Hair Care Tips For Spring

While springtime brings beautifully bloomed gardens and 70-degree temperatures, it’s also the season when frizzy hair and flyaways are rampant. I wrote an article for Misikko.com detailing the causes of spring weather’s most maddening effects on hair and how to fight March Hair Madness:

The Culprit: Humidity

Spring’s influx of humid weather leaves hair flat and squelches even the most zealous efforts at styling. No matter what natural texture your hair has, this isn’t the time of year to force your tresses into an unnatural style. If your hair is curly, find a ‘do that embraces your curls. If your hair is straight but tends to curl up in humid weather, incorporate loose, light curls into your style. Consider applying a humidity-resistant product like Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum to towel-dried hair for added humidity protection.

The Culprit: Wind

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May — not to mention creating some massive flyaways! Windy gusts grab at split ends and create the static-y look, and damaged or naturally coarse hair has it worse because they have rougher hair cuticles, giving the breeze something to hold onto. Windy times call for hair accessories: headbands, ponytails and clips are a must. Also try products specially formulated for blustery days like Ouidad’s Climate Control Gel, which tames and smoothes unruly tresses while conditioning frazzled ends.

The Culprit: Moisture

April showers bring more than May flowers — they also add constantly changing moisture levels in the air. The problem? Frizz is caused by hair trying to soak in moisture from the air, so chances are you’ll end up with a frizz problem at some point during springtime shifts in the weather.

If you find that blowdrying makes your hair look frizzier, gently blot it dry with a towel instead — but don’t rub. Rubbing hair dry can cause further breakage on already weak strands, increasing your chances of frizz. After you’ve towel-blotted, apply an anti-frizz serum or hair gel to your damp hair and comb it through so the product is distributed evenly. Finally, consider keeping a little product on hand throughout the day to use for smoothing down any strands that may curl up. (You can always toss it in an extra container and keep it in your purse.)

The Culprit: Heat

Spring’s refreshingly temperate weather can be a cleverly disguised cause of hair havoc. Why? Hot air opens the hair cuticle, which leads to split ends, breakage, and duller hair color. Plus, most hair products make your head feel like an oil slick when exposed to hot weather. To beat the heat, give your hair a blast of cool air using the “cool” setting on your hair dryer when you’re almost done blow-drying. Cold air closes the hair cuticle and seals in the moisture. Also consider trying a weather-friendly product like Blow’s Weather or Not Climate Neutralizer, a weightless hair serum that protects hair from the elements without leaving a greasy residue.