There are two types of people in the world: The ones who haven’t met a YouTube hair tutorial they aren’t willing to try, and the ones who do the exact same thing every day with their strands. Most of us fall into the latter category (because let's be real: who has time in the morning for an elaborate 'do?).
Still, even if you have a tried-and-true routine, you know the struggle of using the same tools, products, and techniques daily—yet still getting different results. How is it possible that sometimes your mane looks absolutely amazing, and other times it has serious case of the blahs? To get to the bottom of this perplexing and infuriating phenomenon, we turned to the experts to see what factors influence if your hair has a great, good, or plain-old lousy day.
The Weather
The forecast is one of the most obvious things that affects your strands. “Dry air in the winter can make your hair more prone to frizz, whereas more humid seasons encourage more curl or bounce," says hair stylist Tyson Kennedy, founder of Fatboy and Cutler Brooklyn.
If you know your hair tends to be sensitive to the weather, tailor your products accordingly. "In the winter, be sure to use a rich, moisturizing conditioner on your ends, while boosting volume and fullness at the roots with a product like a dry texture spray," Kennedy says. "During humid seasons, embrace the curl rather than trying to fight it by working in a product like fatboy Sea Salt Pomade to give you a natural, beachy look.”
Related: These Emotional Hair Transformation Stories Will Definitely Make You Tear Up
Your Body Temperature
Your internal thermostat has just as much pull over your strands as the external temperature. “Let’s say you have fine hair and are feeling warmer than usual. This might make you sweat more and increase the amount of oil your scalp is producing, leading you to have oilier hair than usual,” says Head & Shoulders stylist Sunnie Brook Jones. She advises keeping a travel-sized dry shampoo in your bag for any midday touch-ups. Or, if you're feeling steamy, wrap your hair up in a loose bun to give your neck more ventilation, which will help you cool off. (No time to shower? Try Captain Blankenship Mermaid Dry Shampoo, available at the Women's Health Boutique, to remove oil from your hair.)
How You Part Your Hair
If you’ve been parting your hair the same way for as long as you can remember, it may be beneficial to mix it up. “I definitely notice that clients that use the same parting for long periods of time can cause the hair follicles to sit flat,” says Kennedy. Try flipping the direction of styling to add volume and lift at the root.
Learn how to blow dry fine hair to make it look full and gorgeous:
Showering At Night
If your strands are acting like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it may be due to the time of day you wash your hair. “If you’re someone who showers at night and sleeps on your hair, then every day will be a different result because the cuticle of your hair is drying in different ways and being affected by the fabric you sleep on,” says Jones. Can't part with your nightly showers? Try to blow-dry your hair eighty percent dry before hopping into bed. "Additionally, you can braid or wrap a silk scarf around your hair to keep it from getting tangled while you sleep," she says.
Related: 5 Hair-Volumizing Products That Actually Work, According To Photographic Evidence
How You Style Your Hair
While there’s nothing wrong with a signature hairstyle, repeatedly styling your mane in the same manner may result in a few not-so-stellar hair days. For example, if you flat iron a lot, you may notice hair will look more relaxed due to repetitive smoothing of the cuticle. This could make it harder to achieve a wavier look on the days you want to mix things up. Another thing to consider is if you’re constantly wearing hair in a bun or ponytail. You may start to see breakage around the hairline because your strands are being stretched so much. It's worth considering giving your hair a break every so often, especially when it comes to heat tools. If you are stumped on styling ideas, look to these stunning celebrity cuts for some inspiration, or try these hairstyles that will totally get you carded.
Related: You've Got to See What Happened to This Ballerina's Hair After Wearing a Bun Every Day
Maddy Zollo Rusbosin is a freelance writer living in sunny Orlando, Florida. She loves writing about all things beauty since it gives her the excuse to play with makeup all day – and scare her husband while she's testing out the latest face masks.
