4 Dry Styling Products That Will Save Time and Your Hair

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Welcome to Esther Tested, where Racked contributor, surfer, equestrian and blogger Esther Hahn shares the beauty and fashion products that stand up to her stylishly rugged lifestyle.

Esther tackles jumps before tackling her helmet hair

Every hair professional insists that washing hair daily is a big mistake. So what's a girl to do when she's wearing helmets or ponytails and breaking a sweat? She dry styles. My routine is fast and basic. I start with a dry shampoo and a blast of heat from a blow dryer, curling my hair around a brush or my fingers (whichever is more convenient). Then I decide whether or not I want volume and layer another product before finishing with some hair spray. Not only does it save my hair, it also saves time. Going straight from the barn (or the gym) to dinner never felt so seamless.

The Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($18) is my best pick out of all the dry shampoos on the market. It soaks up all the greasy hair oil without leaving behind a residue. The non-aerosol bottle is a little tricky to master (remember to shake before squeezing) but helps minimize haircare's environmental damage (unlike most of the products in my arsenal). Be sure to apply and brush out the dry shampoo before applying other products to avoid the dreaded dry shampoo clumping.

After the dry shampoo and a blast of heat, I apply Oribe's Thick Dry Finishing Spray ($37) for added volume and texture. I work it into the roots out into the body of my hair to create a tousled, sexy look. Like other Oribe products, a little goes a long way. But I keep the smaller sized bottle tucked into my bag for quick touch-ups when needed.

When I'm after a sleeker look, I skip the Oribe and use Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment ($26) after the dry shampoo. This styling treatment adds polish and smoothness while also conditioning and strengthening hair. I reach for this to tame the frizzy hair at the nape of my neck after a good ride (and sweat).

To set all that hard (but fast!) work into place, a quick spritz of hairspray makes the style survive the elements and prevents the hair from reverting back to flat. The Sebastian Shaper Brushable Hair Spray ($6) is truly that: brushable. I hate sprays that create a crunchy coating, who's with me? This one holds hair in place without the look or feel of traditional hair spray. The only tricky part to this product is finding it in stores.
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