How to Battle Humidity with Hairspray
Hairspray can be an effective way to help protect hair from the effects of humidity. Curly hair, in particular, can become frizzy and frazzled in hot, humid weather. But thankfully, Curlsmith holds the key to keeping your hair defined and healthy-looking in humid conditions: enter the Flawless Finish Hairspray, which falls into our ‘moisture’ recipe. Read on to find out about the spray and its anti-humidity benefits - so you can enjoy gorgeous curls on holiday or at home, whatever the weather.
Table of Contents:
How to Protect Your Hair from Humidity
What is anti-humidity hairspray?
What are the benefits of using anti-humidity hairspray?
How to find the best anti-humidity hairspray for your hair type
Best hairspray for curly hair in humidity
Best hairspray for coily hair in humidity
What is anti-humidity hairspray?
Before we can explain why hairspray works so well in helping protect against humidity, it’s important to understand what humidity actually is, and how it impacts curls.
Meet the Experts
- Matthew Surplice is a Birmingham (UK) based hairstylist and founder of Spring Hair Salon.
- Dylan Bray is a curl specialist at Barnes & Bray salon in London.
“Humidity is just water the air,” says Matthew Surplice, owner of Spring hair salon in Birmingham, UK. “Unless you’re using the right products, the cuticles in your hair will open up to draw in moisture from the surrounding air.”
When your hair absorbs that moisture, it can wreak havoc on any kind of curl - whether you have loose waves or tight coils. According to curl specialist at London salon Barnes & Bray, Dylan Bray, this moisture “reacts with the hair texture, allowing curls to do whatever they want.” The result? A breakdown of the curl pattern, resulting in frizz and flyaways.
Curlsmith’s Flawless Finish Hairspray is your secret weapon for helping protect your hair against humidity, holding curls in place and preventing the air’s moisture from causing curly chaos.
What are the benefits of using anti-humidity hairspray?
Hairsprays have a bad reputation for damaging hair - and especially curls. This is because many hairsprays include drying alcohols that dehydrate the hair, which is not what you want for curly textures, since they are naturally drier than straighter hair types.
But the right hairspray with curl-friendly ingredients can be a brilliant tool for locking in whatever curly style you’ve opted for. “I am a big fan of hairspray for curly hair,” says Dylan. “It acts as a fantastic barrier that creates a sealant between your style and the elements.”
Curlsmith’s Flawless Finish Hairspray is the perfect option because it’s free from drying alcohols, therefore helping prevent dryness and damage to your curls. It’s also made without silicones (which can weigh down curls), and contains a unique polymer blend that will allow your curls to move and bounce freely before returning to their original shape. Even better: it’s enriched with pro-vitamin B5, which acts as a ‘humectant’, meaning it supports moisture retention and will help keep your hair hydrated. This kind of hairspray is not your enemy - it’s your friend.
How to find the best anti-humidity hairspray for your hair type
Not all hairsprays are created equal - many don’t have the beneficial effects on your curly, wavy, or coily hair. So, you need to be careful about which one you choose. The best thing about the Flawless Finish Hairspray is that it is available in two different versions - Flexible Hold, and Strong Hold.
The Flexible Hold hairspray is perfect for everyday use, particularly when you know you’re going to be out and about in humid conditions, and you want your hair to maintain a freshly-styled look throughout an active day. It’s a must-have to pack in your suitcase, if you’re jetting off to a tropical climate.
The Strong Hold hairspray is exactly what it says on the tin - extra hold for when you need that extra amount of support. Think up-dos for weddings or special occasions; or simply any time when you want your curls to play ball for hours on end. This could also be a great option if you know your hair is sensitive to humidity (keep reading to find out more). The Strong Hold contains an extra spoon of our unique polymer blend, to help support long-lasting curly hair styles.
Both versions are best used when your hair is dry - but before you head out into humid conditions, as a preventative method to help create a barrier between your hair and your environment. Shake the can well before you use it, then spray about 7-9 inches away from your hair and allow it to set.
Best hairspray for curly hair in humidity
Curly hair - also known as ‘type 3’ hair, covers a range of different curl patterns - which can be broken down into 3a, 3b, and 3c. 3a hair normally describes larger, looser curls that often fall in clumps or ringlets. 3b hair describes a tighter corkscrew pattern, while 3c consists of very tight, dense curls.
Every head of curly hair is different, and you may even have a range of different curl types in one head. A more important factor to consider, especially when it comes to humidity, is the porosity of your hair.
Your hair’s porosity is affected by many different factors - including your hair’s natural texture, as well as damage from chemicals, heat and the environment. ‘High porosity’ refers to when the cuticles are wide open. hair is damaged “High-porosity hair is more likely to take on moisture very quickly, but it will lose it just as fast,” says Matthew. The impact is that your hair will absorb the moisture from the atmosphere, but then it’ll lose it quickly - leading to dehydrated, frizzy strands.
The first step to tackle high-porosity hair in humidity is to ensure your hair is well-moisturized - because “dehydrated hair is more likely to reach out for more moisture from the air”, Matthew explains. You can find some of the best products for curly hair here, particularly the hydration range.
Once you’ve done that, the Flawless Finish hairspray can help to keep all that moisture under lock and key, allowing you to maintain your ideal curl pattern all day long.
Best hairspray for coily hair in humidity
Also known as type 4, coily hair is the most voluminous hair type, which is defined by tight coils that begin at the scalp. 4a curls have a visible curl pattern made up of very tight curls (about the size of a needle), while 4b and 4c have increasingly tight zig-zag patterns. Type 4 hair can be either high or low porosity, but they’re more likely to be high porosity - and they’re more prone to breakage and damage. As a result, humidity can cause type 4 hair to become ‘puffed-up’ and frizzy.
A key way to help prevent this effect is to ensure your hair has a good balance of protein and moisture. Moisture keeps the hair hydrated, while protein strengthens and repairs. “Protein will help coily hair in humidity, because there will be less holes for it to absorb the moisture from the air,” says Dylan. Find out whether your curls need more protein or moisture here.
The Flawless Finish hairspray can be used as the final step in your routine, when your hair is dry. It’s the ideal hairspray to help protect your hair from humidity.
Best hairspray for wavy hair in humidity
Wavy hair - also known as type 2 - sits somewhere in between straight and curly hair. Type 2a has a very loose, tousled texture, while 2b has a more obvious ‘S’ shape. Type 2c hair is a tighter texture, and it may even transform into ringlets or corkscrews when styled.
If you have low porosity wavy hair, this means that moisture does not easily enter the hair fiber and water can sometimes sit on top of the hair like droplets, rather than being absorbed. In this sense, you might expect lower porosity hair to be more robust in humidity - but Dylan Bray explains that humidity can be more noticeable on lower-porosity hair. “Although not all of the moisture will absorb into lower-porosity hair, the strands that do absorb the humidity can become frizzy, causing more obvious flyaways that may contrast with the rest of the hair,” he says.
The Flawless Finish hairspray can help with this, helping to lock in waves for the ultimate beachy look - minus the frizz. Anti-humidity hairspray is the ideal way to help prevent the effects of humidity on your hair.
Battle the frizz with Curlsmith
With Curlsmith, you can feel confident with your curls - whatever the weather. Before you reach for your hairspray, give your curls the best possible chance to beat the humid heat with our vegan, cruelty-free recipes for encouraging moisture, building strength and frizz control. Whichever recipe you choose, it all starts with a great hair-wash, using a sulfate-free cleanser or shampoo and silicone-free conditioner (to ensure your hair retains its natural oils). After that, you can apply your styling products to create the desired level of definition and hold. To find out which products you should use in your routine, let Curlsmith’s experts guide you with this handy quiz. The Flawless Finish hairspray can then be the final step to work its anti-humidity magic.
