Why does hair frizz??

Why does humidity cause hair to frizz and why are some people's hair easier to frizz on a foggy day that others?

  • I was outside with my team for a bout 10 minutes and today was really foggy. I was the only person with frizzy hair when we came in a it was so bad I couldn't even run my fingers through my hair.

  • Answer:

    Why Does Humidity Cause Frizzy Hair? Hair Structure and Composition # Hair is made up of three layers, the cuticle, cortex and medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer, composed of keratinized scales that protect the inner layers. The cuticle layer also affects the appearance of the hair. The cortex is made up of two protein layers, sandwiched side by side, and this layer also affects the hair's appearance. The medulla is the innermost layer and does not influence the hair's appearance or texture. Hair proteins are composed of long chains of amino acids containing hydrogen, sulfur, carbon and oxygen ions that hold the hair strands together and determine the texture and curl pattern. The combination of these ions also forms water within the hair shaft.

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Humidity and Hair Texture # Hair texture is also determined by three different types of bonds: hydrogen bonds, salt bonds and disulfide bonds. Salt and hydrogen bonds are easily affected by heat and moisture. Disulfide can only be broken with a chemical agent. When the hair encounters moisture in the air, it relaxes the salt and hydrogen bonds, allowing the moisture to penetrate to the cortex. The two protein layers, within the cortex, absorb the water and swell. Because the two protein layers have different composition, they absorb water at different rates, causing the shaft to swell unevenly. This uneven swelling causes breaks in the cuticle. Imagine a tree planted next to a sidewalk. As the tree roots grow, they push underneath the sidewalk causing the surface to break, making the sidewalk jagged and uneven. The same thing happens with the cuticles in the hair shaft. This jagged unevenness is what's known as the frizzies. Interestingly, a lack of moisture can also cause frizz. Hair always has a small amount of water and, if over dried, the shaft becomes brittle causing the cuticles to raise, creating a frizzy appearance. Preventing Hair Frizz # There are several products on the market designed to prevent frizz. These products may be applied to wet and/or dry hair. Products applied to wet hair are designed to prevent frizz caused by sudden moisture loss. Products applied to dry hair are designed to prevent excess moisture from entering the cortex. Many of these products are used in conjunction with appliances, like flat irons, which use heat to break the hydrogen and salt bonds in the hair--- flattening the cuticles and straightening the hair shaft.

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