Stepping out of the shower, towel-drying our hair, and suddenly, it’s like our locks have a mind of their own.
Frizzy hair can be frustrating, especially when nothing seems to tame it.
But what really causes frizzy hair, and more importantly, how can we combat it?
What Happens When Hair Frizzes?
When hair becomes dry and damaged, its appearance resembles a pine cone: open, rough, and prickly.
Beneficial moisture from natural oils produced by your scalp helps keep those shingles down in healthy hair.
However, when it’s open and damaged, beneficial moisture can escape the hair shaft while moisture from the air enters the hair shaft, causing it to swell and change shape.
In other words, it becomes frizzy.
In short, yes, some people have naturally frizzy hair.
Those with naturally curly hair tend to have drier hair because the natural oils produced by their scalp can’t travel down the hair shaft as well as it can on straight hair.
As a result, they have some natural frizz, which is most noticeable when individual hairs don’t bond together to create a defined curl.
However, everyone’s hair can get frizzy even if it’s straight.
Factors That Contribute to Dry Frizzy Hair
So, what causes hair to frizz?
In a word: dryness.
There are lots of different factors that can dry your hair out and exacerbate frizz.
Humidity, washing your hair in very hot water, using harsh hair products, heat styling, and overwashing your hair are just a few of the culprits.
Humidity is a major contributor to frizzy hair.
When the air is humid, the dry cuticle becomes rough and open, allowing moisture from the air to enter the hair shaft and cause it to swell.
Washing your hair in very hot water can cause the same effect as humidity.
It also stresses your hair and scalp, which produces beneficial oils.
Harsh hair products can strip the hair of its natural oils, causing it to frizz up.
Excessive lightening or bleaching and coloring hair with formulas that are too strong with high ammonia contents can damage the surface of the hair, making it feel rough to the touch, stealing its shine, and creating frizz.
Heat styling tools always damage your hair, and if you do use heat styling, look for conditioners, oils, or sprays that help minimize heat damage before and after styling.
Overwashing your hair can also strip it of its natural oils, causing it to become dry and frizzy.
How to Handle Frizzy Hair
So, how do we combat frizzy hair?
Using hydrating products, conditioning masks or serums that protect and smooth your hair can help.
You should also use mild shampoos or detergents.
In addition, these steps might also help: blot your hair when drying with a towel instead of rubbing it vigorously, and use gentler brushes to minimize friction.
Products to Try
Here are some products you can use to try to combat frizz: TRESemme Keratin Smooth Shine Serum, Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo, TSD Hair Flower Extract Conditioner, and Silk 18 Maple Holistics Conditioner.
The Bottom Line
Frizzy, dry hair can be a nuisance, but there are ways to prevent it and manage it.
If you’re careful with how you wash, brush, and dry your hair and use the right products, you can help keep your hair healthy and minimize any unwieldy, frizzy hair.
