Best ways to prevent hair from getting frizzy in humidity

Did you know hair still contains a bit of moisture once it is dry?
Frizz happens when hair cuticles, or the outermost layers of a hair shaft, are opened, and moisture from the air sneaks in. If your hair is over-processed or over-styled, it may be damaged, and it will be even more porous and more susceptible to humidity being absorbed. This means a higher likelihood of frizz. For fine hair, this means becoming limp, while for thick, curly hair, this can mean kinkiness and poofiness.
How can you prevent frizz when the humidity is at an all-time high? Here are 9 tips that are sure to help:
Apply Hairspray and Gel
Hairsprays and gels and some of the best everyday products on the market for controlling frizz. They are not as heavy as they once were back in the 1980s. Gel is a wonderful product to spread throughout your hair before blow-drying. It will smooth out and loosen curls. Hairspray, on the other hand, gives you a flexible hold on natural-looking, flowy styles. This works even in the most humid weather.
Add Essential Oils
Many types of essential oils can work wonders for frizzy hair. They can be used before going outside to coat each hair shaft and block the extra moisture from getting in. Or, you can add them midday for a quick touch-up. The best oils to try are coconut and peppermint.

Photo by Christin Hume
Change Your Drying Routine
You need to remove as much moisture from your hair as possible once you get out of the shower. The best way to do this is by using a microfiber towel, which is extra-absorbent, and by gently squeezing and blotting hair, rather than rubbing it back and forth roughly. However, you should still allow your hair to air dry as much as you can.
You may want to blow your hair out with a hairdryer, eliminating kinks, and this is alright as long as you use the lowest setting.
Heat Style Your Locks
Blow drying in itself can lead to dry, dull, and lifeless hair, but the step may be necessary to straighten unmanageable curls. A blowout will not prevent frizz and may cause the now-straightened hair to appear fluffy.
That is why it is pertinent that you add a flatiron to your beauty routine. Straightening your hair with an iron that has built-in digital technology monitoring the temperature is best. Not only do you want each pass-through the same temperature as the previous one, but you will also want to make sure the setting is not hot enough to cause damage to your hair.
Buy Frizz-combating Shampoo and Conditioner
There are a plethora of anti-frizz shampoo products on the market that come complete with extra nutrients meant to moisturize and coat the hair. Some of these are even combined with conditioner and sold as a two-in-one product.
Stand-alone conditioners that fight frizz work by filling the pores in a hair’s cuticle with anti-frizz lipids. This prevents humidity from sneaking in and causing frizz. Some of these products are for washing out. A great deal of them is made to be left in the hair.
Here's a tip: when it comes to those products that need to be rinsed out, you should wash with cold water. While it could be just an old wives’ tale, it has been said that cold water closes the cuticle and leaves hair less likely to frizz and more under control.

Photo by Corey O'Brien
Experiment with Special Hairstyles
If you know that frizz will be a problem on a particular day, and you don’t have enough time to heat style or add products, the best thing you can do to stop the inevitable is rock a humidity-friendly style. This means a top knot, or braid, or any other style where the hair is pulled back or contained. This works better if your hair starts wet.
Another option is planning far in advance with the right haircut. If you know humidity is a chronic issue where you live, and your hair is prone to frizzing, you should consider growing your hair longer and getting a straight cut. The hair’s added weight will combat frizz. Or, you can get an angled cut to eliminate some of your hair’s bulk.
Purchase Anti-frizz Serums
Anti-frizz products, like serums, combat frizz by encapsulating the cuticle and causing it to lay extraordinarily flat. They work quite well as long as you choose silicone-free products. This is because silicone can seriously deflate the volume of your hair.
Wash Your Hair Less Often
If you wash your hair too much, you are essentially washing out all of its natural oils. This means it will not be as moisturized. Humidity will then take that opportunity to invade your hair’s cuticles. Instead, wash your hair, at the most, about every 48 hours.
Also, refrain from over-brushing or over-combing your hair. These actions, in large doses, can lead to excessive breakage of cuticles.
Schedule Keratin Treatments
Keratin treatments fight frizzy hair in a more permanent type of way. The treatment’s effects last for several weeks and can save you hours in styling time. You will still have shiny and smooth hair that you can control, but you won’t have to worry about daily maintenance.
Any small change in your hair care regimen can get you the sought-after, frizz-free results you crave. Whether it is working with different hair products, finding new ways to use old tools, or considering a more permanent treatment, there are plenty of options for achieving silky, smooth curls in the humidity.
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