Beating the heat is a breeze when it comes to choosing what to wear when it’s too hot to deal or slathering on cooling beauty products, but our hair is a whole different story. The humidity keeps ruining our best laid hair plans and turning our sleek strands into a frizzy mess. Sure, you have the option to just wear your hair in a bun all summer long, or you can tame your tresses and take back your style. Check out these tips and helpful products designed to control your locks during unruly summer days, and show humidity who’s boss.
1. Switch to a microfiber towel. Are you still vigorously rubbing your hair with one of those terrycloth towels when you get out of the shower? All that rubbing means more breakage and more frizz — the very thing you’re trying to avoid — so you may want to switch to a microfiber towel like the Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel ($13).
2. Use a diffuser. Traditional hair dryers don’t do you many favors. They dry your locks unevenly, which creates unwanted frizz. Try adding a diffuser attachment like the DevaCurl DevaFuser ($45). The hand-like attachment allows you to properly dry your strands from root to tip. The unique vents also offer 360° airflow to ensure your hair dries quickly and effectively.
3. Make a weekly date with hot oil treatments. By now, we all know that UV rays do serious damage to our skin. But what about our hair? Yup, the sun’s rays are also wreaking havoc on your mane and causing major frizz. That’s where L’Anza Keratin Healing Oil Hair Treatment ($44) comes in. Not only does it battle frizz by restoring moisture, but this sulfate- and paraben-free product also protects against UVA, UVB and UVC rays that dry out your tresses and cause frizziness.
4. Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates are really effective hair cleansers — a little too effective, actually. Sulfates can strip hair of its natural oils, causing dryness and frizziness. Go sulfate-free with Dermorganic Argan Oil Sulfate-Free Shampoo ($11) to keep your tresses clean and frizz-free. Plus, it’s got argan oil in it for some extra moisturizing.
5. Use a hydrating conditioner. First came dryness, then came frizz. To make sure your hair is properly moisturized and ready to beat the heat, try a hydrating conditioner like Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Hair Conditioner ($7). It’s a curly-girl fave because it’s so effective at adding much-needed moisture to quickly rehydrate your strands.
6. Switch to co-washing. No matter how gentle, your shampoo is stripping your hair’s natural oils with each wash, which is a main culprit of frizz. Switch it up a bit and use Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Complete Conditioning Co-Wash ($5) instead. This creamy cleanser gently removes product buildup while nourishing your hair with moisturizing Shea butter.
7. Sleep in a silk scarf. You can also battle the ultimate hairstyle ruiner while you’re sleeping. You may not realize it, but your bed linens are rubbing against your hair while you sleep, causing breakage that leads to frizz. Wrap your locks in the Echo “Ichat” Square Silk Scarf ($39) while you rest. The silk stops the harmful rubbing that’s distressing your tresses. Plus, since it’s silk and not cotton, it won’t absorb all the moisture from your hair.
8. Sleep on a satin pillowcase. If you’re an active sleeper, a silk hair scarf is probably not for you; go for the Spasilk Hair Beauty Pillowcase ($10) instead. It does the same job as a silk head scarf — preventing hair-breaking friction — without the fuss of wrapping your hair. Plus, it comes in 17 different colors, so it’ll match all of your bedding.
9. Invest in a good brush. Brushing your hair with the wrong brush can leave you with a damaged, frizzy mess. That’s where the Denman Cushion Brush ($10) comes in. It minimizes frizz-causing breakage and properly distributes product for complete hydration.
10. Try a hood dryer. So, you’ve deep conditioned, shampooed, washed and brushed your hair. But don’t forget about proper drying. Regular bonnet dryers can blow your hair around in the bonnet, which causes (you guessed it) frizz, but the Laila Ali Ionic Soft Bonnet Dryer ($45) doesn’t. Plus, the ion-infused airflow helps maintain moisture levels to keep your locks looking shiny and lush.
11. Get a new comb. A comb is just a comb, right? Wrong. The YS Park 452 Round Tooth Cutting Comb ($16) isn’t just a comb. The YS Park 452 is heat resistant up to 428°F, the holes in the handle allow for airflow for when you’re blowdrying your hair and the wider teeth on the comb better distribute product and won’t tug and break your hair. Use this to work your conditioner through your hair in the shower to make sure your locks are properly hydrated.
12. Use a leave-in conditioner. Laugh in the face of humidity with this genius product. Apply Giovanni Direct Leave-In Treatment Conditioner ($9) post wash for controlled care of your hair. A little of this product goes a long way to tame flyaways and reduce frizz. Take that, humidity.
13. Use a heat protectant. Heat styling is usually a no-no if you’re trying to avoid frizz, but thanks to Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray ($6), you can dust off the ol’ flat iron and get to stylin’. This product not only protects against high heat, but also prevents friction.
14. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. What’s the key to frizz-free hair? You guessed it — moisturizing. The Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie ($13) does just that. The coconut oil in this wonder product hydrates and protects your hair while also reducing breakage caused by dryness.
15. Use a hydrating styling gel. If you read the label on some hair gels on the market, you’ll notice that they contain alcohol. That’s a huge no-no for frizz control. Reach for Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel ($9) instead. The alcohol-free non-drying formula also contains nourishing oils and provides flake-free hold.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.