Fashion
Throw Away Your Blow Dryer This Summer
They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but I think I speak for curly/wavy-haired peeps everywhere when I say, it's hard to be us. After all, we have to worry about angering our curl pattern, and we generally have some pretty aggressive natural frizz to face on a day-to-day basis. Some turn to heat-styling to cure their woes, but it's a quick fix that can leave your hair in worse shape than you started with — and wavy hair with split ends is a whole different beast (almost literally ... if it gets too damaged, my hair starts to feel like a Muppet pelt). Besides, it's too dang hot to be spending 20 minutes under a blow dryer after each shower!
Even worse, the fast-approaching summer is filled with pitfalls and booby traps for wavy-haired people. Depending on your climate, you'll probably either be faced with damage-inducing over-drying or frizz-inducing humidity, either of which is less than ideal. There are also factors like chlorinated pools (*gasp!*), the ocean, and air conditioning to deal with — indulgences your hair is sure to punish you for with abundant unruliness. So, without further ado, here are a few tips and tricks to keep your summer mane in check without heat tools!
1. Treat Yo'self
Trader Joes Coconut Oil, $13, Amazon
The everlasting words of Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford are applicable to almost any predicament. Take a little TLC with your mane, and do some masks/deep conditioning. My favorite mask of the moment is actually plain ol' coconut oil. You can buy it at Trader Joe's for around $5, it smells amazing, and it makes a huge difference with the frizz level. I generally put it on a half-hour or so before washing my hair to let it soak in.
2. Prevent Buildup
Apple Cider Vinegar, $12, Amazon
I live in LA, so the hard water can leave some pretty gross mineral deposits in my hair. Add that to the rest of the products on this list, and you've got some clarifying to do. I like to use apple cider vinegar (again, cheap, and easy to find) diluted 1:3 with water as a rinse before conditioning my hair, around once a week. It doesn't leave a smell (thank goodness, because that stuff is foul), but does leave my hair noticeably shinier and bouncier — without the help of a blow dryer.
3. Brush your hair before showering ...
Sounds counterintuitive, but it actually helps your hair keep its natural curl pattern — that way, you don't need to supplement with a curling iron. Another thing that helps keep it happy? Pat your hair dry, as opposed to rubbing at it when you step out of the shower; it really cuts down on the frizz/styling you need to do.
SH&SH Detangling Hair Brush, $14, Amazon
5. ... and heap on even more products after
Even after the coconut oil mask, some leave-in products are generally in order here. I like to use some form of argan oil — I tend to use the cheap stuff you can get at Sally's Beauty Supply, but if you have the money/inclination, Moroccan Oil and Josie Maran products always come highly recommended.
Pura D'or Moroccan Argan Oil, $19, Amazon
6. Frizz-free sleeping
To combat nighttime-induced frizzies, I like to sleep with my hair in a low, loose ponytail. I sleep on my side, so that leaves it generally undisturbed, and I rarely have to do any touch-ups with the curler or flat iron in the morning. I've also heard that a satin pillowcase can do wonders in the hair/sleep arena, but I've been to lazy to try it thus far.
