By Christina Heiser
You don’t have to run for cover when humidity hits.
Ah, summer—on the one hand, you’re elated to break out your favorite brightly colored sundresses and open-toe sandals now that warmer temps are here. But humidity is kind of your hair’s mortal enemy—especially if your natural texture happens to be coarse. Seriously, why does it seem like no matter what you do on a summer day, your hair just won’t stay sleek and smooth?
It’s time to stop fighting with your hair and embrace what you’ve got—frizz and all—this season. First things first, it’s important to arm yourself with the right tools.
And if you’ve got long hair, you’re in luck. “If you have that texture of hair that’s really challenging—coarse hair—the longer the hair, the more it will cooperate,” says Jet Rhys, celebrity hairstylist and co-owner of the Jet Rhys Salon in San Diego. Since length adds weight, long hair will make your hair less susceptible to becoming poofy.
Now that you know how to prep your hair, it’s time to have fun! Here, the pros share their favorite styles to conceal frizz:
Twisted Top Knot
Upgrade your basic top knot with this version from Rhys. Start by applying a small amount of oil, like Bumble & bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil ($39, sephora.com). “You need something slippery but not greasy to help you grab your hair and tame your texture,” says Rhys. First, flip your head upside down and then divide your hair into two sections. Start braiding the two sections together (as if you were doing a classic braid, but with your hair separated into two sections instead of three) while your head is still down. Do this until you get to the end of your hair. Then, flip your head up, roll your hair in a circular motion into a coil on top of your head, and fasten with bobby pins. “As you’re criss-crossing the hair, you’re smoothing out that wiry, coarse texture,” says Rhys.
Double Headbands
“If you double your elastic headbands, it looks really adorable on coarse, frizz-prone hair,” says Rhys. “Plus, a little pop of color is fun in the summer.” Use a headband that’s not wider than an inch, like these shiny Goody SlideProof Skinny Bright Headwraps ($6 for a pack of three, available at drugstores). “Put one headband about half an inch off your hairline, and then put your next headband right behind your ears,” says Rhys. “Push forward so you can add a little bit of volume to your hair. It won’t get frizzy because that first headband is containing that frizz.”