How to Fix Common Summer Hair Problems

Problem: Your Hair Resembles a Steel-Wool Pad: Puffy and Frizzy

How it happens: Curly, coarse, and chemically treated hair is often moisture deprived, so the cuticles on each strand are raised, making the hair more porous. This type of hair absorbs moisture from the air, which makes the hair shafts swell up. The result: big, unwieldy hair.
 
 To fix it now: Fight frizz with a moisture-blocking styling cream or serum, like Arrojo Defrizz Serum ($15, store.arrojoproduct.com). Look for products with silicone or oil to smooth and slightly weigh down hair. Rub a quarter-size dollop between your hands and work it through the strands.
 
 To prevent it next time: Get the right cut. Layers, which add volume, encourage poufiness in the summer. Ask for a blunter cut, which holds down the ends and reduces the fluff factor. Make sure your stylist cuts with scissors, not a razor, which thins out hair, making it prone to frizz.
 
Keep hair hydrated. Use an oil treatment to seal cuticles so hair can't absorb moisture, says stylist Abell Oujaddou. Apply from roots to ends, leave in for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse well.