Sarah Jessica Parker at the “Hamilton” Broadway Opening Night with hair by Josue Perez. Photo: traceymattingly.com.

Frizzy hair is one of the unfortunate side effects of summer. Luckily, we have frizz-fighting solutions from stylist Josue Perez. He is the stylist for big name celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Karlie Kloss, Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz and Rosario Dawson.

Here are Perez’s seven foolproof tips for getting sleek and smooth blowouts.

1. When you get out of the shower, towel dry hair 50%, leaving it still half-wet.  Hair has “porosity” so the leftover dampness/moisture help close hair pores giving it natural shine when blow dryer.

2. After towel drying, never forget to use a heat protectant spray. Try the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product. It protects against heat damage but will never weigh down the hair.

3. Ionic blow dryers are crucial to not just frizz-free blowouts, but they also protect the hair. I use the Rowenta Inspiration Pro Dryer when styling because it cuts drying time up to 20% without using too much heat. The ionic generators protect hair from styling damage and seal in cuticle for fast, frizz-free results.

4. Using a concentrator on the blow dryer allows you to control the air direction, giving you a smother look.  Without the concentrator, the dryer will puff the hair cuticle, leading to frizz.
   

   Rosario Dawson, for her “Kids” 20th Anniversary Screening, with hair by Josue Perez. Photo: traceymattingly.com.

5. Use a smaller ceramic round brush.  The smaller brushes will achieve tighter curls and help the style last much longer.  Also, ceramic brushes lock in more heat and they stay heated longer for a styling bonus, unlike wood brushes, which loose heat faster. Try the Moroccanoil Ceramic Ionic Round Brush.

6. Most people don’t know how/when/why to use it, but when you blow-dry your hair, you’re essentially opening the cuticle allowing it to form (style) in any shape. (Open cuticle = frizz).  So, when hair is dry and wrapped around the brush, finish it off with a shot of cold air. When you remove the brush and it’s slightly tougher to pull out, that means cuticle is sealed in the shape of that brush (frizz-free).

7. 

   Celebrity Stylist Josue Perez, courtesy photo.

   Take a break if you have to and practice! So many people give up halfway and say it’s too much to do. It’s good to do as much as you can and go do something else that you have to do. When you come back to it, you will feel more eager to finish it and once you love the results you will become a pro.

For more information about Perez click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on August 27, 2015.