The Best Ways to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair

1. Skip the sulfates.

“Sulfates are chemicals that strip out hair color and can lead to damage, dullness, and lack of luster,” explains L’Oréal Paris celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Colombini. These chemicals can, unfortunately, often be found in shampoo and conditioner formulas. As a result, your wash routine may be contributing to your hair's frizz factor by stripping strands of its natural oils.

To prevent your products from wreaking havoc on your hair, opt for a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. A combo we love is the ORIBE’s Shampoo for Moisture and Control paired with the ORIBE’s Intense Conditioner for Moisture and Control. “These are sulfate-free but you still get a nice rich lather and lots of healing and moisturizing ingredients,” says Livermore.

2. Wash your hair a little less frequently.

And while we're talking about shampoo, how often you do wash is just as important as the products you use. “If you’re shampooing too often, your hair will feel dry over time,” says Livermore. If you shampoo every day, you’re definitely washing your hair too frequently and can cause the hair cuticle to dry out, which leaves it more susceptible to frizz and breakage.

“Most people only need to shampoo 2 or 3 times a week, even if they work out or have an active lifestyle,” says Livermore. In order to keep your hair from getting wet while you wash your body, try covering it up under a shower cap. We especially love this KITSCH Luxe Shower Cap which is both fashionable and functional thanks to the cool design, fun print, and feminine details.

3. Rinse with cold water.

When it is wash day, you might also try rinsing your shampoo and conditioner out with cold water. As relaxing as hot water feels, the reality is hot water can strip your hair of much-needed natural oils. In addition to turning down the temp, incorporating a quick cold rinse after you’re done with your shampoo and conditioner can prevent hair from frizzing up once you’re out of the shower.

“Cold water seals down the cuticle and hot water opens it, so to protect your hair from damage and dryness, a cold water rinse at the end of your shampoo is beneficial,” says Colombini.

4. Bring your comb in the shower.

If you have curly hair or natural hair, you likely know that combing it after it's dry is a recipe for frizz–not to mention it can also totally throw a wrench in your natural curl pattern and lead to breakage and flyaways. Instead, it’s best to comb it when it’s wet.

“Comb your hair out while it’s wet before you style it,” says Livermore. You can also apply conditioner or a hair mask and comb your hair while you have the product in before you rinse. Colombini recommends using a wide-tooth comb (like the OUAI Clear Comb) to tackle tangles while keeping your locks frizz-free.

5. Don’t forget a leave-in conditioner.

Using a leave-in conditioner may seem redundant after you just used conditioner in the shower, but spritzing one on your hair while it’s still wet will help lock in extra moisture and prevent frizz from developing as it dries.

“The more moisturized and hydrated your hair is, the less likely it is to interact with humidity in the air in a way that will cause frizz,” says Livermore. This CHRISTOPHE ROBIN Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk with Shea Butter offers heat protection and protection against pollution to nourish your hair and prevent frizz for up to 48 hours. For best results, spritz in wet hair and comb it through with a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to seal the hair cuticle before you blow-dry.

6. Make hair masks your best friend.

If you have frizzy hair, hydration is key. Moisturizing hair masks can work wonders to keep your hair feeling silky and smooth. The key is to use them sparingly, just like you would a face mask. Once a week, incorporate a nourishing mask into your shower routine to hydrate your dry hair from within the cuticle.

Both the KÉRASTASE Masque Fondamental Riche Hair Mask and the DRYBAR Bay Breeze Hydrating Shots are super-concentrated and restore much-needed moisture to your hair to leave everything smooth and shiny.

7. Sleep on silk.

To prolong your blowout and banish frizz, try switching to a silk pillowcase like the SLIP Pink Queen Zippered Pillowcase to prevent frizz caused by friction (which happens easily when you sleep on a cotton pillowcase). You can also keep your style intact by sleeping with your hair up, loosely fastened to the top of your head with a silk scrunchie (we love this SLIP Desert Rose Scrunchie Set).

8. Don't skip your regular trim.

Split ends can travel up the hair shaft and cause more damage and frizz. In order to nip any damage in the bud, be sure to regularly trim off any dry, dead ends.

“Regular trims help keep the ends of your hair from splitting and fraying,” says Livermore. How often you should trim your hair really depends on how you treat your hair. “Frequent trims are very important if you’re constantly doing activities that make your ends more susceptible to damage, like heat styling, blow-drying, color-treating, swimming, and so on,” he adds. But for most folks, a trim every 3 to 3 months is the sweet spot.

9. Style your hair when it’s wet.

This rule of thumb is best suited for curly hair types. Instead of waiting for your hair to dry, apply product straight to soaking wet hair and start styling for best results. “When styling, it’s best to start with a moisturizing prep product and then layer a styling cream on top to smooth frizz and support your natural texture,” says Livermore.

10. Trade in your terrycloth towel.

Much like the frizz caused by friction when you sleep on a cotton pillowcase, the towel you use can also be causing your hair to frizz up by absorbing too much moisture. To keep it hydrated without leaving it sopping wet, try switching to a microfiber towel like this AQUIS Alice + Olivia Double Layer Hair Wrap which uses the brand’s signature technology to wick away water without causing friction, hair damage, or frizz. Bonus: It also looks really cute when it's on.

11. Keep heat styling to a minimum.

If you’ve noticed more frizziness than usual, (especially if you don’t have very textured hair to begin with), it could be because you’re dealing with damaged hair caused by excessive heat styling.

“Try using less heat on your hair or use hot tools only when needed,” says Colombini. Instead of reaching for the flat iron, try to air dry your hair and try heat-free hairstyles that embrace your natural texture. And, when all else fails, never underestimate the power of hair accessories. From scrunchies to hair clips, there are a variety of stylish options that not only make frizz more manageable but also add an instant cool-factor to your look.

12. When you do heat style, add protection.

Since a major cause of frizz is heat styling, you'll want to do all you can to shield your hair from damage. Enter, heat protectant sprays, the go-to hair care product to shield your hair from damage caused by your blow dryer, straightener, and curling iron. Most heat protectants also have anti-humectants to offer an extra layer of protection against frizz. Some formulas, like the BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer even offer SPF protection, which is great if you’re going to be in the sun as it helps prevent your color from oxidizing and your hair from drying out.

13. Try sunscreen for your hair.

Speaking of sunshine, UV rays can do a number not only on your skin but on your hair health as well. If your hair has prolonged exposure to the sun, UVA and UVB rays can damage the outside cover of the hair strand leaving it feeling brittle, dry, and frizz-prone.

While it's not really recommended to use your sunscreen as hair oil, you might try a UV protectant like the COOLA Scalp & Hair Mist, an organic sunscreen made just for your hair.

14. Don’t go to sleep with wet hair.

“Try not to go to bed when your hair is wet because that can make your hair frizzy in the morning and no one likes a bad hair day,” says Colombini. If you do need to sleep when your hair is damp, try using the pineappling technique: piling the hair high up on the head with a scrunchie to keep the majority of it lifted up and out of friction's way.

15. Rinse your hair after you take a dip.

While you may love the look of beach waves, the reality is salt water and chlorine are both super drying to your strands (not to mention the detrimental effects they can have on your dye job). In order to prevent a frizz flare-up when you’re having fun in the sun, rinse your hair with cold water immediately after you go for a swim.

“Cold water mechanically closes down the cuticle, which is the protective outside layer of our hair strands,” says Livermore. For added protection, try coating the hair with a leave-in conditioner or hair mask before you go in the water to prevent the hair shaft from absorbing too much water.

16. Embrace your natural texture.

As much as you might try to fight it, when the temperature heats up, frizz is inevitable for some of us. Instead of stressing, try embracing the beauty of your natural texture and how your hair looks in humid weather.

“The best solution is to wear your natural texture instead of fighting it with hot tools,” says Livermore. To go with your hair's flow, he recommends starting with a moisturizing prep product, using a styling cream to help smooth frizz and tame flyaways, and reaching for a diffuser to define your curls or waves.

17. Get to know your alcohols.

Your hair care alcohols, that is. While certain alcohols may cause hair to become dry and frizzy, others are actually not drying at all. In general, you'll want to steer clear of short-chain alcohols. These are usually listed on ingredient labels as SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, propanol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. Fatty alcohols, on the other hand, can be super hydrating and smoothing. These are usually listed on labels as lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol.

18. Experiment with hair oils.

When selecting hair care products for frizzy hair, try turning to the magical world of hair oil. Natural ingredients like coconut oil and argan oil can deeply nourish and hydrate your strands while also creating a protective barrier that keeps moisture from escaping the hair cuticle. Hair oil works to protect the barrier of your hair the same way it protects your complexion in your skincare routine: it creates a shield that locks the good in and keeps the bad out.

The hair oil you use will likely depend on your hair type. Super curly or coily hair may be able to handle a heavier oil like coconut oil while straight or wavy hair may want to try something lighter like the JOSIE MARAN Argan Oil Hair Serum.

While frizz may seem inevitable, there are small changes you can implement in your routine to keep your tresses frizz-free. For more frizz-fighting products and tips, be sure to subscribe to the IPSY Glam Bag. Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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