Get Rid of Frizz Fast With This Humidity-Resistant Blowout Routine

Summer, I just have to ask—is this humidity necessary? For some, the sunny season brings heat with a side of poofy hair. Even in places with cold summers, (I live in SF, so I can attest) moisture levels in the air can completely inflate otherwise sleek blowouts.

The good news: You can maintain a smooth mane June-August and beyond. In order to conquer frizz, let’s understand the blowout-busting beast.

There are high levels of moisture present in air during humid days, and when hair comes in contact with this wetness, it reverts to its natural state.

To make matters a tad bit worse, when hair lacks moisture, the cuticle (or your hair’s protective layer) becomes rough and raised versus flat and smooth, as it should be. A raised cuticle layer allows moisture to pass through, effectively ballooning strands and exacerbating dryness. Unfortunately, this can happen with or without humid conditions.

With a hydrating hair care routine and strand-saving habits, you can thwart frizzy outcomes. Let’s get into it!

Mask on before you shower

What happens before you style can make or break your mane’s chance for long lasting smoothness. Even before you set foot into the shower, massage a hydrating mask onto dry strands. Go for keratin-infused formulas, like Oribe’s Signature Moisture Masque to strengthen and smooth the hair cuticle.

Sure, it says leave on for 5-10 minutes, but I recommend leaving on for 30—so get comfortable. To enhance hair’s absorption of healthy ingredients, I like to cover my head with a shower cap, slightly lift the sides, and fill the bonnet with heat from my blow dryer for a DIY steaming effect. And head’s up—you’re not quite done with that mask yet.

Shower time is crucial

Hydrated hair is happy hair, and happy hair won’t frizz out on you. Treat strands with a little indulgence in the form of protein and botanical-infused shampoo and conditioner. Oribe’s Signature Shampoo and Conditioner contain a rich blend of keratin and jojoba oil to envelop strands in much-needed moisture. After shampooing, re-apply your deep conditioning mask on your mid-shaft and ends, leave on for 10 minutes, rinse, and follow up with conditioner. I find that double mask application helps strands reach peak hydration.

Once you’ve rinsed out your conditioner, it’s time to turn down the shower water heat. (Also, it’s best to wash hair with warm water vs. hot, as hot water puts undue stress on tresses, strips them of necessary moisture, and elevates the cuticle.) Adjust water to the coldest you can handle and saturate strands with a final rinse. This burst of coldness closes the hair cuticle to impart shine and luster when it’s time to style.

Also, it’s time to stop aggressively drying hair with any old bath towel, as this roughs up and weakens the hair shaft. The best way to wring out wetness is to gently dry with an old t-shirt, pillow case, or soft microfiber hair towel.

Say farewell to frizz with smart styling

Make sure your styling cream offers thermal protection up to 450°F. R+Co Hot Spell Thermotech Blowout Balm delivers on its frizz-free promise with a powerhouse lineup of plant-based ingredients to soften, condition, and seal the hair shaft. Apply to damp hair and comb through from root to tip.

When it comes to blow-drying, style smarter not hotter. It might be time to swap your blow dryer and flat iron in favor of a more personalized experience that cuts dry time in half. For sleek styles go for T3’s Featherweight StyleMax Professional Hair Dryer. The gentle airstream and customized heat settings deliver a speedy dry with added shine. And with its built-in ion generator, negative ions smooth the hair cuticle for frizz-free results.

Pair with a vented, aluminum and ceramic barrel brush for added volume. Then, touch up your blowout with a single pass flat iron. I like the T3 Smooth ID 1” Smart Flat Iron because it determines your optimal heat setting based on your hair texture, length, and color-treatment inputs.

Finish with added protection

Don’t forget to seal in your hard work with a lightweight hair oil and spray for extra protection against frizz. Find an argan oil or an oil blend to seal split ends and impart sheen no matter what hair day you’re on. Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil adds a silky, healthy finish that locks in moisture and smooths the hair cuticle. For even more control and hold amidst high humidity, spray on some added protection. R+Co’s Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray is specially formulated to control frizz, add hydration, and tame flyaways with a flexible hold and satin finish.