Warmer temperatures, higher humidity, and hair frizz are interlinked. Here is what to do to prevent, treat and manage your frizz during the muggy summer months.
With summer months comes higher humidity, higher temperatures, and a higher chance of having hair frizz, according to SELF, a website that focuses on health and beauty. Humidity may not be an issue for everyone, but for many, especially those with dry or damaged hair, humidity is detrimental to those looking to manage and style their hair.
“When the weather is humid, the air has a high concentration of water molecules, which are rich in hydrogen atoms,” said Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “These water molecules bind to the hair, increasing the number of hydrogen bonds,” this causes the hair to bond to other strands of hair or fold on itself, causing that distinct frizzy look associated with high humidity. Straight hair can become wavy hair while wavy hair turns curly, and curly hair becomes even more curly when affected by these hydrogen bonds.
Any hair type, whether straight, curly, wavy, or anywhere in between, is susceptible to frizz. According to Papri Sarkar, M.D., a dermatologist at Northeast Dermatology Associates, certain hair types are more affected than others. People who over-style their hair, add tons of product, or wash their hair frequently are at a much higher risk of frizz than those with curly or fine hair. Those with dry hair are also at a higher risk of frizz, the more porous your hair, the more likely your chances of hair frizz.
The more your hair absorbs water, the more porous it is, according to Eliut Rivera of the Eliut Salon in New York City. If you want to discover how porous your hair you can take a strand of clean hair, place it into a cup of water, and see if it sinks, which means a high level of porosity or floats which would indicate a low-average level of porosity.
Here are some tips for managing frizz according to SELF:
- Using the right shampoo and conditioner– Use the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. For those with hair that is naturally frizzy, use a moisturizing and hydrating shampoo and conditioner, for example, Alma oil-infused shampoo.
- Leave-in conditioner– Leave-in conditioner is an extra layer of protection after using a moisturizing conditioner in the shower, keeping your hair properly moisturized.
- Apply Heat Protectant to your hair– If you like to style with a flat iron. SELF recommends heat protectant hair products to reduce damage to your hair, leading to less frizz.
- Applying Hair Oil- Hair oil is for those looking to preserve their hair texture while protecting themselves from frizzy hair.
- Heat Treat your hair in between washes– Overwashing your hair is one of the most common causes of hair frizz. Instead of washing your hair constantly, self recommends heat treating your hair instead.
- Apply a bit of hairspray– Any hairspray with a super-high hold rating will do the trick. Make sure to be thorough in your coverage and application of the product, as one of the best ways to fight hair frizz, especially in combination with previous tips.