Heat Free Hair

As warm weather moves in, who wants to spend hours blow drying and curling their hair? Besides keeping you cool, going heat-free saves time and energy. Here are our tips for getting cute, frizz-free hair without having to go near a power outlet.

Prep in Advance

According to hair stylist and curl expert Ouidad, the key to sleek hair, regardless of the texture, is to make sure it is moisturized. She says, “Deep conditioning treatments are an important step to restoring and maintaining your hair's health.”

Style While You Sleep

If you have naturally straight hair, the easiest way to get a great wave is to set your hair overnight. One of our favorite hair stylists, Nam Vo, creates gorgeous soft waves in her hair by spritzing damp hair with a salt water mixture and twisting into two large buns (Princess Leia-style) before bed. In the morning, she removes the buns to reveal her loose waves. This works best with long hair that curls fairly easily.

For a tighter wave, add a bit of gel to damp hair and separate into two sections. Starting near the crown of your head, French braid both sections into two plaits. Don’t worry about making the braids perfect but they should be fairly tight. In the morning, remove the braids and carefully finger comb.

Embrace the Curl

Let’s not forget the naturally curly girls. According to Ouidad, “The key to creating frizz-free curls is to create the curl pattern while damp and let them dry naturally. And hands off — “The less you handle or play with your hair, the better off you are.” She recommends a holding gel like her Climate Control and a leave in conditioner to “nourish your hair, tame frizz and smooth flyaways.”

Freshen Up Without Washing

If you’re in a humid climate, sweat and limp strands will probably make you inclined to hit the showers. But frequent hair washing and drying will strip away moisture, leaving hair looking fried instead of sleek. If you’re desperate, it’s best to use a dry shampoo to soak up extra moisture. Alternatively, a texturizing spray brings a bit of volume to hair that’s falling flat.

- By Lorelei Orfeo