Oh, humidity. It can mean one of two things: it’s a beautiful summer day and you’re heading to the beach to leisurely eat cheese and crackers, or it’s a beautiful summer day and you have five more blocks to go before you make it to the office. More often than not, you’re probably dealing with the latter.
Whether you’re trying to keep your Brazilian blowout at bay on the beach, or you’re attempting to look sleek for that big sales pitch, maintaining straight hair is challenging if it’s a humid day. Here are some science-backed tips I’ve gathered that will keep your hair straight in humidity.
How to Keep Your Hair Straight in Humid Weather
Choose The Right Products
First, make sure you’re using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. These days, most women place a stronger emphasis on purchasing higher-quality beauty products, so there are a plethora of options for you to choose from. Something to keep an eye out for is a shampoo and conditioner duo that contains protein. Protein is known to repair damaged hair as it smooths the hair shaft. The road to smooth, straight hair begins in the shower, so go ahead and splurge a bit on a high-quality product. Remember, you don’t need to use too much; typically with pricier products, a little will go a long way.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Flawlessly Straight Shampoo and Conditioner Duo Set
Dry Your Hair Well
While step one may seem a bit obvious, step two is (somehow) lesser-known. Once you get out of the shower, make sure that you completely dry every single strand of hair. When your hair is damp, it acts as a humectant. This basically means that your hair will attract more water, which is what creates those stubborn frizzies and curls. All hair types are prone to retaining a lot of water, especially thick or curly hair.
Plus, it’s important to remember that some hair-drying methods are better than others. Here’s a tip: instead of roughing up your hair with a towel, try patting and squeezing the hair. When you create too much friction with a vigorous towel dry, your hair becomes more prone to split ends, flyaways, and damage.
Use a Heat Protector
After towel-drying your hair (before using a blowdryer), make sure that you apply a heat protectant spray. Again, I advise that you invest in a high-quality product, but remember that quality does not mean that it has to be expensive! Do your research to determine the best product for your hair type and your wallet. Not only are heat protectant sprays great for acting as your hair’s armor; they also aid in detangling, smoothing, and moisturizing, making it a perfect fit for your goal of a silky, sleek look.
Avoid Frizz-Creating Brushes
You’ll also want to keep tabs on what kind of brush you’re using as some brushes will cause more damage than others. There are a ton of affordable, wet hair-friendly brushes on the market for you to try. Personally, a detangler brush works much better for me than a wide-tooth comb. Once you thoroughly detangle and dry your hair (whether you choose to air-dry or use a blowdryer), you’ll be ready to move on to the next step.
As a side note, if you have extra curly or thick hair, it’s a good idea to invest in a serum, oil, or shea butter that will enrich your hair with additional nutrients and moisture. Just make sure that you’re not running the oil through your roots – apply the product away from the scalp to avoid looking greasy. Shea butter is my personal top pick for dry, frizzy hair.
Use a Hair Straightener
The next step is to break out the straightener. And, listen; I think everyone is guilty of holding onto a straightener they’ve had for five years. If you fall into that category, or if you possess a questionable straightener, it’s time to upgrade (I consider the LANDOT 2-in-1 straightener and curler the most genius flat iron of the year). The quality of your hot tools can have a major impact on how your hair behaves in humidity, in addition to how the final look turns out.
Some women have thick, curly, or wavy locks that will require them to section off their hair in order to achieve a fully straight look. If that’s the case, make sure you’re running a brush through your hair as you straighten to avoid any weird patterns or lumpiness.
Make It Last
Once you’ve styled your hair to your liking, you’re almost done! Grab your favorite hair spray and mist your hair to keep everything in place. Remember, this isn’t an updo; you don’t need to go crazy with the hair spray. Just a quick mist all around your head is enough to lock everything in place. You don’t want to reverse all of that hard work by clumping your strands together.
By following these steps, you should be able to achieve a chic, straight, flyaway-free look that will last for hours. You are officially ready to go out and serve some looks, girl.
Like these tips? Scroll down for more!
