Here's How You Can Tame Your Wavy, Rebellious Hair This Summer.

If you were blessed with semi-awkward "curlyish" hair, styling your locks can be the most frustrating part of your morning routine. Some strands are ringlets, some are straight. Some pieces respond well to a curling iron, others refuse to hold any shape.

After spending most of the year using various products and fussing with the more temperamental areas, we finally found the answer: Humidity is the secret weapon. We’re serious -- the same weather that makes you sweat uncontrollably is actually your semi-wavy hair’s best friend. And if you spend more time embracing the sticky air rather than using products to prevent its effects, wavy hair can actually become pretty low maintenance.

We realize that all curls are different, but here are five tips for taming that misbehaving mane.

1. Find the right shampoo for YOU.

The right shampoo for you might not be the right one for your roommate, and that’s okay. You also don’t need to shampoo your locks every morning. If your mop starts to feel greasy, try shampooing your roots and using conditioner to add volume. You can't go wrong with Kerastase Nutritive Bain Oleo-Curl Curl Definition Shampoo or Julien Farel Zero Frizz Condition.

2. Brush your strands when they are wet.

The point here is to avoid tampering with your curls when they are dry. So if you do decide to brush your curls, make sure you do so quickly after your shower.

3. Ditch the blow dryer, and other hot tools, altogether.

Moisture is your friend, so leaving your locks to air-dry may take longer but allows for them to consume the extra water, which ultimately adds more volume. Do NOT use a towel as the cloth will absorb the moisture, instead of your strands.

4. Find a misting product or nourishing treatment for a refreshing, shiny look.

If you have fine hair, spray from the mid-section and down to the tips. If you have thick hair, start at the roots and proceed down to the ends. Flip your head upside down, continue to spray and gently scrunch your hair with your hands. We like this saltwater-based styling spray and this Dove Dry Oil.

5. The takeaway: You don't need to do a lot for your hair to look great. Stash the hot tools and work with what you've got. Check out our recommended products for a fuss-free routine below.

Dove Pure Care Dry Oil	Spray Volumifique
Styling Spray À Porte	Julien Farel Relaxing Balm
Kérastase Nutritive Bain Oleo-Curl	Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray

Nearly 70 percent of people say a comfortable pillow is very important to a good night's sleep, but many of us make a crucial mistake when it comes to our favorite pillows: We're keeping them for way too long.

In fact, pillows should probably be replaced around every six months, says Robert Oexman, DC, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, and definitely within two years, according to WebMD, a stark difference from the five-to-10-year lifespan of the typical mattress. "People talk about how nasty a mattress gets," says Oexman, but pillows are more frequently forgotten.

Unlike mattresses, the concern is less about the pillow breaking down and no longer providing ample support, he says. Instead, "it's just not something you want to be around longer than six months."

That's because a host of critters and debris can be found in the very pillow you lay your face on night after night after night. Dirt and oil and dead skin cells get trapped there, which might lead to acne. Dust mites, which belong to the spider family, also like to hang out in the crevices of your pillow. "You can't see them, but they're concentrated where people are in things like bedding and carpeting," says Mark R. Neustrom, DO, of Kansas City Allergy and Asthma Associates.

While Internet rumors would have you believe otherwise, your mattress and pillows don't double or triple in weight thanks to the dust mite population thriving within them. But you're still better off erring on the side of replacing bedding too frequently.

Setting aside the upsetting imagery of spider relatives holding meetings in your pillows, dust mite accumulation can cause very real health problems, namely unpleasant reactions in people who are allergic to the bugs. Roughly 20 percent of people have allergies, says Neustrom, and of those who do, around two thirds may be allergic to the types of dust mites that congregate indoors, he says.

Unlike allergens like cat dander, however, the protein that triggers reactions to dust mites isn't typically airborne, he says, so symptoms that are particularly strong first thing in the morning is a good sign the problem might be your pillow. Anyone with year-round nasal symptoms also might want to get tested for a dust mite allergy, he says.

The good news, however, is that dust mites don't carry with them any risks other than those allergic or asthmatic reactions, and they don't spread any kind of disease. Still, that doesn't mean you want to be sleeping among hundreds of thousands of them.

Airtight covers for mattresses and pillows can certainly help, as can washing bedding -- including pillows -- regularly. Thirty minutes on low in the dryer can also help clear out some of the clutter from your pillows, says Oexman.

When the time does come to shop for a new pillow, keep in mind that the goal is to find one that fills the gap between your head and your shoulders when you lie down. The perfect pillow positions your head into alignment when you're snuggling in your favorite sleep position, says Oexman. Stomach and back sleepers need much thinner pillows than side sleepers for this reason, he says. Whether you purchase a down or a foam or a gel pillow is entirely up to your personal preference, he says. Whenever you get a new mattress, he adds, you must also get a new pillow, as the gap between your head and shoulders will change with the change in mattress firmness.

And what about that old trick to measure pillow support of folding it in half and then placing a shoe on top to see if it will stay put? Oexman says this carries no weight whatsoever. "Take a down pillow made for a stomach sleeper," he says. “That's going to be a very, very thin pillow, and when you fold it over, that shoe's not going to flip off, but that's still the right pillow for a stomach sleeper."

While most adults are recommended to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the fact of the matter is that there are some of us who need more sleep than that, and some who are perfectly capable of functioning on less. Members of the latter group - so-called “short sleepers” - usually sleep less than six hours a night and are able to feel alert and refreshed the morning after, despite the little sleep.

Now, researchers from The Center for Applied Genomics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have discovered a genetic variant that could help explain this "short sleep" phenomenon.

The findings, detailed in a new issue of the journal SLEEP, involved the study of 100 healthy pairs of twins. Researchers found that people who had a mutation of the BHLHE41 gene, called p.Tyr362His, only slept five hours a night, on average. Their twins who didn't have this gene mutation, on the other hand, slept six hours and five minutes each night.

People with the gene mutations also didn't seem to experience the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation as much as their mutation-lacking twins. After going 38 hours without sleep, they had 40 percent fewer performance lapses on cognitive tests, on average, compared with their twins without the gene mutation. They also required less recovery sleep after sleep deprivation - sleeping eight hours after the period with no sleep - compared with their twins, who needed nine-and-a-half hours of recovery sleep.

Of course, the amount of sleep a person needs isn't solely dependent on the sleep your body needs to function optimally (called the "basal sleep need"). Something called sleep debt - sleep lost from awakenings, bad sleep habits and the like - is also important to take into account when figuring out how much sleep your body needs.

Some plunge down waterfalls while others fish from their vessels, but kayakers have one thing in common: They all know a thing or two about leading a healthy lifestyle.

Bobbing around on a kayak offers a lot more than a relaxing way to spend a sunny afternoon. Here's what kayakers can teach the rest of us about leading happier, healthier lives.

Strength pays off.

All of that hardcore paddling (and water resistance!) lends itself to a serious workout. Just one hour of kayaking can burn over 350 calories, depending on how hard you paddle. Kayaking builds muscle strength in more areas than just the arms. "Since kayaking utilizes the core muscles, you can enjoy the benefits of an ab workout far from the confines of a sweaty gym," Brad Bostrom, REI Outdoor Programs and North Bay Area Outreach Market Manager, tells The Huffington Post. Proper technique even requires use of muscles in the legs, back and shoulders, as well as the muscles that rotate the torso.

Plus, consistent motion is a great way to get your heart beating (and a lot easier on the knees than pounding pavement). Men's Journal even went so far as to dub kayaking one of the best workouts for heart health. In addition to decreasing fat and increasing lean muscle mass, the intense cardio pays off in the form of oxygen consumption. Research shows that elite kayakers actually breathe more efficiently.

We should all stress a little (or a lot) less.

As many physical benefits as there are to paddling, there are just as many mental ones. Whether battling Class IV rapids or drifting along with the help of ocean waves, kayaking is a way to de-stress. Plus, "as a silent, non-competitive sport, it's also a great way to clear your head," Jeffrey Chitek, operations manager and guide at Kayak Swamp Tours and Gravity Trails in New Orleans.

Exercise decreases stress by increasing endorphins, bringing athletes to the present moment and actually lifting moods. A new book, Blue Mind, by Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., shows that adding water to the equation brings a whole new level of stress-busting. "Being by water meditates you," said Nichols in an interview with Outside Online. "It puts you in that relaxed state. You don’t need to study or practice meditation. You just need to pay attention to the water around you."

We all need the "sunshine vitamin."

Time spent outdoors comes with a slew of bonuses, including vitamin D intake. Boston University Medical Center professor Dr. Michael F. Holick, M.D., Ph.D., previously explained to HuffPost that the "sunshine vitamin" can be one of the toughest to get from foods, and many of us actually take in over 80 percent of it from those golden rays. Kayaking is a way to log what Holick calls some "sensible sun exposure" time. That means if you are likely to mildly sunburn after a half-hour of sun exposure, get 10 to 15 minutes of sun before applying some waterproof sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Confidence is key.

Overcoming extreme challenges like whitewater rapids, or even paddling a longer distance than you did last time, is a way to build confidence and positive self-image. Research published in the Journal of Leisurability found that kayaking leads to increased social skills and sense of self, as well as an overall boost in self-satisfaction.

In addition to amping up confidence, kayaking can also build brainpower, according to Chitek. "There is nothing like floating through a forest and surprising a sun-bathing alligator because you came up so quietly," he says. "I see and learn new things every day I'm out there, and it becomes knowledge."

Interested in taking up the sport yourself? So you're ready to hear the splash of your paddle and feel the gentle rock of the waves. Luckily, it's easier to start kayaking than you may think. We talked to the experts to find the best tips for beginner kayakers:

• Pick the right vessel. Chitek recommends going for a wide boat that allows you to sit on top of it. "These boats are much easier to get back in if one was to flip it over... it happens," he says. Along with your boat, Bostrom advises investing in a high-quality, lightweight paddle, which will be easier on your body and make for more efficient movement.
• Wear a life jacket. Even the best swimmers can tire quickly in rough or cold water, so kayakers of all levels should always wear life jackets. "They don’t do any good stuffed away in the back of your kayak," Bostrom says.
• Watch the weather. Finding yourself stranded in a storm can put far more than a damper on your day. Lightning loves to strike water and wind can create dangerous waves, so it's always good to check the forecast before heading out, says Chitek.
• Paddle with pals. Not only is there more fun in numbers, but heading out with a friend is a whole lot safer, says Bostrom.
• Don't lose your way. Land markers are vital to even the most experienced kayakers. Chitek suggests leaving a path of colored fabric tied to trees that you can collect on your way back to shore (remember, leave no trace!). You can also leave a large, recognizable object at your launch point so that you can easily find your way out of the water. And when in doubt, it's always smart to head out with a guide.

Green Bay, Wisconsin may be known for its stellar, four time- Super Bowl-winning football team, but now it looks like they can boast another, um, impressive title: they are Groupon's most pampered city in America.

Yes, you read right. The discount goods and services site bestowed the title upon the Wisconsin city in honor of their first ever "Beauty Week." The results are based on the amount of services purchased on Groupon by city. According to their video announcement, "In 2014 people of Green Bay have spent more money on deals for facials, teeth whitening, tanning nails facials haircuts et al, etcetera and even more."

If that's not surprising enough for you, they also rounded up specific services by city, with Charleston, South Carolina coming in first for B12 injections and Eugene, Oregon taking the title for most Infrared sauna purchases. Good on you, guys.

Looks like we know where we're planning our next vacation. Check out the winning announcement above and to see all the winners, go here.

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