I will be spending 6 weeks on the Big Island soon–much of it on the Hilo side. I have been there many times, so I know what I am getting into weather-wise. I have such good skin when I am there. Hair? Not so much. Can you recommend any products that help keep your tresses under control in humid weather?
I have very curly thick hair. I only let it go curly a couple of days a week though, mostly because it only looks good one day and I don’t like to wash it more than 3x/week. I usually blow it dry smooth and, at home, it looks fine for a few days. But I know from past experience that I will have BIG frizzy hair much of the time I am in Hawaii, unless I can find a product that actually works. Help!
Tracee Ellis Ross’s line Pattern Beauty is great stuff – their shampoos and conditioners have cut my frizz down a lot, and the leave-in conditioner works miracles. The styling products are good too.
I like R+Co Turntable Curl Defining Creme. They also have a Curl shampoo. Cuts way down on frizz but I can keep my hair curly (straightening in high humidity is a losing battle for me).
I follow Ginger Zee on IG and she let her hair go curly during the pandemic- I believe the products she uses are LUS Brands love ur curls- I have to say her curls are so soft and beautiful. I had no idea she was a fellow curly head.I have not tried these products but thinking I will this summer.
I will check those products out. When I do go curly, I normally use Curl Deva products that are great for defining my curls when I want to wear it that way. On my normal days, I use Paul Mitchell Super Skinny. But they don’t work at all in the humidity. Whether I am wearing my hair curly or smooth (not straight) I am hoping to find something that seals out the moisture. Does such a product even exist?
One thing my hair stylist tells me (I have short curly hair and embrace it!) is that often frizz is a product of too much handling - whatever product you use, scrunch it in and then HANDS OFF!
Now I realize that your conditions are not typical and you still need a product. But my other advice…employ stretchy headbands! I can’t live without my Natural Life headbands in the summer!
My hair is unmanageable in any type of humidity. I have a couple of very lightweight short wigs that I travel with (even if humidity is not factor). The wigs look better than my own hair, can’t tell they’re wigs, and are not hot at all. I know wigs aren’t for everyone, but they were a game changer for me. I never worry about not looking my best. No bad hair days when I travel.
Fighting curly hair in humidity is most often a losing battle. Have you experimented with letting it go wild and using clips or elastics to style it in a way that takes advantage of your abundance or, perhaps a colorful headband to keep it off your face?
You might schedule a session with your stylist to play around with options. A good stylist should be able to help you solve this one in a way that works for your particular hair. Good luck.
Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt Styling Glaze. It is indestructible.
I have thick curly hair which goes to frizz instantly in humidity. The Paul Mitchell product is the only thing that has worked for me (and I have 20 bottles and tubes in the bathroom as proof).
It works on shampoo days and non-shampoo days (but I use a little conditioner on non-shampoo days, leave it in and then just squeeze out the water. Do not towel dry, it causes frizz). Use a dollop (you’ll have to experiment with how much product) and rake it through your hair going downwards (i.e. so you don’t lift the cuticle, don’t scrunch, just move the glaze down making sure you get the underside as well. You’ll need more on the ends than on top.
Then don’t touch it. It will dry in place- sort of ringlety/loose wave curls. Once it’s dry (really dry) you can break up the glaze if you don’t like crunchy texture with your fingers- just comb downwards (again, no upward motion) so the ringlets get soft. Or leave it alone.
If you want to get fancy, use a jeweled barrette or something fun behind one ear (very movie star from the 40’s) and the hair underneath the barrette will form corkscrew curls which are fun. Or a headband of some kind- so the hair looks straight and stretched up top, and ringlets below the band.
And a poly/fake silk pillowcase to sleep on really helps. If you use one, you can get away with just misting your hair slightly on days 2 and 3 and using your fingers to put the curls back in place.
Not everyone likes the strong hold- but I have HUGE hair in humidity and Paul Mitchell has been a godsend.
