How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair: Tips And Tricks
Frizzy hair – the bane of everyone’s existence.
Who hasn’t experienced the absolute heartbreak that is leaving your house with hair you finally managed to smooth down and tame to an acceptable degree, and a couple hours later you glance in a mirror and your hair now resembles a lion’s mane more than anything? Or even worse, not even managing to tame your frizzy hair in the first place.
But why does frizzy hair happen? Well, there are several reasons, ranging from genetics to the environment, to damage but the underlying reason is dehydration and a raised hair cuticle. If your hair is lacking in moisture, it will try to hydrate itself by taking water from the atmosphere. This will cause your strands to swell up unevenly and it ultimately leads to frizz.
For more, see: What Causes Frizzy Hair?
Read on for a list of tips and tricks that will help you tame and even get rid of frizzy hair:
1. Don’t wash your hair every day
We probably think that washing your hair every day means they’re really clean and so that’s good for our hair. However, strange as it may sound, frequent washing is actually detrimental to the health of our hair since it strips away the natural oils your hair needs to be healthy. Stripping away those can leave your hair dry and brittle, leading to frizziness.
Leave at least one day between shampooing, but even more if you can and your hair doesn’t look too oily. If it does start becoming a little oily, use dry shampoo.
2. Keep the water temperature low
When you are showering, do not use really hot water. Hot water will raise up your hair cuticles, forcing your strands to lose their moisture which leads to frizz. Use lukewarm water to wash and condition, as the heat will allow for the hair to absorb the shampoo and conditioner, but rinse them off with cold water to help close the cuticle and “seal” the nutrients in.
Read also: Hair Washing Tips (And Mistakes You May Be Making)
3. Use sulfate-free shampoo
Sulfates are chemicals that most cleaning products, like detergents or household cleaners, contain. And seeing as they’re very good for removing built-up dirt and oils from your hair, so do most shampoos.
However, for that very reason, sulfates can sometimes be too harsh for people with dry, damaged or frizzy hair because they will strip away the oils that these hair types need to remain healthy. Moreover, according to Healthline, sulfates may even create a negative electrical charge if they come in contact with our hair, leading to frizz.
4. Avoid using heat
You probably don’t need me to tell you that using heat in your hair will cause it to become damaged, therefore weak, brittle, and frizzy. So, avoid styling your hair using heat as much as you can, and that includes your hair dryer.
I know it’s probably hard having to ditch your straightener or curling wand, but your hair will thank you in the long run. If you absolutely have to use heat (on occasion) then always use a heat protectant beforehand.
Moreover, you probably need your hot styling tools much less than you think, seeing as there are tons of curling methods and even tricks to get your hair straight and glossy without using any heat. As for drying your hair, the best way to go is air drying.
5. Don’t rub your hair with a towel
The thing we’re all probably doing every time we get out of the shower could be giving us a major case of frizz: the towel rub. Rubbing your wet hair with a towel and wrapping it in a turban afterward is bad for our hair for a number of reasons.
For one, the friction from rubbing your hair can raise the hair cuticle, leading to more frizz. Then, seeing as our hair tends to become more elasticated and damage prone when it’s wet, the weight of the towel pulls on the hair and causes it to break.
Instead, just pat your hair dry very gently, or even better, try plopping your hair. Plopping is using an old, soft, t-shirt to wrap your wet hair in and wait for it to dry. Don’t rub.
6. Choose a proper haircut
Sorry to break it to you, but even your haircut could be making your hair appear frizzier and more unkempt. So, if you wanted to get a short hairstyle like a bob you might want to reconsider. Even blunt cuts are bad for frizzy hair seeing as they are prone to become puffy in the bottom.
The best hair length for frizzy hair is medium, shoulder-length hair or long. The longer your hair, the more it will weight your strands down, making the frizz less apparent. Soft layers are also good, just be careful not to get any really harsh ones – that’s no good for the frizz!
7. Use hair masks at least once a week
If you have frizzy, dry, and damaged hair, you’ll want to add as much natural moisture to your strands as possible, and the best way to help nourish unhealthy hair is through masks.
Using a mask made with ingredients rich in proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and that have anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties can work wonders.
Read for more: Easy And Effective Home Remedies For Frizzy Hair
8. Know which comb/brush to use
Not all hair is made the same, so it’s not surprising that using one type of brush on all hair types and textures won’t do.
If your hair is frizzy and curly, a brush is a definite no-no. The bristles on a brush will ruin your curl definition, causing them to separate. It also opens up the cuticle, and between the two, your hair will be left a frizzy mess.
Instead, use a wide tooth comb when your hair is still wet; never comb dry hair!
If your hair is frizzy and straight, a paddle brush is your best choice as it will smooth out the frizz. But even for straight hair, it’s better to use a wide tooth comb first to detangle before using the brush.
See also:
The Best Hair Masks For Dry And Damaged Hair
Best Homemade Hair Mask Recipes We Know You’ll Love
Growing Out Your Hair? Here’s Six Tips On How To Grow It Faster And Healthier