3 Styles To Prepare Your Hair for the Rainy Season

Break out the rain boots, umbrellas, coats and bonnets because the rainy season is upon us once again! Usually when the rain starts, you try to avoid it at all costs – even running as if your life depended on it in order to keep the rain from ruining your freshly styled hair. But the rain doesn’t have to be your hair’s enemy; handled wisely, water can be your hair’s best friend.

The Power of Water

Water is essential for overall hair growth and health, and enables the hair to be more elastic. There are two types of water: hard water and soft water. Hard water contains dissolved minerals and sometimes other contaminants. According to RainwaterConnection.com, rainwater is considered soft water because it is “free from disinfection by-products, salts, minerals and other natural and man-made contaminants.” Once rain hits the ground, however, it becomes hard water. ashing your hair with rainwater for beautiful, shiny, soft hair (just be sure to protect your hair if you find yourself in a downpour).

Due to our hair’s permeable nature, it can be especially difficult to maintain in rainy, humid weather. Too much water can strip hair of its natural, protective oils and the nutrients essential for growth, as well as cause the hair’s cuticles to become extremely rough and susceptible to breakage. This is why it is especially important to keep your hair protected during the rainy season. As with many things in life, a little can be good, but too much can be damaging.

Tress Protection

Bella Roberts, who grew up in Nigeria and is now owner of Loc’d and Free Natural Hair Salon in Atlanta, Georgia, says it is important to monitor how much water your hair is getting, because too much water can dry out your hair.

“We can actually walk out in the rain and enjoy the rain without worrying about what our hair will look like,” says Roberts, “but you don’t want to expose your hair to that much water without enough moisturizing products to replenish your moisture level.”

It is essential for black hair to stay moisturized. Roberts suggests mixing coconut oil or olive oil in a spray bottle with water and spraying that mixture onto damp, towel-blotted hair. Applying the mixture before the hair is completely dry allows it to coat the hair, sealing in moisture as it dries.

“We need to develop a routine of putting back [moisture] or using the appropriate products for our hair,” says Roberts. She also says that wearing protective styles such as braids and cornrows are a good idea, but aren’t always necessary, especially for naturals.

Seasonal Styles

To further ease your hair worries during the rainy season, you may want to consider one of these low-maintenance, protective styles:

Braids and Twists: Havana twists have become extremely popular over the past few years, and are so easy you can do it yourself! All you need is Marley braiding hair (available online or at your local beauty supply store), a comb and your choice of moisturizer. You can also try braiding your hair in cornrows.

Crochet Braids: If you prefer hair you can run your fingers through, try installing crochet braids. They are a little more time consuming, but the results are gorgeous curls or straight, silky hair. All you need are a few packs of hair – you can use either Marley braiding hair or a different texture of your choice. Cornrow the hair into a nice pattern going straight back, then grab your crochet tool and begin installing the hair. After all the hair has been added, you can choose to curl the hair using perm rods or just rock your afro-centric hair with style.

Chizi Duru demonstrates how to put in crochet braids in this YouTube tutorial.

Wigs: If neither of the previous suggestions are quite up your alley, then you might try wearing a wig or extensions. Wigs are easy and take next to no time to put on whenever you need a quick style. Extensions are a little more time-consuming (like the crochet braids, they will take a couple of hours to install) but are well worth the effort once completed.

If you’ve decided to wear a protective style, or if you have another routine for protecting your hair, be sure to participate in our Instagram photo session. Post a photo of how you protect your hair during the rainy season with the hashtag #myrainyseasonhair.

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