Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by Verna Meachum

After a dull and tiresome winter, spring arrives to bring back the loveliness of nature. Glorious flowers blooming and warmer temperatures give our environment new life and vigor.

Birds singing, petals flourishing, along with your hair finally rising from its wintry slumber—now is the perfect time to take action to get those curls ready for warmer weather!

Spring curly hair doesn’t need to be a challenge; in fact, it can be quite easy to maintain your curls for the season with the tips we’ve laid out in this blog.

After months of being exposed to extreme temperatures both indoors and outdoors, your hair needs all the love it can get for this new season.

With the onset of warmer temperatures, how can we best prepare our curls? Here are our tips on awakening dull winter dull hair and achieving a healthy spring glow.

Uncovering the Impact of Springtime Weather on Your Curly Hair

As winter fades away, the air becomes warmer and temperatures start to rise in spring. With every passing day comes greater warmth that ushers in a new era of less frigid weather.

With the onset of warmer weather, people often spend more time outdoors enjoying nature’s beauty in spring. The sunlight is less intense during this season, but its UV rays remain potent–different from those found during wintertime.

Have you ever considered how the weather affects your hair? Believe it or not, temperature fluctuations and humidity levels can significantly alter its appearance.

Two elements can impact curly hair; heat and moisture.

As temperatures and humidity levels begin to rise, there is a corresponding boost in the concentration of water molecules in the air.

If you live in an area with high humidity levels, this can be incredibly detrimental to your home and belongings. From mold growth to warped wood furniture – too much humidity is nothing short of a disaster for any homeowner.

With hair, it’s no different. The varying degrees of temperature, humidity, and sun can cause drastic modifications in the physical and chemical properties that constitute hair.

Composed of keratin protein, hair fibers can take in moisture from the air which may lead to hair swelling, puffiness, and frizz.

If your hair isn’t prepped properly, the added humidity in the air can make it appear frizzy as it soaks up too much moisture. Inherently, high levels of humidity interfere with hydrogen bonds in the hair—the same ones that change our curls’ shape when exposed to heat or water.

Ultimately, excess moisture and humid temperatures are to blame for annoying flyaways and limp curls since they temporarily break down these crucial hydrogen bonds.

That said, spring is the perfect time to up the ante when it comes to your hair care routine.

Spring Curly Hair Prep

The best way to prepare your hair for the weather changes begins with understanding spring’s impact on your strands.

To combat the effects of springtime humidity, you’ll want to use products that will lock in moisture and hold your curls together.

Ingredients to Look in Hair Products

When spring is near, it’s essential to switch up your hair regimen and use products suited for the warmer weather.

Look for the following ingredients below.

Emollients

To form a water-resistant layer on the surface of your hair, natural oils, and butter (i.e. Shea butter, Mango butter, avocado oil, castor oil, etc.) are superior. Not only do they offer multiple advantages, but these emollients are also superior choices for reducing frizz and conditioning.

Not only do they serve as wonderful sealants to align cuticles and reduce fiber friction, but there are also special fine chemicals available today that were specifically developed to minimize frizz.

Crafted at a desired molecular weight and size, these chemical agents help create a barrier against moisture.

For information on the best oils for low-porosity hair, read Penetrating Oils For Low Porosity Hair: A Comprehensive Overview.

For the best oils for high porosity hair, check out – Discover The Most Beneficial Oils For High Porosity Hair.

Proteins

Proteins are proven to repair and strengthen hair by coating the fibers and filling any gaps or holes along the hair shaft.

This protective hydrophilic layer forms a protective barrier around the hair, ensuring that it remains sufficiently moisturized from both external weather conditions and internal water levels.

To preserve healthy hair, periodically treating it with protein is highly recommended.

For proteins for low porosity hair, check out: Best Proteins For Low Porosity Hair.

For proteins for high porosity hair, read Protein Treatments For High Porosity Hair (Learn The Best Type Of Proteins To Use).

Humectants

While humectants help balance moisture levels and control frizz, they may not be the best springtime solution.

Humectants, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, etc. attract moisture from the environment—which can be a double-edged sword in spring when there’s already an abundance of moisture in the air.

If you choose to use a humectant, one way to minimize its effects during the warmer months is by making sure it appears further down on the ingredients list.

Another way to counteract humectants listed high on the ingredients list is to layer your hair products. Use a leave-in conditioner containing light oils and emollients, followed by the product with a humectant, then add a gel or cream with a stronger hold.

This is exactly what I did in the photo below. I started with a Shea Moisture JBCO leave-in conditioner, followed by the Cantu Curl Activator, then finished with the Bounce Curl Gel. Glycerin is the second ingredient in the Cantu Curl Activator, but the combination of the two products sealed in spring-proofing my curls.

As you can observe in the picture, I’m wearing a jacket – although it may seem out of place due to the late March temperatures. However, an unexpected chill had set in and it was nearing 8 pm when this photo was taken.

It’s important to consider that formulations can sometimes be problematic when solely relying on glycerin as a humectant, without emollients or film-forming humectants. However, these issues are eliminated when carefully crafting balanced products. Additionally, certain other ingredients might make hair feel ‘odd’ and cause frizz; though it is the formula in its entirety which determines if an ingredient will become a problem.

Before you abandon the use of products containing glycerin entirely, be aware that how those ingredients act is largely contingent on the formula makeup of a product in its entirety. As with most endeavors, it all comes down to experimentation and seeing what works best for you!

How to Successfully Battle Frizz and Enhance Definition

As spring nears, it’s time to give our curls a makeover! To keep them looking vibrant and healthy throughout this transition into warmer weather, we should modify our hair care routine to include special products that can counteract any changes in temperature and humidity while still providing reliable results.

To ensure your curly hair stay vibrant during spring there exist certain necessary steps for the preparation and maintenance of your hair’s well-being.

Curly Hair Products for Spring

Update your product collection ready for the sunnier days of spring with these seasonally-friendly products! I personally love them, as they are lightweight and moisturizing, making them excellent options to keep my curls looking fabulous during the warmest months.

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel

Crafted with natural extracts, proteins, and styling polymers to combat humidity while maintaining your desired style for a longer duration.

OUIDAD Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Stronger Hold Gel

If you want a super strong holding gel for your curls, then this is for you. I actually prefer this gel for my hair during summer to the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel.

Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-in Conditioner

This product works as a primer and styling product. It contains natural oils and butter to allow for better moisture retention while sealing the cuticles resulting in softer moisturized hair.

Bounce Curl Curl Cream 

This is one of my favorite curl creams to date! It’s packed full of good-for-your-hair oils that contain fatty acids, vitamins, etc. This product will help seal in moisture, making your hair feel silky soft and smooth. I also love that you will not get that product-y feel that other styling products may leave behind!

SheaMoisture Curl Mousse for Frizz Control

This mousse is packed with moisture, helping to bring out your natural curls. It is super lightweight and will not leave a sticky or tacky feel to your hair.

Curl Keeper Original

If you were to ask me what gel works for all hair types and porosity levels? I’d say this gel! It is a gel that can withstand humidity while keeping your curl looking well-defined.

Cantu Curl Activator

This product is a blend of shea butter and essential oils that nurtures dry curls, defining your natural curl pattern to create more volume. It’s super affordable and pairs great with the Bounce Curl gel (as mentioned earlier).

Bounce Curl Gel

If you’re looking for something that won’t weigh down your hair but will still keep your curls in place and reduce frizz, then this may be for you. It is a light-holding gel that combines a little bit of cream with mostly gel to give you a long-lasting curl shape without any heaviness.

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Further Reading

1. Marsh, J. M.; Gray, J.; Tosti, A., Healthy Hair. Springer International Publishing: 2015.

2. Feughelman, M., Mechanical properties and structure of alpha-keratin fibers: wool, human hair, and related fibers. UNSW press: 1997.

3. Zviak, C., The Science of Hair Care. Taylor & Francis: 2005.

4. Corporation, A. P., Hair Care: From Physiology to Formulation. Allured Publishing Corporation: 2008.