Our beauty editors deem these the best hair products for humidity to protect their styles and stave off frizz
Don't get caught out by damp air this autumn – invest in one of these tried and tested frizz-smoothing buys instead
A summary of this article: Our beauty team tested a selection of haircare formulas to review the best hair products for humidity that withstand damp or humid weather conditions. Color Wow's Dream Coat scored highly for weather-proofing hair, while Oribe's Impermeable Anti-Humidity Shield gave the longest-lasting protection. The Amika Frizz-Me-Not Treatment is our top choice for thicker strands, while our best pick for finer hair came from It's A 10.
If your hair is at all prone to frizz, you'll nod knowingly when we say that when there's so much as a hint of moisture in the air, your hair is the first to let you know. A bit of atmospheric moisture can undo hours of styling in a matter of minutes – no, make that seconds. That's where the shielding and smoothing benefits of the best hair products for humidity come in – working hard to stop that from happening.
After spending precious time smoothing out our best hair straighteners through our strands or creating bouncy blow dry with the best hair dryers, only for those salon-worthy results to reverse as soon as you step outside. But, you can get ahead of the fluffy frizziness caused by the likes of an unexpected downpour of rain, a steamy post-shower gym changing room or the thick air of a commute when you're equipped with the right products.
Hairdresser and mdlondon founder, Michael Douglas explains: “A barrier needs to be created for hair to stop being attacked by humidity. This is easily [achieved by applying] styling products that repel moisture and keep it out." Thankfully, our trio team of testers have rounded up their 9 favourite formulas that will shield your strands with an invisible "umbrella" to make it last all day long – whatever the weather.
Best anti-humidity hair product deals
These deals were last checked on 20/10/26 and we will continue to do so to ensure that all of the products below are still in stock, still discounted and – most importantly – the very best deals around at the moment.
The 9 best hair products for humidity, reviewed by our beauty experts
RRP: £29 for 200ml | Product type: Spray | Key features: Heat protection, lasts through multiple washes
Reviewed by: Jess Beech, Lucy Abbersteen, Sennen Prickett
Jess: My hair is fickle, going from sleek to frizzy if I so much as look at a drop of rain. I've tried so many products to help keep my frizzy hair smooth over the years, but come back to Color Wow's Dream Coat time and time again. I spray it onto damp hair in sections before blow-drying and it's left instantly smoother and shinier.
But this formula also performs when it counts, preserving my style when I’m out and about and stopping it from becoming fluffy around my hairline. One downside is that some finer-haired members of our beauty team have found it sits too heavily in their hair, so if your strands are similarly very fine, it may be too much. However, our contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen has medium-thickness hair and she layers it on without any stickiness – same for the Extra Strength Dream Coat. I also love that the results promise to last through a few washes, so a bottle lasts you ages (a curly edition is also available). Frizz-free and good value, what’s not to love?
Pros
- Bottle lasts ages
- Smooths the hair well
- Effects last through multiple washes
Cons
- May be heavy on very fine hair
- Requires heat to activate the formula
RRP: £45 for 200ml | Product type: Spray | Key features: Light hold and added texture
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
My one complaint about Oribe is that its products aren’t cheap, meaning every time I try one I love it so much that I don’t want to use anything else. Is it reasonable to say you can’t make your friend's birthday meal because you want to save your money for a luxurious hair product? I’d be lying if I said this hadn't ever crossed my mind.
What’s great about the Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray formula is that you can add it in easily as an afterthought. Simply spritz some of the (very expensive-smelling) mist over your finished style and it will ensure that no pesky humidity ruins it as you go about your day. No forgetting to apply it pre-blow dry.
This product also went through a very thorough test in multiple countries; I road-tested it both in humid Miami and a very damp springtime week in London, so it’s fair to say that it holds up in different climates.
Pros
- Smells incredible
- Adds shine
- Reduces frizz
Cons
- High price point
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
RRP: £44 for 150ml | Product type: Spray | Key features: Heat protection, lasts for 72 hours, heat activated, applied to damp hair
Virtue Labs' USP is its alpha keratin 60Ku® complex. Keratin is a protein that makes up most of our hair, and this clever ingredient binds to damaged areas to help restore them to their former glory. Frizz Block Smoothing Spray also contains a special humidity blocker to keep frizz at bay, and doubles as a heat protection spray.
It smells gorgeous and is light enough that you don't feel it sitting heavily or greasily on the hair, which will appeal to those with finer strands. But don't underestimate it, as it still has enough "oomph" to work on thick hair like mine. It's also been formulated especially to suit those with colour-treated hair, helping to prevent fading and adding heat protection, too. Speaking of which, it's also heat-activated, meaning it only works when blow-drying or straightening; without this, you won’t see results and it’ll probably leave your hair feeling tacky.
Pros
- Patented hair-identical protein
- Heat protection
- Boosts shine
Cons
- Heat activated; won't work without styling
RRP: £28 for 200ml | Product type: Spray | Key features: Heat-activated; heat protection; non-sticky texture; great
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen, Sennen Prickett
Lucy: Designed to lock in moisture and keep out frizz for up to 72 hours, this powerful newcomer to the Amika hairstyling portfolio is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to staving off humidity. As well as wrapping strands in a "silky shield", it's both heat activated and boasts heat protection up to 230ºC, meaning you're covered for any and all hot tool styling. We also love that it smells great, with an elegant fragrance that wafts – for hours after applying.
"I spritzed this through my hair post-wash while it was still very damp and it immediately felt so much softer," says Abbersteen. "But after drying it smooth, there was absolutely no residue left in my hair, nor was it heavy or weighed down. It just felt lovely and soft. But the real 'wow' came after a day in central London. My hair stayed mostly smooth, even after a quick dash to Pret in a slight drizzle. This has basically never happened to me; my hair is naturally curly and very frizz-prone. Anyway, it's now one of my all-time favourite styling products for a smooth blow dry days, which is no mean feat."
Pros
- Leaves hair touchably soft post-wash
- Smells great
Cons
- Billed as suiting medium to thick hair, so may not be quite right for finer strands
RRP: £24 for 147ml | Product type: Cream | Key features: Smooths and defines; lightweight hold, applied to damp hair
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
Most of us know that cutting down on heat styling is a good thing our hair, but if you're prone to frizz, committing to this can feel harder. Nothing smooths it quite as well as tools like the best hair dryer brush or a pair of the best straighteners for thick hair – that tension and heat is what gets the smoothest results. But I will say that this product does really help to bridge the gap if you want to leave your hair to air dry with the smoothest results possible.
I often leave my hair natural when working from home to give it a bit of a break from styling, washing it before I go to bed the night before and leaving it to dry overnight. The issue here is that my hair is so thick that it takes around two working days to dry completely. By morning, the front and ends are dry, but it's still damp through the midsection. But with this product, by the time my hair had finally dried (around lunchtime), it had smoothed so effectively that it stayed perfectly sleek in a ponytail, even after getting caught in the rain. Extremely impressive.
Pros
- Smells great
- Smooths well
- Easy to use
Cons
- Easy to over-use; use sparingly
RRP: £10.50 for 200ml | Product type: Spray | Key features: Styling polymers, invisible finish, applied to dry hair
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
I started using this Lee Stafford spray years ago in a bid to stop my hair from pinging out of its style (which I’d spent hours on) the moment I walked into a warm, busy bar. We've had an on-and-off relationship since then, but whenever I go back to it I’m always reminded of why I liked its glossy-looking results.
I will stress that the frizz protection here isn’t entirely impermeable, but it definitely reduces how much my hair steps out of line – and when you consider its price, particularly compared to others here, that makes it good value for money. While the mist itself is quite fine, it does have a somewhat oily quality that better complements thick, curly and dry hair. If your hair is fine, I’d recommend spraying it from a good distance and using it very sparingly to start with; you can always add more later if you think your strands can handle it, but it's harder to do the reverse.
Pros
- Adds shine
- Staves off frizz
- Reasonable price tag
Cons
- May be too oily for some
RRP: £27 for 150ml | Product type: Gel | Key features: UV filters, applied to damp hair
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
While a few different factors affect porosity, curly hair can be more porous than naturally straight hair, something that makes it a prime candidate for frizz. Oil-based products can help to seal in moisture, but too much for your hair to comfortably hold can weigh down curls. Basically, it's all a bit of a balancing act. But fortunately, this Bumble and bumble buy is blended into a gel, giving it a lighter consistency overall.
I will say that it is a bit sticky (which, to play devil's advocate, I think is needed when styling curly to hair for lasting hold), but with a little trial and error I found that a bit of this product goes a long way. I smoothed it into damp hair, gave it a little scrunch and then left it to dry. Instead of expanding out into fluffy territory, my curls kept their shape and definition incredibly well – they felt soft and shiny, bouncy not bushy.
Pros
- Lovely texture
- Doesn't weigh down curls
- Works well with air drying
Cons
- Takes trial and error to find the best amount to apply
RRP: £28 for 223ml | Key features: Heat protection, nourishing formula
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
I can't speak for everyone, but my hair is always at its frizziest on a summer holiday. I think it’s the combination of dehydration from sunshine, heat, salt water and chlorine, mixed with the added humidity in the air that causes it to act out. If this sounds familiar, this can of joy will more than earn its keep in your suitcase (and haircare regime). Where the Frizz-Me-Not Treatment is better suited to medium-to-thick hair, The Shield can be used on any hair thickness, including finer strands.
Living up to it's name and then some, this formula shields hair from temperatures of up to 230°C (good for styling and sunshine), protects it from UV rays and extends the life of your hairstyle to boot. It won't quite replace the best heat protection sprays, as it has to be used on dry hair, but if you don't want to use too many products or pack them into your suitcase, it's a great all-rounder. I took a chance on it when I’d run out of hairspray and, to be honest, wasn't expecting much. But I shouldn't have underestimated it, as it kept my waves in place all day long and shielded it from frizz. All this quickly made it a new favourite.
Pros
- Provides some hold for the hair
- Built-in heat protection
- Aesthetically pleasing packaging
Cons
- Hard to fault, but no moisturising properties to speak of
RRP: £19.99 for 180ml | Product type: Gel | Key features: Heat protection, heat activated, applied to damp hair
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
Frizz is common in dehydrated hair, as thirsty strands try to draw moisture in from the atmosphere to replace what they're lacking. So it's no surprise that my hair is at its frizziest when it's frazzled from over-washing and styling. Enter, the It’s A 10 Miracle Blow Dry H₂O Shield.
This fine-but-mighty mist is designed to lock out humidity without weighing down hair or leaving it feeling greasy – making it perfect for those with finer, fragile strands. I personally got my hair to look far more convincingly smooth and healthy than it actually is. But this formula does offer extra help in that department, too, with ingredients like panthenol and sunflower seed extract to help soften and moisturise frazzled hair, like mine. For me, few spritzes is enough to make a noticeable difference.
Pros
- Nourishes
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
- Suits most hair types
Cons
- Unlikely to be sufficient moisture for very dry hair
How we tested the best hair products for humidity
To thoroughly test every contender before we settled on our final list of the best hair products for humidity, each one was used in periods of both seriously wet and humid weather. Our naturally curly-haired beauty editors judged them based on how well they stopped their hair from developing frizz and fluffy hair through the day, including after time spent outdoors while it was damp or humid.
Each product was tested at least once and, where possible, with additional insights from at least one other tester. All this was to ensure that any product in the final round-up was reliable enough to step outside without compromising the finish of your hair. We assessed how each one performed in the following areas.
- Design: Packaging is important in terms of how easy a hair product is to dispense. And while the most important factors are the formula and an easy user experience, an aesthetically pleasing design is a bonus.
- Texture: Often designed with thick hair in mind, some of the best hair products for humidity can be on the heavy side or feel a little sticky, particularly on finer textures. Ideally, a lack of frizz won’t come at the cost of having your hair slicked against your head. We looked at how the products felt on the hair both after the initial application and through the day.
- How well styles lasted: Few things are more frustrating than spending time on a bouncy blow dry with your best curling irons or mastering how to use the Dyson Airwrap only for it to be wasted when you step out of the house. A good anti-humidity product will stop moisture from ruining your style.
- Frizz: It may sound obvious, but if lots of fluffy hair still made an appearance after applying a product, it didn’t make the list.
- Price: Value for money is important, so if a product sits at a higher price point, the results needed to be impressive to justify the bigger expense.
How to choose the best hair products for humidity
Torn between some of the best hair products for humidity on the market, or simply can't land on one that sounds like it's your perfect fit? This quick list will help you to decide which one(s) are right for your hair and lifestyle.
- Hair type and length: “If you’ve got naturally frizzy or porous hair, or naturally wavy hair that [you find] quite difficult to control, my advice is to invest in a smoothing cream, which is best applied to your hair before you blow dry,” advises Robert. “The weight in the cream helps to control flyaway hairs. Then I would always perfect afterwards with a lightweight oil to lock in shine and moisture.”
- Price: Is your hair occasionally frizzy, but not really often enough that it makes a big visible difference? Start with a cheaper hair product for humidity – maybe something travel-sized you can take on humid holidays. You can always upgrade to a pricier product or bigger size if your hair becomes frizzier over time.
- Haircare routine: Forget to apply products before blow drying, or simply prefer to let your hair air dry over using a hair dryer? A heat-activated humidity shielding spray will probably just gather dust in your drawer. Choose a product you’re likely to use as part of your usual styling routine – and that fits into it easily.
- Streamline: If you don’t want to apply a cocktail of hair products, try to find a humidity solution that does more than simply repel water – it could have added heat protection or nourish the hair, too.
Your FAQs on the best hair products for humidity, answered
Why does hair get frizzy in winter?
After spending so long on styling our hair, we're often left asking why our hair insists on becoming frizzy in certain environments – be it damp, winter weather or during humid summers. “When you style hair, you essentially heat it up and remove all the moisture,” Douglas explains. “Inside the hair strands, there are sulphur bonds, which break down in water and re-form when the water is removed. So, once the hair has dried and been styled – with straighteners, curling tongs or your hair dryer – those bonds are reformed.
“If any moisture gets into the hair, there is a breakdown of those bonds and the hair starts to go back to its original, un-styled structure,” Douglas continues. “So, if your hair is naturally curly or wavy, this is when it will start to go frizzy. If your hair is naturally very straight, it tends not to make a massive difference."
Hairdresser Robert Eaton, creative director of Russell Eaton's Leeds & Barnsley salons, agrees that curly hair types are usually more susceptible to humidity, and can be more porous, too: “Hair that is heavily damaged, where the cuticle scales are already quite worn and torn in areas, is also prone to being dry and frizzy."
Is it better to apply anti-humidity hair products on wet or dry hair?
This depends on the product in question; you'll need to check the application instructions of your chosen product. Some, like Color Wow's Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, are designed to be applied to wet or damp hair before drying. Many formulas are heat-activated, meaning they are kickstarted by the heat from your hair dryer.
Other formulas are designed to be applied to dry hair, such as Oribe's Impermeable Anti Humidity Spray or Amika's The Shield, are designed to be applied to your finished style, i.e. dry hair, to create an invisible protective shield over strands once you've finished your look.
What helps with frizzy hair?
Our contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen has (in her own words) very frizz-prone hair. Between this and her years of spent interviewing hair experts and stylists, she has learned a lot about keeping a smooth style smooth on naturally frizzy hair. In a nutshell, it really comes down to the right products and styling methods.
"The first thing I always prioritise – no matter if I'm drying my hair curly or straight – is moisture," she says. "Dry hair will draw in and soak up moisture from the atmosphere, so you want to ensure the hair's moisture levels are topped up so that there's less room for moisture in the air to get in. If you have very fine hair, your conditioner and perhaps a little lightweight serum might be enough, while thicker or coarser hair often needs richer, deeper nourishment.
"The second thing is some kind of shield that stops external moisture from reaching the hair," she continues. "Once you've ensured your hair is well-moisturised, you also want to protect it from external humidity or dampness in the air. My go-tos are Color Wow's Extra Strength Dream Coat and the amika Frizz-Me-Not Treatment.
"Lastly, when we're talking about keeping a smooth style smooth, the other big culprit is not having had enough tension while styling," she adds. "For a smooth blow dry, you have to have really pulled the hair taut to ensure a lasting finish, else it's far more likely to slowly revert to its natural shape. Sealing the cuticle with a pair of the best hair straighteners also creates that lasting sleek finish." That said, don't be tempted to crank the heat up too high. Low-heat styling can help to seal the hair cuticle but prevent high-heat damage that contributes to frizz – and of course, heat protection is a non-negotiable step here.
Our expert panel
Jess Beech is an experienced fashion and beauty editor, with more than eight years experience in the publishing industry. She has written for woman&home, GoodtoKnow, Now, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Own and Chat, and is a former Deputy Fashion & Beauty Editor at Future plc. With very thick and curly hair, she has a lot of experience in testing products that create a lasting smooth finish and stave off humidity.
Lucy Abbersteen is a freelance beauty editor and one of woman&home's contributing beauty editors. With a decade of experience in the industry – and with hair as one of her specialisms – she's tested a lot of hair tools and product on her curly hair during her career. With hair that's very frizz-prone and susceptible to the effects of humidity, she is very well placed to trial and review the best hair products for humidity.
Michael Douglas is a hairdresser with a career spanning more than three decades, and is the founder of both the mdlondon hair salon and haircare brand of the same name. He's shared some of his expertise on how to shield hair from humidity and choose the best products for the job.
Robert Eaton is creative director of Russell Eaton's Leeds & Barnsley salons and a former president of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing. Having used a lot of brilliant ones during his career, he's shared some key advice on choosing the best anti-humidity hair products for your hair type.