Summer can pose challenges for curly hair, but with the right strategies, you can keep your curls flourishing. Hydrate your hair with moisture-rich products, protect it from the sun, and swim smart by using a leave-in conditioner before swimming. Combat frizz with anti-frizz products and consider protective styles. Schedule regular trims to maintain healthy hair. Stick to your curly hair routine and adapt it for the summer. Don't let summer ruin your hard work - keep your curls looking their best. Join #TeamFlourish and conquer summer with beautiful curls.

June's blog post (even released a day early to show how serious we are) will arm you with the tools necessary to not just survive, but THRIVE, during the Summer months. And, who knows? You might just pick up some tips worthy of carrying along through the other 3 seasons too!

#Science

Most of us already know that our hair is made up of keratin - this is why regular protein treatments are so important, to repair the protein in our hair that is lost by chemical, physical and environmental factors. After a protein treatment, you'll notice enhanced curl definition and bounce in your hair. This is because the shape and structure of your hair are influenced by the bonding of keratin molecules. Keratin contains cysteine, a sulfur-rich amino acid. When neighboring keratin chains are close, the sulfur atoms can react and create strong disulfide bonds. These bonds effectively hold the keratin molecules together, ensuring the integrity of your hair's composition, whether it's wet or dry. The protein treatment helps reinforce these bonds, resulting in improved curl appearance and resilience. 

So, disulfide bonds are great for keeping hair frizz free. BUT, Hydrogen bonds play a significant role in the frizziness of our hair too, particularly in humid conditions. When the air is high in humidity, there is an abundance of water molecules present. These water molecules form weak attractions with molecules on neighboring keratin strands, creating hydrogen bonds. These bonds indirectly connect the keratin proteins together. However, as more hydrogen bonds form, the hair strands begin to fold back on themselves, leading to frizz and unruly hair. Managing these hydrogen bonds is crucial for maintaining smooth and frizz-free hair, especially in humid environments.

The Solution

The solution to the frizz problem is actually pretty simple when you think about it. First we need to Reduce the number of Hydrogen bonds. Then, we need to Increase the number of Disulfide bonds.

Reducing Hydrogen Bonds

If you read the post on Humectants from a few months ago, you'll recall it mentioned that when the dew points are high, our hair tends to draw in moisture from the air. To reduce hydrogen bonds and combat this phenomenon, it's important to keep your hair moisturized by deep conditioning. Get it? In a nutshell, If our hair is already well moisturized, less moisture will be arbitrarily drawn from the air into your hair.

Once you've deep conditioned (complete with a heat cap or steamer, if possible), seal your hair with an oil to create a barrier between your hair and the water in the air. You might think that oil will weigh your hair down...and, truthfully, it might a little. But, since oil and water don't mix, you'll be reducing the amount of humidity that launches attack on your style throughout the day. Staying in control of the of moisture in your hair is critical to combating frizz.

Alright, so now that our hydrogen bonds have been reduced as much as possible, let's hit frizz with an upper cut!

Increasing Disulfide Bonds

Adjusting your hair care routine based on dew points is essential. High dew points indicate increased moisture in the air, which can disrupt the moisture-protein balance in your hair. To counter potential damage caused by excess moisture, increase the frequency of protein treatments during these periods. Similarly, in dry winter months, deep conditioning treatments are crucial to replenish moisture and prevent dryness, frizz, and breakage caused by the lack of humidity. By understanding and adapting to environmental factors, you can maintain healthy hair year-round. So, it just follows that, due to the need to maintain the protein-moisture balance, that in the summer, it's important to increase the amount of protein in your hair. This means that, if you usually protein treat once a month, increase it to every-other week and possibly double up on the duration of the treatment as well.

In a Nutshell

I, honestly, think that the code has been cracked on humidity, folks. By applying these 3 easy steps, we should have a much more pleasant Summer where our tresses are concerned!

Until July,

Adria

credit: ouidad.com, wave3.com, mentalfloss.com, byrdie.com, urbanbella.net, smithsonianmag.com