Sometime last week I shared a few pics on the Facebook Page & was asked to spill on how I’ve been able to achieve a humid-less hairstyle. I thought about it, and realized there are in fact a few tricks I tend to abide by when the humid meter rises, some of these methods though are the same practices I apply to the hair year round. Given the rise in temperature, I do make sure to adhere to these steps to the teeee!

This here is my method, it’s been reliable up till this point for my hair texture/density etc. Please note that modifications to this routine in order to achieve the desired look YOU want…are encouraged;).

It starts on Wash-Day. 

Making sure both hair & scalp are thoroughly cleansed is the 1st step to preventing a frizzy aftermath. To ease the process, I still cleanse the hair in sections making sure I don’t miss any spots. Look for a really great cleansing shampoo (one that preferably doesn’t contain overly drying ingredients) and cleanse once. Repeat the cleanse with the same shampoo OR a moisturizing shampoo or cleansing conditioner to replenish moisture lost.

Conditioning is Key

Deep Conditioning actually. I’m a long time DC’er, leaving my mix in the hair for upwards of an hour or so. I know in the warmer months, the last thing we want to think about is sitting with a conditioning cap on our heads, but I’d strongly encourage at least 25-30 minutes of DC’ing. A good tip is to apply your conditioner while you’re detangling, & to do so in sections. By the time you’ve finished (15-20 minutes later) your hair should be adequately conditioned. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Setting Your Strands

*this is key* If you want to avoid the Frizz Monster, you must allow hair to dry 100% before manipulating. I typically set my hair in twists for the week, dry overnight and enjoy the perks of a twist-out the FOLLOWING day. Meaning, hair is styled on Sunday, dries fully on Monday, and Tuesday thru Saturday I can enjoy wearing a twist-out etc., because hair is sufficiently dry. I also do not separate all of the un-done twists. I leave a few intact on day one of the twist-out, and progressively unravel each as the week lets on. This cuts down on the frizz significantly. Basically, low manipulation.

Maintaining Your Desired Style

Not everyone wants to rock twists for the week like moi, but I do know that Curly hair thrives on moisture no matter the style it’s kept in. So whether you plan on rocking two-strand twists for two weeks, or a high bun for 3 days, at some point your hair will need moisture replenishment. The trick is to choose your methods/products wisely. I went over my nightly routine some time ago, and still do this religiously. The above pic was taken on 7 day hair after wearing the Fro in a twist-out for 6 days. To help keep it ‘under control’ I adhered to my nightly routine and followed these easy steps:

• Moisturized the hair with LUSH R&B. This product has done wonders for the Fro during the humid days. I use a very tiny bit to smooth over the entire head and follow up with a spritz. I tend to use this typically on days 5-7 when it feels as if the sun has sucked out most of the moisture & hair is especially parched. Also, for some this cream might be a tad too heavy. If you use, do so sparingly.
• No matter the season I always have to have a good hair spritz by my bed side. I hardly ever twist without one & lean towards Jane Carter’s Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner (easy to find in stores, & protects hair from heat styling and the sun). It also has Panthenol which acts as a sealant, locking in moisture. I don’t over saturate, but make sure it’s damp enough to twist easily, loosening any knots during the process, & dries fast for the morning rush. Another tried favorite is the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist (also readily available in most drugstores, Walgreens, Tarjay…etc.). I LOVE this for so many reasons (the smell is lovely!!), but mainly because of the great ingredients. It’s loaded with Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, Vitamin E & water for ultimate moisture. I go through at least two bottles a month…yep.

These days if you haven’t been to a natural hair meetup in your area, you are truly missing out on the opportunity to learn & become inspired by beautiful women. Many are now being hosted & sponsored by some of our favorite names as well! Natural Selection along with Naturally Curly are putting on the sweetest event here in NYC, a natural hair POOL PARTAY!!

Honestly, I think this is too precious and luxurious! Gift bags, demos, cocktails (a bar-side POOL) featuring some of the top brands in the game! If you haven’t guessed, I will be there…swimsuit ready & hopefully sippin a cocktail poolside;)!

Deets can be found by clicking link up top, PLUS…save $5 at checkout after entering coupon code “POOL.” If you’re planning on attending, hope to see you there!

In light of a past week mixed with personal heartache & new perspectives I opted to rock the twist-out Fro something fierce. I walked about the 90 degree city that is NY with an ever growing bouffant because it undeniably made me feel better, hot empowered & secure. But because of all the fro flaunting around town, knots began to form as did a considerable amount of dryness. Ironically, the scalp situation remained under ‘control,’ yet when the sun threatens to suck out all the moisture from your precious locks, you tuck your precious coils back under, right? At least I did. This week was the return to twists using my go-to arsenal of products. A poo that would effectively cleanse the scalp, a deep conditioner that would ease the arm strains when detangling and offered amazing slip, and my favorite pairing to style – a creamy, slippy leave-in condish + moisturizing styler.

Products Used:

1. Leave-In Condish – Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Ambrosia
2. Deep Condish – KBB’s Complete Hair Conditioner
3. Style – EO’s Protective Conditioner
4. Cleanse – TheraNeem Scalp Therape

This week was arguably one of the easiest hair sessions in a while, even with all the fro-out action, and I have to say that while it’s getting easier to find products with the right amount of slip, I always turn to the KBB brand of goodies to get the job done. With a wide tooth comb, I was able to release a ton of knots and experience less shedding.

Today was just as hot, if not more so than the previous week, so I upped the ponie and secured the twists with an elastic band. Easy peazy & kept the hairz out of the face.

I’ve been updating the Facebook Page with shots of Fro when she’s out & about, definitely check it out! I combated & won the Humidity wars & will share deets on how I went about it in a future post! & I know it’s been quiet in these parts, but do tell what you’ve been doing to style/wash the fro during the Summer months…