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What to Do in a Hair Emergency!
<!--BEGIN RIGHT-ALIGNED TABLE--><!--END RIGHT-ALIGNED TABLE--><!--BSHSTARTBODY-->By Lisa Kovalovich
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We'll accept the fact that spring rain is a necessity -- after all, we want to see those daffodils and hyacinths come up and feel that first spray of balmy drizzle. What we can't accept: the inevitable frizz, fuzz and flatness that spring rain brings. And we don't have to -- with the following plan, you can prevent those spring showers from bringing on the hair nasties: Strategy 1: Protect hair from moisture. Rainy and ultra-humid days are similar for one reason: moisture. With either condition, there's lots of moisture in the air. And many types of hair, most notably fine, wavy and curly, soak up moisture from the air. The problem: Moisture causes thin hair to fall flat and wavy or curly hair to puff up. To help prevent your hair from soaking up moisture, apply a humidity-protective gel to hair before styling. Gels made to resist humidity do so by sealing the cuticle, creating a barrier to moisture.
Strategy 2: Double up on protection. After styling and drying your hair, spray on a generous amount of non-sticky hairspray or styling spray. This will act as another barrier, making it tough for moisture to be absorbed. Tip: Try an aerosol spray, which does a better job of distributing a thin layer of hairspray than does a regular nozzle (which can spritz too much spray at a time, resulting in sticky chunks of hair as the day wears on).
Strategy 3: Work with your hair's texture. High-humidity days are not the ones to go against your hair's natural grain (by blowing curls straight, for instance, or curling fine, limp hair). When your hair absorbs moisture in the air, it tends to go back to its natural texture -- so all your drying or curling will be in vain. Instead, when the forecast calls for rain, maximize your natural texture by defining curls with gel-coated fingers, or pulling your fine hair back into a sleek ponytail. Trust us, you'll save yourself hair heartache.
Strategy 4: Avoid heavy moisturizing products. If hair is frizzy, it might seem like a great idea to use a hair cream or putty to smooth it down; after all, in dry winter weather, these products' emollient nature combats fuzz. But when humidity is high, moisturizing products can actually become greasy-looking and sticky on the hair. Instead, stick to alcohol-based products. Strategy 5: Have a contingency accessory plan. Even with the best strategies, there are inevitably going to be days when the rain and humidity wins. On such days, accessories play a major role. Our favorites: a large square scarf to tie around your head '60s-style, a fabulous jeweled ponytail holder to dress up a frizz-disguising ponytail and a wide-fabric headband worn close to the hairline.
<!--BEGIN RIGHT-ALIGNED TABLE--><!--END RIGHT-ALIGNED TABLE--><!--BSHSTARTBODY-->By Lisa Kovalovich
More magazine
We'll accept the fact that spring rain is a necessity -- after all, we want to see those daffodils and hyacinths come up and feel that first spray of balmy drizzle. What we can't accept: the inevitable frizz, fuzz and flatness that spring rain brings. And we don't have to -- with the following plan, you can prevent those spring showers from bringing on the hair nasties: Strategy 1: Protect hair from moisture. Rainy and ultra-humid days are similar for one reason: moisture. With either condition, there's lots of moisture in the air. And many types of hair, most notably fine, wavy and curly, soak up moisture from the air. The problem: Moisture causes thin hair to fall flat and wavy or curly hair to puff up. To help prevent your hair from soaking up moisture, apply a humidity-protective gel to hair before styling. Gels made to resist humidity do so by sealing the cuticle, creating a barrier to moisture.
Strategy 2: Double up on protection. After styling and drying your hair, spray on a generous amount of non-sticky hairspray or styling spray. This will act as another barrier, making it tough for moisture to be absorbed. Tip: Try an aerosol spray, which does a better job of distributing a thin layer of hairspray than does a regular nozzle (which can spritz too much spray at a time, resulting in sticky chunks of hair as the day wears on).
Strategy 3: Work with your hair's texture. High-humidity days are not the ones to go against your hair's natural grain (by blowing curls straight, for instance, or curling fine, limp hair). When your hair absorbs moisture in the air, it tends to go back to its natural texture -- so all your drying or curling will be in vain. Instead, when the forecast calls for rain, maximize your natural texture by defining curls with gel-coated fingers, or pulling your fine hair back into a sleek ponytail. Trust us, you'll save yourself hair heartache.
Strategy 4: Avoid heavy moisturizing products. If hair is frizzy, it might seem like a great idea to use a hair cream or putty to smooth it down; after all, in dry winter weather, these products' emollient nature combats fuzz. But when humidity is high, moisturizing products can actually become greasy-looking and sticky on the hair. Instead, stick to alcohol-based products. Strategy 5: Have a contingency accessory plan. Even with the best strategies, there are inevitably going to be days when the rain and humidity wins. On such days, accessories play a major role. Our favorites: a large square scarf to tie around your head '60s-style, a fabulous jeweled ponytail holder to dress up a frizz-disguising ponytail and a wide-fabric headband worn close to the hairline.