Hot temperatures means bare legs, the scent of coconut and lounging on the couch, with a cold drink in your hand. But it can also mean limp, lifeless hair that just won’t do what you want it to. No #hairgoals here thanks to the heat, the humidity and the UV rays streaming in your window, which may leave hair more parched than it would be the rest of the year.
While hydration should certainly be on your mind, you need to tread carefully because too much of a good thing could weigh down locks when you actually want some bounce and life. How to get silky hair and how to tame frizzy hair are at the top of our list of hair questions whenever the temperature rises. And both are easier than you might think. These simple prep-and-style solutions can take you there.
For frizzy hair
If you have locks that tend to puff up at the first sign of humidity, the best anti-frizz products are likely already in your arsenal, and they should include L’Oréal Paris Stylista #Sleek Smoothing Serum. This silicone-free, nourishing formula contains acai berry and offers frizz control for up to 24 hours. It also helps protect hair from heat styling, so if you need to break out the blow-dryer or flat iron, you’re covered.
To avoid hair that looks greasy and limp instead of hydrated and sleek, use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week. Then add moisture back in with a hydrating conditioner or weekly hair treatment, like L’Oréal Paris Extraordinary Oil Daily Penetrating Oil Treatment.
After you shower and have towel-dried your mane, start by coating hair with nourishing L’Oréal Paris Stylista #Sleek Smoothing Serum, beginning about half an inch away from the scalp and then running it through the lengths. Use a wide-tooth comb to help distribute the product evenly.
If you must reach for hot tools, use the medium to cool air setting on your blow-dryer, or use a diffuser, which will help to define curls if you’ve got ’em.
For fine hair
Dealing with fine hair can be really tricky when it comes to hot weather. The heat can make it dry and limp, but the humidity can make it frizzy—leaving your hair looking like a hot mess. And we don’t have time for that! After adding a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to your beauty routine, stylers are a super-important way to help manageable the often unmanageable.
When using any product, apply only a small amount to the ends of your hair. A few choice essential oils can be found in L’Oréal Paris Extraordinary Oil Daily Penetrating Oil Treatment, including coconut, sunflower and chamomile—the perfect combo to nourish ends without leaving behind any unwanted residue. And adding an oil strictly to the ends will help give your hair a little texture, which fine hair is often lacking, while not weighing it down at the crown.
To get the ultimate amount of volume, a good blowout is key. Make sure that you’re only blow-drying hair until it’s 90% dry. Once you’ve done that, grab a round brush, set your blow-dryer on cool and run it through to finish the rest. Focus your round brush on the underside of your hair, blow-drying both sides (i.e., blow-dry the underside and then flip to dry the top side). Then move to the top of your head and blow-dry your hair back and forth and from side to side, using your brush to guide the way your hair falls. Finally, take the sides of your hair and do the same. All this movement will help trick your hair into being more voluminous—bye-bye, lifeless strands!
In your second-to-last step, simply part your hair and add a few hits of texturing spray to the lengths and maybe a spritz of dry shampoo at the roots to help stop any grease before it starts.
