Forget rain and humidity: the wind is one element that can wreak serious havoc on your hair, whether it’s perfectly-coiffed or you just happen to be having a good hair day.
On those blustery days when you just know stepping outside will whip your hair into a frenzy, try these tricks to wind-proof your locks.
Hilary Duff going natural while out and about in LA.
Photo: PCN Photos
Make Messy Look Chic
This is not the time to spend hours in front of the mirror straightening to a pin or curling identical ringlets. With just a few gusts, all that work will have been for nothing. Instead, embrace a more mussed-up, beachy look. If you have naturally wavy hair, let it roam free. For the rest of us, take ten minutes with a two-inch curling iron to create haphazard waves. Once the wind catches it, you’ll look more like you stepped off a boat instead of stepped out of a wind corridor.
Olivia Wilde with waves that last all day.
Photo: Getty Images
Use More Product
If a more put-together look is an absolute must, be prepared to use product. The key is to apply a formula with memory, meaning a product that allows hair to move with the wind, then still return to its original shape right after. Try a gel, such as Oribe Gél Serum ($58, oribe.com), before you start styling. Then set your style with heat, wait a few minutes, and then finish by running a hair dryer on cool over the hair for a few seconds. This will help seal your look, so the wind will have less affect on your ‘do.
Alessandra Ambrosio with a cute heidi braid.
Photo: Getty Images
Pull It All Up
The easiest way to prevent wind damage is to wear your hair up. Buns, ponytails, braids — they will all stay in place if secured tightly. If you have bangs — blunt or otherwise — a windy day is the day to pull them back. Use a headband, bobby pins or even some light gel to keep the short hairs up and out of your face. The good news is that mussed-up braids and loose updos are having a moment, so if the wind pulls a few stray strands free, so much the better!
Read more: Weekend Hairstyles For Every Occassion
