The best way to deal with frizzy hair it to know what’s going on and how our haircare habits can exacerbate the situation making it worse. Dry, dehydrated hair has a rough cuticle on its outer layer that absorbs humidity and moisture, puffing up the cuticles and lifting them, resulting in frizz. Friction from over-brushing, rubbing wet hair with a towel after washing, and even the type of bed linens you use can break the hair, damage the follicles and cause frizz. Those with curly or wavy hair textures are more susceptible, as is over-processed and chemically treated hair. With frizzy hair the cuticles are not laying flat and smooth, which means humidity can penetrate the hair shafts lifting the shingle-like cuticles even more. We list the ten best tips and treatments to fight frizz and give you back soft, manageable, smooth hair:
Ten best frizz fighting hair hacks:
- Use alcohol-free products: alcohol dries hair out, damaging cuticles and stripping the natural, protective oils out of hair. Avoid products that have ingredients that end in “…..…yl” such as cetyl and lauryl.
- Add a leave-in conditioner to the ends of hair twice a week for extra humidity-blocking protection.
- Take a break from flat ironing your hair, especially dirty hair, as you sealing in the gunk and plaque which really damages the cuticles. Keep the temperature below 300 degrees to avoid damaging follicles.
- Reduce the heat of your hair dryer: choose a ceramic dryer which heats up evenly while the temperature stays consistent very quickly. The ceramic surface flattens cuticles resulting in a smooth finish. This is the best choice in dryers for those with processed or damaged hair.
- Use a microfiber towel on wet hair: microfiber is super absorbent so it dries hair more quickly than other fabrics like cotton. Blot hair with a microfiber towel rather than tugging or rubbing.
- Use a metal comb and a boar bristle brush: metal combs are anti-static and are highly polished so they don’t snag on cuticles. Natural boar hair bristles are soft and gentle on hair. They massage the scalp increasing circulation and redistribute sebum (oil) which protects the hair follicles. The result is less breakage and smoother hair.
- Use argan oil: A weekly treatment for dry, color-treated, damaged, or frizzy hair that will hydrate, and restore shine and elasticity is simple: place 8 to 10 drops of oil into the palms of your hands and press hands together to warm the oil. Massage into your scalp and through dry hair including the ends, and wrap in a towel overnight. Wash and style as usual in the morning. For an extra boost, try adding a drop of oil to your shampoo or conditioner, (but not both), each time you wash your hair.
- DIY hair mask to fight frizz: combine avocado with raw honey and olive oil to create a hair mask. The fats in the olive oil and avocado treat rough cuticles and protect follies, while the enzymes in honey make hair shine.
- Treat hair with coconut oil to prevent moisture from being absorbed by raised cuticles. Warm a few drops of coconut oil in the palms of your hands and press into hair to smooth cuticles, creating a barrier that protects hair from absorbing humidity.
- Switch to a satin or silk pillowcase which causes much less friction on hair than cotton, so hair does not become dried out or tangled while sleeping. Less drag on the hair means less breakage and frizz.
Smoother, frizz-free hair can be a reality in summer with simple switches in hair care. Lower temperatures when styling, using the tools that are gentle on hair, choosing the right products, and protecting the cuticles from humidity can make a huge difference, leaving your hair healthier looking and smoother all day long.