Fashion
How To Fight Frizz When It's Humid Outside
Summer brings sunshine and warm weather, but it also brings the rain and thunderstorms that are accompanied by massive amounts of humidity. Depending on where you live, humidity can be an every-so-often annoyance or an everyday factor in your beauty routine. Either way, I think it's time you learn how to fight frizz in humid weather, because it's possible to keep your locks shiny and smooth all the time.
Frizz happens when your hair cuticles are dry or damaged and susceptible to the whims of the weather system. In order to prevent your hair from frizzing up, it needs to be well-moisturized and sleek. To achieve this look, you need to check out the products and hair tools you use on a daily basis and decide if they're helping or hurting your battle against frizz. With the right tools in your arsenal, there's no reason your hair can't stay sleek all day.
These tips are great for everyday use and special occasions, but the whole process can be a little time intensive. If you're crunched for time and need a casual look, don't be afraid to style your wet hair straight out of the shower and go enjoy the outdoors. After all, that's what summer's all about. But for frizz-free locks, read on.
1. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner
Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, $24, Sephora
Shampoo and conditioner provide the basis for your hair care routine, so make sure you're using the right ones. A moisturizing formula is a must, but make sure it's lightweight at the same time. If the formula is too heavy, it'll weigh down your hair and look limp. Look for products labeled "smoothing" or "frizz-fighting" and be sure to let your conditioner soak in.
2. Avoid washing your hair too often
Curly and wavy haired girls are often prone to frizz and dryness, which seems unfair until you remember you get to have awesome volume and cool hair texture. As a wavy-haired person, I'm a big fan of not washing my hair every day. I shampoo three times a week and use dry shampoo in between washes. The bonus of not washing your hair means you have to style it less, which leads to less damaged hair and less frizz as a result.
3. Make hair serum your friend
Moroccanoil Frizz Control, $32, Amazon
A hair serum with anti-frizz properties can work magic on your hair. Apply a lightweight serum like Moroccanoil Frizz Control or John Frieda Frizz Ease to damp hair before blow-drying. It'll lock in shine and prevent your hair from frizzing later. If you don't want to purchase a new product, use any smoothing treatment you already have lying around. It'll still do the trick.
John Frieda Frizz Ease, $8, Amazon
4. Dry hair completely with a round brush
One of the easiest ways to accidentally make hair susceptible to frizz is by not blowdrying hair completely. When you leave wet patches in your hair, the dampness will automatically cause frizz in the areas surrounding the wet hair. The drier your hair is, the better. Section your hair when you blow-dry it and use a round brush with bristles of varying height that really grip the hair. While boar bristle brushes are great, you can find more affordable ones with synthetic fibers that work just as well.
5. Use a secret trick to avoid hairline frizz
The worst part about frizzy hair can be the tiny baby hairs at your hairline that pop up no matter how carefully you style and straighten your hair. After you've blown out your hair, you can smooth it over with a flat iron for extra frizz protection. Then, counterintuitively, wet the hairs around your hairline. Use your blowdryer and flat iron to re-style these hairs. Blogger Dani Ryan posted this tip on her website and swears by it.
6. Finish it off with a frizz-fighting hairspray
John Freida Frizz Ease Hairspray, $8, Amazon
After you've carefully blown out your hair, the last thing you want is to step outside and have all your hard work become undone. Sealing your hair with hairspray is the necessary final step of the process. Choose one that is lightweight, not heavy, and specifically made to fight frizz. Again, John Frieda's Frizz Ease line has an option, or you can pick one up at the drugstore like cult classic L'Oreal Elnett Hair.
L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold, $11, Amazon
7. If all else fails, turn to a keratin treatment
Keratin straightening treatments can be a great long-term solution to your frizz problem. They're expensive (think $200-300), but could be worth it if you have the money. In a DailyMail article, journalist Anna Magee swears by a keratin treatment that transformed her frizz-prone hair.
Images: Khánh Hmoong/Flickr; SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget; JamesDPhotography/Flickr
