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.
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It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.