The Ultimate Guide to Frizz: What Causes It, How to Manage It, and More

Whether your hair is long, short, thick, fine, curly, or straight, chances are good you’ve dealt with frizz at least once in your life. If you’ve stepped outside on a sweltering summer day and watched as your freshly styled hair slowly reverts from its smooth blowout back into its natural texture, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to figure out how you address frizz.

To get to the bottom of our most pressing frizzy hair questions, we reached out to Rachelle Hawkins, Mizani brand ambassador, and educator. Hawkins gave us the 411 on what causes frizz, how you can help manage it, and how to help reduce your chances of experiencing frizz before it even happens.

What causes frizzy hair?

Humidity usually gets the blame for causing frizzy hair, but ultimately it comes down to one thing: your hair lacks moisture. Frizz happens when your locks are dehydrated, and they begin to seek moisture from their surrounding environment. This is why frizz is usually most noticeable when it’s humid outside. Your dry locks do their best to soak up the moisture from the air, causing your strands to swell with temporary moisture and appear frizzy.

Of course, some hair types and textures are more prone to frizz than others. Curly and coily textures tend to be dryer, so they have less moisture—and more frizz—than straighter hair types.

Good hair day by @mahoganylox

Can you manage frizz before it happens?

Good news! Hawkins says it is absolutely possible to manage frizz before it happens, but it may require you to overhaul your entire haircare routine. We know that dehydrated hair is the root of all frizz, so it’s a matter of figuring out what is stripping the moisture from your hair.

Fortunately, many of these everyday culprits have relatively simple solutions. If you’ve been accused of taking showers that are hotter than the sun, consider turning down the heat. Stick with warm water on wash days, and your hair will thank you. Can’t bear the thought of parting with your sauna-like showers? At the very least, give your locks a final rinse with cold water to help seal your cuticles and lock some of the moisture into your strands.

If you wash your hair every day, you run the risk of having some seriously dry locks. Luckily, even most ladies with oily strands don’t need to wash their hair daily. If your constant cleansing leaves your locks feeling dry, consider cutting down to washing two or three times a week. If you can’t bear to cut back, consider swapping out your regular shampoo for a hydrating co-wash. The co-wash will help cleanse the buildup from your scalp without making your locks feel dry.

We recommend trying Matrix’s A Curl Can Dream Co-Wash if you have type 3 hair. This conditioner gently cleanses your hair to revive it between wash days. Plus, it’s free from silicones, parabens, and mineral oils—these ingredients can contribute to dryness if used too often.

How you wash your hair isn’t the only shower habit that can lead to frizz. How you dry your hair is just as important. There are towels on the market specifically designed to dry your hair with less frizz-inducing friction. Curly-haired beauties are probably already familiar with the benefits of using a microfiber towel. A microfiber towel has a much smoother surface than a standard bathroom towel, so it will cause less friction which means less frizz on your locks.

If you don’t feel like picking up a special towel just for your hair, remember these simple rules: Twist most of the water out of your hair before leaving the shower and always pat and squeeze—never rub your hair with a towel.

How do I fix frizzy hair?

First things first, don’t panic. Dealing with frizz is frustrating, but it can really mess with your self-esteem on a super important day. Luckily, Hawkins insists the fix is pretty easy.

“Once your hair is frizzy, there are simple solutions to remedy it. Re-wet the frizzy areas before blow drying the areas smooth,” the stylist explains. “You can also use a flat iron if need be—just make sure to use your heat-protecting and humidity-resistant product first, and be considerate of the temperature of your hot tools.”

Using the right products and techniques is key to fighting frizz. If you’re heading out and won’t have access to a blow dryer or flat iron, throw a shine serum like Pureology Style + Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum in your makeup bag. The serum will coat your strands and temporarily give your locks a smooth appearance.

Is your hair prone to flyaways? If so, invest in a product that tames and helps keep frizz and static under control. Two great options for your handbag are Biolage Professional’s Smooth Proof Serum, which has been explicitly designed for frizzy hair and smooths rebellious strands for up to 72 hours, and Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Anti-Static Oil Mist, which uses Redken’s smoothing complex to manage flyaways.

Use a hydrating hair mask.

As we now know, frizz is often caused by dehydration and lack of moisture. If your hair is prone to dryness, look for ways to incorporate more moisture-rich products into your wash-day routine. A fantastic way to add hydration to your tresses is to use a weekly hair mask. We’ve included a few of our favorite masks for keeping frizz at bay below.

Lower the temperature.

If heat styling is your vice, Hawkins has a few tips just for you. First, invest in hot tools that allow you to adjust the temperature settings. Next, correctly identify your hair type. Identifying your hair type will help you determine what temperature setting is safe for your locks.

If you’re unsure about what type of hair you have, then make sure you check out our guide to discovering your natural hair type and texture.

If you’re dead set on using heat, why not try diffusing? Diffusing your hair can help enhance your natural hair type while reducing frizz. What’s not to love? A diffuser attachment disperses and softens the airflow from your blowdryer to minimize the amount of direct heat on your locks. Is your hair curly or coily? Experts recommend starting on a high-heat and low-blow setting when you begin diffusing; this helps to hold your curl pattern. Once your hair starts forming a cast, you can drop down to a cooler heat.

Consider which products you’ll use alongside your heat styling. Using a product with heat-protecting properties is essential if you’re looking to reduce frizz. Blow dry addict? We recommend you try Biolage Professional’s Hydra Source Blow Dry Shaping Lotion. This multi-tasker combines hydration with shape memory and heat protection up to 450°F. Better yet, it contains aloe and hyaluronic acid, which aid with hydration and can result in less frizz.

Alternatively, skipping the heat, aka your blowdryer or styling tools, can be an excellent frizz-fighting approach. We understand that this option may only be for some, but be warned, if done incorrectly, blow-drying your hair can massively contribute to overall frizziness. This is because heat tools can inevitably cause heat damage, read our guide on managing and preventing heat damage for valuable tips and information.

Ditching the heat can be incredibly successful when combined with the right hair products. Redken’s Frizz Dismiss range is ideal for those dreaming of smoother, sleek tresses. This range is formulated with Redken’s smoothing complex. The complex contains sustainably sourced Babassu oil known to tame frizz, elevate shine, and enhance smoothness.

Expert stylist Laura Frazier tried the Frizz Dismiss range and said her hair felt moisturized, detangled, and protected. Hear her thoughts for yourself and watch her review below:

Good hair day by @marinadnery

Try using silk.

Another great way to combat frizz is to invest in a silk or satin hair bonnet. Sleeping with a silk bonnet can prevent your hair from breakage and friction—two key culprits of frizziness. As silk is so smooth, your hair guides effortlessly against it; there’s nowhere near as much tension you’d get from a cotton pillowcase. Alternatively, if you don’t want to wear a bonnet, a silk pillowcase could work just as well.

Many people also use silk or satin hair ties to reduce damage and friction to their manes further.

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect frizz-fighting hair care routine, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite frizz-fighting hair products from the L'Oréal portfolio for every hair type, from straight to textured. Follow these simple routines, and your frizzy mane will be a thing of the past.

If you have textured hair:

Moisture is the key to a frizz-free, beautiful mane when you have textured hair. Swap out your regular shampoo, conditioner, and styling product for products formulated to retain the moisture in your hair.

Mizani Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo

Moisture Rich shampoo gently cleanses and conditions hair with a formula infused with cupuaçu butter, argan oil, and honey.

Mizani Moisture Fusion Intense Moisturizing Mask

Help restore essential hydration and vibrancy to dry, brittle, and lifeless hair with this Intensive Moisturizing Mask formulated to improve your hair’s condition without adding weight.

Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding

Help define your curls' look with this moisturizing Curl Define Pudding from Mizani, formulated with coconut, olive, and marula oils.

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream Mask

Redken’s All Soft Heavy Cream Mask doubles as an anti-frizz treatment and is ideal for dry and brittle hair. It boasts a moisture complex with argan oil that helps to add softness, smoothness, and strength to parched manes.

If you have curly hair:

Curly hair is notoriously frizz-prone, but it doesn’t have to be. The perfect hair products will help define your gorgeous ringlets look while fighting frizz.

Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo

Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Shampoo formula features a gentle, sodium chloride and sulfate-free formula to tame frizzy hair, increase smoothness and enhance shine.

Redken Frizz Dismiss Conditioner

Formulated with sustainably sourced babassu oil to tame frizzy hair, increase smoothness and enhance shine, the sodium chloride-free Frizz Dismiss Conditioner moisturizes, detangles, and protects the hair from frizz while providing softness and shine.

Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Heat Protective Leave-In Cream

Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame is a multi-benefit smoothing cream formulated with sustainably-sourced babassu oil that provides frizz control while hydrating, detangling, and protecting hair from heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kérastase Curl Manifesto Masque Beurre Haute Nutrition Hair Mask

Curly and coily girlies rejoice! Kérastase Curl Manifesto Masque Beurre Haute Nutrition Hair Mask has manuka honey and ceramides to intensely nourish dry, textured hair types. The end result? Bouncy, frizz-free locks with additional elasticity.

If you have wavy hair:

If you have naturally wavy hair, you need a hair care routine that will control frizz without weighing down your enviable texture.

Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Shampoo + Conditioner

The Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Shampoo + Conditioner system cleanses, detangles, and controls frizz. Formulated with water-resistant camellia oil, Biolage Smooth Proof provides humidity control and anti-frizz smoothness—even in 97 percent humidity.

Pureology Hydrate Air Dry Cream

Hydrate Air Dry Cream is a heat and hassle-free styler that helps control strands, enhance body, and perfect texture while keeping hair soft and hydrated. The unique air-dry formula speeds up drying time and leaves a no-product feel.

If you have straight hair:

Any girl with naturally straight hair knows just because you have pin-straight locks doesn’t mean you’re immune to frizzy hair. Make frizz a thing of the past with these simple hair-smoothing products.

Shu Uemura Ashita Supreme Shampoo

Ashita Supreme Shampoo deeply nourishes from mid-lengths to ends thanks to a key ingredient, ashitaba, a Japanese-sourced plant with self-regenerating powers. The formula disciplines the hair fiber, instantly tames the most rebellious frizzy hair, and revitalizes the scalp, leaving the hair with a lightweight, satin-smooth texture.

Shu Uemura Ashita Supreme Conditioner

The paraben and silicone-free formula deeply nourishes from mid-lengths to ends to create a satin-smooth texture. Ashita Supreme Conditioner disciplines hair fiber and instantly tames naturally frizzy hair, adding a smooth, lightweight finish to strands.

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Liss Unlimited Mask

The L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Liss Unlimited Mask has been expertly formulated for unruly, frizz-prone hair. Pro-Keratin, kukui, and evening primrose oil help to keep your tresses smooth, even in high-humidity conditions. Best of all, this mask works well on all hair types.

If you have colored hair:

If your signature hair color isn’t the one nature blessed you with, you’ll need a hair care routine that’s as dedicated to maintaining your hair color as it is to control your frizz.

Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo + Conditioner

Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo + Conditioner system cleanses and helps tame frizz-prone, color-treated hair. The zero-sulfate formula with camellia oil and Pureology’s exclusive Thermal AntiFadeComplex helps ease blow-drying, fights frizz, and restores manageability.

Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier

Discover your new daily obsession for amazing hair color—Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier. This lightweight mist primes, protects, and prefects while delivering 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair, including helping control frizz.

Now you’re equipped with the tools and knowledge to never let frizz ruin your day—or your selfies.

Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask

Frequent trips to the colorist could inadvertently add frizz and dryness to your locks. Pureology’s Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask features both avocado and coconut oil. These oils work together to deeply moisturize and add shine to strands.

If you have fine hair:

If you have fine hair, expect to use a much lower temperature setting than someone with coarse hair. Don't hesitate to ask your stylist if you’re unsure which temperature setting is safe for your hair. Lastly, invest in a good heat protectant and ensure the temperature on your protectant corresponds with the temperature setting you use on your tool.

“Always use a heat protectant if you are styling with hot tools. I like Mizani’s 25 Miracle Milk because, besides being a heat protectant, it also has amazing nourishing and strengthening benefits that will go a long way in fighting frizz,” Hawkins says.

Once you’ve styled your hair, you want to set it with products that will continue to fight frizz.

“Work into or finish off your styling with products that repel moisture. Mizani’s HRM Humidity Resistant Mist provides a lightweight, flexible hold to styles while helping to shield the hair from moisture caused by high humidity situations.”

How you style your hair every day is essential, but how often you head to the salon may be even more important. Heading to the salon for regular haircuts doesn’t just keep your hair looking good—it also has the potential to keep frizz at bay.

“I’d strongly encourage regular maintenance with trims as well,” Hawkins adds. “Damaged ends can work up strands and create additional frizz.”

Basically, the best thing you can do to manage frizz is take good care of your hair.

Are you always on the lookout for hair inspiration and tips? Then you're in luck—explore Hair.com for expert-backed advice and product recommendations.