The Textured Hair Guide to Humidity, Frizz, and Monsoon Season
Photographed by Karl King Aguña for the December 2025/January 2026 Issue of Vogue Philippines
As the weather shifts, so should the way we care for our hair. Tish Mahtani, hairstylist and owner of Ulo Salon, shares her expert tips for managing textured hair through the monsoon season.
Working with textured hair is something Tish Mahtani has been doing professionally for quite some time. As the owner of Ulo Salon, she has worked with different hair types and developed hair care routines tailored to each person’s needs, especially in a tropical climate like the Philippines.
Now that it’s finally monsoon season, ways of caring for the hair might be a bit different compared to summertime. Mahtani shares with Vogue Philippines her professional advice on how to manage textured hair and deal with frizz in this weather.
The challenge for textured hair this monsoon season
To properly care for the hair, knowing what makes it dry and unruly is necessary. With the rainy weather creating a high-humidity environment, the air is heavily saturated with suspended water molecules.
“The ultimate struggle is the immediate loss of styling longevity. This swell not only disrupts your curl pattern to create instant frizz, but it also triggers a frustrating chain reaction of structural challenges, namely severe breakage and stubborn tangles.”
How to keep textured hair healthy in humidity
Mahtani suggests following a three-step approach to managing frizz. “First, always style while your hair is soaking wet; you should distinctly hear a squishing sound as you apply your leave-in conditioner and brush out any tangles. Second, ‘plop’ your hair very gently and slowly using a soft cotton T-shirt. While microfiber towels are excellent, a classic T-shirt remains my personal preference. Just ensure you press any given section at most twice to avoid over-manipulation. It is time to permanently ditch rough terry-cloth towels, as they are simply too abrasive for delicate hair fibers. Lastly, layer your styling products from lightest to heaviest.”
Her basic formula is a very lightweight oil, followed by a leave-in conditioner, and finalized with a strong-hold gel.
What you should keep an eye out for
In this heat, the urge to bathe more often is strong. But Mahtani advises avoiding overwashing the hair and air-drying, as she has noticed a direct correlation between the two habits. Individuals who rely on air-drying frequently feel compelled to wash their hair daily, which can leave the roots and strands damp, causing the scalp to sweat and the hair to become weighed down.
“Frequent cleansing inevitably leads to severe dehydration. Dehydrated hair is starved for moisture, meaning it will absorb environmental humidity even faster, causing exponential frizz. My recommendation is to switch entirely to a diffuser to dry your hair completely and stick strictly to your regular wash schedule.”
Ingredients to consider in your hair products
Checking the ingredients of your hair products should be one of your top priorities. From the foundational shampoo all the way down to the finishing serum or oil, Mahtani says to always look for high-performing polymers like polyquaternium, protective silicones like dimethicone, and deeply nourishing natural oils such as argan and jojoba. During monsoon season, she advises avoiding glycerin, as it is a strong humectant that draws atmospheric moisture into the hair shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tish Mahtani is the owner of Ulo Salon, a Manila-based salon known for specializing in textured and curly hair. She shares professional advice on caring for textured hair, particularly in humid weather.
Ulo Salon is a hair salon in the Philippines that specializes in textured and curly hair. It offers hair care and styling services tailored to different hair types and needs.
To manage textured hair in humid weather, style it while soaking wet, use gentle drying methods, and layer styling products from lightest to heaviest to help control frizz.
Humidity adds moisture to the air, which can cause the hair to absorb excess water and swell. This can disrupt the hair’s natural pattern and lead to frizz.
Ingredients such as polyquaternium, dimethicone, argan oil, and jojoba oil can help smooth and protect the hair. Mahtani also recommends avoiding glycerin during humid weather.