5 Genius Ways to Fight Summer Frizz

Summer means more skin, more sun—and plenty of weather-induced frizz for our hair. And let’s face it: nobody wants to combat unexpected sunshowers and humidity by throwing their hair in a boring bun every day for the next three months. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to combat unruly hair; here are five of our tried-and-true tips to fight frizz this summer. Prepare to have the best hair of your life.

1. Get regular haircuts

Fun fact: a lot of frizz is actually the result of damage. If left too long, any split ends are only going to climb up the hair shaft, creating an even wilder texture, especially if you have layers. Make sure you’re getting regular haircuts every six to eight weeks to ensure damage (and the resulting frizz) is kept to a minimum. And if you’ve been dreaming of a new summer haircut, this might be the time to take the plunge!

2. Sleep on it.

Good news for anyone too impatient to sit through a traditional deep conditioning treatment—there are now lots of overnight hair masks that work wonders without ruining your pillowcases. Coating your hair with a nourishing and smoothing hair sleep mask means you’ll wake up with your hair ready combat frizz before you even style it. Living Proof’s Nightcap Overnight Perfector ($28) claims to smooth and soften your hair for up to five days after applying (yes, even through washing), so you can make it a weekly treatment.

And speaking of sleep: you’re using a satin pillowcase, right? It’s not just a luxury thing: sleeping with your hair on satin or silk decreases breakage and frizz-causing friction, making sure you wake up with frizzless hair every morning.

3. Wash smarter.

Just like you may switch out skin care when seasons change, you should also consider switching up your hair care. In summer when the humidity rises, opt for shampoos and conditioners geared towards frizzy, curly or coarse hair. We love Shea Moisture’s Tahitian Noni and Monoi Oil line ($9.99 each); their shampoo and conditioner are both amazing at taming frizz, while also smelling amazing.

And don’t forget to always rinse your hair with cold water after washing. Not only will it keep your color richer for longer, it also closes the hair cuticle and prevents frizz before it happens.

4. Embrace silicones.

The reputation of silicones may be tarnished by their tendency to weight down your hair, but they live to fight frizz. Silicones coat your hair in a hydrophobic compound that repels H2O, effectively preventing humidity from messing with your hairstyle. Used on wet hair, you can stop frizz before it starts; used on dry, you can mitigate the effects of frizz that has already set in. For our money, John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum ($7.99) is still the best silicone-based frizz fighter out there.

5. Set it so you can forget it.

Technology has brought us the best flexible hairsprays, and now they’ve brought us the best setting sprays too. The difference? Setting sprays let your hair move freely while locking in its finish. Living Proof’s Humidity Shield ($22) is a miracle setting spray that blocks 100% of humidity. Frizz-fighting molecule compounds bond to your hair to repel water, so your hour of impeccable flat-ironing or curling will not go in vain. Even better—it leaves you hair feeling like hair and not a product-laden curtain around your face.