My hair is frizzy no matter what I do

The dream of living frizz-free can be yours!

Photo: Imaxtree

Somehow, frizzy hair is a year-round affliction. When we're having a really bad, run for-the-hills or hide-under-a-hat hair day we tend to blame the weather, but if we're really being honest with ourselves, we battle frizz all the time — the humidity just exacerbates it. To get frizz truly under control, proper maintenance with products — starting in the shower — is the key. But that's not all: Depending on your hair type, the different products you use matter a lot more than you might think.

That's why we talked to two of the most sought-after stylists in the business right now — celebrity hairstylist for L'Oreal Paris, Mara Roszak (Brie Larson and Emma Stone's go-to) and Pantene hairstylist Kim Kimble, the mastermind behind Beyoncé's "Lemonade" braids. They broke down exactly what you should be doing to minimize your frizz woes, whether your hair is fine, wavy, or coarse and curly — and which products to stock up on ASAP. And the best part? They won't break the bank.

Fine and Straight Hair

Both Kimble and Roszak agreed that the most important step for women with fine hair is to focus on conditioning well, since it's one that's frequently skipped. But – and this is a big but – only focus the conditioner on your ends, as many folks have a fear of weighing the hair down, and this can happen if you focus the product at the root. "Make sure your hair is moisturized enough — dryness is typically what causes frizz," said Roszak. So, if your ends are frizzy, it's probably due to a lack of conditioner.

As for products, steer clear of heavy oils or anything that contains wax, Kimble told us. "Creams and balms are lighter than oils, pomades and gels, so these are more appropriate for fine or straight hair."

Wavy Hair

For ladies with waves, Kimble noted that the de-frizzing truly starts in the shower. "Women with naturally wavy hair need to use the right shampoo and conditioner. Pantene Curl Perfection Moisturizing Shampoo ($4.99) and Conditioner ($5.09) are great for de-frizzing all types of naturally curly or wavy hair," Kimble said. She also added that because of the curly texture, a moisturizing shampoo is crucial. Roszak noted that brushing the hair in the shower — only when wet — can help battle excess frizz, too.

As for products to help women with wavy hair battle frizz (a constant ailment for this set), Kimble noted that it's crucial to steer clear of any that may contain alcohol, as they can be very drying to the hair. Roszak added that she loves applying oils in damp wavy hair to tackle frizz, favoring L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil-in-Cream ($5.99) on damp hair and Leonor Greyl Eclat Natural ($46) on dry hair. For a hairspray, Kimble loves Pantene Style Series Airspray ($5.99) because it's alcohol-free, and also told us to look for creams, balms and serums to help seal the hair cuticle.

 Coarse and Curly Hair

Similar to wavy-haired ladies, those with coarse and curly hair need to be using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners — upping their anti-frizz protection in the shower. Kimble also added that if you have this hair type, it's important to use masks and deep treatments, like Pantene's Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner ($4.99). Roszak agreed on all counts, saying that this hair type needs extra moisture, and that shampooing hair less is actually key. For this hair type, she loves L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Curls Shampoo ($3.99) and Mask ($5.99) to help tame and rebuild curls, but also recommended incorporating a cleansing balm a couple of times a week, instead of just once as is the typical recommendation with the other hair types.

But, as a word to the wise, Kimble added that women with coarse or curly hair types should avoid cleansing or volumizing shampoos since "these formulas tend to be lighter and don't provide the moisture they need."

And, as a final note for everyone battling frizz, no matter your hair type, Roszak told us that if you're blow-drying your hair, always keep the nozzle on your dryer to help direct the heat downwards for a smoother blow dry. When it comes to products, Kimble left us with these words of wisdom: "Any product that provides anti-humidity benefits and damage protection will ultimately help women combat frizz, no matter the hair type."

I have 2C Wavy Whirly hair (I think), and the top part of my hair is SUPER frizzy and doesn't curl very well, even though the rest of my hair does. I have tried countless conditioners, frizz serums, leave-in conditioners, extra mousse, homemade treatments, etc, and nothing has helped! 

4 Answers

I'm sorry your having so much trouble with the frizzies, I totally feel your frustrations on this topic. When I think of frizzy hair, I think of thirsty hair. Only time I see major frizz is when my hair isn't moisturized enough or its damaged. And the only time my hair has lost its curl was when it was either heat damaged or overly moisturized. Try doing a protein treatment followed by a good deep conditioner. As your styler try scrunching in a product that has some hold to it, so your curls can be smooth and maintain a curl in your trouble area.

It sounds like the top of your hair isn't getting enough conditioner. Try putting your conditioner on like you would icing on a cake... take a good amount of conditioner and put it in both hands, and then smooth it over the top of the head and down to the ends first, then put more conditioner on the ends, and then start your detangling process. Another thing you might try is rinsing upside down. That way, most of the conditioner gets rinsed out from underneath the hair, and more is left on the top. You also don't have the water spray hitting directly on your top layer. It may not seem like much, but it actually has made a huge difference for me!

Stay away from hair serums, they only dry your hair out in the long run. I too have lots of frizz issues, especially halo frizz. Some long term suggestions have been sleeping on satin pillow cases, and deep conditioning oils. I'm sure you've tried that, as well as gels, hairsprays etc. I am a recent convert to homemade flaxseed gel. You can find it in the recipe section top of the list. First thing I did was put in on my crown. This stuff works! By the way, I have coarse, porous hair that tends to want to frizz rather than curl. FSG weighed my frizzies down and defined my curls and stayed that way all day! Other tips, rinse hair in the coldest water you can stand, minimize shampoo use, use Castile soap maybe once a week, co wash with condioner. Depending on your hair texture this may work, but if you are like me, my hair still wanted to frizz and FSG has been my savior. Today, I put in a little coconut oil to smooth it and both work together amazingly well.

It probably need nourishment. Well I really like to use the hair mask from the natural haircare line Pro Naturals Hair Repair System, it works great on repairing the hair, the argan oil from their line is awesome too, it leaves your hair frizz free!

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