Our knitted infinity scarves, knee high boots and oversized sweaters thrive in the winter, but our hairstyles aren’t always a fan of the unpredictable precipitation. There are few things worse than spending a significant amount of your precious time styling your hair, only to realize the weather isn’t in your favor and having all of your hard work go from fabulous to frizzy.
Despite this news, worry not, collegiettes! A little rain, snow or wind during the winter months doesn't mean you have to go a full season without a proper 'do. No matter how you wear your hair, we've got tips, tricks and the best products to use to keep those locks looking great, even in the stormiest of weather.
Straight
Smooth, sleek and chic, straight locks are perfect for giving off a glam and professional vibe.
Before you begin styling your hair, spray a leave-in conditioner infused with keratin from the middle of your strand s down to your ends. We recommend It’s a 10 Miracle Leave In Conditioner plus Keratin ($20) for salon quality results at home. This formula offers 10 benefits to your hair that go beyond what most leave-in conditioning sprays offer in order to replace lost protein, detangle, de-frizz and add plenty of shine. You can apply the spray to damp hair before blow drying, or add sparingly to dry hair before styling (too much of it can leave your hair looking damp, or worse - greasy).
Next, straighten your hair as normal. For long term anti-frizz protection, we suggest investing in a keratin-infused straightener, such as the Keratin Therapy Flat Iron from Remington($40).
After straightening your hair, making sure your hair is completely dry first, mist hairspray onto your strands to give your locks extra staying power. For a light finish that will still give your hair the protection it needs, try using the Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray from Suave ($3). Depending on the severity of the weather, you can put your hair in a loose, low ponytail before heading on the down so it stays together, and then remove the hair elastic once you get to where you need to go. Your hair will have less of a chance of being a frizzy, wavy mess if you keep this trick in mind.
Curly
Sexy, stylish and statement-making, curls are a timeless and glamorous hairstyle.
An easy trick to give your curls staying power is to curl your hair the day after you wash your hair, rather than the same day you do wash your hair. The natural oils your hair produces will give your curls extra hold. When you do wash your hair, use a lightweight conditioner instead of a heavy deep conditioner in order to prevent your hair from being weighed down.
When curling your hair, use hair clips or bobby pins to your advantage by immediately pinning the curl to your head after you curl it while it sets. Then when you’ve finished styling completely, spray with an extra hold hairspray such as the Tres Two Hold Extra Firm Control Hairspray from TRESemme ($4)—after the hairspray dries completely, take all the pins out.
By taking preventative measures such as using the extra hold hairspray and giving your curls plenty of time to set, you’re helping to ensure your style stays put, rain or shine. For added protection, make sure you have a jacket with a hood to put over your hair before heading out the door.
Braids
Weather really getting you down? Braids are perfect for stormy weather—they're the least likely to get frizzy, lose their shape or have strands blown askew. Plus, they're easy to do! However, there are still some precautions you can take to make sure the look stays in point all day.
When you’re ready to braid your hair, make sure you use some product in order to give your hair a bit of grip and to prevent stray pieces of hair from escaping your style. Use a texturizer such as the Texturizing Sculpting Wax($5) from Pantene. Using a product such as this gives your hair the moisture and protection it craves in order to look fabulous all day long.
To amp up this style, you can also add a cute accessory, like a patterned hair elastic or a small hair bow. This way if your hair does get a little frizzy or unmanageable, the focus can be on your accessory instead of any minor hair mishaps that may happen to your braid. You can also go Blake's route and opt for a messy fishtail braid. This way the loose strands that fall throughout the day look intentional—and chic!
Updos
Often reserved for formal events, fancy updos can quickly go from flawless to freaky in bad weather if they are well prepared for the climate.
The biggest asset to a great updo is making sure you use plenty of extra hold hairspray in order to keep the style in place, especially if the weather is unfavorable. Once again, we recommend the Tres Two Hold Extra Firm Control Hairspray from TRESemme($4) so your hair doesn’t fall apart.
Another tip is to make sure you use plenty of bobby pins in your updo. If it happens to be a style that stays on the top of your head, this step is essential if it’s windy outside! Bobby pins are easy to use and offer great protection for your style without the use of protect.
How do you keep your hair looking fierce during winter storms? Tell us in the comments!