Have you ever seen a hairstyle you loved, but when you tried it out it simply looked wrong? Did your hair lack definition or was puffy, dry and wrought with flyaways? If this is the case, frizz is the likely culprit. Frizz not only ruins hairstyles, it says a lot about the health of your hair. While some people are born with frizzy or frizz-prone hair, frizziness is usually made worse by harsh hair care practices and environmental conditions.
To fight the frizz, take good care of your hair. Brush it gently, try not to over-style and protect it from excessive sun damage. Choose your hair coloring products wisely; products with peroxide and ammonia will strip your hair of its natural moisture and leave hair dry and lifeless.
For a daily hair care routine, you should use products that are geared toward addressing the appearance and causes of frizzy hair. While you may get immediate improvement in the appearance of your hair, the real results will come over time as your hair becomes healthier and more manageable.
Anti-Frizz Shampoos
If you want to address your frizz problem, the best place to start is in the shower. If you use the wrong shampoo, you can end up stripping your hair of its natural protective oils and making the problem worse. You should look for a shampoo that will moisturize as it cleans and deliver smoothing ingredients to your hair.
Redken is a company that's well known for its cutting edge salon hair care products. Redken's Smooth Down Anti-Frizz Shampoo (average price $23) uses natural ingredients and ionic science to help eliminate frizz. The blend of macadamia oil, candelilla wax and cationic refiners work to make your hair ultra-smooth, manageable and shiny all day-even in humid weather.
Women with thick hair seem to get the worst of the frizzies. Thick hair contains more cells than fine hair. Humidity can go into these cells, causing frizzy, flyaway hair. The Pantene Medium-Thick hair care line takes the special needs of thick hair into consideration. Pantene's Frizzy to Smooth Shampoo (average price $5) is an excellent, affordable base product for an overall hair-smoothing routine. The special formula contains ingredients that help seal hair to protect it from the effects of styling damage and humidity.
Anti-Frizz Conditioners
If you're using an anti-frizz shampoo, you should pair it with a good, deep conditioner. Conditioner is a must-have for frizzy hair because it helps repair hair damage and leaves hair easier to detangle and tame. Bumble and Bumble Super Rich Conditioner (average price $23) isn't labeled specifically for frizz reduction, but its thick, healing formula penetrates into the hair shaft to give you healthier, more moisturized hair over time. A little of this dense crème conditioner goes a long way, so even women with long hair will get good amount of mileage out of one bottle.
The conditioning doesn't have to end when you leave the shower; leave-in conditioners allow you to double up on protection and frizz-management. Leave-in conditioners are applied to your hair after your shower, usually while the hair is still wet. It helps remove remaining tangles and adds extra moisture where your hair needs it most-usually at the ends. Leave-in conditioner is an important step in frizz-management hair care, which is why you'll find so many anti-frizz leave-in treatments available.
Ion Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner (average price $6.49) is a good choice for women who straighten their hair. It conditions, detangles and smoothes the hair to a nice sheen. It's perfect for protecting against the damage of heat styling tools.
Anti-Frizz Serums, Creams and Other Extras
Frizzy hair needs all the help it can get, especially when it comes to styling. Frizz-prone hair gets hit hard by blow-drying, flat-ironing, scrunching and other common styling activities. It helps to have an extra product or 2 that seal and protect hair when styling.
Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème (average price $5.99) is one of the most popular and effective anti-frizz hair treatments you can find at your local drugstore. This nourishing cream can take your hair from puffy to perfect by camouflaging imperfections and split ends while infusing your hair with protective moisture to improve its overall health and shine.
Acai berries have been in the spotlight in the past couple of years for their weight-loss properties, but did you know they could make your hair look great, too? Brazilian Blowout Acai Smoothing Serum (average price $24) uses extract from this talented little berry, along with keratin and panthenol to deliver nutrients right to the cuticle of each hair. The result is shiny, strong, frizz-free hair.
Anti-Frizz Treatments for Different Hair Types
Thick, wavy and curly hair is often prone to frizz because the shape and structure of each hair makes it more likely to get damaged. Also, because this type of hair can be a bit unruly to begin with, thick-haired gals often spend a lot of time, heat and harsh chemicals trying to get their locks to behave. This leads to further damage and more of the dreaded frizz. If you love your curly hair but hate the frizz, you might be interested in Jessicurl. This company is dedicated to serving the needs of curly-haired women everywhere. Their online store offers shampoo, conditioners and styling products designed to encourage vibrant, springy curls and to discourage damage and frizz. Their Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion (average price $5.95) helps give you soft, manageable, defined curls. No more dealing with the hard, crunchy curls you can get from lower-quality formulas.
Having fine or thin hair doesn't make you immune to frizz. Your attempts at getting more volume with methods like teasing or perms can take a toll on your hair. While you won't ever sport the huge, out-of-control puff that plagues your curly-haired sisters, you can end up with breakage, dryness and damage that can lead to a flyaway look and possible hair loss down the road. To combat frizz in fine hair, you need a product that conditions hair without weighing it down.
Natural blondes are the mostly likely candidates for fine hair. Blonde hair strands are more delicate than darker hair colors. Also, if you boost your natural tone by using bleaches and highlights, you can end up with broken and frizzy locks. Help keep things going smoothly with Fudge Unleaded Defrizz Blonde (average price $20). Serums are best for thin hair because they aren't very heavy and this one conditions while enhancing your color.