How to Tame Frizzy Hair
“Preventing frizzy hair starts in the shower,” explains Sean Steigerwald, head R&D scientist at Kao USA Inc. Cleanse hair with moisture-based shampoo and follow with a hair mask for added moisture. After showering, apply a serum or nourishing oil to wet hair to protect your hair from frizz.
Frizzy hair is often dry hair, so moisturizing is key to preventing frizz. After applying moisturizing products, style your hair with a curl defining gel to highlight your curls. If your hair is naturally frizzy, certain hairstyles can help keep your hair under control and protect it from frizz.
Regardless of what is causing your frizzy hair, the right combination of products and hair care techniques can help. We asked our in house hair experts as well as some fantastic stylists to break down all you need to know to get your smoothest, most gorgeous hair ever.
How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair
1. Give Your Hair a Cold Water Rinse
Showering at a lower temperature protects both your hair and skin by preventing overdrying and frizzy hair. Hairstylist Josh Shellhammer recommends a cold rinse to help seal your hair’s cuticles. After washing your hair, turn down the temperature and finish with a refreshing cold water rinse. If you’re not willing to give up your hot showers entirely, tie up your hair to protect it from hot water damage.
2. Opt for a Conditioning Shampoo
“Shampoos can sometimes be over-drying. Making sure you have the right one is so important—a moisture-based shampoo and conditioner is best,” says celebrity hairstylist David Stanwell.
Frizzy hair is often due to misaligned hair fibers. Steigerwald explains that “A conditioning shampoo is great because it helps to detangle hair and realign the hair fibers. Taming hair when it’s in the wet phase, like while you’re in the shower, is the easiest way to prevent frizz later.”
If your hair is frizzy, you should opt for a formula with high hydration. When shopping for hair cleansers, look for those that use the words: moisturizing, moisture control, or frizz control.
3. Use a Microfiber Towel or Cotton T-Shirt to Dry Hair
Your towel may also be contributing to frizz because it can rough up your cuticle. Instead of drying your hair with a standard terry cloth towel, switch to a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt. Microfiber towels are made from finer fibers—meaning less friction and snagging on your hair.
4. Detangle Hair With a Wide-Tooth Comb
Using the wrong brush can rough up hair cuticles and lead to frizz. Never use a boar bristle brush to brush wet hair. Instead, use a brush designed for wet hair. Wide-tooth combs are ideal for frizz-prone hair because they have more space for hair to pass through the teeth, which helps to prevent breakage. Oil and product residue can stay on your brush, so Shellhammer suggests cleaning it to prevent excess material from getting into your hair and possibly causing frizz. “Wash your brush with a mild shampoo at least once every couple weeks.” He explains that “there can be fuzzies that get trapped in the bristles that can get into the hair.”
5. Use a Blow Dryer With Ionic Technology
“Regular blow dryers use hot air to dry your hair, and over time that heat can be damaging. Ionic dryers use a magnet, which pulls water out of the hair and it helps seal the cuticle down more smoothly. A lot of people make the mistake of using high heat all the time. With an ionic dryer, you have the option to turn that function on or off.” says Shellhammer. Another tip is to lower the heat to warm or medium and when your hair is nearly dry, finish drying your hair with cold air. “The hair is pliable when it’s warm, but when you cool it down, it seals the cuticle, resulting in more polished hair,” he says.
6. Hair Serums are Key for Removing Frizz
“Serum is a great product for frizz because it can contain silicones. The reason why silicones are effective at taming frizz is that they act as a chain-like material to help realign hair fibers and allow hair to have a smooth look and also allows the hair to move more freely. When choosing a serum look for ingredients like Dimethiconol, which smooths and realigns hair fibers as well as gives hair a soft feel.” says Steigerwald.
7. Use a Hair Mask to Nourish Hair and Get Rid of Frizz
Hair masks work for all hair types and are a great way to combat frizz by creating a barrier to help seal in essential hydration and prevent style-ruining moisture. Look for a hair mask infused with avocado oil to smooth unruly frizz.
Top Tips for Preventing Frizzy Hair
In addition to using products with the right ingredients, our hair experts divulged the best tips to help prevent frizzing.
Tip 1: Avoid Washing Hair Every Day
“Washing hair every day is not good for frizzy or curly hair. Be sure to keep your washing to 2-3 times a week tops,” explains Stanwell. On days when you skip washing your hair, use a curl resetting spray to realign curls and add bounce to your hair.
Tip 2: Trim Your Hair Regularly
Split ends can expand up the hair shaft, which can increase the frizziness of your hair. To prevent frizz, it’s crucial to keep the ends of your mane smooth and well-trimmed. We suggest trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks to prevent frizz caused by split ends. When you’re at the salon, talk with your stylist about the best haircuts for thick, frizzy hair.
Tip 3: Let Your Hair Air Dry
Heat from a regular, non-ionic hair dryer can damage your hair, making it look and feel frizzy. Shellhammer suggests skipping the hairdryer and letting your hair air dry to avoid frizz. Shellhammer let us in on a professional tip for preventing frizz using a simple cotton t-shirt. While air-drying your hair, he recommends wrapping your hair in a cotton t-shirt, which he calls “hair plopping.” This tip is especially good for those with curly hair because it helps your hair keep its curl while also preventing frizz.
Key Takeaways
Our experts shared the best ways to tame your hair and how to prevent frizzy hair. Here’s what you need to know if you want to maintain your mane:
- The best way to get rid of frizzy hair is by using the right hair products for your hair type. Look for moisture-based shampoos and conditioners and products.
- Lowering the amount of heat and friction your hair fibers are exposed to will also get rid of frizz. Be sure to dry hair with either an ionic hairdryer or a microfiber towel. Using cold water on your hair helps get rid of frizz as well.
- To tame frizz fast, use a serum. Serums help realign hair fibers and give hair a smoother look. Look for serums that contain Dimethiconol, which smooths and realigns hair fibers while giving hair a soft feel.
- Preventing frizzy hair begins in the shower. Washing your hair removes residue from products as well as sebum build-up. Then apply frizz hampering products, making your hair less susceptible to frizz throughout the day.
- Avoid washing your hair every day. Although washing your hair cleans your scalp, it can also overdry your hair and lead to frizz. Depending on how oily your hair gets, aim to wash your hair only 2-3 times per week.
