Goodbye, Frizzies!

My fine hair has been battling frizz eternally, and no matter how dry it is where I live, rainy days will be sure to ruin my life. It is a damn struggle. The worst periods of frizz fighting occurred while I was living in Hong Kong (thanks to the unbelievable humidity). At that point I decided to give up on straightening and blowdrying and just let my hair naturally curl and frizz any which way it so pleased. I have to say that actually did wonders for my super damaged ends.

But you know the old “we want what we can’t/don’t have”, and so I have always been set on straight hair. Or at least wavy NON FRIZZY hair. Here are six main principles that years of trial & error, frustration and hairbrush fights have taught me:

1. Do not wash your hair every day! This will strip it of natural oil and your ends become dry. Figure out how long you can go without washing it before you look like you’ve had an olive oil shower, and keep that interval. I’ve always washed my hair every other day, but I’m finding every two days works as well! I have yet to try the wonders of dry shampoo, and I’m guessing that would reduce hairwashing by about a ton.
2. Do two rounds of shampoo, massaging the scalp for volune (great for fine hair). Rinse and condition from your ears down. I have found that it is actually better not to comb hair at this point, but that may be personal preference.
3. Before you jump out of the shower, rinse your with cold water to close the cuticles; this seals in proteins & actually makes it look healthier.
4. Gently towel-dry your hair. Add a little bit of protecting serum and start blowdrying with cold air and finish off with hot air. Keep the nozzle on the hayrdryer so that the air hits exactly where you want.
5. Pick out soft hairbands to tie your hair up. I usually go for hairclips or bobby pins though.
6. Water, lots of water and protein based foods (hair is protein after all); healthy diet healthy hair! I’ve also heard salmon is good for its omega-3 fatty acids — did someone say salmon sushi? YUM!

I’m sure some of these were no mystery to most of you, but man did it take me long to figure out the entire routine! What is your hair care routine? Any favorite products?