Photo by www.kaboompics.com
Article courtesy of Goldie.
- A new study has revealed the most damaging locations in Michigan for your hair, based on humidity, UV radiation, sunshine hours, wind speeds, and water hardness.
- Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the number one most damaging city in the state.
- An expert gives advice on reducing climate-related hair damage.
Research has revealed the most damaging locations for your hair in Michigan, with Grand Rapids ranking number one.
Experts at Goldie, scheduling software for hair stylists, identified which cities and Census Designated Places (CDPs) in Michigan are the most damaging for your hair, based on five key environmental factors affecting hair health and manageability: humidity, UV radiation, sunshine hours, wind speeds, and water hardness.
The most damaging locations in Michigan for your hair
RankCity/CDPAverage Daily Relative Humidity (%)Average Daily Shortwave Radiation (MJ/m²)Average Daily Sunshine Duration (hr)Average Daily Wind Speed (mph)Water Hardness (PPM)Index score (/100)
| 1 | Grand Rapids | 71.89% | 14.61 | 8.07 | 7.78 | 380 | 57.84 |
| 2 | Muskegon | 75.48% | 14.79 | 8.23 | 9.18 | 116 | 57.8 |
| 3 | South Lyon | 73.29% | 14.33 | 8.01 | 8.24 | 326 | 57.78 |
| 4 | Ann Arbor | 72.90% | 14.37 | 8.08 | 8.32 | 129 | 52.19 |
| 5 | Kalamazoo | 73.03% | 14.58 | 8.03 | 7.86 | 145 | 51.95 |
| 6 | Warren | 71.62% | 14.52 | 8.2 | 7.96 | 144 | 51.47 |
| 7 | Sterling Heights | 72.03% | 14.48 | 8.16 | 7.37 | 163 | 50.89 |
| 8 | Lansing | 72.03% | 14.37 | 7.98 | 8.23 | 99 | 49.88 |
| 9 | Flint | 72.43% | 14.28 | 7.97 | 8.27 | 94 | 49.84 |
| 10 | Detroit | 71.53% | 14.46 | 8.16 | 7.68 | 104 | 48.54 |
Grand Rapids is the Michigan city most likely to contribute to hair damage, with an index score of 57.84 out of 100. The city experiences high average humidity at 71.89%, moderate solar exposure of 14.61 MJ/m², and just over eight hours of daily sunshine. While it has steady winds, averaging 7.78 mph, it has very hard water at 380 parts per million (PPM).
Muskegon comes in second, with an index score of 57.8 out of 100. This area has elevated humidity levels, at 75.48%, as well as shortwave radiation averaging 14.79 MJ/m² and roughly 8.23 hours of sunshine each day. Its average wind speeds are 9.18 mph, and hard water levels of 116 PPM.
South Lyon ranks third, scoring 57.78 out of 100. The city’s climate includes humidity of 73.29%, a solar exposure of 14.33 MJ/m², and to 8.01 hours of daily sunshine. Winds average 8.24 mph, while hard water levels are at 326 PPM.
Ann Arbor places fourth, with an index score of 52.19 out of 100. Its average daily humidity is 72.90%, paired with moderate solar radiation of 14.37 MJ/m² and about 8.08 hours of sunshine. Winds average 8.32 mph, and water hardness reaches 129 PPM.
Kalamazoo rounds out the top five, with an index score of 51.95 out of 100. The city experiences 73.03% humidity, solar exposure of 14.58 MJ/m², and roughly eight hours of sunshine per day. Its average wind speed is 7.86 mph, combined with hard water levels of 145 PPM.
Ian Stribling, general manager at Goldie, has commented,
“Your geographic location actually plays a massive role in the day-to-day health of your hair, far more than most people realize. When we look at the data, there is a regional pattern showing that certain climates are significantly more damaging to your hair than others.
“The most damaging environments are in Hawaii and the southern coastal states, where hair faces year-round intense sunshine, heavy moisture, and wind. On the flip side, the best locations for hair health are clustered in Alaska, where minimal UV exposure, shorter daylight hours, and less wind are much more gentle on your hair.
“The environment affects your hair in many different ways. When humidity levels spike, the hair shaft expands and the outer cuticle lifts, triggering instant frizz and a loss of definition. Meanwhile, intense UV rays degrade the hair’s protein matrix, similar to the way solar radiation breaks down our skin. On top of that, harsh winds increase friction, resulting in tangling, while washing with hard water leaves heavy mineral residue on the scalp and strands, which can strip away moisture and leave your hair highly susceptible to snapping.
“Fortunately, if you live in or plan on traveling to any of these hair-damaging cities, you can combat the damage by taking the right precautions. For high humidity and sun, you can incorporate weightless anti-frizz formulas to lock the cuticle down, and shield your hair by wearing a hat or applying UV-blocking mists during peak hours.
“To keep the wind from causing damage, it helps to opt for secure, protective looks like braids. Finally, you can counter the effects of hard water by investing in a shower filter, using a clarifying chelating shampoo, and applying intense moisture masks to revive hydration.
“Ultimately, this research highlights that your hair care routine should change to match the environment you are in, in order to keep your hair healthy and damage-free.”
Sources:
Methodology:
501 cities and CDPs (Census-Designated Places) across the US were analyzed to determine where you are most likely to experience a bad hair day. These were also closely analyzed on a state level. A total of five factors were used to create an index score out of 100 for each location, and a weighting was assigned to each factor to reflect its importance within the analysis. The factors, their sources, and their percentage weightings are as follows:
- Average Daily Relative Humidity (%) – Source: Open-Meteo.com (22.2% weighting)
- Average Daily Shortwave Radiation (MJ/m²) – Source: Open-Meteo.com (22.2% weighting)
- Average Daily Sunshine Duration (hr) – Source: Open-Meteo.com (11.1% weighting)
- Average Daily Wind Speed (mph) – Source: Open-Meteo.com (22.2% weighting)
- Water Hardness (PPM) – Source: Aquasure.com (22.2% weighting)
The top 50 most damaging locations in the US for your hair (national ranking)
| Rank | City/CDP | State | Average Daily Relative Humidity (%) | Average Daily Shortwave Radiation (MJ/m²) | Average Daily Sunshine Duration (hr) | Average Daily Wind Speed (mph) | Water Hardness (PPM) | Index score (/100) |
| 1 | East Honolulu | Hawaii | 77.85% | 22.13 | 10.98 | 14.57 | 22 | 79.98 |
| 2 | Corpus Christi | Texas | 76.56% | 18.79 | 9.82 | 9.7 | 227 | 75.5 |
| 3 | Honolulu | Hawaii | 72.16% | 20.92 | 10.91 | 9.37 | 34 | 70.61 |
| 4 | Kailua | Hawaii | 77.42% | 20.46 | 10.9 | 9.21 | 22 | 70.36 |
| 5 | New Orleans | Louisiana | 77.99% | 17.97 | 9.75 | 8.93 | 138 | 70.31 |
| 6 | Kaneohe | Hawaii | 77.41% | 20.46 | 10.9 | 9.21 | 22 | 70.26 |
| 7 | Lafayette | Louisiana | 76.13% | 17.54 | 9.3 | 7.28 | 382 | 68.87 |
| 8 | Bonita Springs | Florida | 77.71% | 19.18 | 9.97 | 6.78 | 235 | 68.85 |
| 9 | Hobbs | New Mexico | 41.58% | 20.72 | 10.47 | 9.5 | 290 | 68.18 |
| 10 | Gulfport | Mississippi | 76.81% | 17.93 | 9.75 | 8.23 | 158 | 68.15 |
| 11 | Roswell | New Mexico | 39.14% | 20.49 | 10.61 | 7.9 | 410 | 67.3 |
| 12 | Carlsbad | New Mexico | 36.97% | 20.74 | 10.67 | 8.26 | 370 | 67.18 |
| 13 | Cape Coral | Florida | 76.33% | 19.09 | 10.04 | 6.37 | 235 | 66.16 |
| 14 | Pearl City | Hawaii | 78.73% | 20.02 | 10.79 | 7.76 | 32 | 65.87 |
| 15 | McAllen | Texas | 68.67% | 18.72 | 9.74 | 8.43 | 243 | 65.79 |
| 16 | Port St. Lucie | Florida | 75.40% | 18.45 | 9.96 | 7.1 | 197 | 65.68 |
| 17 | Tampa | Florida | 74.40% | 18.64 | 9.85 | 6.49 | 290 | 65.39 |
| 18 | Ewa Gentry | Hawaii | 68.02% | 21.12 | 10.97 | 8.9 | 32 | 65.12 |
| 19 | Metairie | Louisiana | 77.43% | 17.67 | 9.64 | 7.46 | 138 | 64.86 |
| 20 | Houma | Louisiana | 79.28% | 17.61 | 9.61 | 6.83 | 138 | 64.67 |
| 21 | Clovis | New Mexico | 44.49% | 20.07 | 10.4 | 9.08 | 262 | 64.33 |
| 22 | Biloxi | Mississippi | 75.84% | 17.74 | 9.63 | 7.12 | 174 | 63.92 |
| 23 | Slidell | Louisiana | 76.63% | 17.9 | 9.68 | 7.16 | 138 | 63.48 |
| 24 | Evanston | Wyoming | 54.17% | 18.76 | 9.99 | 8.04 | 324 | 63.32 |
| 25 | Jacksonville | Florida | 76.12% | 18.13 | 9.85 | 6.99 | 138 | 63.18 |
| 26 | San Francisco | California | 75.43% | 18.31 | 9.87 | 8.31 | 47 | 62.82 |
| 27 | Mandeville | Louisiana | 76.28% | 17.74 | 9.62 | 7.02 | 138 | 62.4 |
| 28 | Erie | Pennsylvania | 76.37% | 14.52 | 7.81 | 10.47 | 219 | 62.28 |
| 29 | Kearney | Nebraska | 60.82% | 16.99 | 9.52 | 8.96 | 320 | 62.27 |
| 30 | Grand Island | Nebraska | 61.07% | 16.85 | 9.32 | 9.09 | 320 | 62.12 |
| 31 | Sioux City | Iowa | 64.76% | 16.03 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 378 | 61.94 |
| 32 | Lawton | Oklahoma | 57.12% | 18.55 | 9.99 | 8.96 | 161 | 61.58 |
| 33 | Kahului | Hawaii | 72.92% | 20.27 | 10.9 | 5.42 | 110 | 61.53 |
| 34 | Lake Charles | Louisiana | 78.10% | 17.24 | 9.17 | 7.17 | 110 | 61.47 |
| 35 | Miami | Florida | 73.42% | 18.72 | 9.98 | 8.31 | 219 | 61.44 |
| 36 | Bloomington | Illinois | 67.77% | 15.89 | 9.12 | 8.95 | 300 | 61.34 |
| 37 | Muncie | Indiana | 70.37% | 15.37 | 8.57 | 8.67 | 359 | 61.28 |
| 38 | Chicago | Illinois | 70.81% | 15.48 | 8.67 | 9.09 | 247 | 61.14 |
| 39 | Enid | Oklahoma | 58.58% | 17.98 | 9.73 | 9.22 | 154 | 61.14 |
| 40 | Kissimmee | Florida | 76.75% | 18.29 | 9.77 | 6.01 | 129 | 61.05 |
| 41 | Hastings | Nebraska | 61.68% | 17.06 | 9.39 | 9.32 | 198 | 60.86 |
| 42 | Newport | Rhode Island | 75.02% | 15.03 | 9.19 | 12.14 | 46 | 60.84 |
| 43 | Iowa City | Iowa | 68.19% | 15.86 | 9.12 | 8.61 | 305 | 60.81 |
| 44 | Newport East | Rhode Island | 74.99% | 15.03 | 9.19 | 12.14 | 46 | 60.8 |
| 45 | Scottsdale | Arizona | 24.82% | 20.41 | 10.76 | 6.31 | 432 | 60.61 |
| 46 | Palm Bay | Florida | 77.09% | 18.07 | 9.73 | 6.33 | 103 | 60.6 |
| 47 | Houston | Texas | 75.04% | 17.39 | 9.11 | 6.64 | 179 | 60.34 |
| 48 | Midwest City | Oklahoma | 61.42% | 17.87 | 9.61 | 9.06 | 154 | 60.31 |
| 49 | Hampton | Virginia | 70.11% | 16.76 | 9.32 | 9.36 | 80 | 60.27 |
| 50 | Orlando | Florida | 76.75% | 18.07 | 9.58 | 5.92 | 129 | 60.25 |