How to Care for Frizzy Hair

Use a wide-tooth comb. When detangling your mane, always use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers, rather than use a brush. This will minimize breakage and damage and will also preserve the shape of your curls. Brushing your hair will separate the individual strands, making it much frizzier.^[5]

Detangle your hair starting from the ends, working up to the roots. If your hair is frizzy, chances are it is often difficult to brush through. Avoid starting from the roots and start detangling at the ends instead.

Take a wide section of your hair, about 3 inches (7.6 cm) or so, and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the strands, starting from the ends and working upward. Do this for each section of hair until you have detangled all of it.^[6]

If you get pretty severe tangles, try a spray-on detangling product. Apply it to wet hair and then proceed with your wide-tooth comb.

Avoid brushing your hair while it is dry. Brushing your hair while it is dry will only serve to make your hair frizzier by separating each strand of hair, especially if your hair is curly. A great way to avoid brushing dry hair is to comb it before you get out of the shower.

Start by detangling large curls with your fingers, then use a comb to start combing out the tangles, starting from the ends.

• If you get a knot during the day, gently work through it with a wide-tooth comb.

Apply styling cream right after you wash your hair. After you have stepped out of the shower, apply styling cream to your hair. This targets frizz before it even has a chance to start by forming a moisturizing protective layer over your locks.^[7]

• Styling cream can be purchased at a beauty supply store. Look for creams or sprays that protect hair against frizz, such as Moroccanoil Frizz Control or DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam.

Dry your hair with a diffuser. A diffuser is an attachment for your hair dryer that can be purchased at a low cost at your local beauty supply store. These attachments are designed for curly hair and work well for managing frizz and keeping the curls intact.

Keep the dryer on a low-heat setting, as too much heat on wet hair can create humidity, creating the perfect environment for frizz to flare up.

Consider purchasing a high-wattage ionic blow dryer, as well. These tools can dry your hair quickly and help cut down on frizz. Pick one with 1800 watts or more.

Braid your hair. To effectively manage and contain frizz, consider braiding your hair. You can wear a single braid off to the side of your head, down your back, or sport pigtail-style braids for a more youthful look. Apply a smoothing cream or spray to your hair before you braid it to tame flyaways and keep frizz under wraps.

Wear your hair in a bun. After washing your hair and applying an anti-frizz styling cream, pull your hair up into a ponytail and then wrap it into a bun. A bun will prevent your hair from becoming frizzy and unmanageable, as it will be neatly contained on top of your head.

Choose a hairdresser experienced in curly, dry, or frizzy hair. Conduct an Internet search of salons near you or within a reasonable distance from your location. Jot down the phone numbers of a few salons that look interesting to you and call them to find out if they have any stylists that specialize in curly or dry hair.

Save yourself some heartache from a horrible haircut and do your due diligence before letting someone near your hair with a pair of scissors.

If you believe you have found someone that is able to cut curly hair, ask to schedule a consultation where you can ask how they cut curly hair. The way they talk about curly hair should reveal their level of knowledge about it. Ask to see samples of their work on other curly-haired clients.

Visit your stylist at least 4 times a year to trim split ends. To maintain healthy hair, visit your hairdresser at least 4 times a year (every 3 months) for a trim. Regular trims will prevent split ends, which can contribute to unruly frizz.

Ask around. If you see another curly-haired person with a great haircut, don’t be shy! Approach them and ask where they get their hair cut.

You can start a conversation by saying something like, “Hey! I love your hairstyle. Would you mind telling me where you get your hair cut? I’m looking for a good stylist.” It is generally perceived as a great compliment, and most people are willing to divulge who cuts their hair.

Ask for a haircut with layers. Curly, dry, or frizzy hair should always be cut in layers to avoid the dreaded triangle-head, which is a term for curly hair that is cut in a blunt style.

Curly hair is often voluminous, and when it dries, the ends become voluminous while the top remains flat, creating a triangle effect. Cutting hair into layers will distribute the volume and look much more flattering on you.

Apply coconut oil all over your hair. Coconut oil is a great oil for moisturizing hair and taming frizz. Purchase a jar of coconut oil from your local grocery store. This can be found in the cooking oil aisle.

Before sleeping, apply a liberal amount of coconut oil to your hair, making sure that it is completely coated. Cover your hair with a shower cap, go to sleep, and wash the oil off your hair the next morning.

This will give the oil plenty of time to absorb into the cuticle, effectively taming flyaways and adding shine and gloss to your hair.

Mix leave-in conditioner with styling gel or cream. Whenever you use styling cream, add a quarter-sized amount of leave-in conditioner to it. Massage the mixture into your damp hair with your fingers.

You can either let your hair air-dry or style it as you normally would. Leave-in conditioners can be purchased at grocery stores or beauty supply stores, such as Sally Beauty Supply, Sephora, or Ulta.^[8]