You've made it. After a long year of work and boredom, you're finally lying on a tropical beach, soaking up the sun and sipping a refreshing fruity cocktail. Soon, you'll be exploring this beautiful island, go scuba diving in the mesmerizing depths of the ocean and enjoying romantic walks by the beach under the moonlight. It's going to your best holiday ever!
But, wait, what's happening to your hair?! All that humidity is turning it into a frizzy mess! It's so bad, it's like your hair has taken on a life of its own just so it can ruin your vacation pictures.
Don't let it. Here are 5 easy way to tame frizzy hair:
Why Does Your Hair Frizz?
Raised cuticles. When your cuticles are flat, your strands look smooth. But as soon as they raise up, your hair can take on too much moisture and it swells up. Hair then kinks and bends at every single pitted spot, then a frizzy mess takes over your head.
Let's say you have dry hair. You go outside when it's humid and the air is full of moisture. Your thirsty hair wants to drink it all up. Your cuticles raise up, hair swells with moisture, and pouf! Frizzy hair.
By the way, this is why curly hair tends to be a lot more susceptible to frizz than straight hair. Curly hair is naturally drier. Plus, when your dredging a brush through it every day, ripping through those tangles, you're begging those cuticles to raise up, welcoming the frizz with open arms (maybe not, but that's how the frizziness sees it).
How To Tame Frizzy Hair
1. Don't Wash Your Hair Too Often
No one is saying you should go out with a mane of greasy hair. But if your hair is curly, coarse or dry, washing it too much can strip it of the natural oils that keep it naturally moisturized. Without them, your hair will try to drink moisture from the air and we all know how that ends now. If you're prone to the frizz, wash your hair only two or three times a week.
2. Choose A Gentle, Glycerin-Packed Shampoo
While we're on the topic, make sure your shampoo is loaded with glycerin. This humectant hydrates hair from the inside out, giving it all the moisture it needs. This makes it less likely that your hair will lose moisture and try to steal the extra from the air.
While you're at it, pick a shampoo that's also low in sulfates. Save the sulfates for your deep cleansing days (which are important, too), and use something milder for everyday use. Sulfates are great at removing every last bit of oil, dirt and grime from your locks. But, when your hair is dry, they do this a little too well, stripping the hair of all its natural oils – even that little bit it needs to stay soft and avoid the frizz!
3. Use Low Heat, And Dry Your Hair With A Diffuser
One of the easiest ways to let humidity destroy your hair is applying too much heat when you blowdry. A diffuser also helps with that, and cuts down on the thrashing of the hair via high blow settings. Simply attach it to the blowdrier, put it on a cool setting and watch it do its magic. If you can, let your hair air dry 90% of the way, before blowdrying it. It may take a little longer to dry your hair, but it's a small price to pay to keep the frizziness at bay, no?
4. Always Use Conditioner
If dry hair raises and opens up its cuticles to drink moisture from the air whenever it's thirsty, quenching its thirst right after washing it makes sure those pesky cuticles stay flat and closed.
Conditioners are specifically formulated to condition and protect the hair after washing; a product that has both beauty, and brains! Hair oils are also beneficial as moisturizers. Argan Oil does this particularly well. You can use a few drops as an all over treatment, or just on the ends to smooth out flyaways after blowdrying (just avoid the roots or your locks may get a bit too oily!). Argan oil works because it's rich in fatty acids that deeply moisturize your hair, keeping it soft and shiny. It also coats the hair, forming a protective barrier that keeps moisture locked in, and out. Apply sparingly, 2-3 drops into your palm, rub hands together, then lightly massage into hair.
5. Use A Deep-Conditioning Treatment Twice A Month
You've probably heard of keratin. It's the protein in hair is made of. When your hair gets damaged (think sun exposure, cold weather and harsh chemical treatments), it loses keratin. Without keratin, your hair can't hold on to moisture, or anything for that matter - including your expensive conditioners and masks.
You know where this is leading: damaged hair = frizzy mess. Our Pure Protein Treatment For Damaged Hair & Keratin Repair can beef-up the keratin layer, injecting new life into your hair. It's so powerful than using it only twice a month does the trick. But be warned: this protein is super concentrated, so it must be mixed with your favorite moisturizing conditioner or mask before application.
Take that, humidity! From now, we can finally enjoy our holidays without worrying about you turning our hair into a frizzy ball!