Stop Frizz in its Tracks – How to Give Your Hair the Moisture it Needs

You know the drill. You’ve spent ages in the salon having your hair blow-dried to perfection, only to step outside and be engulfed in a halo of frizz. Unfortunately, it’s a situation that lots of us can identify with. The good news is that there is a way to stop frizz in its tracks.

Read on to discover our top tips for perfect, frizz-free locks…

What is Frizzy Hair?

To help you achieve that soft, shiny and frizz-free hair you’ve always wanted, it can really help to know a bit about the science of what causes frizzy hair. The main culprit for causing your hair to get that unwanted lion-mane look is a lack of moisture in your hair. This is why damp or humid weather can wreak such havoc with your painstakingly crafted, frizz-free styles. Your dry hair will want to absorb all the moisture in the air around you, causing your smooth strands to be transformed into unruly frizz.

Dry hair itself can be caused by a couple of reasons, too. It might be that your scalp is lacking sufficient natural oils that smooth and condition your hair, or it could be that the structure of your hair itself is allowing the moisture to escape through the cuticle. Each strand of hair is made up of three parts. The medulla is at the centre which gives your hair its structure; next is the cortex which creates the shape, curl and elasticity; and finally, the cuticle forms the outer, protective layer of your hair.

The cuticle is made up of overlapping scales which normally fit closely together to create a glossy, shiny strand and trapping moisture inside. When the cuticle is rough or loosened, your hair will lose its natural oils and moisture and will look fly-way, dull and frizzy as well as being much more prone to damage.

 

How to Smooth Frizzy Hair

If you’re lucky enough to have naturally curly or wavy hair, chances are your tresses have suffered from frizz at some point. This is because naturally curly and wavy hair tends to have rough cuticles, making your hair dry and causing it to frizz at the first sign of moisture – who remembers that episode of Friends?

But not to worry, there are loads of tips and tricks you can use to help you tame the frizz and enjoy beautiful, smooth hair no matter what the weather is.

Our Top Tips to Stop Frizz in its Tracks

 

• Condition, condition, condition!

 

Adding moisture to your hair at every opportunity is your secret weapon when it comes to fighting the frizz. Using plenty of conditioner on your hair will help the cuticles stay smooth and in place, resulting in less moisture loss and visibly reduced frizz.

We’d recommend using a deep conditioning treatment on your hair at least every couple of weeks. This will help the conditioners penetrate much deeper into your hair shaft than your day-to-day treatment. Coconut oil is also a great weapon to have in your frizz-fighting arsenal. Use it as a deep conditioning mask or work a pea-sized amount through your hair to smooth frizz whilst you’re out and about.

 

• Go easy with the shampoo

 

If your hair is constantly dry, the best thing you can do for it is to lay off the shampoo for a bit. Daily shampooing is not recommended (especially if your shampoo contains harmful ingredients) and even washing your hair more than a couple of times a week can be counterproductive when it comes to taming your frizz.

Whilst you might not want to just wash your hair once a month (although we promise you’d see the benefit), skipping the shampoo and just using conditioner twice a week will see you reaping the benefits in no time.

 

• Check the label

 

We’re all becoming much more aware of what chemicals we put into (and on to) our bodies, so being more aware of the ingredients our hair products contain is quite normal these days. The more natural your hair products are the better, but just being aware of the most harmful ingredients which are commonly found in your hair products will help you make more informed choices.

Opting for sulphate-free shampoo is a great place to start and will help your hair maintain its natural oils. As well as checking the label for things to avoid, there are certain things that you want your shampoo and conditioner to contain. When it comes to frizz-fighting moisture, glycerin is an important factor.

A moisturising powerhouse – look for products that have glycerin listed close to the top of the ingredient list – the higher up the list it is, the more glycerin the product will contain. As well as shopping for natural hair products, there are loads of home remedies you can try for boosting your hair’s moisture levels.

 

• Lay off the booze

 

No, we don’t mean you need to ditch your glass of wine! But making sure that you’re not adding alcohol to your hair is a must. An ingredient which is common in all hair products, especially hairspray, alcohol is incredibly drying and will continue to make your hair more prone to frizz by causing the cuticle to swell. Where you can, switch to natural products and use things like coconut oil and nourishing hair oils to tame your hair on the go.

For those situations when only hairspray will do, try the tried-and-tested celebrity trick of applying it with a small brush or mascara wand. Perfect for those few flyaway strands, simply spray your brush with hairspray and use it to target small areas of frizz. Alcohol-free hairspray is available, but this method will ensure you’re only using minimal amounts if you don’t have any to hand.

 

• Less heat is more

 

If your hair is prone to frizz it can be really tempting to stick to a regime of smoothing it down with heated styling tools. Whilst this can help you create some great looks; all that heating and high temperatures will ultimately cause your hair to lose its moisture and make your hair even more frizz-prone.

If you must use heated tools to style your hair, things you can do to help is to use thermal protective formulas before using your straighteners or dryer. Dialling down the heat is another good option, as well as choosing ionic tools which are gentler on your hair and using a diffuser with your dryer.

Taking a break from the heat is even better. Try experimenting with fashionable styles like knots, braids, and ballet-style buns which don’t require heated styling tools and will look just as fabulous.

 

• Be gentle

 

It might sound simple but being gentle with your dry hair will go a long way to improving its condition and lessening your frizz. Think about things like using wide-tooth combs and boar bristle brushes which will cause less damage to your hair as well as helping to distribute your natural oils.

You’ll also want to avoid rough towels when drying your hair and even consider sleeping on a silk pillow to help avoid unnecessary frizz.

We hope these tips will help you achieve the beautiful, frizz-free locks you’ve been dreaming of!