Dry, frizzy hair reacts to air humidity to become the voluminous, bushy mane that you dread, according to hair stylist Philip Kingsley, author of “The Hair Bible.” Its root cause often lies in overstyling or environmental factors that have left your hair damaged. Don’t give up hope. By changing how you style and treat your hair you can help to manage the frizz, restore your hair’s moisture levels and get the smooth, sleek style you crave.
Hair Conditioners
Daily conditioners replenish the moisture in your hair every time you shower, helping to maintain moisture levels and minimize frizz. Once a week, supplement your daily conditioning with a deep conditioner product labeled for use on dry, frizzy hair. Such deep conditioners are formulated to be left on the hair for an extended period of time, during which the product’s chemicals penetrate the hair shaft for a longer-lasting effect. You can also use conditioner before placing your hair in a high-stress situation such as the beach or swimming pool. Ouidad, author of “Curl Talk: Everything You Need to Know to Love and Care for…Frizzy Hair,” recommends smoothing a daily conditioner through your hair before going outdoors and not rinsing it out.
Silicone Serums
Spread a silicone-based hair serum through your hair after it has dried. This emollient is often labeled as cyclomethicone or dimethicone on most hair product labels. In her book “Don’t Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me,” beauty expert Paula Begoun says silicone has an “unsurpassed ability” to restore shine to hair and smooth down frizz for an instantly sleek and glossy appearance.
Styling Products
Use styling creams to support and tame your frizzy hair, but don’t just grab any bottle of product off a shelf. Review its list of ingredients and avoid products that contain alcohol, such as most hairspray and mousse products. Alcohol dries out already dry hair and encourages even more frizz, according to “Curl Talk.”
Dry Carefully
When you step out of the shower, don’t rub your hair vigorously with a towel. This just aggravates the hair shafts and creates more frizz and tangles. Instead, pat it down with the towel and let it air dry. If you decide to blow dry your hair, which should be avoided unless essential for your specific hair style, use the hottest setting on your hair dryer and blow the hot air in the same direction that your hair grows. Paulga Begoun says the heat helps relax and reshape the frizzy hair, while blowing it in the correct direction helps smooth down the cuticles on the hair shaft that lead to the rough, dry look attributed to damaged hair.
