If the bane of your summer beauty existence is finding ways to fight flyaways and frizzy hair, take heed. Understanding exactly why your strands misbehave in the heat is half the battle. The other is finding the right mix of products for your specific hair texture and knowing exactly how to use them. Something as simple as proper detangling or swapping out products with certain moisture-attracting ingredients could make the difference between smooth and unruly strands. Here, two celebrity stylists help us get to the root of how to tame tresses in warm weather.
Understand how frizz happens. Once you know what’s causing hair to freak out, you’ll know how to combat it. Frizz occurs when the outermost layer of the hair (or cuticle) is open thanks to breakage, split ends, or new growth. “Curly and coarse hair tends to have more frizz, as these hair types naturally expand. Finer hair types tend to deal with less frizz, as the cuticle layer lies flatter,” says celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan. It’s also a result of dehydration. Dry hair becomes brittle and broken and those frayed cuticles stick up off each strand, making hair not look smooth.
Fight frizz strategically. Keeping strands in check can be tackled in stages. If you’re desperate for a temporary fix for a few flyaways, something like a smoothing balm or hairspray will most likely do the trick. The middle ground solution would be a smoothing shampoo and conditioner to help seal the cuticle before you even start styling. And if you’re looking for a more permanent solution that will last you through the summer, Marjan suggests an in-salon keratin treatment. “They push keratin into the hair and seal it in, resulting in smoother, shinier strands,” says Marjan.
Know your hair type. When it comes to taming hair woes, you need to know what works for your hair type, specifically. For coarse and curly hair, concentrate a shampoo like OUAI Smooth Shampoo ($28) at the roots, and a conditioner like OUAI Smooth Conditioner ($26) from roots to ends. If your strands are finer, use the conditioner only on the ends. Let the conditioner or a mask sit for at least five minutes before rinsing with cool water. “If you are feeling extra ambitious, dilute a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with water and rinse hair with it to close the cuticle layer further,” suggests Marjan.
Kellon Deryck, L’Oréal Paris Celebrity Expert, also recommends, particularly for curly hair, incorporating a weekly hydration mask or hot oil treatment into the routine to help strengthen the cuticles and block humidity and moisture loss. For finer hair that’s easily weighed down by heavy conditioners, Deryck says to look for treatments that coat and close your cuticles instead of ones that absorb into it. “This moisturizes your hair in a way that lets you wash out the weight,” says Deryck. He recommends the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment ($7).
Avoid flyaway creators. Going for a lighter hue for the summer seems like a nice seasonal switch-up, but bleaching can weaken the outermost layer of the hair, making frizz more difficult to treat. Chlorine can also dry the hair out, and dry strands will become brittle and unruly. Protect it from moisture loss and other damaging effects of chlorine and salt water with a leave-in treatment like Kinky-Curly Pool Party Leave-In Conditioner ($12). But be wary of over-washing, which can actually add to the problem rather than solve it. Your hair naturally generates its own oils that help prevent terrible flyaways, so try not to wash your hair until you really need to. When you do wash, use anti-frizz (moisturizing) products.
Style smarter. Although you may be going the heat-free styling route in the warmer months, one of the often missed benefits of heat styling is its ability to help seal frayed ends. The problem is that some hot tools can actually contribute more frizz if it drags across the hair, creating more broken strands that will be harder to camouflage. Marjan, who works with the likes of Kourtney Kardashian and Ashley Graham, says to keep the concentrator nozzle attached to your blow dryer and make sure that when in use, it’s always pointing down to direct the hair downward. Finish styling with the cool shot feature on your dryer to seal in the look and style. Deryck, who counts Missy Elliott among his clientele, advises that you avoid using products that dry out the hair or contain lots of alcohol. He also suggests embracing your texture and to turn the heat down a notch on your styling tools for best results.
Switch up your sleep habits. It turns out that how you sleep can affect your daily ‘do as well. We’ve all heard that snoozing on a satin or silk pillowcase will prevent the friction that can lead to breakage — and that it is that breakage that causes frizz. Both Marjan and Deryck agree but friction isn’t the only element at play. “Sleeping on silk actually keeps moisture in your hair and skin while regular cotton pillowcases pull moisture out, which is why we wake up with crazy bedhead and fine lines from sleeping,” says Marjan, who recommends The Hollywood Silk Solutions Silk Pillowcases ($45).
Skip the water. Although summer is the season to soak up tons of sun and water, using a product that has H2O high on the ingredient list could actually be why your frizz won’t stay away. High water-containing beauty buys act like a magnet to attract moisture and increase the effects of humidity in the air. So while you may think that you’re keeping your locks hydrated, you may just be contributing to the puffiness.
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