Winter routines fall apart in an Australian summer. Sunscreen, salt water, chlorine and sweat build up faster than they do in cooler months, heavy products slide in 30-degree heat, and humid air undoes definition within an hour of leaving the house.
Here's the seasonal version.
The short answer
Clarify more often — fortnightly rather than monthly. Deep condition harder, because sun and salt are drying and dry hair is what frizzes. Set with something light rather than a heavy gel. And refresh with a mist, not water, because re-wetting mid-day restarts the frizz.
Step 1 — Clarify the build-up out
This is the step that makes the rest work. Layers of old product, sunscreen, chlorine and hard-water minerals form a film that stops new moisture getting in — which keeps the hair thirsty, and thirsty hair is what pulls moisture from humid air and frizzes.
Power Wash Intense Moisture Clarifying Shampoo clears it without leaving hair as stripped as most clarifying shampoos do. Every two to three weeks in summer.
Step 2 — Deep condition, not just condition
A rinse-out conditioner isn't enough in January. You want the strand genuinely full, because a full strand has no reason to drink from the air.
Rescued! Thirst Quenching Recovery Conditioner under a shower cap for fifteen minutes. Detangle in sections while it's in.
If you swim regularly, do this weekly. Salt and chlorine are relentless.
Step 3 — Set light, not heavy
Heavy gel in summer heat has a habit of going tacky and sliding. A setting mousse holds the shape with a fraction of the weight.
Frizz Patrol Anti-Poof Setting Mousse on soaking wet hair, scrunched in section by section. Then dry without touching it.
If you want a firmer cast for a long humid day — a wedding, a full day outdoors — Ice Curls Glossy Curling Jelly holds harder and adds gloss.
Step 4 — Refresh with mist, never water
Mid-day, when the ends start looking rough, the instinct is to wet them. Don't. Re-wetting half the hair puts it back in the half-dry state where frizz forms fastest.
Shine Boss Refreshing Sheen Mist smooths the surface and adds shine without soaking the strand. A light pass over the outside, no scrunching.
Beach and pool days
- Wet your hair with fresh water before you swim. A strand already full of clean water absorbs far less salt or chlorine.
- Add leave-in or oil before you get in. A physical barrier on the outside.
- Rinse immediately afterward. Salt left to dry in textured hair through an afternoon does real damage.
- Tuck it away. A bun or braid for the swim itself means less tangling and less exposure.
Common questions
How often should I clarify in summer?
Every two to three weeks, or after any week with several swims. If your hair feels coated and won't absorb product, you've left it too long.
Does sunscreen damage my hair?
It doesn't damage it, but it builds up heavily along the hairline and the ends where it transfers from skin. That build-up blocks moisture, which is the problem.
Should I use less product when it's hot?
Lighter product, not less of it. Under-applying gives you frizz. Swapping heavy butters for mousses and mists is the better adjustment.
Is it worth protecting hair from sun?
Yes. UV degrades the protein in the strand and fades colour. A hat on long days outdoors does more than any product.
Why is my hair frizzier in summer even when it's clean?
Because humid air moves moisture into dry hair, and summer hair is usually drier than winter hair thanks to sun, salt and more frequent washing. Deep conditioning is the answer more often than styling product is.
The four products
The Humidity Defence Kit is these four together — clarifying shampoo, recovery conditioner, setting mousse and sheen mist.
For the science behind why humidity causes frizz, read beating Australian humidity. Or browse the full Aunt Jackie's range.
Shipped Australia-wide.