All this rain is wreaking havoc on the hair. Extreme humidity is hair’s worst enemy. No matter how much one blow-dries or applies products on the hair, extreme moisture will wear the hair down and cause a meltdown. Even those born with perfect tresses are not exempt.
My remedy is not a permanent cure, but it will hold the fort longer.
A must-have for all hair types is clarifying shampoo. For greasy hair, use this shampoo on a daily basis. I believe the clarifying formula should be part of everyone’s shampoo arsenal, as hair gets weighed down by product buildup and one’s favorite shampoo also leaves residue that blocks the benefits of even the best hair product on earth.
If your hair is greasy like mine, concentrate on the scalp area. When you rinse your hair, the rest of the suds will clean the hair strands away from the scalp and will not overly dry them out.
The best part is that clarifying shampoos are relatively inexpensive. If your hair is dry, coarse or very curly, devote a full week to washing out debris from your previous hair products with the clarifier of your choice.
Please limit conditioner to the ends of the hair and away from the scalp. Once you have done this, limit the use of clarifying shampoo once or twice a week.
My favorite clarifiers: Suave, Alberto VO5 Kiwi, Neutrogena anti-residue and Clairol Drama Clean. If you have other brands in mind, make sure the formula is a clear one regardless of color. Any opaque or translucent tint will make your hair greasy or build up deposit.
Home remedy: When I am out of town and the water is the hard variety that leaves hair weighed down, dull and feeling unclean, I mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a liter of water as a final rinse.
Make sure you rinse all the shampoo and conditioner out with tap water before your final rinse. If the smell bothers you, run through with cold water only. Hair will be left really shiny and tame.
For specific hair types, one may wash one’s scalp with the clarifying shampoo first, then rinse off, then follow with the shampoo and conditioner suited to one’s hair type.
Volumizing
Volumizing shampoo is designed for fine limp hair that sticks to the scalp, giving one a drowned, balding rat look.
Wash scalp with clarifying shampoo, then follow with your favorite Tigi Bed Head Epic Volume, The Body Shop Rainforest Volumizing Shampoo and Pantene Fullness and Life.
Anti-frizz may also be applied to the tresses. With hair that has the slightest wave or curl, humidity will cling to it and make it kinky.
Look for a shampoo that promises to give you smooth and straight hair. Limit your clarifying shampoo to once a week or before you sleep at night.
Those with extra curly hair should apply a serum like L’Oreal Techni Art Liss Control, and consider investing on a good shampoo and conditioner combo as well.
Also try: Dove Hair Care, Avon Advanced Techniques Frizz Control line, and Pantene Smoothness and Life. The last has a full frizz-fighting range, from shampoo to conditioner, hair pack and serum, all designed to give you shiny, tame, straighter hair. The serum coats the hair and prevents humidity from penetrating the strands, making the hair defy gravity.
