Though this is rather unfashionable to admit, I am not blessed with effortless, perfect hair. In fact, if left to it’s own devices, my hair would be a big, curly mess (looks great on a beach, not so good in Westminster). Instead, I torture it into stylish submission on a daily basis, but the first signs of humidity threaten to undo all my good work with a GHD.
Given that I now live in England which is, more often than not, plagued by grey skies – I’ve learned, after much frizzy-haired trial and error, how to keep my hair in line so that it looks the same when I arrive at my destination as it did when I styled it at home in the morning. Here’s how I conquer the dreaded rainy-day hair:
Level 1: Bad weather (humidity, light drizzle, and overheated subway commutes)
Here’s where the products come in. The first cause of frizzy hair is dehydration (which leads the hair to take in moisture from the air instead), so get moisturising with a weekly heavy duty hair mask (I love Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Repairative Hair Pak and Aesop Rose Hair & Scalp Moisturising Masque). Next, one needs to protect against heat-styling to prevent further damage and dehydration. Whether I’m wearing my hair straight, wavy or in cascading girls, I use my GHD daily and so Kerastase Ciment Thermique protector is a must (I’ve tried them all and this is the best). Finally, one needs to weatherproof. After much trial, I discovered my hero products: Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Styling Froth and Hairspray which protect, lock in moisture and keep the rain and humidity out – I don’t know how I survived last winter without them!
Level 2: Miserable weather (persistent rain, strong humidity).
While the above products will help your hair’s cause all through winter, when the rain really kicks in a little more help is required. In this case, it’s all about the accessories – I have an arsenal of cute hair clips, headbands and hats which do the job. Since I can’t wear a trilby without looking like a bad Kate Moss wannabe, I usually turn to my collection of turban headbands. They look chic, keep my fringe flat (the first place to go haywire) and leave my hair a nice shape when I slip it off (unlike most hats). Additionally, curly hair disguises frizz better than poker straight, so when I know it will be raining I just style my hair in soft waves.
Turban and jewels: Mimco, blazer: Zara
Level 3: Extremely disgusting weather (thunder, hail, torrential rain).
If all else fails and trekking out in a torrential downpour is unavoidable, one has two options: either twist hair into a bun, or admit defeat and pop on a woolly hat (with loose sections of hair either tied in a side braid or hidden under a chunky scarf). Sheltering under the biggest, most gorgeous umbrella to be found is a non-negotiable (bonus points for a jacket with a chic hood). When you arrive at your destination, simply remove hat, untie braid/updo, and give hair a shake and it will will look more sexy tousled than drowned rat – always the preferable option, I’m sure.
Pom pom knit hat: Jigsaw, leopard scarf: Louis Vuitton, frilled umbrella: Isetan (Tokyo)
Please tell me I’m not the only one who has to have foolproof strategies for dealing with my hair at the slightest sign of rainfall? What are your hair tips for such days?
Love, Miss B xx
My current hair treatment is Shu Uemura Essence Absolue oil – it is amazing! It has really helped my hair which struggled to adjust to the hard water in London.
Love your Mimco turban. I’m going to pop in there tomorrow to have a look! NHG x
Ahh, the dreaded hard London water. I must have adjusted now, but when I arrived I could not do enough treatments!
And thanks for the Shu Uemura tip – am currently obsessed with their facial cleansing oil, so will definitely have to try this!
B xx
I MUST try the Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Styling Froth and Hairspray. I live in DC and the weather here makes this a must. I am going to order it now!
I love John Masters Organics lavender and avocado intensive moisturizer for extra moisture during the winter. And bumble and bumble gentle shampoo for the same reason.
Do you have any suggestions for controlling static-y hair? The weather here has just turned chilly and the static issue appears to be worse than ever!
Love your blog! 🙂
My big hair issue is flat hair and hats and things like that good for that. That picture of you in the pom pom hat is so adorable and you pull off the turban really well B! 😀
My hair is just like yours, I must give those Philip Kingsleys a go.
Lately I’ve been trying Moroccanoil. I’m not sure it entirely lives up to the hype but it’s pretty good. I also use a shower head soft water filter by Pure Showers – the water where I live is even harder than London’s, it’s the worst I’ve ever come across. I’m also a recent convert to hairspray. My hair has soft styling, like yours, and a helmet head is not the look I’m aiming for, not to mention I HATE the smell of the stuff. However I accidentally got a Boots 3 for 2 of the fragrance-free stuff and I’m finding a good spray post-styling really helps, even if I brush it out by mid-morning. I still see the effects the next morning.
Oh, love this post. Tnx for it, really helps. Although I tried Kerastase one already, and not so great, but will give others a go! 🙂 maybe also take the shu tip…
M
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http://mayabeus.blogspot.com/
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The turban looks brilliant on you!
I’m a super fan of the Kerastase ciment, I can’t live without it anymore.
The doll on fashion
You look so00 cute in headband/hats! Seriously!
I almost never do anything to my hair. I just wash it and let it be! That’s why it’s so awful! Haha!
Great post, I also use Ciment Thermique but definitely need to try the Philip Kingsley Weatherproof products very soon!
Oh my goodness, you are *definitely* not alone in this…
My hair is also naturally curly – another cause to ponder whether we are twins? – and will mischievously rebel at every little rain-soaked opportunity.
Along with the deliciously scented Ciment Thermique, I swear by the entire Kerastase Resistance range.
The Forcintense phials are a God-send, as is Frédéric Fekkai’s Colour Care Moisture Mask when worn overnight.
Hope you are well, lovely lady.
Sarah x
As a fairly new Londoner I find Keratin straightening treatments indispensable (you can still wear your hair curly). I also love Ojon’s Shine & Protect Glossing mist, MorrocanOil and Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream. I’m eager to try the Kerastase Ciment though because I still feel like my ghd is frying my hair a bit!
Aw, thanks for sharing! I have the opposite hairtype of yours.. limp, dead straight, fine and stiff… oh
Yes Briony, let’s exchange links. You have such a lovely blog and I’ve been following it for quite some time. I’ve intended to link you but I am very bad at linking, I always forget it. haha!
Thank you very much for the lovely comments on my blog by the way. I agree with all of them!
xx
I really needed this article, I always have hair problems. So thank you!
I have afro hair so very used to frizz i use a product called dr miracles, and I put on the relaxed hair potion, then spray it with olive oil sheen spray, then blow dry it out until my hair can’t take any more, then I am ready to go.
love the illustration btw. xx
My hair also gets really frizzy during the rainy days! I hate rainy days! I much prefer cold than rain!
Kisses
Teresa
Love this post! Your levels are perfectly described and I love how you battle them : ) I’m a Moroccan Oil addict..I use it every day, no matter how I style! I have a ghd too so I might have to try that Kerstase treatment.
-Samantha
http://sincerelysamantha.com
You look absolutely gorgeous there… not a bad hair second in sight! Love your tips and think I may try out a couple of those products. I’ve been stuck in a bit of hair product rut lately so will be following your tips! xxx
I bought some Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Repairative masque this weekend and… it’s LOVE!
Thank you for making such a beautiful (and life-saving!) recommendation, Briony. :0)
Sarah x
I wear colourful scarves when having bad hair days. My hair is quite short which I adore. I had it cut in September of this year. I wash, condition, twoel dry, add leave -in conditioner, paint my face and am out the door. As easy as that;-)
Good Afternoon, lovely lady…
Just to let you know that I have tagged you on my blog for the ‘Stylish Blogger Award’: http://stylesouk.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/acceptance-speech/
Speech, Speech, Speech! ;0)
Sarah x
I shall definitely be checking out some of those products. I don’t tend to like putting too much product in my hair, but with the English weather sometimes there is little choice. I tend to use natural hold hairspray, and hope the best. I think GHDs are life savers, and I find straightening my hair quite therapeutic. Love the sketch by the way.
I love this post B!
with summer coming into australia it gets even worse, limp frizzy sun damaged hair ! 🙁
I’d much prefer to be wearing your hair accessories instead or a wig haha love the jigsaw beanie by the way! xxx
I’m a new convert to the Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream. I have Afro-textured hair, and am currently transitioning. I find the cream is good for both my new growth and my relaxed ends. As for the Kerastase Resistance Forcintense Treatment is the single best restructuring treatment I have used. It changed my hair. Apparently, however, it has been discontinued, or so I have been told.