Frizzy hair can be an annoying, albeit infrequent, concern—something that only crops up on particularly humid days. But if you find yourself wondering, “why is my hair so frizzy?” on a daily basis, chances are, it’s not the weather’s fault. Rather, it’s an unfortunate consequence of an inefficient haircare routine. Like most hair concerns, taming frizz starts in the shower. And the good news is, making a few tweaks to your routine might be all you need to keep frizz at bay.
Ahead, we’ll teach you about the various factors that can result in frizzy, unruly-looking hair and give you tips on how to tame it. You’ll also find a simple five-step routine that stars our best frizzy hair products and can help keep your mane free of flyaways. Keep reading to learn how to fight frizz for sleeker-looking strands—even on the most humid of days.
What Causes Frizz and Flyaways?
Before we discuss what you can do to tame your frizzy hair, it’s crucial to understand what causes frizz (because ultimately, to successfully nix frizz, you need to address the cause). There are a few different causes of frizzy hair, but the two most common are dryness and breakage.
When healthy, the hair’s outer cuticle is surrounded by a thin, water-repellent layer of lipids that helps seal in moisture and keep your strands smooth. Exposure to stressors (like harsh shampoos or hot styling tools) can strip this protective layer, making your hair porous. This causes the hair to absorb moisture (like humidity in the air) and swell, ultimately resulting in unkempt, frizzy-looking strands.
Repeated swelling of the hair can lead to your tresses becoming brittle and prone to breakage, as can exposure to stressors like chemical processing. When the hair is brittle, even normal styling processes, like brushing your hair, can cause the strands to split or break, resulting in split ends and flyaways. This can give your hair a frizzy appearance, though split ends and frizz aren’t the same thing. Split ends occur when the hair fiber itself splits lengthwise; frizz can occur with or without breakage).
How To Tame Frizz: Your Five-Step Routine
If you’re hoping to learn how to get rid of frizzy hair for good, we’ll tell you now: You’re unlikely to find anything that eliminates frizz completely. With that said, maintaining a proper haircare routine can help smooth your strands, both in the short and long term. Anti-frizz hair products can also be used to help smooth your hair, taming the look of staticky, unkempt strands. Learn more about how to help keep your hair sleek and soft with the following five-step routine.
Step 1:
Lather Up With Your Chosen Shampoo
Choosing the right shampoo is essential for frizz control. Look for a formula that cleans without stripping away the hair’s natural oils, like Smoothing Oil-Infused Shampoo. This gentle daily shampoo with fairly-traded argan oil and babassu oil helps control frizz by removing dirt, excess oil, and product buildup while smoothing the hair fiber for manageable, shiny-looking strands.
For particularly dry or brittle hair, try Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Shampoo. It’s uniquely formulated for hair that’s been weakened by damaging stressors, like harsh chemicals and hot tools. The effective shampoo helps smooth and fortify unruly locks to give the hair a lustrous, healthy appearance.
Once you’ve chosen your formula, thoroughly wet your hair and dispense a nickel-sized amount of shampoo into your palms. Use your fingertips to massage it onto your scalp and through the entire length of your hair, then rinse out the suds with warm water.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Though it’s important to keep your hair and scalp clean, you may not need to shampoo every day—in fact, for some, it’s best not to. Learn more about creating a proper shampoo schedule in our article How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
Step 2:
Apply Conditioner From Roots To Ends
Smoothing Oil-Infused Conditioner
After rinsing out the shampoo, gather your hair as if putting it into a ponytail and squeeze out the excess water. If you have short hair, you can also use a microfiber towel to soak up the H2O. Then, reach for a lightweight conditioner, like Smoothing Oil-Infused Conditioner, and work it through your hair, concentrating on dry areas like the ends. The creamy conditioner helps smooth and soften your hair and, with continued use, reduces frizz for a more manageable mane.
If your frizz is due to excessive breakage, reach instead for Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Conditioner. This nourishing formula instantly conditions and detangles fragile strands, making your hair easier to comb. It also helps repair damage and restore your hair’s healthy look.
Leave either conditioner on for at least two minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Step 3:
Once a Week, Do a Hair Mask
Add a deep conditioning mask to your weekly haircare routine for lasting frizz control. We recommend Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Reparative Hair Mask, which contains olive oil and avocado oil. The nourishing formula deeply moisturizes and helps strengthen weak, brittle tresses. With regular use, it also helps protect hair against future damage.
Before applying the hair mask, use a clean, dry towel to squeeze any excess water from your hair. Then, smooth a liberal amount of the mask onto your strands, starting at the ends and working your way up toward the scalp. Leave it on for a minimum of three minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Step 4:
Comb In a Smoothing Leave-In Treatment
Once you’ve finished your shower routine, use a clean towel to lightly blot your hair dry (avoid rubbing your hair with the towel, as wet hair is uniquely vulnerable to breakage). Then, apply a moisturizing leave-in treatment to your damp hair, starting again at the ends and working your way up toward the roots.
Try Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Leave-In Treatment, which contains ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. This lightweight formula attracts to the hair’s weakest areas to reinforce damaged strands. Consistent use also helps strengthen the hair fibers, giving your mane a smoother, visibly shinier appearance.
Smoothing Oil-Infused Leave-In Concentrate
An oil-based formula, like Smoothing Oil-Infused Leave-In Concentrate, can offer both static and frizz control. When applied to damp hair, this aromatic smoothing treatment helps tame frizzy tresses without weighing the hair down. You can also apply a few drops directly to dry ends to boost shine for a sleeker-looking finish. Use your fingers to distribute the lightweight formula throughout your hair, then detangle your tresses slowly with a wide-toothed comb.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: A little goes a long way with styling treatments: Overuse can result in buildup, giving your hair a limp, greasy appearance.
Step 5:
Dry And Style
One of the best products for frizzy hair is a hair serum, like Silk Groom Serum. This effective styling aid for dry and damaged hair is formulated with sunflower oil and antioxidant vitamin E. It instantly smoothes unruly strands and helps protect against humidity to prevent frizz and flyaways.
Apply the styling serum to damp hair and use your comb again to distribute the product evenly throughout. Dry and style your mane as usual for a sleek, well-groomed look that lasts all day long.
