How to style wet hair in the laziest (yet chicest) ways possible

Date September 1, 2015

Maybe you snoozed your hair drying minutes away, or maybe you’re just not willing to add unnecessary heat to your already-stuffy, AC-less apartment. Whatever the reason, sometimes drying your mane doesn’t work into your daily routine. And instead of giving you a lecture on leaving the house with wet hair (call mom for that) we’ll just applaud you for washing that greasy mop of yours in the first place (cue hand-clapping emoji).

But regardless, you probably feel the need to put a little effort into your beauty routine to look the required business-casual part at the office. So leaving home with dripping-wet strands probably won’t work with the whole sophisticated front you strive for.

Well, don’t go inconveniencing yourself with your hair dryer just yet. We’ve gathered five tips to help you turn your fresh-out-of-water locks into a cool and polished ‘do.

Click through the slideshow for the best products to use and best hairstyles to try to make your hair so chic, your coworkers will think you woke up extra early to work on your look.

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how to style wet hair om serum

Tip #1: Apply a Frizz-Preventing Serum

Ensure your mane stays smooth and glossy all day (even in the hottest heat and highest humidity) with a great anti-frizz product, like Original & Mineral’s Frizzy Logic. Containing argan and macadamia oils, this serum soothes hair to lock in moisture and repel humidity in an effort to minimize fly-aways and keep your strands silky soft. Just towel-dry your strands, apply a few drops of this coconut-scented saviour into the palms of your hands, distribute it evenly through your hair, and style as usual.

Original & Mineral Frizzy Logic Shine Serum ($27, net-a-porter.com)

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how to style wet hair style

Tip #2: Style your mane

Make your right-from-the-shower hair look totally polished with a sleek and elegant style that’s specifically designed for wet hair. But before you start, be sure you’ve applied an anti-frizz product.

1. Try an updated fishtail braid (top left). Divide your combed hair into four sections. Take the second section of your hair and cross it over to the far right and hold with one hand. Grab the remaining two left-most sections with your other hand and twist them together. Twist the remaining two sections together on the right. Braid all the way down, and seal with a clear elastic.

2. Try an effortless, non-prissy chignon (top right). Gather your hair at the crown of your head (like you’re pulling it into a ponytail) and roll it down towards the nape of your neck. Tuck hair into the twist, and secure the style with five large U-shaped pins.

3. Try the new braided bun (bottom left). Divide your hair into three sections at the back of your head, and secure tightly with an elastic. The middle ponytail should be slightly higher than the other two. Braid all three sections together, and secure with a clear elastic. Wrap the braid into a bun shape, covering the top elastic. Secure the bun with bobby pins, leaving the tail end of the braid out for a sporty vibe.

4. Try the avant-garde loop (bottom right). Part your hair down the middle and brush it back into a tight ponytail at the nape of your neck. When securing with an elastic, only pull your hair halfway through to form a loop. Wrap the tail end of the ponytail (there should be about 3-4 inches) around the elastic and secure with a bobby pin.)

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how to style wet hair julianne hough

Tip #3: Or, Go for the Fresh-off-the-Beach Look

Not feeling the full-on hairstyle? Do like Julianne Hough and let your choppy mane dry as is. Just towel dry your hair and apply an anti-frizz product to ensure it dries smooth. Opt for a more natural, undefined part and embrace your wild strands in all their glory.

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how to style wet hair philip b

Tip #4: Apply a Gel for Architectural Styles

If you’re up for a look that’s seriously fierce, you’ll need a powerful gel that will hold your slick strands in place. Philip B’s Oud Royal Gravity-Defying Gel enables you to sculpt your mane into an architectural style that lasts and doesn’t get flaky. It’s enriched with Oud which is perfect for both straight and curly hair types, and includes glycerin which adds moisture and shine. Your hair is left with a rock-hard and glossy finish, complemented by a sweet-wood scent.

How to use it? Apply it liberally on wet strands from roots to ends. Then, just slick your hair back into an edgy style.

Philip B Oud Royal Gravity-Defying Gel ($28, net-a-porter.com)

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how to style wet hair candice swanpoel

Tip #5: Go dominatrix with a slicked-back do

For one of the easiest ways to rock your wet mop, do like Candice Swanpoel and go for a straight-from-the-runway, slicked-back style. Apply a generous amount of strong gel (like Philip B’s Oud Royal Gravity-Defying Gel mentioned in the previous slide) from roots to about the nape of the neck, and a frizz-reducing serum on the ends.