How to Keep African American Hair From Frizzing in Humidity

Does it seem like as soon as you step outside on a humid day your hair frizzes up and goes haywire? Do you find yourself constantly battling to keep your hair looking a frizzy mess? The truth is, you’re not alone - this is something African American women everywhere struggle with. 

So - why does African American hair frizz in humidity? And, is frizz control for African American hair possible? In this detailed guide on how to keep African American hair from frizzing in humidity, we’ll answer these questions and many others you may have about this problem you experience on a daily basis.

The reality is that this happens because of the unique nature of your hair. Those tightly coiled curls that make your hair so beautiful are the very same reason you experience a bit of frizziness in humid conditions. Nevertheless, we’ll provide you with a few tips on frizz control for African Americans below.

First, let’s address one of the many questions we see our community ask about this topic: does all African American hair frizz up when wet or humid, or is it just me?

Does All African American Hair Frizz Up When Wet or Humid?

The fact of the matter is no - not all African American hair frizzes up when wet or humid. However, it does appear that this occurrence is one most black women can relate to. 

In fact, we know your pain ourselves. It almost seems pointless styling our hair on a humid day. Because the moment that moisture comes into contact with our hair - bam, the frizz takes over and reverses all the hard work we put into our hairstyle.

Now, if you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn't experience as much frizz, count yourself blessed! But chances are, that doesn’t apply to you - as you’re here looking for advice on frizz control for African Americans. So below, let’s describe why this happens in the first place. 

Why Does African American Hair Frizz in Humidity?

So, why does African American hair frizz in humidity - in seemingly greater concentrations than white hair? The truth is, when comparing black hair vs white hair there are distinct differences. But even still, we want to note that all hair is affected by humidity to some degree. Because of the tightly coiled nature of our hair types, though, we see these effects in greater intensity.

African American hair tends to be more porous than other hair types, which means it can absorb more moisture from the air. When the hair absorbs this moisture, the individual strands swell up and become frizzy, resulting in that oh-so-familiar "pouf" effect.

But that's not the only factor at play. Another reason African American hair can be prone to frizz in humidity is because of its natural curl pattern. The curlier the hair, the more likely it is to frizz up in humid conditions. That's because when curly hair is exposed to moisture, the cuticle layers on the hair strands can lift and allow moisture to penetrate the hair shaft, causing it to swell and frizz.

So you can blame a combination of porosity and curl pattern as the culprits making African American hair more prone to frizz in humidity. With that said, is frizz control for African American hair possible?

Is Frizz Control for African American Hair Possible?

Seeing the way your hair reacts to humidity can be disheartening. You want to look your best - and when your hair frizzes out of control, it leaves you discouraged and embarrassed, wanting to return home and hide in your hair. 

The good news? Frizz control for African American hair is entirely possible. 

Even during the most humid time of year, you can keep frizziness at bay. And that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss below. Keep reading to learn how to keep African American hair from frizzing in humidity to maintain that smooth, sleek look you’ve worked so hard for!

How to Keep African American Hair From Frizzing in Humidity

Really, frizz control for African American hair is as simple as a few key steps: moisturizing, protecting, and styling. These three components will make up your anti-frizz regimen. And below, we’ll unpack them in greater detail to help you gain confidence in making frizzy outbreaks a problem of the past.

Make Moisturization a Priority

Most hair issues - from eczema on scalp black hair to the actual cause of black women’s hair loss - can be attributed to dryness. And again, this is the result of our natural hair texture. The tight coils and porous nature of hair strands are prone to dryness. Thus, your first step in the battle against frizz should be learning how to treat dry scalp in African American hair.

One way you can go about this is by examining your hair-washing habit. Chances are, the shampoo you use and the way you use it is actually doing more harm than good. Read our article on the stuff in shampoo that causes hair loss and you’ll discover that traditional products contain harsh ingredients that deprive your scalp of moisture. 

Beyond the shampoo itself, you should read our article on how often to wash black hair to find the ideal frequency. Overwashing strips moisture from your scalp and the hair strands - opening the door and inviting frizziness in.

To take moisturization a step further, you can consider using a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to help lock in moisture. Our hair serum is considered one of the best hair growing products for black hair because it doesn’t just lock in moisture - it delivers key nutrients for promoting black hair growth. Even if you didn’t necessarily come here to learn how to prevent hair loss for black women or how to treat hair loss in black women, this product belongs in your arsenal. Just see the results yourself.

Protect Your Hair From Damage

So many of the things we do to care for our hair end up doing more harm than good. We just discussed the role washing your hair plays in this - but there are other ways you may be damaging your hair without realizing it. And that damage doesn’t just lead to hair loss or hair breakage - it can cause frizziness!

Heat styling tools like flat irons and curling irons can be damaging to hair, so use them sparingly and always use a heat protectant spray or serum. 

Similarly, be gentle when detangling your hair and avoid pulling or tugging at it, which can cause breakage and frizz. For more information, you can read our article on how to repair damaged hair for black women.

Use Anti Frizz Products for Natural African American Hair

Perhaps the best piece of advice we can offer in this article on how to keep African American hair from frizzing in humidity is to fight the issue with anti-frizz products for natural African American hair.

These products help to seal the hair cuticle and keep moisture out, which can help to prevent frizz. There are so many options to choose from, but look for a solution that contains these ingredients:

• Argan oil: This nourishing oil is rich in antioxidants and can help to smooth hair and prevent frizz. Look for products that contain pure argan oil or argan oil extract.
• Coconut oil: Another great natural ingredient for combating frizz, coconut oil can help to hydrate hair and keep it looking shiny and healthy.
• Shea butter: This moisturizing ingredient is great for smoothing hair and preventing frizz, particularly in thick or coarse hair types.

One ingredient to watch out for is silicone. While there’s no question it can assist in frizz control for African American hair, it is linked to long-term hair damage.

In terms of actually using these products, they should be used as sparingly as possible - and avoid applying too much to your hair. Start with a small amount and work it through your hair, focusing on the ends and mid-lengths. Be sure to avoid the roots, as too much product here can weigh down your hair and make it look greasy - creating an equally undesirable look. 

Style Your Hair Smartly

At a certain point, there is only so much you can do in regard to frizz control for African American hair. That’s why learning how to style your hair smartly is so important. On those super humid days, you can go with a simple updo or braids. These hairstyles are great ways to keep frizz under control while maintaining a sleek, polished look. 

You can also consider straightening your hair with a blow dryer and applying a heat protectant. Or, throw your hair in a bun. All of these are ways to prevent the signs of frizziness from showing in your hair.

Do Your Best to Avoid Humidity

Sometimes, there is nothing you can do to avoid humidity. If it’s a humid day and you’ve got to walk to work, your best bet is to follow the advice we laid out previously on how to protect against humidity. 

With that said, you can consider getting an uber to work or doing anything else to minimize the contact of your hair with the moisture in the air. One other piece of advice we want to offer on this topic is to avoid touching your hair too much. The oils and sweat from your hands can transfer to your hair and cause frizz.

Other Tips for Frizz Control for African American Hair

The tips above are really all you need to keep your hair from frizzing up in humidity. But, we’ve seen a few other tips circulating the internet and offering great success. So before we wrap this conversation up, here are a few parting pieces of advice:

• Protect your hair at night with a silk/satin pillowcase or by wrapping your hair in a bonnet, scarf, or durag.
• Trim split ends often, as these are more prone to frizziness then healthy strands. Read our article on when to cut hair for growth for more advice on this topic.
• Detangle gently, avoiding pulling or tugging on your hair - this can contribute to the damage that leads to split ends.

Wrapping Up Our Guide on How to Keep African American Hair From Frizzing in Humidity

At this point, it’s time to bring our conversation on how to keep African American hair from frizzing in humidity to a close. We hope this guide helps you keep humidity from wreaking havoc on your hair the next time you step outside. Remember the three keys: moisture, protection, and styling. 

If you want to learn more about how to take care of natural black hair, you can explore our blog where we have additional guides on related topics. Learn about how fast black hair grows, hair breakage vs new growth, whether hair grows faster in winter or summer, how to regrow bald patches in African American hair, and a whole lot more. 

Otherwise, it’s time to get your Rennora Beauty hair serum and any anti-frizz products for natural African American hair to make your dream hair a reality. No more stressing over humidity causing frizziness!