Question
Help! I’ve tried close to everything! Hair is still frizzy! Hi! So I’m a 16-year-old Caucasian female! This past year I’ve learned that my hair was super curly! It never used to be that way, but once I hit puberty I noticed it changed and became frizzy and wavy and partly straight still, well now, it’s curly! I want to wear my hair down because I hate having to wear buns and braids all of the time, but the thing is my hair is so frizzy. It is embarrassing if I try to wear it down, and I’ve tried close to everything! Serums, oils, leave in frizz conditioners, gels, mousses, etc. and nothing seems to work! I need help! Is this fixable? I just want to be able to wear my hair down natural!
Answer
Trying to reduce frizz takes new techniques paired with trial and error. First off, knowing why this is happening can be of some comfort so let’s explain why you are going through a hair texture change.
As our body ages we may see some changes in our hair texture. “Hair changes every five to seven years,” said Christo of the Christo Fifth Avenue Salon and creator of the Curlisto line of hair products. Science has not totally figured out why someone with stick straight hair and a rounder follicle can end up with curly hair and a flatter follicle or vice versa from aging, but this is a fairly common phenomenon.
Now here are some tips for reducing your frizz and helping you create beautiful curl definition so that you can grow to love your curls!
How to fix it
- Incorporate co-washing between your shampoos. The whole purpose of co-washing is to keep from stripping the hair of their natural oils, which in turn creates excess frizz. Here are our community’s favorites!
- Apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair before applying a styler, as it will keep the moisture in your hair and also fight off frizz.
- Explore different stylers with various holds. There are cream stylers, cream gels, mousses, and gels. I know you have had some problems with stylers before, but here is where the trial and error comes into play. We all have to find what we like, but if you need some direction here are our Editors’ Choice picks.
- Apply product to soaking wet hair.
- Do not dry your hair with a conventional towel. Use an old t-shirt or a microfiber towel that will not disrupt the curl or the curl pattern.
- Try braiding your damp hair in 4-6 braids at night, this will prevent frizz from forming (from rubbing on your pillow”> while you sleep. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you take down the braids, otherwise your hair may frizz once you leave the house (you can use a diffuser to speed up the process if necessary”>. When you take down your dry braids they will give you a uniform wave.
- Do not touch your hair while it is drying and setting. The more manipulation, the more frizz that will be induced.
What about humidity?
On ultra-humid days, add additional leave-in conditioner or an oil to help weigh down the hair and keep the strands from expanding. Also, those may be the days you choose to rock the traditional bun, messy bun, or even the ninja bun as these three looks look even better with more volume as frizz often gives us.
Frizz isn’t that bad
Another important aspect to keep in mind is that your unique texture may be prone to frizz and there is nothing wrong with that; it is equally beautiful. No matter how much you deep condition, moisturize, and seal, frizz may be a part of your natural texture. It is frizzy when wet and frizzy when dry. Another thing to consider is whether you have heat damage. Heat damaged hair has a chipped and raised cuticle, which expands as an attempt to absorb moisture, so if you straighten regularly, then you may want to stop and be patient for your virgin hair to grow in.
Working with your curls instead of against them is the best way to have frizz-free hair. Co-washing, using a lot of conditioner, sealing your hair’s cuticle and leaving it be when styled will all help in your quest for frizz-free curls when first coming aboard the curly, coily girl ride. It is a fun ride so enjoy!
Has your hair changed over time? Either grown curlier or less curly?
This article has been updated.
