Exercise when the heat and humidity are at their lowest points: early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Choose longer, less intense workouts when the humidity is high. Find the shadiest route and drink water before, during and after exercise. Try to engage in activities that make the humidity more tolerable like swimming. Sweat it out; do not dump water on your head to cool off when exercising because evaporating sweat cools the body while dripping with moisture makes this harder to do. Low-impact outdoor enthusiast such as gardeners can maintain some level of comfort by rolling ice cubes into a towel and wrapping it around the backs of their necks. Try to stay in the shade and wear a hat or visor to shade your face.
Use water-based sunscreen formulas that help prevent clogging pores when in humid environments. Purchase lighter moisturizer and use primer under makeup. The use of a tinted moisturizer prevents caked and melting makeup from spoiling your look. Only use brush powder over spots that need the additional coverage. Store cosmetic products in the refrigerator and use mint-infused products in the bath or shower for a cooling lift. Wear light, loose clothing that does not cling to prevent a sweaty, wilting look.
Switch your shampoo and conditioner to products created for fine hair to avoid limp locks. Spray your roots only with hairspray and dry by holding hair straight out from your head to add volume. Apply a light lotion to your hands and sparingly brush through your hair to the ends to prevent frizz, or use a silicone hair serum on soaking wet hair. Keep it simple and style your hair into humidity-tolerant ponytails or braids.
Purchase a hygrometer for your home, which measures temperature and relative humidity (RH). Indoor humidity should be maintained at between 40 and 50 RH in summer months to prevent mold and bacteria growth, and below 40 in winter months to prevent condensation. Utilize vent fans when cooking and in the bathroom to pull out the moist air. Install a properly sized air-conditioning unit that weighs 1 ton per 600 square feet of indoor space. Ask your installer about available dehumidifiers that can further assist in removing excessive moisture from your home. Carpet traps moisture, so install tile or laminate flooring and use area rugs instead.
