If you watch those hair product commercials and the models’ silky locks with envy, this one’s for you.
Frizzy hair happens to the best of us. It can come from dehydration, heat damage, breakage, and the weather’s fickle moods to name a few possibilities. To all you frizzy-haired beauties, we have a message of hope!
There are plenty of ways to reduce your frizz without breaking the bank. Start with these quick tips.
Tips to Fight Frizzy Hair
In your fight against the frizz, sometimes small changes make all the difference. Try these easy tips.
1. Rethink Your Routine
Most of us have the same daily routine: shampooing and conditioning our hair in the shower. Now is the time to toss that aside.
You should only shampoo your hair when it becomes greasy. For most people, that means every two or three days. Shampooing more often than necessary will dry out your hair and bring frizz into the fold.
Keep in mind that your shampooing frequency depends on how fast your scalp produces oil. Everyone is different, and your oil production will change with age too.
Note that we didn’t say not to wash your hair: we said not to use shampoo. On non-shampoo days, you should still rinse your hair and use conditioner. If you can, find a conditioner that contains a lot of glycerin, which hydrates your hair.
2. Recognize Sweat Damage
Exercise is great for so many aspects of your body and your health… except your hair. Ever wonder why it burns when sweat gets into your eyes? That’s because sweat contains salt, and salt has the added disadvantage of drying out your hair.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to (or get to) cancel your gym membership. Applying a leave-in conditioner before your workout can help protect your hair. Another strategy is to wear a cotton headband at the gym to absorb the sweat and draw it off your hair.
3. Experiment with New Products
When your skin needs some TLC, you try a face mask or a different regimen. The same goes for your hair.
One way to rehab your hair is to use a hair mask every week or so. There are plenty of options on the market, or you can use coconut oil for a more natural solution.
Another great product to try is dry oil. Despite its name, you apply it when your hair is wet to lock in moisture.
4. Switch up Your Shampoo
Sometimes the culprit is the one that’s been in front of you the whole time. In this case, your trusty shampoo may be guilty.
Most shampoos contain chemicals called sulfates which make shampoo sudsy. The problem is that suds don’t make the shampoo work better, but sulfates do tend to dehydrate hair.
On top of that “sulfate-free” label, look for a shampoo that has plenty of glycerin for a hydrating effect. Other ingredients on your “wanted” listed should include silicones like cyclomethicone and dimethicone, as well as avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil.
5. Flip It
Yes, de-frizzing your hair could be as simple as a hair flip. Instead of brushing your hair the same way every day, brush your hair upside-down every few days.
Brushing your hair upside-down will help to distribute the natural oils you can’t access if you only brush your hair the standard way. As an added bonus, it can boost your hair’s volume.
6. Let the Air Do Its Thing
Who doesn’t love a great blow-out every day? Your hair, that’s who.
As great as a hair dryer is for a busy schedule, the heat can do serious damage if you use it too often. Instead, let your hair air dry as much as possible.
Keep in mind that it isn’t an all-or-nothing decision. If you don’t have enough time to let your hair air dry all the way, let it dry as much as possible before you take out the blow dryer. The less time your hair spends under the heat, the better.
7. Change Your Brushing Game
We’ve talked about shampoo, conditioner, heat, and more, but sometimes you brush is to blame for your frizz. The wrong brush or the wrong habits can cause breakage, which turns your head into frizz city.
Stick with a brush that uses boar bristles. On top of a luxurious feel, they’re gentle enough to keep breakage at bay.
It’s not just about how you brush your hair but when you brush it as well. You should never brush your hair when it’s wet. Only use a comb on wet hair and wait to brush your hair until it’s dry. Otherwise, you’ll see that pesky breakage again.
8. Diffuse the Situation
On top of keeping your blow dry days to a minimum, you can change the way you blow dry to keep frizz to a minimum too. Let us introduce you to your new best friend: the diffuser.
A diffuser is an attachment you can put on the business end of your hair dryer. It changes the opening from a wide circle to a thinner line. You’ve probably seen your stylist use it during a blowout.
Diffusers lessen the amount of heat and forceful air that hits your hair. You’ll notice that your hair doesn’t fly in every direction imaginable anymore when you dry it. This goes a long way toward stopping blow dry-related frizz.
9. Have Emergency Back-Up
Let’s be real: no matter what you do, you’re bound to have a frizzy day or two. That’s why you should make like a boy scout and be prepared.
Find an instant de-frizzing spray you love and keep it in your purse or in another convenient place at all times. When those sudden bursts of humidity happen, you can combat frizz in a snap.
Giving Your Hair a De-Frizz Makeover
We’ve all experienced the frustration of having an on-point makeup job and a gorgeous outfit that’s spoiled by a bad hair day. With the tips above, you can keep frizz to a minimum and enjoy smoother, healthier hair.
Of course, there is a point at which your frizzy hair is beyond DIY rehab and you need a professional hand. If that’s where you find yourself, contact us to schedule your hair appointment today.