Introduction
Are you fed up of your hair strands behaving badly? Are you tired of those multiple trials where you work on frizzy hair? Well, don’t worry, we are here for the rescue. To control frizzy hair, it is very important to follow a daily hair care routine which includes products that provide moisture to the hair. Products like Shampoo, Oil, Hair mask, Etc.
Frizz arises in the hair when different hair fibers start to run in different directions rather than one, which makes it appear dry, damaged and rough instead of smooth and silky. The cuticle layer of a hair strand appears to be raised which does not allow moisture to lock in, causing dryness. This problem is prevalent in people who have thick and dry hair. Factors that cause hair to get frizzy are humidity, certain hairstyles, lack of moisture etc.
In this article, we’ll discuss all about frizzy hair- from what causes it to how to tackle them.
Key takeaways
Effective ways to manage frizzy hair
How to control frizzy hair?
Hair care routine
To control frizzy hair, it is very important to follow a daily hair care routine which includes products that provide moisture to the hair. Here are the steps for the same:
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Hair oil: a few drops of hair oil on the scalp and hair strands can keep the hair hydrated and down, reducing frizz and dryness. Argan oil and coconut oil are some examples of hair oil used for smoothening hair. Apply the hair oil one hour before washing the hair with a shampoo.
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Shampoo: there are a lot of products that contain ingredients designed to fight off frizzy hair and smoothen them. Glycerin, silicones are some special ingredients known to provide moisture to the hair.
- Conditioner: the role of a good conditioner in a hair care routine for frizz-free hair cannot be stressed enough. After shampooing, the hair sometimes gets a little dry. This is when conditioner comes into play. It locks in moisture in the hair lengths and reduce dryness and frizz.
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Hair mask: using a moisturizing hair mask once or twice a week can keep the hair strands hydrated which reduces frizz and leaves it all smooth and silky.
- Leave-in hair conditioner: leave-in conditioners help in retaining moisture provided by the hydrating products for longer periods of time. It is recommended to use it every time you shampoo if you’ve got curly or wavy, dry hair.
- Drying: avoid towels and too much heat when drying hair, as, they can cause hair cuticles to rise up and pass the moisture, making it look frizzy.
By incorporating these steps in daily hair care routine can help you get rid of frizz and make it more manageable.
Best hair products to reduce frizz
Home remedies for frizzy hair
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Coconut oil: take lukewarm or warm coconut oil and apply and massage it to your hair, focusing on the ends and areas where the maximum frizz is. Leave it on for 30 minutes to one hour before washing it out with a shampoo. Coconut oil contains compounds that are naturally moisturizing and helps in getting rid of frizz.
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Apple cider vinegar: after you’ve washed your hair with a shampoo, take some apple cider vinegar with some water and pour it on wet hair. It smoothened hair strands one by one and helps in controlling frizz as well. It is advised to rinse it off further with cold water to seal in the moisture.
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Avocado hair mask: after mashing a ripe avocado with olive oil, apply it over the scalp and hair lengths to get smooth and silky hair you’ve never experienced before. Leave it for not more than 20 minutes and wash it off with a shampoo.
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Flaxseed gel mask: Flaxseed consists of essential omega-3 fatty acids which encourage hydration by aiding fluid retention. This quality of flaxseed helps in making the hair glossy in appearance. If you have frizzy hair, flaxseed oil or gel can be one of the best DIY hair treatments for your hair.
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Aloe vera: by applying fresh aloe vera gel to dry hair makes hair look shiny and smooth, without weighing them down. It reduces frizz when applied before washing hair for about 30 minutes.
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Honey yogurt mask: mix equal parts of honey and yogurt and apply it all over your hair to reduce frizz and roughness without causing any damage to the hair. Applying it before shampooing and locking the moisture with a conditioner gives the best results.
- Silk for the win: using a silk pillowcase while sleeping is known to reduce frizz in the hair by reducing friction amongst the hair strands. It is advised to sleep on the same if you have extremely dry and frizzy hair.
Also Read: Dermatologist Recommended Shampoo for dry and frizzy hair in India
Professional remedies for frizzy hair
Keratin treatment: Keratin treatment is a hair care treatment used to achieve a fuller, silkier and frizz free hair look. It is used by applying products to the hair strands and then locking them in through a flat iron. It makes hair smooth and shiny by locking in moisture and is suitable for all hair types- whether you have curly, straight or even wavy hair. It is used to make hair more manageable, frizz-free and non-tangible. However, a chemical known as formaldehyde is widely used in this treatment which might cause some side effects.
Brazilian blowout: this is a professional treatment used to reduce frizz and increase the hair’s smoothness and shine. During the treatment, a keratin-based moisturizing solution is applied to the hair, which is then sealed in using a flat iron. This creates a protective layer around each strand, smoothing the outer most layer or hair or cuticle and eliminating frizz. The result is super silky and manageable hair that remains frizz-free for longer periods of time, providing a sleek and smooth look.
Japanese Hair Straightening: This treatment is used to straighten hair by altering its internal bonds using certain chemicals and heat. It helps in getting rid of frizz and transforms dry and frizzy hair into sleek, smooth silky locks. This technique can take many hours depending on hair length and its thickness, and requires several touch-ups as new growth of hair appears. It's suitable for people who are looking for long-term frizz management.
Expert opinions on how to manage frizzy hair
Dermatologists all over the world suggest many diversified ways to avoid frizzy hair. Here are some tips given by renowned dermatologists to tame frizzy hair:
- Don’t wash your hair too often, as, it can lead to intense dryness causing hair to rise up which gives us frizz. Washing hair twice a week is more than enough if you have frizzy or dry hair.
- Don’t let your hair get wet by rainy water. After drying hair that was soaked in rainy water, can cause hair strands to become brittle and dry that in turn increases frizz.
- Too much oiling of hair can clog the scalp pores that washing it many times after oiling would make them dry and damaged.
- Always apply a deep conditioner if you have dry, curly or wavy hair to make your hair resilient to frizz.
- Applying nourishing hair masks once or twice a week has proved to prevent dryness from hair. You can use DIY as well as marketed products to avoid frizz.
- Avoid heat-styling as much as you can. Exposure to excessive heat can cause much damage to your hair than you think.
Factors causing frizzy hair:
- Humidity: one of the most common environmental factors that causes frizzy hair, humidity can dry out the hair cuticles which makes it rough and difficult to manage. Humidity causes hair to rise up as the outer layers absorb moisture from the surroundings and swells up to twice its size.
- Genetics: what you get from your ancestors plays a major role in the way you or your hair look. Genetics play a major role in determining texture of the hair. Dry, curly or wavy hair are more prone to frizz rather than straight and oily hair.
- Towels: Drying the hair with towels can make hair rough by ruffing up the hair cuticles. If one has curly or wavy hair, towel drying can actually turn out to be a disaster as it leads to clumps and deformed coils that eventually results in frizz.
- Bad hair products: using harsh hair care products can dry out hair causing damage to the hair. Higher concentrations of harmful chemicals can strip off the scalp and lengths of their natural oils that may lead up to dry and frizzy hair.
- Heat: exposure to excessive heat can strip the hair of moisture that causes dryness and may lead up to frizz. Taking hot showers or heat styling can make hair conditions worse by ripping moisture off.
- Too much shampooing: washing your hair more than required can make the scalp too dry which affects the overall hair health. This results in dryness which in turn results in frizzy hair. It is advised to use sulphate-free and mild products to ensure frizz-free hair.
Also Read: How to Use Hair Serum
Types of frizzy hair
Frizz is not certainly a phenomenon that is “one-size-fits-all”, it comes in various types which require different management techniques. Before thinking about how to control frizzy hair, it is vital to first identify the type of frizz you have to start following a hair care routine that would help in getting rid of frizzy hair.
There are basically four types of frizz affecting the hair strands causing dryness and puffiness:
- Surface frizz: surface frizz makes the hair look statically charged as it appears on the outside of the hair. Also called as flyaway hair, it is characterized by fine hair strands sticking out of their place pointing in different directions. Main causes include humidity, dryness and damage done to the hair cuticle.
- Frizz in the ends: just like its name, this kind of frizz is characterized by dry and frizzy ends of the hair lengths. This affects the last few inches of the hair lengths and make it look dry, puffy and messy. This is most common in people who have way or curly hair.
- Halo frizz: halo frizz is defined as the frizz that is concentrated around the crown area of the head. It is similar to surface frizz except the fact that surface frizz is not localized in a particular area. Main causes include lack of moisture, harsh hair products usage, heat styling etc.
- Poof ball frizz: also known as total frizz, this type of frizz makes the hair look like a poof ball. It damages not just the crown or the ends, but the whole hair. Main causes include environmental factors, heat damage or heat styling, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, management of frizzy hair requires understanding its causes and using effective ways tailored to your particular hair type. Frizz happens when hair cuticles get raised, affecting moisture retention and causing the strands to appear dry. Factors like humidity, genetics, and harsh hair care practices makes this condition even worse for some people.
To manage frizz, a consistent hair care routine that promotes usage of moisturizing products like oils, conditioners, and masks must be followed. Choose gentle formulations and minimize the amount of heat styling. For those seeking professional solutions, treatments like keratin treatments, Brazilian blowouts, or Japanese hair straightening give good results by smoothening the outer most layer of hair strands and reducing frizz in the hair. By following advices from experts, such as avoiding over washing hair, protecting hair from bad weather conditions, and nourishing it with a balanced diet, one can have smooth, silky and healthy hair. Understanding these tips and implementing them regularly will help in managing frizz and enjoy beautiful, hair every day.
FAQs
What is Frizzy Hair?
Frizzy hair is characterized by dry and fuzzy hair, which happens due to the cuticle layer (the outermost layer of a hair strand, responsible for protection) of hair strands raising upwards. This does not allow the hair strands to retain moisture which makes the strands swollen. Frizzy hair does not align with the surrounding strands of hair but rather stand up independently. In fact, it happens when individual hair strands start to point in different directions. It is prevalent in people who have thick and curly hair.
The Science Behind Frizzy Hair
We’ve talked about types, causes and reasons for frizzy hair. But what causes it at the lower level? What is the actual science behind it?
At the molecular level, many sorts of bonding and interactions within hair keratin chains determine the shape, strength and length of hair. When there is enough dryness, the amino acids present in keratin chains bond together which keeps the hair still in a particular shape, which gives us frizzy hair. During humid days, there is more water present in the surroundings, which is why the water molecules from outside come into contact with hair more frequently. Damaged or dry hair tend to absorb this excess moisture, causing the hair cuticle to swell up. When it gets swollen, the water molecules cross the keratin chains at the inner layer of the hair strands. When this happens, many more hydrogen bonds form within keratin and water. This whole process causes the hair strands to fold themselves back which gives frizz to the hair.
However, frizzy hair can also be observed in dry environments by some people. Here, the main reason behind frizz is electrostatic repulsion and not excess moisture. Since hair are negatively charged, they repel each other causing extra friction which in turn generates static electricity. In extremely dry climate, the electric charges build up the hair resulting in frizz caused due to repulsion.
How often should I wash my hair to control frizz?Depending on the degree of scalp oiliness, it is recommended to wash hair once or twice a week to avoid frizz. If you have extremely dry hair, do not wash more than once a week.
Can diet affect frizzy hair?Yes, taking a protein-rich diet can actually help you in getting rid of frizzy hair. Eggs, salmon, tofu, cottage cheese, legumes are some good options to have.
Are there any hairstyles that reduce frizz?Braiding hair or making a messy bun can help you in smooth management of frizzy hair.
Which ingredients should I avoid in hair care products?Silicon, parabens, sulphates, alcohol, dyes are some ingredients that must be avoided in order to achieve a frizz-free hair look.
