In case you’re a straight haired girl who magically wandered onto this blog, let me break it down for you. Curly-haired folks, we live in constant fear of humidity, rain, brushes, hats, hoods, and terrycloth. Life is hard. Mostly because our hair just wont stop frizzing. Frizzy curly hair is just inescapable.
Why do we face frizz?
The ugly truth is that frizz comes from a lot of things we love (color, hot tools, and brushes) and some things we just can’t control (um…wind). All of this stuff leads to cuticle damage, and once that happens the hair reaches into the air for moisture. Dry hair’s relationship to moisture is basically the equivalent of your desperate ex-boyfriend. It’s going to keep trying to get some.
If you want shiny, frizz-free hair you have a few options: One: Live in a bubble for the rest of your life. If that’s not really your thing, welcome to the eternal struggle bus.
Ditch the sulfates…
There’s a few things you can do in the shower to help your cause, like ditching cleansers that contain sulfates. Sulfate is basically a synonym for stripper (No, not that kind), because the bubbly goodness that seems so fun, actually strips moisture from the hair and causes more frizz. (You know, sort of how a professional stripper seems fun, until you visit your doctor two weeks later, you’re catching my drift here right?)
…and the silicones
Next, banish silicones. Many frizz-fighting products (including conditioners that promise smooth locks) contain this stuff. It fights frizz really well because it forces the cuticle to lie flat – but the smoothing effect it provides is only temporary and is complete bullshit.
The real deal: Silicones coat the hair, causing buildup, and once they’ve engulfed the hair they repel moisture. Your strands become dried out and without the use of silicones, will frizz even more than before—not cute people.
Keep a look out for silicones that are catfishing as other chemicals on labels, the most common nicknames include:
- Dimethicone
- Cyclomethicone
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Phenyl Trimethicone
- Amodimethicone
- Dimethiconol
- Cetyl Dimethicone.
Pick up some products your hair WILL like
Luckily, products to control frizzy curly hair do exist. The best way to avoid frizz is to make sure your hair is getting all the moisture it needs from you (otherwise, it’s pulling moisture from the air to compensate, and avoiding moisture-seeking curls is “how to control frizzy curly hair” basics). Conditioners like DevaCurl’s One Condition line (Delight for wavies, Original for curlies, and Decadence for super curlies) are a must have for use every other day.
On top of caring for your hair, you can add stylers for control. SuperCream is great for raking your hair into a style while tamping down on wayward frizz while Light Defining Gel is for those of us that want a more natural (but still contained, please) look.
Give yourself some new habits
An easy and free (yes, free!) tip? Finish off your shower with a quick cool rinse. The cool water helps seal strands.
For the ultimate in frizz-avoidance, allow your hair to air dry and do not move. If you know, you have time for that. Otherwise, use a dryer and diffuser. Try to move the diffuser as little as possible to avoid disturbing your curl pattern. Really, if you’re fearful of frizz, it’s best to not touch your hair at all while it’s drying or throughout the day.
I’ve been doing ALL of this for like a year, and it’s made a huge difference, but I won’t lie, I still have frizz. Which is why I’m still afraid of wind, and humidity, and pretty much any force of nature that isn’t sunshine. Maybe I need therapy.
