You may already know to apply those products post-shower (a moisture-locking agent needs moisture, no?), but there’s a slight nuance to keep in mind. According to hairstylist and founder of Hair Rules, Anthony Dickey, it’s important to know how wet your strands should be before raking in stylers. And—no surprise—it has everything to do with hair type. In fact, he says, you may even want to stash your oils and creams in the shower with you; that way, you can easily slide them through your hair as soon as you rinse out your conditioner—so your products can seal in as much moisture as possible. Bonus: Leaving your stylers in-shower can save valuable shelf space and keep your bathroom clean (like, say, if you routinely find leave-in spray residue on your mirror or counter). On the flip side, if you have a looser curl structure with a finer texture, Dickey suggests towel drying your hair a bit before reaching for a lightweight product. That’s because finer hair may require more volume (to avoid looking limp and oily—another unfortunate byproduct of summer sweat). And “if you put product on when it’s sopping wet, it’s just going to be flatter,” Dickey explains. So for those with fine waves, you can get away with a quick towel dry before sliding in a styler, especially if you’re looking for that extra bout of frizz-free fullness. If you do opt for the towel, be super gentle, or invest in a soft microfiber cloth (even a T-shirt works!): Vigorously rubbing your hair with a traditional towel roughs up the cuticle and causes more frizz and friction on your strands. “It has a sandpaper-like effect,” says Dickey. In terms of summer frizz, simply raking in product post-shower isn’t a one-size-fits-all tip. As with most haircare advice, assessing your individual texture is key.
