5 Tips To Taming That Summer Frizz!

by Natalie Hoage on July 29, 2011

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Here is something that I’m definitely not used to: frizzy hair. I flat iron my hair everyday, and if I don’t flat iron it I let it do its own natural-wave thing. But here in Southern California, we aren’t used to the humidity; most of us can deal with the heat but not the nasty humidity we’ve had the past few weeks.

And everybody knows that with heat and humidity comes frizzy hair. Even after flat ironing it and putting in a smoothing product, the sweat wreaks havoc on my mane. I found some amazing tips from Santa Monica, CA-based professional hairstylist and color expert Barbara Abbasi and I thought I’d share them with those of you who are unlucky enough to deal with the same problem.

Keep It Long

If you are thinking about cutting off those locks to keep you cool, think again. Short hair is actually more likely to bulk up in hot humid weather. If you want to cut them off, wait until the humidity dies down (fall or winter seasons).

To Wash Or Not To Wash, That Is The Question

Do you wash your hair daily? Would you be willing to skip a day? To tame the frizz, you have to make sure that you don’t over wash your hair. The natural oils in your hair actually help tame the frizz and fly-aways. And a good conditioner is a must; ask your haircare professional for a recommendation of what conditioner is right for your hair. Make sure to leave it on for a while before rinsing, and leave a very light layer in your hair to help combat frizz.

Tools Do Matter

It is all in the tools. Using the right tools can quickly tame and eliminate the frizz. You know how you can tell the difference between getting your hair done at the salon (where they use pricey hairbrushes, a good tourmaline dryer, and an expensive flat iron)? Yeah, me too. But here’s the thing: paying for those high-end products is really worth the cost. They do make a difference—I have purchased all of those items and have had them for years.

Steer Clear of The Oomph

Stay away from products that give you more volume and body, resulting in summer frizz.  Go light on the products—they actually can cause more frizz than they’re worth!

Leave Your Hair Alone

Instead of dousing your hair with products and then spending a half-hour to style it, why not try a look that won’t take too much time and is kinder to your natural hair? Try a quick twist and then play up your makeup or a big, chunky piece of jewelry. Braid your hair. Create a messy bun. Get creative!

How do you tame the frizz? Any words of wisdom to us frizz newbies?

  • Julie C.

    My mother complains I “have such nice hair and you never do anything with it!” so much, but in the heat and humidity there’s just nothing more simple or easy than putting it in a ponytail …

    I really should put more effort into it. Maybe in September. :)

  • henny ort

    Is that picture for real? My frizzy hair is just a tad unflaired, if such a word exists.

  • Gigi

    I have wavy-curly hair that dries with lots and lots of frizz. I must say that living in California my entire life it’s the fog I fear more than the humidity. Any moisture is the enemy though! I have tried every product and process over the years and while so far I haven’t found anything that can completely eliminate frizz in every situation, I’ve found the regimen below gives me very good results for maintaining a straight-hair style on my naturally curly, frizzy hair.
    After shampooing and conditioning my hair and lightly towel-dryng it, I saturate my hair with a leave-in, no-frizz product (my current fav is Living Proof’s Wave Shaping, Curl Defining No Frizz Spray).
    I blow-dry my hair in small sections making sure to re-wet any areas that have started to air dry before I can get to them with the dryer. I pull the hair sections tight using a large round brush (I use a tourmaline brush) and dry from the top down direction only.
    This last step really makes a difference for me to avoid frizz…
    I run a flat iron down all parts of my blow-dried hair fairly quickly, (almost as if I’m brushing it). I use a Hai ceramic flat iron. This adds a seal to my hair that really helps moisture from getting to it. I’ve even kept the frizzies at bay after exposing my hair to heavy mist!
    Good luck!

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