Maintaining healthy hair requires more than a quick comb-through. Having healthy hair means understanding your hair type, the ingredients in the products you use, your shower’s water pressure, and the environment around you. There are countless recommendations on what is “good” for your hair, from professional stylists to celebrities, but no method works for everyone. Finding what works for your specific hair type—whether straight, wavy, curly, or coily—takes extra effort, but it’s worth it to feel your best, rather than submitting to a one-size-fits-all approach.
Humidity
Many people consider humidity when deciding how to style their hair. Humidity, especially in warmer and humid climates like Miami, can cause frizz, limpness and excess oil production, depending on your hair type.
Paige Rock, a sophomore at the University of Miami, who has naturally pin-straight hair, said, “Some of the biggest challenges I have faced with my hair type is the humidity, especially in a place like Miami where it’s so humid out. I have found that my favorite product, WOW, has really helped my hair combat the humidity and keeps it looking shiny and healthy.”
Here are some product recommendations for your hair type:
Straight:
- Anti-frizz product: Dream Coat Supernatural Spray by Color WOW – Smooths hair and protects against humidity.
- Lightweight oils: Avocado oil, coconut oil – Adds shine and moisture without greasiness.
- Protective hairstyles: Braids, buns, or any up-do – Reduce breakage and keep hair neat in humidity.
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Use hydrating and smoothing formulas. Avoid over-washing, which can strip natural oils.
- Blow dry: After heat styling, finish with a cool setting to lock in moisture and reduce puffiness.
- Avoid: Heavy waxes and silicones in your products, as they can weigh your hair down and create buildup.
Wavy:
- Anti-frizz product: Ouai Wave Spray – Enhances natural texture and combats frizz.
- Lightweight oils: Argan oil, rose hip oil – Adds moisture and reduces frizz without flattening waves.
- Protective hairstyles: Loose braids, low buns, half-up styles – Helps maintain wave pattern and reduce tangling.
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Opt for sulfate-free, lightweight moisturizing formulas to enhance wave definition.
- Styling tip: Scrunch hair with a curl-enhancing mousse or cream while damp, then air-dry or diffuse with low heat.
- Avoid: Over-brushing when dry. This can disrupt the wave pattern of your hair and cause frizz.
Curly Hair:
- Anti-frizz product: Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream – Defines curls while keeping them soft and shiny.
- Lightweight oils: Jojoba oil, rapeseed oil – Seals in moisture without leaving buildup.
- Protective hairstyles: Twists and loose braids at night – Preserve curls and reduce breakage.
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Use moisturizing, sulfate-free products. Limit washing to avoid stripping oils.
- Drying tip: Use a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt to dry. Diffuse with low heat or air-dry for best curl retention.
- Styling tip: Apply curl cream or gel to soaking-wet hair for enhanced definition and improved moisture retention.
Coily Hair:
- Anti-frizz product: TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer – Hydrates and defines tight coils.
- Lightweight oils: Caster oil (lightly applied), baobab oil – Nourish hair and strengthen strands.
- Protective hairstyles: Flat twists, bantu knots, box braids, and protective updos – help retain length and protect delicate strands.
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Rich, creamy, deeply hydrating formulas to keep up with moisture needs.
- Moisture tip: Layer products using LOC method (liquid, oil, cream) to deeply hydrate and define curls.
- Avoid: Heat styling without protection, frequent manipulation, and harsh sulfates that dry out coils.
Casey Morgan, a hair stylist and color specialist at Avant Garde Salon & Spa in Coral Gables, said, “With straight hair, curly hair any type of hair type, in order to maintain the functionality of the hair type and texture that you have, you have to focus on hydration and protective benefits. Anti-humidity is another huge factor.”
Stephanie Diez, a junior stylist curl expert at the Curl Whisper in Miami, also recommends using an anti-humidity product.
“Definitely a game changer!” Diez said. “Choosing a gel or mousse with medium to strong hold creates a protective barrier against humidity. My all-time favorite is Ouidad’s Climate Control.”
Hair Type 101
Understanding your hair type can help you tailor your outline to keep your hair healthy and vibrant. You may be wondering, how do I know what my hair type is? The Andre Walker hair typing system categorizes hair types from 1A to 4C. The number indicates whether hair is straight, wavy, curly or coily, and the letters indicate the amount of bend or tightness to your hair. To give you a clearer idea, 1A, the lowest, is fine, fragile to coarse, thin and curl resistant and 4C, the highest, is kinky hair, tight coils to z-angled coils.
Once you figure out your hair type, it’s time to get to shopping and leave your one-size-fits-all products behind.
“For more fine hair (1A), use lightweight products; for medium hair (1B), use smoothing lotions; and for thick hair (1C), use creams and oils, ” Morgan said.
Morgan also emphasized avoiding sulfates, synthetic fragrances and phthalates, all of which can cause dryness. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are used to make plastics more flexible and are used in hair products as a gelling agent to make the fragrance last longer.
Rock shared her struggles with her straight hair.
“When I was younger, my hair was a weird mix between straight and curly, so it never looked how I wanted,” she said., “I ended up doing a keratin hair treatment, which strengthened my hair while also making it straight and healthy. However, it got expensive and didn’t work the way I wanted it to. Now, I’ve done more research into what products suit my hair best, and I’ve found that the brand K18 —whether it’s the repair oil, shampoo, conditioner or leave-in— really helps me feel and look my best.”
When asked about common mistakes people often make with straight hair, Morgan said, “A lot of people don’t think they need to use products. Washing every day, not using heat protectant, brushing wet hair — all these things can lead to damage. Always start brushing from the ends and work your way up.”
For wavy hair (Type 2A-2C), use lightweight, hydrating mousse or curl creams help enhance subtle wave patterns without weighing the hair down like curly hair. Avoid using heavy oils or butter and opt for more air-drying or diffusing techniques with a cool shot to define those waves.
If you have curly hair (Type 3A-3C), you need moisturizer, patience, and a styling method that works with, rather than against its natural shape.
Jessi Ryan, a curly-haired sophomore, said, “The biggest challenge I face with my hair type is how to casually style it. If I want my hair to have a certain hairdo or look, I have to do that at the beginning of my day, and I have to keep it that way until the end of my day.”
To minimize disruption throughout the day, she found that wearing her hair down in a part makes it easier to maintain and pull back when needed.
Diez said, “People think that curly hair is unmanageable or unprofessional. That’s completely wrong! If you’re using the right products with the right techniques, it can look beautifully tamed.”
Diez also shared common curly hair mistakes:
- Not using a moisturizing treatment once a week
- Using oil/butter-based products
- Not using a clarifying shampoo once a month
- Not using enough water when styling
- Not defining in sections
- Using too much product
“Hydration is the key to defined frizz-less curls! Use weekly Deep Conditioning Treatments and humidity resistance styling products,” Diez continued.
If you have coily hair (Type 4A-4C), your hair type thrives on intense moisture and gentle care, just like curly hair. It is widely recommended to use rich creams, leave-in products and oils that lock in the necessary moisture. Protective styles and detangling with care are essential to avoiding breakage. Low manipulation techniques and products that seal the hair are key to keeping one’s coils healthy and defined.
Dry One Day, Oily The Next
On top of the hair type you might have and the challenges that come with that, you may also be dealing with dryness or oil. Dry hair lacks moisture and can become brittle, leading to breakage and uneven hair growth.
Morgan explained how water factors into your hair health.
“Hard water and well water can dry the hair and inflame the scalp. It leads to fading the color quickly as well. I always recommend a hard water filter for in-home use,” she said.
On the other hand, oily hair can appear greasy and limp if not appropriately managed, such as from sweat, weather, touching it, etc. To manage oily hair, it is helpful to use clarifying shampoos once a week, as Diez mentioned. Clarifying hair products remove excess oils, product buildup and any impurities from the hair and scalp.
It is also suggested that lightweight and non-comedogenic products that do not clog pores or coat the scalp in an unbreathable layer. Additionally, like Morgan mentioned, avoid over-washing, which can cause your scalp to overcompensate by producing even more oils.
Hair wellness starts with understanding how to care for your unique hair type and adjusting for environmental, health and lifestyle factors. By using the right products and techniques, you can maintain healthy, vibrant hair regardless of the weather or hair concerns. The most important thing to remember is that every hair type is unique and beautiful in its own way.
The Salon Visit That Transformed My Hair
To gain a better understanding of hair repair solutions, I was given the opportunity to visit Casey Morgan at Avant Garde Salon & Spa and experience one of their Kerastase repair and hydration treatments. This treatment is meant to remove calcium build-up and reconnect broken keratin links for stronger hair.
Morgan explained that based on my medium to thick hair texture (1B&C), this treatment would help remove any lingering sulfates, wax buildup or damaging product residue left over, and would leave my hair up to three times as strong.
This treatment was a four-step process:
- Decalcifying Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment: This first step helps pre-treat the hair and removes any impurities, restores up to 99% of the hair’s original strength, prepping the strands for the deeper treatment.
- Shampoo: A cleansing wash that further removes product buildup and refreshes the hair without stripping its natural oils.
- Serum: This reparative glaze strengthens the hair, adds shine and helps rebuild the hair’s internal structure for smoother, healthier strands.
- Leave-in Deep Treatment: A final step to seal in the moisture, protect against future damage, and add long-lasting softness and manageability. This was left in for ten minutes and then washed, dried, and styled.
Even after weeks, my hair still feels so much healthier than before. This was simply more proof of how investing in your hair through high-quality products and care can truly make a difference.
words&photo_alexandra yessios
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