northeast Florida by the beach. Hot, humid, hard water. When I’m in northern states, my hair dries naturally close to straight. In the Bahamas, I can get a very nice natural curl. In NE Florida by the Georgia border, it’s a horrible frizzy fight, so I decided to put this product thru all kinds of tests. I sprayed the instant frizz in the car on the way to the gym (not in traffic). I haphazardly finger-combed. Immediately, all my hair deflated, noticeably. I sprayed three times around mid-shaft to end on dried hair. I think if I’m going out at night, I will only do two quick sprays on the ends only so I can retain some volume. It was like a balloon deflating, but I’m not complaining. I walked in the rain. THIS made me incredibly impressed. I didn’t even see a difference in terms of frizz being worse. Last summer, I walked from my car to a restaurant in the rain, and I swear I had started to form dreadlocks, no joke. I was very, very happy about this. Finally, went to the beach for two hours. Walked my dogs but did not get wet. Came home and took a wide-tooth comb to it. My hair is still way less frizzy than before I used the spray. Keep in mind, I didn’t use any heat prior to spraying, so I already had frizz to begin with. I am guessing if I blew my hair out or flat-ironed, I would have even better results. Honestly, if you live in a less humid climate, have courser hair, and don’t bleach the heck out of it, you are going to have almost perfect results." —G Money Promising review: "I used this wrap and set foam for a rod set and this is my detailed and honest review. I find the mousse to be silky smooth and creamy, almost like a conditioner rather than crunchy like my previous ones. I didn't need any add ons, apart from my lightweight oil. Also, my hair was a lot bouncier and coils tighter and fluffier? Like it moves. I say this would also be perfect for a wash n go. I'll get the moisture-sealing lotion and pair it with this to see how that would work but overall this mousse is perfect. Cecred no complaints." —Lauryn Promising review: "If you’re looking for a product that actually delivers on the promise of 'effortless' hair, this is it. I’m usually skeptical of air-dry creams, but this one really works. Perfect for lazy days: On days when I don't want to touch a blow dryer or curling iron, I just scrunch a bit of this into damp hair and go. Frizz control: It does an amazing job at smoothing out flyaways and keeping my hair looking polished rather than puffy. Weightless feel: Unlike other styling creams, this doesn't leave my hair feeling crunchy or greasy. It just feels soft and natural. This has officially become my go-to for a low-maintenance routine. If you want to look put-together with zero effort, you need this in your cabinet!" —S.Roberts Promising review: "Smells divine, keeps curls nice and frizz-free, and has a slight hold that really allows for great styling with basically zero effort. I put in my hair after a shower and towel drying, and then go from there. It gives my hair a little volume/texture where it needs it, especially on the end lengths too, which helps my curls form more easily and naturally!" —jilly bean * Even Reviewers Who Call Themselves “Lazy” Had Success With These 27 Hair Products * Things That’ll Make You Feel Like A Pro At Doing Your Hair * Hair Products That Reviewers In Their 40s And 50s Love * Products That'll Totally Change Your Haircare Routine * Hair Products That Tame Frizz And Fight Humidity So They Deserve Multiple Awards BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.