I've had an ongoing love-hate relationship with my zig-zagged hair texture for as long as I can remember. Though there’s one thing that has remained constant, and that’s the amount of hair I was blessed with. My massive amount of hair can make for a treacherous styling process - if you don’t have the right products. And I’ve tried everything - and I mean everything - looking for the right formulations and combinations that tame down frizz and cut down on time spent on my wavy hair routine. So when I saw the Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Soft Power Air Dry Cream in my testing bin for our Best of Beauty 2024 Awards, I anxiously awaited my next wash day to put it to the test.
Following the directions instructed on the Air Dry Cream bottle, I squeezed out a dime’s worth of the lightweight cream, raking it into my freshly washed, damp hair using my fingertips repeatedly throughout my mid to ends. I then used about three dime-sized amounts of product, evenly coating my strands. I then used whatever amount of product that’s left on both my fingertips and palms and gently swept my fingers through my baby hairs and roots to tame my stubborn frizz. Because this product is also a leave-in conditioner, Los Angeles-based hairstylist Sabrina Porsche recommends brushing through your hair after the product is applied. “A leave-in usually acts as a detangler, so it will help glide the brush through the hair for easy brushing,” she says.
Depending on your hair texture, Porsche recommends applying the cream by “smoothing it through the ends or twirling the hair.” You may think the best part is that this styling method eliminates the need for diffusing, but Porsche calls out the light hold as the real gamechanger. “Because of the hold, you can style your hair while it’s wet and let it set to see the results,” she says. My tip for those with thick hair like mine that want an even application is dividing your hair in half using a claw clip, ensuring it isn’t just the top layer of hair receiving the benefits of the styling cream.
What makes this Air Dry Cream stand out from the frizz-smoothing creams and serums my colleagues and I tried over the past year for Best of Beauty testing? Cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos calls out the fourth ingredient - behentrimonium chloride - as the real workhorse when combating frizz. “This positively-charged conditioning agent adheres to damaged, negatively charged areas on the surface of hair fibers,” says Dobos. She also shared that this compound is one of the most effective hair conditioning ingredients out there.
Taking a deeper look at the formulation, Dobos insists that “these aren’t your typical styling polymers.” Instead of using PVP (also known as “polyvinylpyrrolidone”) or acrylates crosspolymers, which can result in your hair feeling stiff with an extremely strong hold, the Air Dry Cream is made with naturally-derived wax for a light, pliable hold. A combination of candelilla and rice bran wax are found in this formula, and serve as emollients that help smooth the hair cuticles. This, Dobos says, “provide water repellency and film-forming properties.” With this combination, your hair texture should still look defined and amplified, but the lightness of both these waves help create a soft, weightless hold, rather than your hair feeling sticky and crunchy.
Two additional ingredients play key roles in maintaining healthy, shiny hair: yuzu peel extract, which contains vitamin C, is a powerhouse of antioxidants; and plum oil, for added shine, is rich in omega-6 fatty acids. Meanwhile, Briogeo’s proprietary Super B-Complex, which contains many B vitamins - helps maintain healthy hair and moisturize the scalp. This powerful cream creates a barrier over the cuticles, helping prevent them from absorbing too much water. If too much water does get absorbed, Dobos says this can often cause the cuticle to swell and crack.
Raking the cream evenly throughout my hair, I noticed the refreshing citrus smell of yuzu extract and musky florals. But what kept me going back washday after washday was the simplification of my wavy hair routine, eliminating the need for multiple products and the tedious process of diffusing the lion's mane of hair on my head. Shanna Shipin, Allure’s shopping director and fellow Best of Beauty tester for wavy hair, had a similar experience. “It absolutely delivers on its de-frizzing promises, and as a bonus, it has a nice, light fragrance,” she says. And that is why the Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Soft Power Air Dry Cream is awarded an Allure Best of Beauty 2024 Award win: tackling my naturally wavy hair concerns of frizz and undefined waves in mere minutes - all packaged in a convenient teal-blue tube.
In practice, the cream operates as a lightweight, leave-in conditioner with a gentle hold that supports air-drying rather than forcing a heavy blow-dry routine. The result is defined waves with reduced frizz and a soft, touchable feel. For those with thick, dense hair, the technique of splitting the hair in half with a claw clip ensures even distribution and balanced results across the entire head. This approach helps prevent the top layer from receiving all the benefits while the rest remains under-treated.
How air-dry formulas work for wavy hair
What makes this Air Dry Cream stand out scientifically is its combination of conditioning agents and waxes that deliver a light, pliable hold without stiff, crunchy texture. Behen trimonium chloride provides frizz-fighting benefits by adhering to damaged areas, while waxes like candelilla and rice bran smooth cuticles and give water repellency. The presence of yuzu peel extract brings antioxidant protection and a bright citrus note, and plum oil contributes shine and omega-6 fatty acids. The Super B-Complex supports ongoing moisturization and scalp health, contributing to a healthier overall appearance of waves.
The practical application tips are simple: apply to damp hair, distribute evenly, and consider sectioning for thorough coverage. A leave-in conditioner role means you don’t need a heavy arsenal of products to achieve a polished look. The light hold allows the waves to set as they dry, producing a natural, defined texture without excessive product buildup or residue.
What testers say and who should try it
Testers found that the cream delivered on frizz reduction and wave definition with a light fragrance that many enjoy. The product’s design as an all-in-one solution appeals to anyone seeking a streamlined routine for wavy or curly hair who wants to minimize diffusing time and maximize natural texture.
For anyone with dense, thick hair, the strategy of dividing hair into sections can help ensure even distribution and consistent results across the head. The combination of a detangling effect and light hold is especially beneficial when air-drying is preferred or when you want to reduce the use of heat tools.
- Apply a dime-sized amount to damp hair, focusing on mid to ends for even distribution.
- Repeat with additional dime-sized portions as needed to coat the strands.
- Brush through if you prefer a looser, more uniform finish, especially when using as a leave-in conditioner.
- Wait for air-dry or style while damp to let the light hold set the waves.
Ultimately, the product’s strengths lie in simplifying routines, delivering frizz control, and allowing wavy hair to air-dry with a natural-looking definition.
