Summer Hair Accessory Ideas + Hair Humidity Tips

I’m pretty low to medium maintenance when it comes to my hair. I work out, sometimes swim, and have to be camera ready often, but I really don’t have the time to fuss over hair. So when I need to look presentable without doing a ton of grooming, I go to some of my favorite hair accessories. As part of The Summer Series, I decided to do a video showing you some fun summer hair accessory ideas.

SUBSCRIBE to my channel and check it out below:

How to Handle Hair Humidity

My immediate solution when it comes to dealing with my hair in the summer is to have an arsenal of cute hair accessories on deck, but sometimes you can’t solve your hair humidity issues with a scarf or wrap every time. So I had a chat with Celebrity Hairstylist and Beauty Tastemaker Fashion Hendricks about how to handle humidity when it comes to your hair. I’ve had the pleasure of having Fashion do my hair on a few occasions in her fab NYC Weave Studio in Manhattan.

Fashion Hendricks

Why does humidity cause our hair to frizz and swell up?

Fashion: Without getting scientifically deep I’ll explain it this way: humidity is the presence of water or vapor in the air. When that vapor touches our hair strands it soaks into the cuticle layer of our hair causing it to swell then curl. If our hair is particularly dry, this swelling action will happen at a faster rate because hair desires moisture.

How do we fight this?

Fashion: We fight the frizz with hair products. Using products that moisturize so that the strands do not soak in the water/vapor in the hair is the first step to fighting humidity. Products that are desirable for this are lightweight moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that will hydrate the hair then follow up with an oil-free product like Watermelon Love Drops from my Fashion Hair Solutions line which also doubles as a heat protectant.

What are some hairstyles that look amazing but also defy humidity?

Fashion: Going with the flow of your natural hair pattern is always the easiest remedy on a humid day. You still will not want to skip the frizz-fighting steps listed above to keep the hair healthy. Using protective styles like weaves and braids that keep you from manipulating your natural hair is also desirable for anti-frizz. No damage at all will occur provided that each is installed and removed properly. Choosing curly textures for weaves require the least amount of maintenance.

I think we have humidity down now—thanks! Can you tell us some tips for summer hair and swimming?

Fashion: What should we do before, during, and after swimming to protect our hair (in both saltwater and chlorine). First and most important is detangle your hair. The next step is going to sound a little odd, but before you go into the water, wet your hair. The hair can only soak up a certain amount of water so you should load it up prior to swimming. After the hair is wet add a leave-in conditioner for babies like Honest Company Conditioning Detangler & Fortifying Spray. Baby products are best for this step because if the product gets in your eyes it will not burn them. Place your hair in a bun or large braid if your hair is long. When you are finished swimming, detangle your hair with a large tooth comb then rinse in the shower in a downward motion and then wash. NOTE: Flipping your hair over in a sink is not recommended as you could possible tangle your hair.

Thanks so much, Fashion for those summer hair tips! You can follow Fashion on Instagram and check out her NYC Weave Studio in Midtown here.

How are you wearing your hair this summer? Tell me in the comments!