Humidity and Your Natural Hair

Okay, so it’s hot, sticky, muggy, triple H’s (hot, hazy, and humid)– you get the point. So how should you wear your hair? Do you wear it up? Down? Braids? Gel? Conditioner?

Decisions, Decisions….

It’s really hard to decide sometimes because everyone’s hair behaves differently in certain weather conditions regardless of hair type. I live in New England and so far the summer has been pretty warm with a few back to back days of humidity and rain on some days. What’s worked for me are twist outs/braid outs with my hair pulled up and wash and go’s with my hair pulled up. I use a loose headband, slick my edges down with either aloe vera gel or [easyazon_link asin=”B003E7UNE4″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”mochanatural-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Eco Styler Gel[/easyazon_link].  This hair style holds up pretty well in the hot and sticky conditions. And on rainy days, there’s minimal frizz because my hair is pulled back and protected.  Be careful as pulling your hair up very often -especially if you’re using a brush- can cause some wear and tear to your edges and may even lead to breakage and thinning. When doing this hairstyle try to use a soft bristled brush if you want to slick your edges, a tooth brush works just as well. The looser the headband the better.

H2O, Sealants, and Your Hair

I also find that my hair likes water more in these weather conditions than in the winter months. So give your a hair a drink! I keep a water bottle mixed with aloe vera juice and spray my hair at night or prior to manipulating my hair to achieve a style. I absolutely love [easyazon_link asin=”B0013TM9UQ” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”mochanatural-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]castor oil[/easyazon_link] and use it right after co-washing and prior to manipulating my hair. It keeps my hair soft, adds shine, and seals in moisture. I also use [easyazon_link asin=”B00DS842HS” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”mochanatural-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Coconut Oil[/easyazon_link], but keep in mind that this is a light oil, so depending on your hair, it may need a thicker, heavier sealant like castor oil. I generally use coconut oil to achieve a twist out. I’ll dab a little on before applying my styler. I love it much more on my skin. Right now it’s the only moisturizer I use on my skin including my face.  It absorbs really well and does not leave your skin feeling greasy.

Twist and Shout!

Another great thing in the summer are wearable twists.  It’s a great protective style and requires little manipulation, and will withstand just about any weather. Some people like mini twists as they last longer, but medium and chunky twists are great too. I’ve done wearable twists in my hair a few times but would prefer them much more if my hair was longer as I have a lot of shrinkage.  The main thing to remember in warm weather is moisture whether it’s in the form of water or your favorite leave-in. Oh and don’t forget your scalp. It needs TLC too!

#lovebeingnatural

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