· By Briana Dunning
Why is My Hair So Frizzy? Insights & Tips From a Professional
As a professional stylist, I am teaching my clients every day that some frizz is part of having textured hair. Hair moves and has its own life, and I like to give my clients the tools they need so they feel effortless, not out of control.
What Causes Frizzy Hair?
Are you touching your hair a bunch or rough drying with a blow dryer to help it dry faster when it’s wet? And then you’re terrified to touch it when it’s dry for fear of a frizz-ball? This is a super common mistake and the opposite of what you should do! You should be leaving your hair alone while it dries and then breaking up the wave/curl once it’s completely dry. The memory for the definition in your hair happens AS your hair dries.. Once dry, you can zhuzh away without the fear of frizz.
And remember – even when you are zhuzhing, you need to use flat hands and never rake fingers through your hair!
You’re Brushing It Out of the Shower
Our shower routine (and post-shower routine) has a LOT to answer for when it comes to frizz. Brushing wet hair immediately after you step out of the shower is one of the WORST things you can do to encourage frizz.
I recommend brushing your hair IN the shower instead. Then, rinse your hair in the direction of your part (NOT going backwards). Don't even think about raking your fingers through your hair post-shower, either. Leave it exactly as it is if you want it to be frizz-free.
KEEP IN MIND: Your hair is fragile when it's wet, so if you're brushing it in the shower, be careful! Use a shower brush or a wide-tooth comb and take your time, gently combing out knots. Don't tug too harshly!
You’re Rubbing Hair With The Towel
Everyone I know has been guilty of this: getting straight out of the shower and rubbing a bath towel all over their hair to soak up all that excess water. It's quick, it's easy... but it's also causing a whole lot of frizz. Your first mistake is using a typical bath towel; instead, you should use a t-shirt or a microfiber towel to squeeze out that excess moisture. The idea here is to reduce friction and avoid breaking up the definition in your wave/curl pattern at all costs.
REMEMBER: Wet or damp hair is fragile. You want to treat your hair extra carefully when it's wet. For the health of your hair, it's always best to let your hair air dry, but if you need to use heat, do so on the lowest setting and use a heat protectant spray.
You’re Over-Washing Your Hair
Washing your hair daily isn't a flex. You absolutely NEVER want to wash your hair every day, whether you have pin-straight hair or 3C curls. You only need to lather up those locks 1-2 times a week to keep your scalp healthy and your hair strong. This is because your hair needs natural oils to stay nourished, and when you're constantly washing your hair, you're stripping it of all that goodness.
This can:
- Make your hair dry and brittle - NOT the vibe.
- Cause your scalp to panic and start overproducing oils to compensate - This will give you that stringy, greasy hair you desperately want to avoid.
- Mess with your hair's natural microbiome - Say hello to issues like irritation, itchiness, and dandruff.
If you want a full rundown on how often to wash your hair, I've written a guide that'll give you everything you need to know.
Your Hair Is Damaged
I hate to bring up that "B" word (breakage), but frizz can be a MAJOR sign that your hair is crying out for nourishment. It might feel rough when you run your fingers down a single strand or break easily when wet, and you pull the strand between your fingers.. This could be down to hair treatments (colors, perms, chemical treatments) or environmental factors. Check for split ends because chances are, if you have those, you also have frizz.
You're Using the Wrong Products
Whether you have straight hair or coily curls, you need to use the right products for your hair type. When you buy products, make sure you check what hair types the product is designed for.
If you have a wavy or curly hair texture, products like the Sweaty Hair Refresher are designed to help you feel confident and polished after the gym. This lightweight foam will restyle and deodorize your sweaty hair straight after an intense workout. It also contains amino acids, which will help strengthen and repair the hair cuticle – meaning less frizz!
Honorable Mentions: Other Factors That Can Cause Hair Frizz
- You're touching your hair too often. Avoid touching your hair, especially as it's drying. This causes frizz, but it can also make your hair look greasy, too. Just leave it be!
- You're using too much heat. I get it. Sometimes you just want shiny, smooth hair. But heat styling all the time, whether that's your straightener, curling wand, or even your hair dryer, can break down the protective cuticle layer and damage the hair shaft, leading to more hair frizz. Air dry hair every once in a while.
- You're not embracing your natural hair. If you have curly hair, you're already prone to frizz. Rather than adopting harmful styling habits (everyday blow-drying or straightening), learn to embrace your natural hair. Use nourishing products that are going to strengthen the hair cuticle. This will give you better hair days.
- Where you live. If you live in a humid climate, you're more likely to experience frizz. This is because your hair absorbs moisture from the humid weather, making your hair cuticles swell and lift. This isn't just for the curly girls, either – ALL hair types can experience frizz in high humidity.
How Do I Stop My Hair From Being Frizzy?
You're stuck with frizzy hair. You're at a loss. You have no idea what to do. Chances are, you need to mix up your routine and make sure you have the right products. Here are a few ways you can reduce frizz.
Stop Over-Washing Your Hair!
If you have frizz, you DON'T want to strip out all your natural moisture. Shampoo just once or twice a week - seriously.
I get it. The last thing you want to do is walk around with greasy hair. And surely, you should wash your hair after working out, right? WRONG. When you're working out, your scalp will feel sweatier, your roots might look greasier, and you may reach for your shampoo in a moment of weakness. But this is likely contributing to all that frizz.
Instead, use a hair product designed especially for workouts. Skip Day is the best dry shampoo for oily hair. It leaves your hair feeling like you have used a traditional shampoo by absorbing all that excess oil and giving you crazy volume, but unlike a dry shampoo, it WON'T leave you with that cakey residue, white cast, or that dry, brittle feeling – yuck. Use Skip Day multiple days in a row, and it STILL won't feel like you have any product in your hair.
Update Your Shower Routine
Invest in a microfiber towel. Stop brushing your hair after the shower. And go buy that leave-in conditioner, girl!
Sleep Tips For Frizz-Free Hair
- Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase
- Wrap your hair in a silk scarf or a bonnet to reduce friction
- Sleep with your hair in a loose scrunchie at the top of your head – AKA, pineapple style
Does Frizzy Hair Mean Damaged Hair?
Yes, damage can cause frizz, but having frizzy hair doesn't technically mean your hair IS damaged. Frizzy hair could be down to your hair's natural texture. If you have a natural curl pattern, then you're likely going to have naturally frizzy hair.
That said, if your hair feels super dry, coarse, lacks shine, or breaks easily, then it's likely damaged. In this case, you need to invest in products that are going to nourish and protect hair, like the Sweaty Hair Refresher, and learn how to look after it properly. Don't rough-dry your hair straight out of the shower or brush it.
Conclusion
There's no perfect solution to beating frizz. The truth is, a whole range of things can take your hair strands from smooth to frizzy. From towel drying your locks to brushing right after you shower, these are MAJOR culprits of frizzy hair. I recommend changing up your routine. Don't brush your hair out of the shower, shampoo less so you don't strip hair of its natural oils, and use nourishing products like my Sweaty Hair Refresher.