Southern STYLE S E C R E T S T O L O O K I N G YO U R B E S T The Southern Living Guide to HAIR AND MAKEUP STYLING FOR STORY: CELINE RUSSELL/ZENOBIA FIGHTING FRIZZ Heat, humidity, and the scorching summer sun all lead to one thing: hair behaving badly. While Southerners are known for great hair, battling brutal humidity is an everyday challenge for all types and textures. We called on New Orleans dermatologist Dr. Deirdre Hooper to share her best tips for beating the bad kind of big hair by ASHLEY RIDDLE WILLIAMS ~ photographs by HECTOR SANCHEZ M AY 2016 SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM 63
TRICK The key to restoring parched strands is to lock in moisture. For a semipermanent solution, ask your stylist for a post-highlight gloss, which boosts shine and smoothness for up to 28 washes. (Off-the-shelf products provide more temporary coverage.) Silicon-based products fight frizz by clinging tightly to the cuticle and sealing out humidity, says Dr. Hooper. Check labels for this silkening ingredient. Wash with a clarifying shampoo once or twice a month to avoid product buildup. Protect Color-Treated Locks If your complexion-brightening highlights aren t au naturel, they ve been chemically processed, which lifts the hair s cuticle (outer layer) and removes pigment from the shaft below. While this is necessary for attaining gold status, it also leaves the spongelike shaft vulnerable to the swelling effects of moisture in the air. 64 SOUTHERNLIVING.COM MAY 2016
STYLE BEATING HUMIDIT Y TRICK Before heat styling, set tools no higher than 400 degrees and spritz hair with a heatprotective product. Too much heat harms hair just as it does skin. However, unlike with the epidermis, hair can t heal itself, explains Dr. Hooper. Smooth the ends of long, previously damaged hair with reconstructing and moisturizing products, such as split end salves. Beware of tightly bound ponytails, which also can break outermost strands and cause flyaways. Enhance Natural Waves Those of us who don t rise and shine with beautiful, mermaid-like waves must rely on hot tools to create tousled tresses. Repeated use of a curling iron breaks down the cuticle wall, which results in frizz-prone strands. And if you have longer hair, the ends likely have been hanging around awhile, accumulating significant damage. 66 SOU T H ER N L I V I NG.COM M AY 2016
TRICK Once the scalp produces less hydration, hair loses luster. Scale back on washes to replenish natural oil. Reducing hair s exposure to friction is also an effective method and it s one that starts in the shower. Rather than brushing out towel-dried tangles, use a wide-tooth comb while you ve still got conditioner in your hair. This reduces the breakage of particularly vulnerable wet hair. You can also try swapping your cotton pillowcase for a satin one; resting hair on a smoother surface can reduce hair breakage as you sleep. Strengthen Aging Strands For hair, aging is a good thing up to age 35, that is. Hair increases in diameter and becomes more resistant to damage. After age 40, however, that process starts to reverse and hair becomes more brittle, explains Dr. Hooper. Over time, our scalp also starts producing less oil, which means strands will become less resilient and lustrous. 68 SOUTHERNLIVING.COM MAY 2016
TRICK Frizz-free curls are really dependent on two things: hydration and hold. The first step is preserving the natural moisture your scalp produces by washing only every two to three days. Each time you do wash, massage a curl cream through towel-dried hair. When hair is wet, product disperses more evenly, adding long-lasting hold without the dreaded crunch effect. Between washes, work in a leave-in conditioning treatment, which focuses on hair s mid-shaft to its ends. Boost Beautiful Curls Enviable bounce comes with its own set of challenges. The texture of hair straight to spiraled is dependent on the shape of the hair shaft. The more it deviates from a perfect circle, the more curl it has, explains Dr. Hooper. And as the shaft becomes more oval or flat, the less tame the cuticle and the drier the hair. 70 SOUTHERNLIVING.COM MAY 2016
PROTECT AGAINST HEAT Your Hair Assistant Blowdry Primer, $34; davines.com Get the Hair You Want with the Hair You Have Repair, restore, and rejuvenate strands all summer long with these powerful frizz-fighting products OPTIMIZE CURLS Bb. Curl Anti- Humidity Gel-Oil, $34; bumbleand bumble.com REJUVENATE DAMAGED ENDS L Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Lustrous Oil Serum, $6.99; amazon.com RESTORE COLOR- TREATED HAIR Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo, $28; ulta.com SMOOTH STRANDS Cupuaçu Anti- Frizz Smoothing Hair Mask, $32; carolsdaughter.com STYLING: MARY BETH WETZEL 72 SOUTHERNLIVING.COM MAY 2016