Rain not only makes us miserable and gives us wet feet, it also wreaks havoc on our hair. Hairstylist George Northwood has plenty of experience in battling drizzle – sending clients such as Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley off to red carpet events intact is no mean feat when the rain just won’t stop falling – so with a gloomy forecast ahead, we asked him for his advice on avoiding that rain-induced halo of frizz.
“The best option is a slick up-do. A tousled or a romantic up-do will get frizzier and frizzier the wetter it gets, whereas a sleek style – particularly a tight pony – will survive it much better. You’re better off not washing it, and instead adding plenty of product to weight down the hair and prevent it from lifting up into fly-aways,” he told us. “I’d begin with an oil such as Redken Diamond Oil or Kérastase Crème Oléo-Relax Slim, which seals the style, and then add an almost waterproof barrier with a gel or a hairspray. A style like the one I did for Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the British Fashion Awards recently stays put because it’s packed with product.”
And if you’re normally reliant upon your straighteners, rainy days are the time to give them a miss.
“If you’re wearing your hair down then you need to work with its natural texture – a damp atmosphere will return your hair to its natural state so there’s no point spending ages blow-drying it. If you have curly hair then stick with curls,” Northwood advised. “Even umbrellas aren’t really enough – rather than being vertical rain the moisture kind of fills the air and gets to you anyway, so I’d recommend carrying a foldable mackintosh hood to completely cover it without flattening the hair. A close-fitting hat creates humidity, whereas the hood will completely protect it without damaging the style.”
It might not look cool, but it’s worth it.
Now Read: 7 Easy Halloween Makeup Ideas For Last-Minute Costumes