Humidity is essentially moisture content in the air; and hydrated, moisturized hair typically equates with healthy hair. So how can humidity cause our hair to look so terrible sometimes?
If you live in a humid climate or if you’ve gone on vacation to a tropical climate and your hair all of a sudden seems unmanageable and untamed, you know how frustrating it can be. Humidity affects different hair types in different ways, too. If you have thinner, straight hair, frizz may make your hair look dry, limp, and lifeless. If you have curly or wavy hair, frizz could make your hair look like it’s standing on end. Everyone wants lush, thick hair, but when humidity is high and causes all sorts of problems, it’s just not a good look no matter what kind of hair you have.
How Does Humidity Affect Hair?
To understand how humidity affects your hair, we’ll need to go back to science class for a minute. Each strand of hair is made up of tubes of keratin proteins that are bundled and bound together. There are two types of bonds that keep the keratin proteins together:
- Disulfide Bonds: These are stronger, but can be broken by permanently curling or straightening your hair.
- Hydrogen Bonds: These are weaker bonds, but can be broken by water, or humidity.
There is also a small amount of moisture in your hair, even when it’s completely dry to the touch. When the humidity level, or the amount of moisture in the air, is higher than the amount of moisture in your hair, it can change the way the proteins bind together. Humidity will break the hydrogen bond, and then new bonds will form as the hair dries. This is why when you braid your hair when it’s wet, it keeps that slightly wavy shape after the hair has dried and the braid is undone.
Humidity causes the hydrogen bond to break, allowing the hair to become wavy or frizzy, and the strands of hair will remain in that shape as it dries.
How Can You Combat the Effects of Humidity?
Moisturize!
Moisture for your hair will rarely be detrimental. When your hair is dry or damaged, the effects of humidity will be even worse. When you use a conditioner in the shower, make sure the product is applied to your scalp as well as the very tips of the strands. Leave-in conditioners are also a great way to prevent the effects of humidity, especially on high humidity days.
Be Careful With Heat
Heat will strip moisture from your hair, so let your hair air dry as often as possible. If you do use a blow dryer, find a good ionic hair dryer which will dry the hair with ions instead of intense heat. If you use a curling iron or flat iron, apply a protective layer before styling your hair. Leave-in conditioners, gels, and serums will help prevent the strands from expanding and frizzing.
Try a Mask
If a quality conditioner isn’t providing the moisture your hair needs, try a hair mask. There are a variety of products out there that can deeply nourish the roots and bonds of the hair strands. An at-home solution you can try is a combination of banana, honey, and milk!
Try Better Ingredients
Shampoos, hair sprays, dry shampoo sprays, styling gels – there are dozens of products that contain harsh chemicals that can damage hair over time. When you think about it, we really cause our hair a lot of stress! But better, more natural ingredients can soothe damaged hair. Products that you’d find at home right now include honey and olive oil!
If you’re buying commercial products, look for ones that include vitamin B5, vitamin A, calendula officinalis, and chamomilla (both flowering plants). These can strengthen and protect your hair as well as promote thicker strands.
Shop K-Gloss For Keratin Hair Treatments
Formulated with natural oils and marine-derived keratin, K-Gloss offers a de-frizzing treatment and a de-frizz masque. Made with ingredients that protect against heat and sun exposure, our anti-frizz products stimulate hair follicles, rebuild bonds, increase the hair’s ability to bind, and add a luxurious shine. If you’re tired of humidity causing your hair to do crazy things, try our ultimate hair care products today!