Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Curlsmith. Products are gifted. Full disclosure here.

If your hair turns into a frizzy puffball the moment you step into the summer heat and humidity, this is for you!

Today I’m sharing some travel essentials, tips for protecting your hair when swimming, and refreshing on the go. And I’m also showing you a step-by-step routine to get long-lasting summer hair with products from Curlsmith, who are partnering with me for this video.

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Long-Lasting Summer Curly Hair Routine (Pre-Trip)

1. Clarify

To get the longest lasting routine that can hold up against the summer heat and humidity, start with a good clarifying/chelating shampoo. For this routine, I used Curlsmith Detox Shampoo.

This removes hard water minerals, product buildup, sweat, oil, etc. You’ll want a clean slate if you want your curls to last. I always do my reset wash day routine before travel.

​Curlsmith Curl Reset Detox Shampoo
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2. Deep Condition

You want to follow that with a good deep conditioner to make sure your hair is adequately moisturized. If your hair is fine or easily weighed down, you could skip this step as long as your hair doesn’t feel dry.

I chose the Curlsmith Multi-tasking Conditioner for this routine because it’srich in protein to strengthen my hair and prevent damage. It’s also a great one to travel with because it can be used as a rinse out conditioner, deep conditioner, or leave-in; and comes in travel- size.

If your hair doesn’t need much moisture, rinse it out so you can maximize your hold from your gel. Make sure you are spending some time thoroughly rinsing out your conditioner and not leaving any behind - this will help give you the best hold from your stylers so your style will last.

​Curlsmith Multi-tasking Conditioner​
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​Curlsmith Microfiber Towel
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3. Prep

I always recommend using a heat protectant if you're going to diffuse. But it’s even more important to protect against that summer sun and heat.

Today I used the Curlsmith Miracle Shield. It offers protection from salt water, UV rays, chlorine, and heat styling. It can be applied on wet, damp, or dry hair so it’s great for re-styling between wash days. This is a must for traveling for me!

I also added a bit of the Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Leave-In Conditioner. This provides lightweight moisture and prevents my hair from getting dry with the gel I’m going to be using today. However, if your hair is already soft in nature or doesn’t need much moisture, I would skip this.

​Curlsmith Miracle Shield Heat Protection Spray​
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​Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Leave-In (formerly Shine Cream)
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4. Gel

The most important step to combat frizz in the summer is choosing a strong hold styling product. So, I’m went with one of my all-time favorites Curlsmith Fragrance-free Strong Hold Gel. This gel gives me the strongest cast, which is going to be critical for a pre-travel routine, especially considering I’m going somewhere tropical!

It’s thick, so I like to use a small amount per section and emulsify it with water to make it easier to spread. It not only provides hold, but it also has humidity-blocking ingredients.

​Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel (formerly Shine Gel)
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Anti-Humidity Ingredients Checklist

If you want to know what ingredients to look for when choosing a gel that has the best chance of holding up in the summer heat and humidity, check out my free checklist below.

5. Style for Longevity

I always talk about my best practices for styling for longevity, but this is extra important during the summer months.

Brush styling to make sure all hairs are coated, and it smooths frizz and clumps the curls. The more defined the curls are on wash day, the longer they will last.

I also did some finger coiling to further define curls that are often stubborn or turn out wonky.

If you styled with a lot of water, you’ll want to do the microplopping step to remove that excess water. I always recommend adding an extra light layer of gel to the hair to tame frizz that forms and provide extra hold. This extra boost of hold from applying gel to hair that is more dry will make your curls last so long, especially in humidity.

​Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Detangling Brush​
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6. Diffuse

The other thing you should do if you want your style to last is diffuse. This will set your waves/curls in place and create that cast to protect your hair.

I’m used the Curlsmith Defrizzion Hair Dryer + XXL Diffuser, which dries my hair in just around 10 minutes.

For my trip, I packed the travel version because it's compact and lightweight.

​Curlsmith Defrizzion Hair Dryer & XXL Diffuser​
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​Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XL Diffuser – Travel Edition​
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7. Scrunch out the cast + hairspray

Normally, after my hair is fully dry I scrunch out the cast, but in the summer, and especially before traveling, I leave it in as long as possible. With the added heat, humidity, and sweat, the cast will naturally break over time, but the longer it stays in, the longer your hair is protected from the elements.

If you do scrunch out the cast, you can add a layer of hairspray lock in your curls like Curlsmith Flawless Finish-Strong Hold hairspray.

​Curlsmith Flawless Finish Hairspray – Strong Hold
​​Buy from Curlsmith with code GENAMARIE10​
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Final Results

After completing my pre-travel wash day routine, I was thrilled with the results- tons of volume, great definition, and a strong cast that I knew would hold up in tropical humidity. My curls felt lightweight with a firm hold thanks to the low-moisture routine and strong-hold gel. I even skipped refreshing my hair on the trip because it stayed intact, saving me time while still looking polished for vacation dinners. This routine gave me the long-lasting, frizz-resistant results I was aiming for.

Travel Essentials + Packing

Below is a checklist I created when packing for my tropical vacation.

☑️ Mini bottles with all my products - If your favorites don’t come in travel-size, you can always get the empty containers and fill them with your product.

☑️ Heat protectant - To protect hair from sun, UV, chlorine, and salt water.

☑️ T-shirt/hair towel - Terrycloth/regular towels, and especially the kinds usually found in hotels, are really harsh on our curls, so I always bring a t-shirt/hair towel.

☑️Bonnet- protect your curls and preserve your style while sleeping

☑️ Silk scarf-can be multipurpose for sleep and sun protection

☑️ Sun hat - to protect your hair and skin from the sun

☑️ Shower cap - to cover your hair while showering on non-wash days

☑️ Diffuser - The Curlsmith Defrizzion Travel Edition comes in a convenient travel size for just this reason! It folds down and comes with a bag to protect it in your suitcase.

☑️ Silk scrunchies & claw clips - to secure your hair back

Swimming (Pool + Ocean) Protection

💧 If Getting Hair Wet

Before Swimming:

1. Wet hair with tap water first
2. Apply a conditioner and detangle
3. Apply Curlsmith Miracle Shield

OR

1. Apply a light oil to dry hair
2. Use a protective style (e.g., loose French braids or bun) to prevent tangles

After Swimming:

1. Rinse thoroughly with tap water immediately
2. Shampoo and condition as soon as possible

🚫 If Not Getting Hair Wet

Before:

1. Mist hair with Miracle Shield or other UV protectant
2. Wrap hair in a scarf or wear it up with a silk scrunchie or claw clip
3. Add a sun hat for extra protection

After:

1. Take hair down as soon as you can
2. Lightly refresh or touch up if needed

How I Tie My Scarf

Watch the video above for a demonstration on how I tie a scarf to protect my curls while at the beach or pool.

Get Feedback on Your Routine

If you want real-time feedback and demonstration like this from me on your styling, diffusing, and refreshing, join us for the Summer Group Coaching Program. Enrollment closes June 31, but you can lock in your spot NOW and get direct access to coaching from me now. Spots are already filling up.

​Compelete this form to request your seat. I will then email you back with more info, then send you the private sign up link.