How to fight Humidity

[HairEgo]

As per Carolyns request, I decided to write a bit about why hair reacts the way it does in humid weather and how we can avoid/correct it.

Your hair frizzies for various reasons; it could be weather related (if you live in a very humid climate), lack of essential fatty acids, and lack of moisture in the hair. For arguements sake, we're going to talk about weather related frizz.

When the weather is humid, moisture comes into direct contact with hairs natural hydrogen bonds. Obviously this doesn't mean your hair will feel wet, its such a minuscule amount that you can't feel it. When this happens, the moisture 'shifts' and causes the hydrogen bonds to relax. So essentially, if you have any wave or curl in your hair naturally, even if you've straightened it, in humid weather the wave/curl will be amplified; the same goes for those with straight hair - if you've curled your hair with rollers or a curling iron and get stuck in humid weather, you're hair will have the opposite effecct and end up straight. Each person's hair will have a different reaction to humidity. The general rule of thumb is that if you have straight hair, it will end up limp. Curly hair - it will end up frizzy and thick/coarse will end up 'frazzled'.

How can you avoid it?

My best suggestion is to use anti-humectant products in your hair - they work by putting a barrier on your hair so it can resist the moisture. Generally, any product that is an anti-humectant will be on the heavier side - so use less if you have normal - fine hair.

I've had great results with the following products....

Joico Design Humidty Blocker

This one I find to be the least heavy of any of the ones I've tried. You spray onto dry hair - it should be the last thing sprayed onto your hair after you've styled.

Sexy Hair Smooth & Seal

This one is on the heavier side - spray a bit too much and it will leave the hair feeling a bit oily. That being said, I do think this is the best one I've tried to date. You can do this one on dry and damp hair.

KMS Flat Out Anti Humidity Seal

This one should be only used on dry hair. It leaves a really nice sheen to the hair and smells pretty great.

Redken Fresh Curls Anti Frizz Shiner

This is specifically for those with curly hair. I absolutely love this one....its a light creamy gel texture that leaves the hair soft, yet controlled. No frizz in sight!

I'm sure there are TONS more...I just can't think of them right now

 

[Ozee]

thanks 4 recs hun, and as always the great info!!

 

[Dragonfly]

Love the photo - that is my hair definately! It looks great at the start of the day and frizzy as heck by the end.

Thanks for the insight Gina.

If I wanted to put moisture in my hair, do you have a shampoo/conditioner to recommend?

Also, I was curious if you split up hair care lines. Or do you prefer to shampoo/cond/styling products from the same line?

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly /img/forum/go_quote.gif Love the photo - that is my hair definately! It looks great at the start of the day and frizzy as heck by the end.Thanks for the insight Gina.

If I wanted to put moisture in my hair, do you have a shampoo/conditioner to recommend?

Also, I was curious if you split up hair care lines. Or do you prefer to shampoo/cond/styling products from the same line?

I SHOULD technically be loyal to one brand, becuase I work for one, but I'm not at all. I dont think you need to use the whole line from a single brand to get great results. I might like a shampoo from one line, and a conditioner from another. I mix stuff together all the time....if only one brand had the perfect concoction, there wouldnt be 100+ companies out there, know what i mean? I think you would see fantastic results from AG Ultramoist; its a Canadian brand

 

[HairEgo]

I should also mention that with curly hair, you want to stay away from products (hair sprays in particular) that contain water!

 

[Dragonfly]

I might give the AG Ultramoist a shot. Thanks for the rec.

I have used Ag in the past. I think they originated in Western Canada.

One thing I liked about AG was the fact that salons carrying their products, would keep their shampoos/conditioners in small kegs - and would encourage refilling used product containers. This helped with in recycling, rather than tossing out empty bottles.

 

[Orangeeyecrayon]

im totaly adding the KMS to my list of wants. If you cant tell i am slowly but surley becoming absolutely obsessed with this brand

on a random note i wanted the sunscreen thingy for your hair from them but they did not have it at my local ulta so i gotta get to my local trade secrets.

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Orangeeyecrayon /img/forum/go_quote.gif im totaly adding the KMS to my list of wants. If you cant tell i am slowly but surley becoming absolutely obsessed with this brand
on a random note i wanted the sunscreen thingy for your hair from them but they did not have it at my local ulta so i gotta get to my local trade secrets.

Sol Perfection? My god it smells heavenly!!

 

[Andi]

One vote for the Sexy Hair product. I have had it since October and use it a lot, and there´s still product left in the can. It makes my hair smooth and healthy looking. I spray it on damp hair after I towel-dry, so I can brush my hair easier...and then I spray again before blow-drying sections of my hair.

I love that this is a spray product too, lots of the gel- or serum-type anti-frizz products left my hair greasy looking and didn´t distribute easily.

 

[Adrienne]

Thanks for the recs Gina! All week my hair has been crap due to raining all week and the hot humidity, yuck!

 

[bella1342]

Thanks Gina! Great info... at times I hate my hair in the summer. You said for curly hair people, stay away from products that contain water... do you have a good hair spray rec for us them? I never payed attention to ingredients...

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by bella1342 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks Gina! Great info... at times I hate my hair in the summer. You said for curly hair people, stay away from products that contain water... do you have a good hair spray rec for us them? I never payed attention to ingredients... My favourite was Matrix Sleek Water Free hairspray...however its been discontinued. While i'm sure you can still find it in some stores/online, for me personally, I dont want it if i'm not going to be able to use it continuously. I've since switched to Biologe Complete Control Hairspray or I will use Redken Workforce Volumizing Spray - both of which are water free.
You will notice a HUGE difference by using a water free formula....water is a curly haired girls nightmare!

 

[Mylala88]

thank you SOOO much for the tips! i have realllllly thick wavy hair and whenever i get it straight, it gets so ruined when i leave the house. At least now I know NOT to touch that hairspray to help the hair hold.

 

[SalescoopSarah]

Humidity and hairs have been enemies for ever! I absolutely agree with you that it is no fun to style hair in humid weathers, because I know they will end up limp or frizzy anyhow. Thanks for your recommendations, it's great to know so many choices!

 

[BeachBarbie]

i have naturally straight, thin hair so the humidity weighs down on it a ton and any product in my hair ends up becoming a greasy mess. that is, until i started using Big Sexy Hair Anti Humidity Mousse. I can get up the next day and it still not be a greasy mess and be fine to run out for breakfast or something without having to go through the motions of getting ready just to run out for a bagel. Big Sexy also makes just a regular mousse that isn't humidity resistant and it still makes my hair a greasy mess. the anti humidity mousse has like a trumpet applicator while the non anti humidity has a cap.

edit: oh, and where i live, if the humidity is under 60%, that's considered really low.