Easy ways to frizz-proof your hair in humid weather

Never have our beauty products had to work harder than they have this summer: we’ve needed sweat-proof make-up to last through a heat wave as well as rich face creams to deal with unseasonably cold spells. However, one thing that we’re woefully unprepared for as a nation is the humidity, which can create a halo of frizz within minutes of stepping out of your front door. 

Frizz is the fuzzy texture of hair that doesn’t lie flat with the surrounding strands, and although hair damage can give the appearance of frizz, so too can high humidity levels; it reached 90 per cent earlier this week in London. Stars at Wimbledon and at the Grand Prix over the weekend had their own approaches to dealing with the frizz: at Wimbledon Salma Hayek smoothed her hair straight and Mary Berry wore her bob sleek, too, while at Silverstone Hannah Waddingham opted for an updo, Simone Ashley left her curls natural and Catherine Zeta-Jones did the sensible thing and popped on a hat. 

Regardless of whether your hair is fine or thick, straight or curly, managing frizz is something that requires a clever assortment of products and styling. Here’s how to frizz-proof your hair in the humidity. 

Washing your hair  

“Minimising frizz starts with cleansing and conditioning the hair,” says leading hair stylist Sam McKnight MBE, who explains that there’s a certain art to washing your hair to keep it smooth. “When shampooing your hair you want to avoid disrupting the cuticle and refrain from using abrasive action on your strands, so focus your shampoo on the roots, with your fingertips massage the scalp,” he says. 

The idea is that you shouldn’t need to be rough and rub your strands together, because as you rinse the shampoo from your scalp and roots will travel down your hair and cleanse it. Try the Moroccanoil Frizz Control Shampoo, £20.85.

Add moisture back in

During the summer months, it’s a fine balance between adding enough moisture to the hair and not weighing it down. According to McKnight, conditioners and hair masks are essential to keeping your hair detangled and smooth. “If you have generally good hair, you can apply conditioners to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and skip the roots,” he says. 

However, if you have bleached or very processed hair, add this moisture at the roots, too. “Gently run the conditioner or treatment through the hair and detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb,” adds McKnight. “Always comb down the hair to keep it as tangle-free as possible.” Try the Love Smoothing Conditioner, £23.50, by Davines. 

Drying 

“Once your hair is rinsed thoroughly, gently squeeze as much moisture out of the hair from root to tip and then wrap it with a microfibre towel to absorb excess moisture,” says McKnight. Try the Microfibre Hair Towel, £17 by Only Curls. This is a smarter method than rubbing your hair with a towel, and microfibre hair towels can speed up the drying process by absorbing moisture quickly. Once your hair is semi-dry, spritz in a leave-in conditioner which can work wonders on taming frizz before you use any hot tools. Try the Leave-In Conditioner Daily Damage Defence, £21, by Philip Kingsley. 

Tailor your technique 

If your hair is generally straight, when blow drying your hair “keep the nozzle pointing down the hair to focus the airflow,” says McKnight, as this will encourage a smoother and sleeker finish. The Save The Do Blow Dry Style Starter, £26, by Hair By Sam McKnight is an excellent heat protectant to use before blow drying, as it helps to keep your hair frizz-free for longer. 

“Lock in your style with a hairspray, too,” adds McKnight, who tells me a trick he uses backstage on fashion shows is to go over your blowdry with a mist of hairspray on each section once dry, to protect from humidity. Try McKnight’s fantastic Modern Hairspray, from £12. 

If you have curly hair, apply a frizz cream or spray while your hair is still damp and then use your fingers to coil or curl your hair into shape. “Once your hair is in shape, you should minimise as much disruption as possible,” says McKnight. “Try not to touch your curls or coils too much and use a slower speed with the diffuser head on a hairdryer, which will help to prevent frizz from building.” McKnight’s Cool Curls Mist, £28, has proven frizz protection for up to 24 hours. 

Prevent frizz throughout the day

Once you’ve styled your hair, there are a few handy tools you can keep in your handbag for on-the-go frizz protection. The Style + Treat Yuzu and Plum Oil Sleek Stick, £20 by Briogeo is especially handy for updos. Yes, it looks like a stick deodorant, but this tool simply smooths flyaways from the hairline without leaving a greasy or oily finish. “Some hair types are naturally more susceptible to frizz such as coarse, grey and parched hair,” adds McKnight, “so a nourishing balm or lightweight oil is the perfect product to have in your bag for easy touch-ups.” 

If you want to keep your hair as sleek as possible in the days after you wash and style it, consider a silk pillow which will prevent long-term breakage and reduce moisture loss in the hair. Try the Silk Pillowcases by Slip, from £44.50.