We know the struggle of wanting perfectly straightened hair but ending up with the dreaded frizz and annoying flyaways. While you can’t control elements like humidity, there are a few tricks you can start implementing to try and minimise the chances of your hair getting frizzy.
What causes frizzy hair?
There are a number of factors that may lead you to experience frizz when straightening your hair. Essentially, frizz is the result of a lack of moisture in your hair, and here are some things that can cause it:
- Humidity
- Excessive heat styling
- Excessive hair washing
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Damaged hair
- Underlying health issues
- Genetics
How can you keep your hair frizz-free when styling?
Preventing frizziness doesn’t just depend on when you’re styling your hair Here are some of the top tips to help you keep the frizz at bay when straightening your hair:
Before straightening
The key to stopping frizz is to prepare your hair before styling begins because, ultimately, healthy hair is the most beautiful hair. Here are some things you can do before you start straightening your hair to minimise frizz and flyaways:
1) Avoid hot showers
We know there’s nothing quite like a good hot shower, but when you’re fighting off frizz, a cool shower is the way to go. Cooler water helps to seal the hair cuticle and prevent loss of moisture.
2) Use frizz-fighting products
Treating frizz can start when you’re washing your hair, and this can be done by using products specifically formulated to fight frizz. So, choose shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in conditioners that contain ingredients like shea butter and argan oil, which are great for moisturising hair. When you’re out of the shower, apply a smoothing cream, oil or serum that can help tame your hair and boost shine.
3) Avoid drying your hair roughly
After the shower, remember to be as gentle with your hair as possible when it comes to drying it. Instead of rubbing your hair vigorously to dry it and causing friction, wrap it up in a microfibre towel (or even an old T-shirt will do the trick).
4) Always use a heat protectant
As we know, one of the biggest culprits of frizz is heat damage. So, before you even reach for the hair dryer or straighter, you better reach for a heat protectant first.
Read Also: The Steps & Tips to Make Iconic and Trendy Curly Hairstyle
While straightening
The tools and techniques you use when straightening your hair will also play a role in either contributing to frizziness or preventing it. Here are some things to keep in mind while you are straightening your hair:
1) Ensure your hair is bone dry
Repeat after me: wet hair is weak hair. So, the key to preventing damage and therefore, frizz is to ensure that your hair is completely dry before taking a straightener to it.
2) Choose tools that are gentle on hair
There are so many different hair types, and thus there are many hair straighteners that have different features and are made with different materials to best suit them. This is why it’s so important for you to know what type of hair type you have so you know what hair straightener will be most effective yet gentle on your hair.
3) Opt for low to medium heat rather than high temperatures
People tend to think that the higher the temperature of your heat styling tool, the more effective it will be. The truth is that higher temperatures are more likely to cause heat damage and activate frizz. The optimal temperature to style your hair is 185°C; any lower, you won’t see results, and any higher, you’ll cause a lot of damage to your tresses.
4) Section your hair
Be strategic when straightening and straightening smaller sections at a time. This will help you to straighten your hair well, not missing any strands, but help you avoid going over the same sections too many times and causing irreparable damage.
5) Use smooth, even strokes
The technique also plays a role in taming frizz. For smooth hair, you’ve got to use slow, smooth strokes and apply even pressure when straightening.
After straightening
With everything you do in life, you need to end well, and this also applies to when you’re straightening your hair. Your post-haircare is just as important as what you do before and whilst styling. Here are some tips to prevent frizz after you’ve straightened your hair:
1) Apply an anti-frizz product
You did it before styling, and you’ll do it after — use an anti-frizz product. Using an anti-frizz cream, oil or serum after styling will once again help your hair retain moisture. You can also use a little hair spray, gel or wax to lock your hair into place. Just remember that less is more when it comes to product, or else it could weigh your hair down and make it look greasy.
2) Avoid overwashing and over-styling
Too much of anything can be a bad thing, and this is particularly true when it comes to washing and styling your hair. For anyone who styles and washes their hair every single day, this could be contributing to damage and, therefore, frizz.
3) Protect your hair while you sleep
Taming frizz isn’t always the easiest, but you can do it in your sleep. This can be done by using a silk pillowcase, sleeping in a silk bonnet or sleeping with a protective hairstyle. This helps reduce friction, breakage, and static and preserves moisture and your hairstyle.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to combat frizz starts with determining what is causing your hair to lack moisture and treating it accordingly. It’s also about knowing what products and techniques work best for your hair because what works for one person may not work for you to eliminate flyaways and frizz.
