Darin , a stylist at Bumble and bumble Downtown Salon in New York City's Meatpacking District.

Q:I put so much time into my hair, and it ends up looking awful because of wind and dampness in the air. Is there a way to protect my hair that doesn't involve a hat and hat-hair?

A: Using products will definitely help a lot. For humid days, use silicon-based products, like anti-frizz or texture products, that promote hold in hair. Use these products before blow-drying. Hold your dryer above your head and point it towards the ground. If you point your dryer towards the ceiling, you'll rough up your cuticles and your hair won't be smooth. For dampness, if you're opposed to wearing a hat, try wearing a hooded sweatshirt instead -- it's looser and you won't get hat hair!