Keeping your hair looking fabulous in humidity is tough if you have natural African-American hair. Luckily, there are ways to keep your ‘fros from frizzing and curling up into scary hornet nests when the heat index rises. There are also plenty of products available for this unique type of hair. You just have to know what to look for. But first, let’s talk about why it happens. Natural African-American hair has a tight curl pattern
. When the air is humid, each strand of hair curls up tightly and produces natural oils that give it an almost oily appearance. The moisture makes them swell even more which causes a lot of friction between the strands and creates that electric blue glow we associate with humid weather.
That doesn’t mean other types of hair can’t do the same thing under those conditions – they just get a little frizzy instead because their individual hairs don’t react as tightly or produce oil as fast as those with tighter curls. And while some might think this is a bad thing, it really isn’t so bad after all if you have the right tools…
Don’t Forget Your Shower Cap
While it might seem silly to wear a shower cap in humid weather, these simple little caps will save you a lot of trouble down the road. Hair will naturally swell up in humidity, causing it to tangle more easily and to get caught in other hair. A shower cap will keep your curls from rubbing together and prevent them from getting caught on other items like shirts and combs. It will also keep your hair from drying out while you’re in there.
Try A Humidity Protector
Many shampoos and conditioners now come with a humidity protector. These products coat the strands of hair with a barrier that keeps the moisture out of your hair. This will help prevent it from swelling up and curling as tightly as keeping it from frizzing as much.
Go For A Deep Treatment
If you have time, consider using a deep treatment on your hair before you go out in humid weather. This will coat the strands with oils and other ingredients that will keep your hair from curling as much and help keep the frizz away. When you use this treatment, apply it to your hair after you’ve gotten out of the shower and let it sit for at least an hour before washing it out. Doing this will help the product penetrate your hair more profound, making it work more effectively.
Keep in mind that you should use this only once in a while, as too much of this will make your hair too greasy.
Try A Hair Mask Made For Humidity
These hair masks are designed to help specific hair types conquer the humid weather. There are specific products for almost every type of hair. If you have natural African-American hair, you’ll want to look for one that says it helps reduce frizz in humid weather.
These products will coat your hair with a gentle amount of oils and humectants that will help weigh down the strands and keep them from curling as tightly. They are best used after you’ve washed your hair and let it air dry.
Use The Right Tools
Using the right tools for styling your hair can help keep it from frizzing as much. You don’t have to give up your hot combs and blow dryers, but you can adjust your technique to minimize the frizz. If you use a hot comb, try to do it when your hair is completely dry. You can also use a lower setting if you have one.
If you use a blow dryer, adjust the heat settings and switch to the lower heat setting if you have one. These tools will help keep your hair from curling up as tightly as curling. However, you’ll also want to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Using a product that dries your hair will make it more likely to frizz in the humidity.
Why Does African-American Hair Frizzle In Humidity?
African-American hair has a tighter curl pattern than other types of hair. As the air becomes more humid, this curl pattern becomes more pronounced and causes the hair to swell. The swelling not only traps moisture but also increases the friction between the strands, causing them to rub together and creating static that causes hair to become frizzy.
This is not unique to African-American hair. All types of hair can get frizzy in humid weather, but the underlying cause is different. For example, Caucasian/blonde hair curls up as the result of moisture expanding the hair’s diameter while African-American hair curls up as the result of moisture expanding the hair’s circumference.
How To Keep Natural African-American Hair From Frizzing
– Don’t forget your shower cap. African-American hair is more likely to tangle and be caught in other hair, so it’s important to use a shower cap when you’re in the shower. – Try a humidity protector. Using a shampoo and conditioner that contains a humidity protector will coat your hair with a barrier that keeps the moisture out and will help prevent it from curling as tightly. – Go for a deep treatment. If you have time, consider using a deep treatment on your hair before you go out in humid weather. This will coat the strands with oils and other ingredients that will help keep your hair from curling as tightly and help keep the frizz away. – Try a hair mask made for humidity. These hair masks are designed to help specific hair types conquer the humid weather. There are specific products for almost every type of hair. If you have natural African-American hair, you’ll want to look for one that says it helps reduce frizz in humid weather.
How To Keep Your Curls From Curling Up In Humidity
– Use the right tools. Using the right tools for styling your hair can help keep it from curling as tightly. – Don’t forget your shower cap. Using a shower cap will help keep your curls from tangling with other hair. – Try a humidity protector. Using a shampoo and conditioner that contains a humidity protector will coat your hair with a barrier that keeps the moisture out and will help prevent it from curling as tightly. – Go for a deep treatment. If you have time, consider using a deep treatment on your hair before you go out in humid weather.
This will coat the strands with oils and other ingredients that will help keep your hair from curling as tightly and help keep the frizz away. – Try a hair mask made for humidity. These hair masks are designed to help specific hair types conquer the humid weather. There are specific products for almost every type of hair. If you have natural African-American hair, you’ll want to look for one that says it helps reduce frizz in humid weather.
Natural Hair Gel Or Curling Cream
Gels and creams are excellent choices for adding some needed hold to natural African-American hair. Like with any other type of hair, you want to avoid using too much of these products to prevent them from weighing down your hair too much. For natural hair, you’ll want an alcohol-free gel or cream that is specially formulated for curly hair.
You can also look for a product that contains humectants, which will help draw in moisture and hold the curls in place. These products will help keep your curls from curling up as tightly in the humidity without weighing them down. They are best applied to completely dry hair and enough to coat the strands without weighing them down.
Conclusion
Natural African-American hair has a tighter curl pattern. As the air becomes more humid, this curl pattern becomes more pronounced and causes the hair to swell. The swelling not only traps moisture but also increases the friction between the strands, causing them to rub together and create static that causes hair to become frizzy.
By following these tips, you can help keep your hair looking great when it’s humid outside. Don’t forget the shower cap and don’t over-apply the products. Using the right products at the right times can help you keep your hair looking great even when the humidity is high.