Many of us would agree that moisture and hair do not mix.
With warm summer days and more humid weather than usual (thanks La Nina!), styling your hair can be an uphill battle, even with the best “anti-frizz” products.
Also, for those with frizzy or frizzy hair, blow-drying their hair straight may exacerbate frizz.
For less arm training and more beautiful hair days, I spoke with two hair experts about how to reduce frizz on a warm, humid day.
Humidity Tells You About Your Hair
Chelcey Salinger is a Sydney-based trichologist who studies hair and scalp related issues. She says our hair is made up of her three “bonds” that form the shape of the hair and keep it strong. They are known as disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds, and salt bonds.
The main reason hair becomes frizzy in humid weather is because the hair bonds are broken.
When it comes to humidity, it is hydrogen bonding and salt bonding that are affected. (Disulfide bonds are fairly strong and tend to break when harsh chemicals are used on hair, such as when hair is dyed or chemically straightened.)
Whenever hair is exposed to moisture or heat, such as when washing or blow-drying, the hydrogen bonds are temporarily broken and then rebuilt when the hair dries.
This is the same bond that reshapes hair, and a little moisture can turn freshly straightened hair back into curly (or, worse, knotty, frizzy) hair. is for this reason.
As someone with curly hair, my hair type is often described as curly.
“The underlying chemical structure of all hair is the same, so ‘hair type’ makes no difference,” she says.
“If the hair, especially the cuticle, is damaged, [which] If it is the outer layer of the hair, the hair will frizz faster. ”
Do “frizz-free” products work?
According to Salinger, shelves are overflowing with “anti-frizz” products.
“There are products on the market that help with frizz, like serums. [that] Basically coats the hair to stop moisture [caused] From getting into the cuticles, with moisture,” she says.
Oil doesn’t mix with water, so applying an oil-based product to your hair can help fight off moisture.
Salinger says the easiest way to minimize frizz is to leave your hair in its natural state.
“The obvious and easiest strategy to reduce frizz is to wear your hair in its natural state on days when you know it will be exposed to moisture and humidity,” she says.
Rumbie Mutsiwa owns a hair care line and hair salon in Sydney. She says using anti-frizz products may help in the short term, but frizzy hair is often a “sign of a problem,” she says.
“If your hair is dehydrated and your hair care routine isn’t giving you what it needs, you’re thirsty, so get as much moisture as you can,” she says.
“You begin to draw that moisture into yourself. [and] So it starts to look very frizzy. ”
Hair repair to improve swell
Mutsiwa has been researching wavy curly, afro-textured hair for almost 20 years.
If you suffer from dry hair, we recommend using a “moisturizing shampoo that cleanses and moisturizes your hair.”
Ingredients like “shea butter, coconut and moringa oil” can help moisturize your hair, but the natural alternatives aren’t always better, so patch test the product first.
When it comes to conditioners, Mutsiwa prefers leave-in products because they help “seal the cuticles” and lock in moisture over time.
When washing your hair, some products can leave the cuticle scales open, making them more susceptible to damage.
“I recommend using a shampoo and conditioner with a pH of around 5.5 to keep your cuticles in top condition,” she says.
Salinger says avoiding color treatments and straightening, blow-drying, or brushing your hair less often can help repair it.
Mutsiwa says a protein treatment at a salon may help.
“If your hair is damaged, you need protein to fix its structure. If your hair is dry, you need moisture,” she explains.
Once the bonds are repaired, Mutsiwa says it’s time to focus on performing a hair care routine that will keep your hair moisturized.
The information provided in this article is general advice. Always seek the advice of a doctor or health care professional.
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