It is annoying how tiny, wispy strands stick up after you put so much effort into styling your hair.
It takes time and a lot of effort to lay them flat. And in the end, you can cause more harm than good to your mane.
Hair that sticks up isn’t an obsolete problem. The best way to know how to resolve it is by identifying its cause.
So before we proceed to the how’s, let’s first answer your question, “why does my hair stick up on the sides”.
Read on!
Why does my hair naturally stick up?
One day, you have smooth, luxurious hair. And the next morning, you wake up, your hair sticks up and refuses to lay flat.
What causes that anyway? Let’s read below to find our answer!
Your Hair’s Grain
Hair grows in a specific direction from the follicle. Styling your hair contrary to its natural direction can cause your hair to stick up.
To make things worse, some strands may grow in different directions. This will make it harder for some people to execute their desired hairstyles.
Hair Breakage
Hair breakage can cause flyaways. They become shorter than the rest of your hair strands. This can then lead to wispy, little hair strands that go in any direction that it wants.
Be gentle to your hair. Pull your hair tie carefully. Don’t sleep on wet hair. Gently brush your hair. And use high-quality hair care products. Doing this will prevent hair breakage.
Humidity
Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air. During humid conditions, water particles in the air travel to your hair strands and break the hair’s hydrogen bonds. As a result, your hair will have a mind on its own, making it impossible to manage.
Nourish your strands using high-quality products. Use a microfiber towel to dry your hair. Seal your hair with a good serum. Keep your hair moisturized.
Static Electricity
Static hair happens when you rub another object to your hair, usually a hairbrush. Humidity and central heating can also cause static hair. Lack of air moisture and static hair is the perfect formula for hair that sticks up.
Ditch your plastic brushes and combs. Make use of wood and metal products instead. Sprinkle hairspray on your comb before using it. Get your hands on a dryer sheet. Rub it over your hair carefully. Doing this can help keep your hair away from static electricity all day.
How do I stop my hair from sticking up?
Now, you already have the answer to the question: “why does my hair stick up on top?”, let’s proceed to the most important part. How can you stop those wispy, little hair from ruining your perfect hair day?
Let us learn the do’s and don’ts to avoid hair that sticks up.
The Do’s
Condition
Is your hair not getting enough moisture? That is one reason you experience hair that sticks up. Use a deep conditioner to solve this hair problem.
When shampooing, use products specifically for conditioning. Also, make sure that you use a conditioner each time you shampoo.
Use a leave-in conditioner daily too. Apply from the roots to the tips of your hair strands. This will keep your hair manageable throughout the day.
At least once a week, apply oil to the part of your hair that sticks up. Cover it with a shower cap for 15 minutes. Give it enough time to penetrate your hair shaft.
The right conditioning products can prevent hair breakage. It will smoothen the part of your hair that sticks up.
Apply a Serum
Conditioning isn’t always enough, especially during humid weather conditions. If your hair still sticks up after conditioning, get your hands on a shine serum. Be careful, though, as shine serums tend to be very oily. Use only a tiny drop to the area that sticks up.
Use Satin Pillows
Having a bad hair day when you wake up can be frustrating. You can prevent that by protecting your hair as you sleep. How? Use satin pillowcases. Silk is also a hair-friendly pillowcase. Using silk or satin pillows can protect your hair from losing moisture overnight.
The Don’ts
It’s not just about what you can do to stop your hair from sticking up. Without you knowing, the things that you’re doing right now cause your hair to stick up. Know what you should stop doing below to have smooth, manageable hair all day!
Excessive Hair Brushing
Breakage and static electricity are among the leading causes of hair that sticks up. And excessive brushing has something to do with both of these.
So, first, don’t be harsh when brushing your hair. Consider using a wide-tooth comb for your wet hair instead.
If you need to use your hairbrush, opt for a paddle hairbrush. Spritz it with hairspray before using it. This will neutralize static electricity. But during winter, avoid excessive brushing altogether.
Wearing Tight Hairstyles
Be gentle when styling your hair. If possible, give your hair rest from tight hairstyles every other day.
Wearing your hair up can lead to tension on your hairline. This can cause hair breakage over time. Try to wear your hair down every so often to avoid this.
Using Chemical Treatments
The more you use chemical treatments, the more likely you’ll experience hair breakage. So cut down on chemical treatments to help avoid hair damage. This will prevent unruly wispy hair that sticks up too.
Using Heat Tools
Wispy, small strands that stick up are usually damaged and dry. That is the reason it won’t lay flat. And using heat tools will only make it worse.
Limit the use of blow dryers, straighteners, curlers, and other heat styling tools. But, if necessary, use heat-protectant products each time you use heat tools.
How do I get my hair to lay flat?
You can achieve healthy strands in no time by following the do’s and don’ts listed above. But if you’re looking for a quick fix to tame those frizzy, little strands right now, here it is:
Blow-dry those unruly strands
What you need: Blow dryers, round brush, concentrator attachment, smoothing cream, and hair clips.
What to do: Attach a concentrator nozzle to your hairdryer. Use the round brush to counteract the natural direction of your strands. Apply smoothing cream to your strands until it’s damp. Use clips to part your hair into small sections. Dry each section one at a time.
Use a water spray
Washing your hair to calm down your unruly strands isn’t your only option. Instead, spray water on your hairline. Then, comb your hair using a natural fiber brush. You can use a wooden toothbrush as well.
Apply a styling cream
Use the cream to style your hair. Find products with a nourishing formula. This will keep your hair hydrated while taming the frizz.
If nothing works, conceal it!
No matter how much effort you put into your hairstyle, there will be days that it won’t cooperate. If everything you tried fails, accessorize instead. Conceal the hair that sticks up with a headband or a silk scarf. It’s quick, easy, and fashionable.
CHECK OUT: Why does my hair curl at the end
Conclusion
There are solutions in every hair woe. When hair sticks up on the top or sides of your head, you can manage those unruly tresses with the right hair care products and basic tools.
For long-lasting results, nourish your hair. Knowing what to do and what not to do to keep your hair healthy and strong will make a big difference too.