While it may sometimes feel like you’re the only person dealing with hair woes, there is at least one concern that plagues almost everyone: Frizzy hair.
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 dark brown 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.
Photo Credit: @marinadnery.
What causes frizzy hair?
Humidity usually gets the blame for causing frizzy hair, but ultimately it comes down to one thing: your hair is lacking 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.
Photo Credit: @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 overhauling your entire hair care 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 fairly simple solutions. If you’ve been accused of taking showers that are hotter than the sun, consider turning down the heat. On wash days, stick with warm water 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 every day. 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.
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. 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.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Humidity Resistant Mist Hairspray
A humidity-resistant anti-frizz spray delivering light hold.
Style + Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum
A lightweight serum for color-treated hair that adds shine while taming frizz and flyaways.
How do I fix frizzy hair?
First thing’s first, don’t panic. Dealing with frizz is frustrating, but on a super important day it can really mess with your self-esteem. Luckily, Hawkins insists the fix is pretty easy.
“Once your hair is frizzy, there are simple solutions to remedy. Re-wet the frizzy areas before blow drying the areas smooth,” the stylists 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 are 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.
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, properly identify your hair type. Identifying your hair type will help you determine what temperature setting it is safe to use on your locks.
If you have fine hair, expect to use a much lower temperature setting than someone with coarse hair. If you’re unsure which temperature setting is safe for your hair, don’t hesitate to ask your stylist. Lastly, invest in a good heat protectant and make sure 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 in addition to 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 make sure you 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 important, 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 really good care of your hair.
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 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.
Shusu Sleek Anti-Frizz Shampoo
Deeply nourishes. Tames frizzy hair. Hydrates. Safe on color-treated hair.
Shu Uemura Shusu Sleek Shampoo
This paraben and silicone-free shampoo deeply nourishes from mid-lengths to ends with a high concentration of antioxidants and omegas 3, 6, and 9. 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.
Shusu Sleek Anti-Frizz Conditioner
An anti-frizz, paraben-free conditioner for coarse hair.
Shu Uemura Shusu Sleek Conditioner
The paraben and silicone-free formula deeply nourishes from mid-lengths to ends to create a satin smooth texture. The conditioner disciplines hair fiber and instantly tames naturally frizzy hair adding a smooth, lightweight finish to strands.
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.
Smooth Proof Anti-Frizz Anti-Humidity Shampoo
A smoothing, anti-frizz, anti-humidity shampoo.
Smooth Proof Anti-Frizz Anti-Humidity Conditioner
A smoothing, anti-frizz, anti-humidity conditioner.
Biolage SmoothProof Shampoo And Conditioner
The Biolage SmoothProof Shampoo And Conditioner system cleanses, detangles, and controls frizz. Formulated with water-resistant camellia oil, Biolage SmoothProof provides humidity control and anti-frizz smoothness—even in 97 percent humidity.
Pureology Hydrate Air Dry Cream
This heat and hassle-free styler helps to control, 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 curly hair:
Curly hair is notoriously frizz-prone, but it doesn’t have to be. The perfect hair products will help to define the look of your gorgeous ringlets while fighting frizz.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo
This shampoo formula features a gentle, sodium chloride and sulfate-free formula to tame frizzy hair, increase smoothness and enhance shine.
Frizz Dismiss Smoothing Sulfate-Free Conditioner
A moisturizing, frizz-fighting conditioner.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Conditioner
Formulated with sustainably sourced babassu oil to tame frizzy hair, increase smoothness and enhance shine, this sodium chloride-free conditioner moisturizes, detangles, and protects the hair from frizz while providing softness and shine.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Heat Protective Leave-In Cream
This multi-benefit smoothing cream formulated with sustainably-sourced babassu oil provides frizz control while hydrating, detangling, and protecting hair from heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have textured hair:
When you have textured hair, moisture is the key to a frizz-free, beautiful mane. Swap out your regular shampoo, conditioner, and styling product for products formulated to retain the moisture in your hair.
Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo
A moisturizing shampoo for detangling strands and increasing manageability.
Mizani Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo
Moisture Rich shampoo gently cleanses and conditions hair with a formula that is infused with cupuaçu butter, argan oil, and honey.
Moisture Fusion Intense Moisture Mask
An intense moisturizing hair mask.
Mizani Moisture Fusion Intense Moisturizing Mask
Help restore essential hydration and vibrancy to dry, brittle, and lifeless hair with a creamy, intensive moisturizing mask formulated to improve the condition of hair without adding weight.
Curl Define Pudding
A luxurious curl activator that elongates coily to extremely tight texture types.
Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding
Help to define the look of your curls with this moisturizing curl pudding formulated with coconut, olive, and marula oils.
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 controlling your frizz.
Smooth Perfection Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Smooth Perfection Conditioner
A gentle, sulfate-free conditioner that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo And Conditioner
Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo and 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.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray for Color-Treated Hair
A multi-tasking leave-in treatment with 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.
Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier
Discover your new daily obsession for amazing hair color. This lightweight mist primes, protects, and prefects, while delivering 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair, including helps control frizz.
Now you’re equipped with all of the tools and knowledge to never let frizz ruin your day—or your selfies.
Interested in a customized hair care routine consultation? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
Shusu Sleek Anti-Frizz Shampoo
Deeply nourishes. Tames frizzy hair. Hydrates. Safe on color-treated hair.
Shusu Sleek Anti-Frizz Conditioner
An anti-frizz, paraben-free conditioner for coarse hair.
Shusu Sleek Anti-Frizz Shampoo
Deeply nourishes. Tames frizzy hair. Hydrates. Safe on color-treated hair.
Smooth Proof Anti-Frizz Anti-Humidity Shampoo
A smoothing, anti-frizz, anti-humidity shampoo.
Smooth Proof Anti-Frizz Anti-Humidity Conditioner
A smoothing, anti-frizz, anti-humidity conditioner.
Frizz Dismiss Smoothing Sulfate-Free Conditioner
A moisturizing, frizz-fighting conditioner.
Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo
A moisturizing shampoo for detangling strands and increasing manageability.
Moisture Fusion Intense Moisture Mask
An intense moisturizing hair mask.
Curl Define Pudding
A luxurious curl activator that elongates coily to extremely tight texture types.
Smooth Perfection Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Smooth Perfection Conditioner
A gentle, sulfate-free conditioner that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray for Color-Treated Hair
A multi-tasking leave-in treatment with 21 essential benefits for color-treated hair.
Style + Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum
A lightweight serum for color-treated hair that adds shine while taming frizz and flyaways.
