With the summer heat rapidly approaching, it seems that societal beauty standards change.  Our skin gets darker and our hair gets lighter. Once the summer months hit, it seems like natural “beach waves” can be achieved by everyone.  The downside of this beautiful summer weather is what the heat and humidity can do to our hair. It is safe to say that we can all remember a time when we walked past a projector and were disappointed by our silhouettes. At this moment, it is easy to mistake your painstakingly styled hair for some sort of furball.

So what causes frizz to occur in the first place? Unsurprisingly, the humidity is the main culprit here.  The high humidity causes your cuticle layer (the outermost part of a strand of hair) to rise, turning your once smooth head into the head of a mad scientist.  Vise versa, if you are in an area with too little humidity, the lack of moisture will lead to induced static electricity, making the likelihood of crazy hair much greater.

In order to tame frizzy hair overnight, one must have a combination of the right hair products, and the right hair-care routine to combat the humidity.

The Dangers Of Instant Hair Solutions Explained

Woman spraying hairspray.

Instant Hair Solutions can really be quite tempting if you are in a hurry.  When I say instant hair solution products, I am talking about hair sprays and other chemical serums that may damage your hair when overused.  Unless you have an important event in the next couple of hours, you should try to avoid instant hair solutions to get rid of frizz. Opt for natural hair products and/or a new hair care routine to get rid of your frizz furies.  Instant hair solutions and natural products do the same thing, the difference is the time it takes to get the job done.  Yes, instant hair solutions will get rid of your frizz at the moment, however, in the long run, it can damage your hair. Here’s how two common beauty ingredients can mess up your hair when overused.

1.Triclosan

Commonly used in shampoos and hairsprays, Triclosan is a popular antibacterial ingredient.  Although it is used in almost every beauty product, one should be aware that overuse can block healthy hair growth.  Triclosan acts as an endocrine distributor, which, as the name suggests, disturbs the function of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for the health of hair and skin.  When disturbed it may cause hair loss or stunted hair growth.

2.  Phthalates

Similarly to Triclosan, Phthalates are used in a wide array of beauty products.  From nail polish to soaps, this group of chemicals is typically used to promote the flexibility and durability of your favorite cosmetics.  Again, this ingredient is an endocrine distributor and can have negative effects on healthy hair growth. Moving away from just hair, it is important to note that studies conducted with this chemical have shown that overuse can lead to weight gain catalysts and organ system toxicants.

I can’t stress enough that it is possible for hair products to cure frizz while being free from harmful chemicals like the two mentioned above.  A quality, natural and cruelty-free product will give one the same results as a product chock full of chemicals. These products may cost a little more but even spending a few extra dollars on a good quality hair product is worth it.  If you don’t want to spend money on a quality hair product, check out these effective natural solutions to tame frizz.

Top 5 Natural, Overnight Solutions To Frizzy Hair

Frizz-free, healthy hair.

1.Coconut Oil

Coconut oil …ah, the holy grail of any successful beauty routine.  Not only is it affordable, easy to find, and effective, but coconut oil prevents hair protein loss.  To further examine this concept, let’s take a look at the science behind coconut oil. Coconut oil is predominantly made out of Lauric Acid, a medium-chain of fatty acids.  Why is this important? These fatty acids in coconut oil provide the ability to be absorbed into the hair strands, making them less susceptible to damage. Not only this, coconut oil will allow your hair to be softer and smoother, ultimately reducing frizz.

To use, rub a palm-full of coconut oil in your hair from root to tip, making sure hair is saturated.  Tie hair in a high bun and let sit overnight. Wash with natural shampoo and conditioner in the morning.  Style your hair as you normally would, and you are good to go! This overnight hair mask should be used once a week. Keep in mind that a mask such as this will have the best results after a few weeks.

2.  Cold Water Showers

Cold water shower.

As painful and chilling as it sounds, taking cold showers will actually do wonders for your hair and scalp.  Similarly to what cold water does to skin, it also does to hair. The cold water closes up cuticles and pores which locks in moisture from your hair products, leading to shiner less frizzy hair.  If a complete shower with cold water is too hard for you to do, try cooling down the shower only to wash the conditioner out of your hair. Over time the cold water showers will get easier, and the results will start to kick in!

3.  Microfiber Towel

Using a regular towel after showering can actually damage your hair and lead to frizz and worsen split ends.  For this reason, you should switch to a microfiber towel to dry your hair after a shower. A microfiber towel is not only gentler on your hair, but helps it to dry faster.  Using a towel such as this ensures one for a frizz-free air dry.  

To use, wrap your hair in the microfiber towel for 10-15 minutes to get excess water out of your hair.  This is the best use of the product so that the least amount of friction and allows the hair to dry quickly without damaging the cuticle.

4.  Sleep On Silk

Woman sleeping on silk sheets.

Besides feeling like royalty, sleeping on a silk pillowcase has numerous benefits for your hair and skin.  Silk pillowcases provide for a cleaner sleep surface, less drying of the skin and hair, and most importantly, less friction on hair during the night.  This friction is what leads to dry, frizzy hair, or “bed head” in the morning. Need another reason to switch pillowcases? A cotton pillowcase collects natural oil and bacteria from your face and hair.  This grime accumulates on your pillowcase and can lead to acne and dirty hair. Switching to silk kills two birds with one stone.  Knowing this, I’d say a silk pillowcase is a good beauty investment.

5.  “Plop” Your Hair

This technique is for my people who are trying to master a wavy, “beach-babe” look.  “Plopping” one’s hair consists of washing your hair and removing excess moisture with a towel (preferably microfiber), then tying your hair into a large t-shirt or even just a tight bun. Not only does this technique make one’s hair curlier, but it also allows the curls to be bouncy, full and frizz-free! For a visual reference, check out the video at the bottom of this article.

Conclusion

Frizz-free curls.

With the right practice and patience, frizzy hair will be a thing of the past.  Over time, continuing these natural fixes will help you to have the best possible hair.  Remember, you only get out of this process what you put in. If you are constantly using heat products on your hair, you are not going to have the results that you may have originally anticipated.

In my case, I have tried almost all of the methods listed above.  All of them work well, but for me, the best method is the hair “plopping” method.  This method works well for me because I wash my hair at night. It takes little time and effort to tie my hair up before bed and wake up with beautiful curls.  I have been plopping my hair for about 3 years now. It does take practice to perfect the plopping technique, but the results are truly amazing. My hair is naturally curly but plopping my hair has made my curls tighter and has reduced frizz dramatically. If you are going to give any method a try, make sure it is this one!

To conclude, I want you to remember that the hair you’ve got is beautiful as is.  Although it may seem like the internet constantly bombards us with messages of self-love, I want to end this article with another message that will hopefully stick with you. When you start to love your natural hair, you are less likely to use chemicals and heat products on it. When you quit using harmful products, your hair will over time become less frizzy.  I challenge you, my lovely readers, to substitute the time you typically spend styling your hair and instead spend your time appreciating what you’ve already got. Your hair will thank you.