Style it up
Knowing how to style curly hair is essential in hot, humid weather. Ponytails and braids are a great option, Christo says.
“If you know the weather is going to be a problem, pull the hair softly off your face and accessorize it,” he says.
In emergencies, Pelusi recommends wearing a wide headband to keep the hair down. Another trick is to twist the hair and make several ponytails around the head, allowing it to dry like that. That can reduce some of the “puff.” Braiding the hair while it’s wet also can be helpful in reducing frizz, creating beautiful waves.
A spray bottle of water can be a lifesaver, reactivating products and reducing the frizz. Torch suggests taking water in your hands and rubbing wet hands across the frizzy areas. Usually, it is unnecessary to apply more product.
One of Ouidad’s favorite tricks — one she often uses herself — is to apply some of her Deep Treatment and slick it back into a bun, with a few tendrils framing her face. It controls the hair while conditioning it.
Cutler recommends taking large sections of hair — roughly 4 inches — and wrapping them in your hands, tucking the ends under, pinning them, and leaving them until they’re dry. Whether the hair air dries or you diffuse it, don’t touch it until it’s 80 percent dry. Then take out the pins and rake the curls out.
“You’ll have beautiful Giselle-type curls,” he says.
A medium set of curling irons also can be a godsend, Cutler says. He suggests grabbing the hair in large sections and wrapping it around the curling iron, twirling it around like you would a pole.
“It won’t look like Jessica Simpson, but the curl will have a little more finish to it,” he says. “It’s a simple way to punch the hair up a little bit in five to 10 minutes.”
Some high-humidity product picks
- Biosilk Smoothing Shampoo, Conditioner and Smoothing Balm
- Biosilk Silk Therapy
- Philip Pelusi Phyto-Life Hair Honey and Potion
- Redken Clear Moisture and Fresh Curl lines
- Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
- Curlisto Control Gel I and II mixed with Structura Lotion
- Ouidad Climate Control Gel, Botanical Boost and Deep Treatment
- Jessicurl Rockin’ Ringlets
- Joice I.C.E. Whip
- ISO Bouncy Creme
Biolage Gelee
KMS Hydrator
Christo’s high humidity protein shake
- 1/2 glass milk
- a few big strawberries
- 1 egg
- a dash of honey
Blend it together. Then lightly shampoo and apply the protein shake. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse it out with a light shampoo and a daily conditioner. Repeat every one to two weeks.
