Reader Question: My hair is relaxed, but sometimes I can't even tell! It gets frizzy, especially when it's humid outside. I'm constantly flat ironing it to keep the frizz down, but by the afternoon, it's fuzzy all over again. Help!
How to Prevent Frizzy Relaxed Hair
Women
who relax their hair usually do it because they prefer a straight look,
so it can be annoying to have to combat frizz.
Roller Set
Wet setting
damp hair, using a setting product with medium to firm hold, is one of
the best ways to create a sleek style that holds up to just about any
weather. Use the largest rollers you can to create a straight hairstyle
with lots of body.
Wrap at Night
A smooth wrap around your
head prior to going to bed is another way to keep the sleekness in
place. After wrapping, tie a silky or satin scarf around the head and
secure. This may help smooth even more than just sleeping on a satiny
pillowcase.
Create a Ponytail or Bun First
Whether you wet set or thermal
style your freshly washed and dried hair, you may find a day or two of
wearing a ponytail or bun helps "set" the straightness even more.
Tie it Up When Exercising
Frequent
exercisers may suffer from fuzziness if they work out with loose hair.
Tie your hair back and secure the length so that long hair doesn't swell
up from sweat and heat. A loose braid is just one option for women with
lengthy manes. What about short-haired ladies? Secure a satin scarf
around your hairline, leaving the rest of the scarf to drape over your
head, and then knot at the nape of your neck.
Use a Serum
Once
your hair is styled for the day, smooth a few drops of a glossy serum
into your palms and rub together. Apply all over the top of your
finished style. Anti-humidity serums add shine as well as fight
frizz-causing humidity. Some products to try (all available at Amazon)
include:
Stick to Lightweight Moisturizers
Light
moisturizers are better than their heavier, sometimes greasy,
counterparts. If your hair tends to frizz all over, only apply your oily
moisturizers to the ends of your hair. Two lightweight options
(available at Amazon) include:
Other Issues
Also,
some women make the mistake of applying relaxers all over the head
instead of only the new growth when it's time for a touch-up. This
causes overprocessing, which often results in frizz as well.
Are
you deep conditioning often enough? It's possible that the fuzziness is
due to a lack of moisture in your hair. Frequent conditioning is key
for relaxed hair. Plus, don't forget about protein. Hair that needs
strengthening from protein tends to frizz; the hair cuticles don't lie
flat, but have lifted scales due to chemical and/or heat abuse.
Finally,
daily (or several times per week) flat ironing can actually be
contributing to the frizz problem. Too much heat dries out your hair and
this dryness can result in frizz. Instead of trying to fight frizz with
heat, focus on these setting and styling solutions.
