UPDATED March 26th, 2018
For curly hair, there are never-ending questions in the frizz conundrum: to shampoo, or not to shampoo? Towel dry or air dry? Mousse or spray? Frizz is caused when dry hair absorbs moisture in the air, which disrupts the cuticles and creates the dreaded halo effect. The key is helping your hair fight too much disruption and humidity. Check out our guide to staying frizz-free during the most humid days of summer: August.
DON’T overdo the shampoos. It dries your hair of the natural oils that tame frizz.
DO wash your hair 2-3 times a week, using a hydrating shampoo. We like Herbal Essence’s Totally Twisted for curls and waves. It’s hydrating, affordable at around $6-8 at drugstores, and smells delicious.
DON’T skip the conditioner. While it can leave finer, straight hair feeling heavy and greasy, for curly hair, it’s a necessity to battle frizz. You can even leave a little bit of conditioner in your hair after washing (in other words, don’t rinse it completely out) for added moisture and frizz-protection.
DO use a deep conditioner once a week. You can also try a classic trick that many of our own moms swear by: apply a generous amount of a moisturizing leave-in conditioner like Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner ($17) throw on a shower cap, and sleep with it overnight. In the morning, style as you normally would. The conditioner seals your cuticles, making it harder for disobedient hair to frizz up, and also leaves your ‘do feeling soft.
Read Related: 6 Sexy Styles for Curly Hair
DON’T towel-dry. It spreads out your hair’s cuticles, resulting in the frizz effect.
DO blot your hair gently with a small, microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture, or try the Hand Dry Hair Gloves ($25) which may look like they belong to a Muppet, but work like a charm and are super easy to use.
DON’T start blowdrying your hair as soon as you get out of the shower.
DO let it air dry, if you have the time. It gives your hair the chance to settle naturally, resulting in less frizz. If you don’t have much time to spare, let it air dry first for a few minutes, and then use a diffuser, starting with warm air, and then switching to the cool setting for the last few minutes to close your hair’s cuticles and set hair in place.
DON’T pile on the products. It may seem like the more frizz protection, the better, but too much will weigh your hair down and leave you with a greasy or crunchy look.
DO use a lightweight product that protects the hair shaft from humidity, like Ouidad’s Climate Control Head & Humidity Gel ($22) and work it thoroughly throughout your hair.
