Stress-Free Summer Hair

Curly Hair

Heat and humidity enhance curls but they can also make them very unruly. "Humidity separates the cuticle -- the outer layer -- from the rest of the hair shaft," says Brenda Berry, owner of Brilli Salon in Chicago. This lifts the tiny hairs along the cuticle, creating frizz. Seal the cuticle with silicone-based products found in curly hair shampoos, conditioners and serums. Try Infusium23 Frizz(ologie) Shampoo and Conditioner, $5.99 each, with silicone and moisturizing panthenol. Curling creams and gels deliver frizz-free curls, and your ideal formula will depend on your curl pattern. For loose curls, rake a curl cream through wet hair and let it dry. Try Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer Lotion, $17.50, with brazil nut and wheat proteins. For kinky curls, end with a leave-in conditioner. "Once hair is dry, mix a frizz-control serum with a lightweight gel and apply to every strand," Shorter advises. Try Pantene Restoratives Frizz Control Extra-Strength Serum, $4.99, and L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Absent Minded Liqui-Gel, $4.99.

"Summer is the time to give hair a break from blow-outs," says Garrison. Instead, apply a treatment styling cream, such as Sebastian Originals Potion 9 Wearable Treatment, $14.95, with jojoba and olive oils, and twist hair into a bun.

Style Shortcut Bonus: Coat curls with a leave-in conditioner and push them back with a headband until they dry. "Headbands double as styling tools," notes Townsend. When you remove the headband, the front portion will be smooth and the back will have pretty, soft curls.