Spring is somehow already on its way so that means, for those with curly hair, it's time to break out your strongest frizz-fighting products. While constant sun and heat is sure to provide relief after a particularly strange winter full of fluctuating temperatures, it can also dry out curls and cause frizz.
Instead of just accepting frizzy hair as a given, Shop TODAY consulted some of the hair industry's top pros to get their best tips for frizz-free locks. We're determined to fight back against this pesky beauty woe with a vengeance and are even arming you with some top-notch products to help you in your frizz-fighting journey.
Cause | Solution | What to look for | Expert picks | Meet the experts
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Why your hair is frizzy
There are far too many causes of frizz to list here without boring you, but these are a few that Cory Aaron Scott, hairstylist and founder of Cooper West Hollywood, highlights: "Weather can be a main factor (humidity is its worst enemy). Another thing that causes frizz is friction from towel-drying your hair too hard with a towel made from inexpensive fabric or fussing with your hair while it air dries."
Holly Dear of House of Dear Hair Salon explains that it's related to your hair's pH balance. "When hair is dehydrated or the pH balance is raised, this causes the cuticle to open and causes the hair to frizz," she says. "You can help maintain the pH balance by using proper shampoos and conditioners."
The key to fighting frizz
Dehydrated curls are frizzy curls and hairstylist Michelle Cleveland emphasizes that this annoying hair blunder is often totally preventable. "The best approach to avoiding frizzy hair is to layer on the moisturizing products," she explains.
Hairstylist Marilee Albin offers another frizz-fighting trick: "If you need to place in a part or tame a cowlick, use your fingers or a wide tooth comb. Less messing and touching will really reduce frizz overall," she instructs.
What to look for in frizz-free products
Shampoos are one of the most basic hair care products around, but they sure can work wonders for your frizz-fighting routine. "There are plenty of smoothing shampoos that treat frizz. I have found that anything super hydrating that helps moisturize and seal the cuticle works the best," Scott says.
"Moisture-based products such as masks and leave-in products are a great and easy way to combat frizz before it ever happens," celebrity hairstylist Jill Buck says.
Expert-recommended shampoos and conditioners for frizzy curly hair
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
Briogeo Curl Charisma Defining Hair Mask
Cleveland echoes Dear's sentiments and recommends starting your frizz-fighting journey in the shower with this hydrating shampoo from Briogeo. "It's sulfate-free and hydrates and cleanses without stripping hair of natural oils," she says. Lucky for us, it's also available as a hair mask!
Davines Love Curl Enhancing Shampoo
Davines Love Curl Conditioner
When you find a shampoo and conditioner that work wonders for your locks, it's always worth spending a bit extra. "For natural waves or curls, a curl enhancing shampoo and conditioner will definitely help bring out natural waves and body," Albin says.
This curl enhancing duo is perfect for dry, frizzy locks, and it's no wonder that the stylist adores it. The creamy shampoo enhances texture and volume without turning curls crunchy while the conditioner adds volume, hydration and softness.
Virtue Smooth Shampoo
Virtue Smooth Conditioner
Scott recommends this smoothing duo that cleanses and calms a wild mane while nixing frizz. One of the key ingredients is pink pomelo, a citrus fruit that's full of vitamins A, C and B1. We also dig the fact that both products are free of sulfates and parabens.
R+Co Cassette Curl Shampoo + Superseed Oil Complex
Michael Dueñas, hairstylist and consulting creative director, uses the word "phenomenal" to describe the frizz-fighting abilities of R+Co's Cassette line. The shampoo hydrates, adds shine and prevent breakage, while the conditioner softens, smooths and defines curls.
"With a heavy amount of lightweight oils, this product packs a ton of moisture and control. One of the top ingredients is aloe leaf extract, which has been known to tame all types of frizz and curls," he explains.
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Expert-recommended leave-in products for frizzy curly hair
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding Curl Enhancer
When Cleveland wants to nip frizz in the bud, the stylist reaches for this Black-owned product that's perfect for defining natural hair. "This is a great product to help stretch out those super kinky curls while providing an added layer of moisture throughout the day. It has shea butter and avocado oil for super high shine as well," the stylist tells us.
Virtue Create 6-In-1 Styler
Scott swears by this Virtue styling cream that hydrates, softens and adds shine. Not sure how much to use? He has a few tips for that, too: "Hair texture will determine how much product to use in every step of this frizz treatment process. For fine hair, use about a nickel-size amount of product. For thick and coarse hair, use about a quarter-size amount of product. And anything beyond that, use about a half dollar-size amount of product."
It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product
Anything from weather to genetics can cause frizziness, but you don't have to just accept it as a part of life. Bianca Hillier, colorist at Andy Lecompte Salon in Los Angeles, recommends keeping a leave-in product on hand to help fend off frizz.
"[It's a 10 is] a restorative, deep conditioning treatment that delivers instant results. It's an ideal solution for smoothing hair, eliminating frizz, restoring shine and enhancing natural body," she tells us.
Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In Detangler
Hairstylist Sophia Porter says she digs this leave-in conditioner that's chock-full of organic fruit extracts and herbs that hydrate hair as it smooths the cuticle. "It's free of aloe, protein and heavy ingredients," she told us. "It also works wonderfully on low-porosity hair."
OSiS+ Curl Honey Curl Cream
Ever wonder why curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair? Porter explains that the oils from the scalp don't travel down curls as easily. The mane maven named this curl cream as one of her "all-time" favorites and reveals why it's so special.
"It has medium hold with a soft finish that tames frizz. This cream is very conditioning and helps lock in hydration from your leave-in conditioner," she says. As an added bonus, it also helps add definition and bounce!
Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream
The frizz prevention process might start in the shower, but once you start to blow dry or diffuse your hair you should also take steps to help keep frizz from popping up. Albin suggests using a heat protectant like this one all over wet hair.
The multitasking product shields strands from heat and fends off frizz for up to nine hours, according to the brand, all while leaving hair looking polished. In other words, we'll take two please!
Davines Love Curl Cream
Albin gravitates towards styling creams that have the consistency of a body lotion and named this as one of her go-tos. The lightweight product softens and defines curls while adding a healthy dose of shine.
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Meet the experts
- Cory Aaron Scott is a hairstylist and founder of Cooper West Hollywood.
- Holly Dear is the founder and master hairstylist at House of Dear Hair Salon in Dallas, Texas.
- Michelle Cleveland is a hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon in New Jersey.
- Jill Buck is a senior stylist at Nine Zero One salon in Los Angeles.
- Marilee Albin is a celebrity hairstylist at Mare Salon in Los Angeles.
- Michael Dueñas is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
- Bianca Hillier is a colorist at Andy Lecompte Salon in Los Angeles.
- Sophia Porter is a celebrity and editorial hairstylist and makeup artist based in Los Angeles.