Moisture is the enemy. At least, moisture is the enemy when you are talking about straightening your hair. It's hard enough to keep those frizzies under control in good weather, but it can be trickier to straighten stubborn waves when the weather is rainy. As a stylist, I often show clients how to straighten their hair, even when the weather isn't cooperating. Here are a few ideas that you can use to keep your locks looking lovely and straight, too.
Start with damp hair, but not in a damp room. One of the biggest mistakes we make when styling our hair is trying to dry it in the bathroom where we just showered. The heat and humidity in the bathroom will make heat styling, especially straightening, far more difficult. So take your tools and your damp hair to another, less moist room.
Apply product. If it's humid or rainy, you will definitely need product to keep your hair straight. Apply a lightweight gel to damp hair (you may want to blow dry hair until it is about 80 percent dry, and then apply your product). After you've applied gel, spritz on a heat protectant spray and work it evenly through your hair.
Blow dry. Using either a paddle brush or a large round brush, blow dry hair so that it is as straight as possible. Work in small sections, and aim the blow dryer down the shaft of the hair, pointing towards the ends. Any other way will cause hair to look dull and rough.
Straighten one section at a time. When hair is dry and as straight as you can get it with a brush, clip it up and out of the way except for a small section at the nape of the neck. Using the lowest setting that works on your hair, gently glide the flat iron over the hair without pausing on any particular spot. Don't go over any section more than twice to prevent unnecessary damage. Be careful - the flat iron - and your hair - will be hot! When that section is straight, let down a little more hair, continuing on until all the hair is straight.
Shine and spray. Carefully apply a tiny amount of shine serum, especially to the ends of the hair, to give it a little sheen, flatten flyaways, and to seal the cuticle. Spray hair to keep it firmly in place.
Be prepared for touchups. Be prepared for touchups throughout the day if the weather is very rainy. Keep a mini-iron, comb, and some hairspray handy if you need to touch up your style.
Whatever you do, stay dry! Wear a hood, carry an umbrella, and keep those tresses under wraps so they don't get wet. Moisture will cause frizz, and wet hair will curl. Try to keep your hands off of your hair and spray on a little more hairspray throughout the day to keep it under control. You and your shiny, straight strands will look great!
