How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair
Want to know how to get rid of frizzy hair? From flyaways to split ends to unruliness, there are so many causes of frizz that, sometimes, an unmanageable mane feels unavoidable. But there are guaranteed ways to tame frizz-prone hair – even in cold and windy or humid and warm weather. So, let's explore the tips, tricks and regimens that keep straight, wavy, curly and coily hair tamed...
What Causes Frizzy Hair?
1. Dry, Brittle Hair
Usually, frizzy hair is caused by a lack of moisture in the hair shaft. When you have dry hair, it starts seeking out moisture elsewhere – and, usually, it finds it in damp or humid air. Your hair then soaks up this moisture, causing the cuticle to swell and, in turn, frizz out. So, if you find your blow dries are often victim to unruly frizz, dryness is likely to be at the root of the problem.
2. High Hair Porosity
Highly porous hair tends to be dry by nature, so it's also prone to frizziness in high humidity levels. When strands are porous, they have gaps and tears along the cuticle through which moisture from the air can easily get in. What's more, the kind of moisture you want in your hair (think oils, conditioners and masks) can also easily escape through these holes, resulting in a cycle of frizz and dehydration.
3. Static Electricity
Sometimes, it's not frizz you're dealing with; it's static electricity. That 'standing on end' effect happens when hair rubs against another object (like a hat or scarf) and swaps electrons, creating an electrical charge. When this happens – usually when both the air and your hair are dry – the strands start to repel one another. This creates the appearance of frizz and a mane that's tricky to tame.
4. Excess Friction
In some cases, friction can also be a key cause of frizz. Take rough drying, for example: rubbing wet strands with a towel can ruffle the hair cuticle, so it looks frazzled and frizzy. Too-frequent combing – especially through curls and waves – can also disrupt the natural texture, while also putting strands at risk of hair breakage. Cue split ends and flyaways.
5. Mixing Up Curl Types
It's easier than you might think to get your hair type or curl pattern mixed up. In fact, one look at HairTok tells us it happens a lot; people believe they have wavy hair when, really, it's curly. This leads them to use the wrong products, so instead of the defined curls they could have, they end up with frizz. The good news is that it's an easy problem to fix once they start working with, and not against, their hair type.
6. Too-Frequent Heat Styling
No matter your heat styling tool of choice – flat iron, blow dryer or curling iron – using it too often without a heat protectant spray can cause your hair to become frizzy. Why? Because the excess heat strips away the natural, protective barrier that contributes to healthy hair, leaving strands dry, brittle, and prone to frizzing up. Heat also impacts the internal hydrogen bonds, which are responsible for your hair's elasticity. When these bonds are broken, the cuticle lifts and flyaways appear.
7. Washing Hair with Hot Water
Speaking of excess heat, too-hot water can also strip your hair's protective layer, so if you tend to wash your hair during a hot shower, it might be time to turn the tap down. But don't go too far; cold water won't rinse out your shampoos or conditioners effectively, leading to product build-up. The perfect balance of lukewarm water is needed to respect the hair fiber.
Look for These Hair Care Ingredients to Fight Frizzy Hair
Before we get into the perfect regimen to keep frizz at bay, let's look at beneficial ingredients. These are some of the most vital vitamins, oils and acids to look for in your frizzy hair products...
Omega-9
You'll find Omega-9 in the new ULTIMATE SMOOTH collection, which helps to combat frizz by nourishing the hair cuticle from the inside out. It’s a fatty acid that's famous for its frizz-fighting powers, leaving each strand touchably soft from root to tip. We’ve packed this power ingredient in the Shampoo, Conditioner, Intense Mask and Miracle Oil Serum to give you 96 hours of frizz control¹³ and up to 85% smoother hair².
Omega-9 is also a key ingredient in the ULTIMATE REPAIR regimen leaving you with 12x smoother hair³ and 99% less breakage⁴. Its breakthrough formulas center around ingredients so nourishing that they're often found in premium skincare; perfect for frizzy hair that’s caused by extreme damage.
Squalane
Another ULTIMATE SMOOTH hair hero is Squalane, a natural oil that penetrates the hair fiber to moisturize deep within. It's found in the most hydrating skincare, and now you can add it to your hair care regimen. Not only does it provide nourishment, but it also locks hydration in for irresistible silky hair.
Avocado Oil
Rich in fatty acids, Avocado Oil lends instant smoothness to frizz-prone hair, and also works as a hero hydrator to remedy dry, stressed lengths. That's one of the reasons it's found in Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil; a cult-favorite elixir that can be smoothed through damp or dry hair for a glossy finish.
Macadamia Seed Oil
Also packed with fatty acids – and also found in Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil – Macadamia Seed Oil protects and strengthens strands, while veiling hair in beautiful shine. If sleek hair is your goal, get this fast-acting oil on your radar. It's ideal for 'sealing' split ends to give the appearance of a smoother, healthier mane.
Jojoba Oil
One of the most lightweight yet nourishing oils of all is Jojoba Oil. It's a favorite in the curly hair community, thanks to its hydrating, defining properties and wonderfully weightless feel. That's why it's a star ingredient in the NutriCurls collection, giving everything from the Cleansing Conditioner to the Curlixir Balm a moisturizing boost.
Panthenol
Because dryness is one of the leading culprits behind frizz and flyaways, mega moisture magnets like Panthenol are key to keeping hard-to-tame strands under control. It's another NutriCurls hero ingredient, delivering hydration that helps to define waves, curls and coils. You'll find it in the full collection, from the Detangling Conditioner to the Deep Treatment.
The Perfect Haircare Regimen for Frizzy Hair
On Hair Wash Day
1. Massage Shampoo in Gently
Your first challenge: finding a shampoo that fends off frizz. If dryness is causing your hair to frizz up, then try ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo. Its non-stripping, nourishing formula sets your hair up for the silkiest blow-dries. Massage it into wet hair, taking the time to be gentle to the delicate hair cuticle. Your aim is to smooth the shampoo through your lengths for a glossy, flyaway-free finish.
If your flyaways are caused by damage, the deeply reparative, ultra-gentle ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is for you. The luxurious lather deep cleanses the debris and dirt that contribute to breakage, while kick-starting the bond-rebuilding process to get locks back on the route to repair. Suitable for all hair types – straight, wavy, curly and coily – it leaves hair beautifully clean and prepped for conditioning.
Prefer a co-wash? You can also prevent frizz with NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner, which is specially formulated to nourish and enhance the shape of curls and coils. Whichever wash you choose, make sure you massage it into wet hair gently rather than scrubbing at strands. And if lengths are dry, focus shampoo on the roots, letting the lather run through the ends without rubbing it in.
Image Credit: @ashslaymyhair
2. Squeeze Out Excess Water
After shampoo and before conditioner, squeeze out excess moisture from the lengths of your hair. Go gentle; you might want to blot with a microfiber towel if your hair is delicate. This simple step will prevent your frizzy hair treatment from being diluted, so you soak up as much of the nourishing goodness as possible.
3. Detangle With a Conditioner or Mask
Is it a conditioner or hair mask day? If hair needs lightweight nourishment, reach for conditioner, but if it's calling out for mega moisture, make the time for a mask. It's best to use products that match your shampoo, as the ingredients are formulated to work in tandem. So, if you used ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo, then ULTIMATE SMOOTH Conditioner is your new go-to, delivering deep inside-out moisture with its blend of Squalane and Omega-9. On days when your hair feels extra dry, use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask. The intensely rich formula ensures easy detangling, so even unruly hair becomes more manageable and, in turn, less frizzy.
If you washed with ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, follow it up with ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner or ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. The Conditioner treats damaged hair with rich, creamy care that rinses completely clean, while the Mask works even deeper, using smart conditioning agents to deliver targeted repair where strands need it most.
For curls and coils, you can also use NutriCurls Deep Treatment, a sumptuous mask that keeps hair healthy, springy and frizz-resistant. This deep conditioning treatment makes light work of defining hair texture and shape, and lets your wide-tooth comb glide through knots for easy detangling. Smooth through mid-lengths and ends, allow it to absorb for five minutes, comb out tangles, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. For added shine, you can do a second rinse with cool water; a simple trick that encourages the cuticle to lie flat.
4. Prevent Hair Damage
After rinsing out your conditioner or mask, blot hair dry (don't rub!) with a microfiber towel. Then, apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue,a leave-in treatment that prevents breakage and repairs hair damage in 90 seconds5. Simply mist it through damp hair from root to tip, allow it to absorb, and then style hair as usual. You're setting yourself up for a frizz-free look that lasts.
5. Start Detangling from the Ends
Raking a brush or comb from roots to ends of wet hair is a sure-fire route to breakage, so grab a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush and start working through knots at the very tips first. Detangle section by section, gradually moving higher up the hair shaft. Once you're done, your comb will glide from roots to ends with ease.
Image Credit: @marianiliehair
6. Seal Lengths and Split Ends
Maintain frizz-free hair with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. This supercharged hair serum-meets-hair oil is packed with Omega-9 and Squalane to nourish hair in 30 seconds, giving you smoothness that lasts up to 3 days⁶. Focus it through the mid-lengths and ends of damp hair, keeping in mind that less is more; a drop or two should be enough to banish hair frizz. If certain sections of hair are drier or more broken, add a little more oil with fingertips. This will help to seal and hide split ends and tame pesky flyaways, instantly.
7. Work with Your Hair Texture
If you're blessed with wavy, curly or coily hair, you need one last step in your styling regimen. Pick the best styling product for your hair type to enhance your natural texture...
For Wavy Hair and Loose Curls: When you're looking to accentuate those natural waves, tip hair upside down and mist with a leave-in conditioner, like NutriCurls Milky Waves. Then, hold the palms of your hands facing upwards at the ends of hair, and 'push' up to the root, so lengths are accordioned upwards. Gently squeeze then release for a gentler alternative to scrunching; one that gives you lustrous waves without crushing your natural texture.
For Tight Curls and Coily Hair: Your hair will love the richness of NutriCurls Curlixir Balm. It helps curls and coils 'clump' together, so you get defined ringlets and zags that feel soft and healthy. Use it with the finger coiling technique for frizz-free hair. Simply smooth the balm through a section of hair, twirl it tightly around your index finger until it's completely spiralled, and then release in a downward motion. Repeat until all sections have been coiled.
8. Gently Dry and Style
How you dry your hair can have a big impact on how frizzy it appears, so whether you're air-drying or blow drying, keep these tips in mind...
Apply a Heat Protectant: If you're blow drying hair, make sure you shield strands against heat damage first. After all, excessive heat styling = dryness = a frizzy appearance. Use ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In, which not only safeguards hair strands against direct heat, but also injects instant moisture to smooth down flyaways.
Or, for an added dose of shine, apply ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum before styling. The Omega-9 and Squalane-boosted blend is a game-changer that's specially formulated to protect hair against hot tools.
Use an Ionic Hair Dryer: By using negative ions to dry your hair, an ionic hair dryer helps to keep frizzy strands under control, while also levelling up shine. For extra smoothing power, dry straight hair with the nozzle pointing down the hair shaft, or use a diffuser to style wavy, curly or coily hair.
Help Hair Air-Dry Flawlessly: If you're air-drying, keep your hair oil, spray or balm at the ready for touch-ups. As hair dries, you may see flyaways spring out, so top up your product to tame frizz and, if you have curls or coils, refresh the texture.
In Between Washes
Reapply Your Smoothing Product
Whether it's ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, NutriCurls Milky Waves or NutriCurls Curlixir Balm, reapply your go-to anti-frizz product to dry hair, using just a touch to add instant smoothness. For curls and coils that want extra moisture, you can even mist dry hair with water before reapplying Curlixir. It will bump up hydration and take down frizz instantly.
Target and Tame Flyaways
When you spot stray flyaways, reach for a clean spoolie brush, mist it with hairspray, and then target unruly strands one by one. Simply brush them down or back into place. Looking for the perfect hairspray? We love EIMI Stay Firm for a flexible veil that locks down every style.
Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase
Upgrade your beauty sleep. Swap cotton pillowcases for silk pillowcases, which are gentler on the hair cuticle, allowing strands a little extra 'slip' while you sleep – even on restless nights. The same goes for scrunchies; silk is kinder to strands than elastics, so make the switch now to reduce breakage, split ends and – of course – frizz.
Apply an Overnight Serum
Want to stop waking up to frizz? Then smooth ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum through lengths and ends before you hit that silk or satin pillowcase. The weightless serum protects hair from friction while you toss and turn, ensuring hair is smoother and more manageable in the morning.
Now you've got all the hair-smoothing tips you need, we'd love to see your results. Share them on Instagram and tag us @WellaHair.
¹ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum.
² When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum vs. untreated.
³ Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
⁴ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
⁵ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
⁶ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.
