How humidity affects your hair - and what to do about it
The peak of summer in Ontario is also the peak of humidity. While we all love sunny days and warm nights, what we don’t love is frizz, flat roots, and styles that wilt the minute we walk outside. That’s all thanks to humidity.
Understanding how humidity affects your hair & what you can do to fight back is the key to keeping your summer styles smooth, shiny, and manageable.
What happens to hair in humid weather
Humidity = moisture in the air. Our summers here can get hot and muggy, so the air holds more vapour, which then our hair absorbs.
Here’s how that works: hair is porous, which means it soaks up moisture from the environment. When your hair absorbs that moisture, the hydrogen bonds in the hair shaft change. This causes the strands to swell, twist, and even break from your original style. For many people, that means frizz, puffiness, and curls that lose definition or shape. But while all hair is porous, some people have more porous hair than others - which is why you may have noticed that your hair reacts differently than your friend’s in certain conditions.
The effect of humidity on your hair depends on your hair type:
Curly & wavy hair is more prone to frizz & volume changes
Fine or straight hair can go limp or lose volume
Chemically treated or damaged hair is usually very thirsty, so it tends to absorb even more moisture, exaggerating frizz & breakage
How to manage humidity’s impact on your hair
Lean into moisturizing ingredients
You want your hair hydrated with products that will help it thrive, not with the moisture that’s in the air. If you focus your haircare routine on moisturizing and hydrating products, your hair will soak up the goodness without reacting too strongly to humidity.
Use the right at-home leave-in products & targeted treatments
Nourishing, smoothing, de-frizzing, and moisturizing treatments are your best friends in the hot & humid months. We love ingredients like Argan Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, and Jojoba Oil to give your strands the nourishment they need.
Dry your hair thoroughly
Our hair becomes more vulnerable when it’s wet, and that’s why we never recommend that you let your hair air-dry. Instead, use a good leave-in conditioner and the right heat protectant, and dry your hair thoroughly to minimize the time spent wet. Want to learn how to do an at-home blowout? We now offer classes for that! Just book online.
Book a specialized in-salon treatment
One of the best things you can do in the humidity is get your hair professionally treated in our organic salon. We have smoothing, de-frizzing, nourishing, and hydrating treatments. And the bonus? We do an incredible scalp massage! Be sure to speak with your stylist to get a custom treatment that’s perfect for what your hair needs.
Don’t let the humidity win
Your hair doesn’t have to suffer just because the season changed and the weather is now warm & muggy. With the right routine & products (plus expert advice from our team of stylists) you can enjoy smooth, shiny, and manageable hair all summer long.
For a personalized humidity-fighting plan, book your appointment online with any of our incredible stylists. P.S. you can check out our promotions page for the latest in seasonal offers. We want to help you look and feel your best this summer!
to get your hair & scalp summer-ready, and be sure to shop our online store (or come into the salon) for some scalp-loving products. We can’t wait to see you!