Summer is here, and if you live in a place that suffers from high humidity, you’re probably dreading the effect it will have on your hair. Heat and humidity are some of the worst offenders when it comes to causing frizzy hair that turn your perfectly styled ‘do into a poofy ball of untamed locks.

If you’re ready to kiss frizz goodbye, this summer, here is what you should know about frizzy hair and the natural steps you can take to minimize it for better-looking and feeling hair all season long.

What causes frizzy hair?

Although it seems like the weather is solely to blame, frizzy hair is actually rooted in each individual strand of your hair, in the part of the strand called the cuticle. The cuticle looks like a series of small shingles that should normally lay flat, protecting your hair.

However, when your hair lacks moisture, the cuticle gets raised to allow the hair to draw in moisture from the environment. Moisture swells the strands, and the cuticle remains lifted, causing that messy, frizzy appearance.

Humidity makes matters even worse because a lot of moisture is available in the air, causing your hair to want to suck up as much as it can.

Frizz is more likely to occur if you have curly hair, since the hair is harder to keep hydrated. Natural oils don’t always reach the ends of the hairs, and curls tend to be more dehydrated. Additionally, the shape of the curls can create gaps in the cuticle, raising it naturally, so a small amount of frizz might always be present and made even worse on humid days.

Your hair might also get frizzy if it is stripped of its natural oils. Your scalp produces oils that coat your strands and hydrates them, but certain actions, like showering with very hot water or washing your hair too often, can remove these oils from the scalp and hair and leave your strands thirsty.

Using hot tools, coloring your hair with harsh chemicals and using alcohol-filled or other chemical-based shampoos and styling products are other ways you might be damaging and drying out your hair.

Finally, if you have split ends, you might be more susceptible to frizz, too.

Summer tips for tackling frizz

There are many ways to combat frizz, especially when the humidity level rises. You may be able to nourish and protect your hair through day-to-day actions, but some hair products can also help fight frizz while you work on rehydrating your hair. And, when all hope seems lost in fighting frizz, there are a few styles you can try to mask the look of frizzy hair.

Actions

Sleep with a satin or silk pillowcase, which won’t pull on the hair and cause friction that leads to frizz. Cotton pillowcases can also absorb moisture from the hair, leaving it drier in the morning.

Also avoid things that can damage your hair and cause frizz, like using drying products, over-washing your hair, roughly towel-drying hair and using lots of heat. You should also get regular trims to ensure split ends and damage don’t exacerbate frizz and keep your hair looking nice and tidy.

Products

To start the healing process, invest in an ultra-hydrating conditioner that will help lock in moisture and keep strands hydrated and smooth in even the most humid conditions. Hydration is the true key to fighting frizz!

You may also want to try a hair oil like argan oil, which can penetrate the strands and moisturize from the inside out. The benefit of argan oil is that it’s very light, so it won’t weigh down your style during the day.

Use heavier oils like coconut oil as hair masks or deep conditioning treatments to hydrate overnight at least once a week.

Be wary of anti-frizz products on the market that contain silicones. Silicones surround the cuticle to keep the cuticle lowered and prevent frizz, but they can build up in your hair over time. These products only mask the issue and fail to solve the problem at its source.

Styles

If your hair is extremely frizzy and shows no signs of stopping, you can use some styles to hide the appearance of frizz.

Braids and buns help contain hair and prevent the loose, dry strands from floating everywhere. Additionally, you can try pinning down sections using bobby pins or even wearing a loose hat to cover flyaways near your scalp and face.

With a little extra TLC and a lot of hydration, your strands should be better equipped to face the heat and humidity without causing bad hair days this summer!