Taming Frizzy Hair

What are the main causes of frizzy hair? 

To understand the causes, you first have to understand a bit about the hair’s structure. The protective outer layer of your hair (the cuticle) is made up of tiny, protective plates of keratin, stacked on top of each other like shingles on the roof of a house. But unlike roof shingles, the plates can open and close. When your hair is pH balanced and healthy, those little plates stay smooth and flat, making your hair feel and look glassy smooth, shiny and manageable. 

But when your hair is dry or damaged; the pH is too alkaline (due to the tap water you use in the bath or shower); or if your cuticle naturally curves, as it does in curly hair, those plates can lift up to as much as a 45° angle. That makes your hair tangle and feel rough and dry and gives it a dull, frizzy look.

Why does hot/humid weather cause frizz? 

While the cuticle is open, your hair soaks up moisture from the air — and the higher the humidity, the more your hair absorbs. That pushes the cuticle open even further, so your hair goes from having a relatively smooth, glossy surface to having an open, bumpy, haywire surface. 

Are certain hair types more prone to frizzy hair? 

Curly and wavy hair are the most frizz-prone. That’s partly because the natural conditioning oils on the scalp, which slide easily down straight hair, have a harder time traveling down curls and waves. Plus, the cuticle of curly hair tends to lift on the outside as it spirals, making it more susceptible to moisture loss. 

What are your top tips for taming frizzy hair? 

The first line of defense is a weekly Rejuvenating Oil treatment, which pumps dull, dry hair with ultra-light plant and flower oils. All hair types come out feeling bouncy and optimally conditioned – and far less prone to frizz.

Invest in a shampoo and conditioner from my Forever Shine or Everyday Beautiful collections. The next-generation formulas feature an ingenious delivery system – tiny, time-released Safflower Oleosomes – to condition hair with botanical moisture and keep frizz at bay. 

Spray on some Detangling Toning Mist as soon as you step out of the shower. The water-light formula counters the harsh pH of tap water and helps seal the cuticle of your hair, leaving it with a shinier look and a smooth, manageable feel. 

Alternately, mist a generous amount of my Weightless Conditioning Water onto on towel-dried hair before styling, or lightly spritz any time throughout the day, smoothing your hair downward with your hands as you go. Like my Detangling Toning Mist, the formula corrects your hair’s pH balance to help seal the cuticle. But it also contains a micro-emulsion of silicone that clings to the surface of the hair, forming a perfectly distributed, weightless barrier to block humidity and keep your hair feeling smooth and frizz-free.

Create a cocktail of leave-in conditioner and a gel serum like my Anti-Frizz Formula 57, formulated with essential oils and a touch of silicone to help form a barrier between your hair and the water in the atmosphere. 

No rough towel-drying — that generates frizz. Gently blot your hair dry with a microfiber towel instead. If you blow-dry your hair, use an ionic dryer and always keep the nozzle pointing downward. That also helps seal the hair cuticle and lock out frizz.