Ahh, frizz–everyone’s least favorite hair consequence of humidity. If dryness, flyaways around your crown, and lack of smoothness are getting in the way of great hair days, discovering the right anti-frizz hair products can truly transform your strands. When it comes to how to get rid of frizzy hair, there’s no one-trick pony. But there are habits, such as creating a proper haircare routine for frizz control, that can set you up for success. Whether it’s a smoothing shampoo to proactively prep for frizz or a hair oil to add sleekness after the fact, stock your cabinet with the best products for your hair type and texture.
To help you narrow down all of the choices, we’ve researched and reviewed different frizz-fighting formulas to help calm down the fuzz. Plus, we’re answering all of your questions about what causes frizzy hair. Shiny, manageable hair is right this way.
What Is Frizzy Hair?
If you’re wondering, well, what is frizzy hair?, let’s deep dive. Frizzy hair is when the hair’s cuticle (the outer layer) becomes raised. This allows moisture to get into the hair strand and can make it swell. Essentially, humidity is getting the best of your strands, and it can happen to all hair types and textures, though some are more prone than others (blame genetics).
So, what does frizzy hair look like? It often feels dry, fuzzy, or poufy instead of smooth, sleek, and defined. It can be caused by just walking outside (hello humidity), dryness (which is why we love hair oil—but more on that later), heat styling (friendly reminder to use primers), or damage from chemical treatments. Sometimes it happens if you just sleep on your hair funny (investing in a silk pillowcase can help!) or just brushing your hair too much. It’s not something to be concerned about for hair health reasons, but rather aesthetics.
Shampoos and Conditioners for Frizzy Hair
One of the best ways to tackle frizz is to get ahead of it before it starts. Prep your mane with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner in your shower to avoid crown fuzz altogether. The right formulas can help hydrate, soften, and prep hair for heat styling.
Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Shampoo and Conditioner
Thanks to camellia flower oil, this duo creates a protective layer around the hair to help protect it from humidity. Expect smoother, more nourished strands that don’t feel heavy or weighed down.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo and Conditioner
Those who color their hair can rely on this set, formulated to help tame frizz while adding shine and preserving color. A triple threat of shea butter, vitamin E, and camellia oil softens and supports hair health. Bonus: enjoy a sensorial experience featuring amber, wood, and cocoa.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner
Many hair types can benefit from this sulfate-free cleansing and detangling pair. It spotlights babassu oil, a fair-traded oil extracted from nuts grown on babassu palms, to help tame flyaways and static.
Deep Conditioning Masks for Frizzy Hair
To stop frizz in its tracks, try a deep conditioning mask. This once-a-week indulgence really gets into the hair cuticle to help repair and restore moisture.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Ultra Smoothing Hair Mask
After just five minutes of use, this luxe mask can leave hair deeply nourished and silky to the touch. It’s infused with precious Japanese ashita plant extract and can help add antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your mane. We love the iconic musky-floral fragrance that the Japanese brand is iconic for.
Matrix Food for Soft Rich Hydrating Treatment Mask
Packed with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid, this ultra-hydrating mask is like a smoothie for your hair. It can help replenish moisture and help soften coarse or brittle strands. Expect lustrous strands from this vegan formula that’s safe for color-treated hair.
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep Conditioning Mask
This multi-benefit mask (21, to be exact) helps to hydrate, strengthen, detangle, and smooth—all while protecting color-treated hair. It’s a must-have for anyone dealing with both frizz and damage. Did we mention it’s also lightweight?
Leave-In Conditioners for Frizzy Hair
What you do after the shower counts, too. A hardworking leave-in conditioner provides lasting moisture and frizz protection throughout the day. Apply it to damp hair before heat styling or air-drying.
Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Leave-In Cream
A little goes a long way—apply a small amount of this cream to your hair’s lengths and ends to create sleeker strands in its path. The smoothing formula encapsulates each cuticle to lock out frizz caused by humidity. You can thank camellia oil and glycerin for getting the job done.
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Crème de Jour Fondamentale Hair Cream
Designed for curly and coily hair, this nourishing leave-in cream helps reduce frizz, enhance curl definition, and protect against humidity. Manuka honey and ceramides deliver essential nutrients and minerals to your strands. Expect hair to feel softer and more nourished.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Leave-In Cream
This intensely hydrating leave-in cream tames the most unruly frizz while protecting hair from heat up to 450°F. It’s an excellent pick for thick, coarse, or textured hair. Remember smoothing babassu oil? It’s in this one, too.
Hair Oils and Serums for Frizzy Hair
For a glossy finish, try a hair oil or serum. And yes, it’s sort of like skincare for your hair, so you can expect these formulas to add tons of minerals and nourishment.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Ultra Smoothing Hair Serum
Rely on this high-end serum, which is comprised of ashita plant extracts, to instantly smooth, soften, and add shine. It does this all while shielding hair from external aggressors, such as pollution and humidity. Feel free to apply it to wet or dry hair.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Smoothing Serum
If you’re heading on a vacation, pack this vegan formula that offers up to 24 hours of frizz-fighting powers. A trio of camellia oil, shea butter, and xylose helps by smoothing, softening, and protecting hair from the effects of hot tools. You won’t mind getting a whiff of the warm, woodsy scent with sweet cocoa and marshmallow accord notes.
Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil
A true multitasker, this silicone-free oil is infused with coconut, jojoba, and sunflower oils. It can help nourish, soften, and provide lasting frizz protection for all textures. Our favorite part is how lightweight it is for an oil.
Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Milk Anti-Frizz Heat Protecting Spray
This smoothing spray knocks out frizz and is formulated with two of our favorite skincare ingredients: hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid, as well as wild rose oil. Rely on it to help you achieve sleeker, detangled, and bouncier hair.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Anti-Static Oil Mist
If you’re worried about hair weighing down your strands, reach for this lightweight oil mist. It can hydrate and detangle while keeping frizz at bay without feeling heavy and greasy. Note: This formula is best for mildly frizzy strands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Causes Frizzy Hair?
Frizzy hair is typically caused by a lack of moisture in the hair and an imbalance between the hair's natural oils and the environment. When hair is dry or damaged, the cuticle (outer layer) lifts, allowing moisture from the air to enter and swell the strands. Common culprits include humidity, heat styling, chemical treatments, overwashing, and using harsh products that strip the hair of its natural oils. Even your hair type plays a role: curly and wavy hair textures are more prone to frizz due to their naturally drier structure.
What Does Frizzy Hair Look Like?
While it can appear different for everyone, frizzy hair often looks like a halo of flyaways, split ends, or fuzzy strands that sit above the rest of your hair. Instead of lying smooth and reflecting light evenly, frizz disrupts the hair’s uniform surface. On straight hair, this can resemble static-charged wisps; on wavy and curly textures, it may look like poofy, undefined sections where the curl pattern has unraveled or expanded.
How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair?
Taming frizz starts with restoring moisture within the hair cuticle and protecting your strands from environmental stressors. Using haircare formulas specifically designed to help with frizz can keep hair cuticles healthy, nourished, and protected against humidity-causing elements. It is recommended to use a full routine, consisting of a frizz-fighting shampoo and conditioner, weekly deeply hydrating mask, leave-in conditioner, and hair oil or serum. This type of regimen can be both proactive and protective. Also, try to limit heat styling when possible, and always use a heat protectant when you do. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase can also help overnight since there is less friction rubbing against your strands.
How Often Should I Use Anti-Frizz Products For The Best Results?
For the best results, anti-frizz products should be used consistently as part of your daily and weekly haircare routine. Start in the shower with a frizz-fighting shampoo and conditioner every time you wash your hair, typically two to three times per week, depending on your hair type. For deeper hydration and long-term results, use a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment once a week. This can be used as an alternative to conditioner.
After washing, layer on a leave-in conditioner, smoothing cream, or serum to damp hair, as this helps lock in moisture and protect against humidity. On non-wash days, refresh your hair with a lightweight anti-frizz spray or a few drops of serum to tame flyaways and restore smoothness. Consistency is key to keeping frizz under control and maintaining a sleek, manageable mane.
Next Up: 8 of Our Favorite Hydrating Hair Masks for Dry Hair
Header image credit: L’Oréal Paris
