Some people air-dry their hair into perfect waves. Others, like me, end up looking as though Albert Einstein’s grandmother has unsuccessfully tried to recreate one of his experiments.
“Always dry your hair with a dryer,” says my hairdresser, Michael Charalambous. “If you want movement, smooth it first, then put it back in. Just twist a few random strands.”
Summer hair is tricky. I want a bob with natural body and slight movement, but one that still looks polished rather than fluffy or triangular. In other words: controlled volume.
Michael says I should keep a middle parting as it emphasises my cheekbones and distributes my hair more evenly. It also highlights the different tones of grey and silver.
In humidity, my hair puffs up as moisture lifts the cuticle. I also have a lot of baby hairs around the fringe. As there is nothing to hold them down, everything expands and becomes much fuller.
I have lost count of how many hairdressers have suggested layers. I leave quicker than I can say my name. I need weight. Layers remove it, which is what keeps fine, fluffy hair under control. Without it, you get the eccentric-scientist effect.They also expose more ends, making strands frizzier.
Michael understands my hair. It is worth finding someone who really gets what your hair can and cannot do.
His humidity trick is simple. Skip conditioner in the shower. Towel-dry your hair, then emulsify a pea-sized amount of conditioner in your hands and apply it to the ends before blow-drying. This smooths the most porous areas without softening the roots, fringe or mid-lengths, the sections that define the overall look. It helps hair stay smooth and prevents it from expanding in damp air.
Conditioner used in the shower can encourage grey hair to clump together into its natural wave or kink pattern. For those with fine, grey hair, it can leave the strands feeling too soft and slippery while accentuating their natural texture. When that happens, the strands can lose structure more quickly and become harder to control, making blow-drying more challenging.
It is a small but ingenious trick. On humid days, it can mean the difference between control and lift-off.
By Daralyn Danns
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