Picture this: You have just achieved the perfect perm rod set… It’s Girls Night and you’re all ready to kick it… You walk outside and the humidity covers your perfect style… Your hair begins to swell and the curls are fading… NOW you have a frizzy afro that is growing by the minute!!! What just happened? Remember those Hydrogen bonds that link the polypeptide chains… Well, they are to blame for your new frizzy ‘do.

Hydrogen bonds are weak, physical bonds that are easily broken by water and heat. These bonds are created when molecules on adjacent keratin strands form a weak attraction with the same water molecule, which indirectly link the two keratin proteins together.

Hair that is wet is flexible and elastic, the hydrogen bonds are broken which allow the hair to be stretched and reshaped. For example, when you apply perm rods or flexi-rods to your hair while wet, the hair is reshaped by pulling the hair taut and wrapping it around the rod. When your hair dries, the hydrogen bonds reform and maintain the shape of the curl. The style will remain (temporarily) until you wash your hair again or when increased moisture in the air (humidity) causes it to return to its natural state.

Why does your hair become frizzy in humidity?
Hair is very sensitive to humidity. When its humid outside, there is an increased number of water molecules in the air compared to dry air. The hair absorbs the water molecules from the air, which in turn increases the number of hydrogen bonds formed  between water molecules and the proteins in the hair. This ultimately causes the hair to become curlier/frizzier.

5 Tips to Prevent Frizz:
1. Hydrate your hair… Make sure your hair is well hydrated to reduce the effects of humidity in the air, you should be using water based products and sealing with oil. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water (I struggle with this daily).
2. No hands… Excessive manipulation will cause unnecessary frizz. If you must touch your hair, apply oil to your fingers first.
3. Cold water rinses… Rinse your hair with cold water to help close the cuticle and lock in moisture.
4. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Rinse… ACV Rinse has many benefits and reducing frizz is one of them. To learn more benefits of ACV, check out this post here.
5. Satin protection… I know you’ve heard that satin bonnets or pillowcases are the way to go. Cotton fabrics strip your hair of its moisture, so if your not sleeping with a satin bonnet or pillowcase, you should start!

How do you prevent your hair from frizzing in humid weather?

Thank you for stopping by!!!!

XOXO

Tamara