It may sound crazy, but the real reason you have frizzy hair is because it’s dry and desperately seeking moisture. You may have noticed that your hair becomes exceptionally frizzy when it’s humid and there is moisture in the air. This is because your hair is actually expanding and swelling to try to reach and absorb the humidity. Imagine the ends of hairs as little siphons, reaching out and sucking water out of the sky.
The most important thing you can do to prevent frizziness is to keep your hair as moisturized as possible. Not only will your hair be less frizzy, but it will also be healthier, as you will be providing it with the moisture it needs to prevent breakage and to achieve a smooth, shiny look.
There are essentially two parts to achieving moisturized, frizz-free hair:
1. Getting the moisture into your hair and
2. Preventing the moisture from leaving.
There are a variety of ways to achieve these two goals, but many people do not follow basic hair care principals and therefore strip their hair of the moisture it needs. They then turn to products, treatments, and other chemicals to try to “fix” the problem they created! Rather than create an endless cycle of unhealthy hair that needs to be “fixed,” why not just follow proper hair care guidelines?
The following are ways to properly care for and tame your frizzy hair by keeping it healthy and hydrated:
Washing
For many people (at least in the United States), washing your hair is simply a part of your daily shower routine. However, you don’t actually need to wash your hair every day. Every time you wash it, especially if you use conventional shampoo, you are stripping away the naturally occurring oils in your scalp while drying out your hair, especially the ends. And as we just discussed, dry hair is a recipe for frizzy hair.
The idea of skipping your morning wash may make you a little uncomfortable, but keep in mind that your body regulates its oil production based on how often you remove the oils– the more you wash, the more oils your body will produce to compensate for the loss. Once you begin to wash less frequently, your scalp will begin over time to produce less oil.
Try washing every other day or even every third day to prevent over-washing.
The type of shampoo you use is also important in determining how dry (and therefore frizzy) your hair is likely to be. Anyone who has visited a hair salon has likely been pitched a Clarifying Shampoo by a salesperson, which they suggest you use to remove shampoo and product buildup. They even suggest that your hair should squeak when you are done washing. These harsh shampoos not only strip the hair of buildup, but they also strip all the natural oils out of your hair. Most conventional shampoos are made with harsh sulfates and other chemicals in order to get that “sudsy” texture that most people associate with shampoo.
There are so many options for natural shampoos that are actually beneficial for your hair, so why subject yourself to a chemical bath? Look for chemical free shampoos that are made with natural, nourishing, and moisturizing ingredients.
Products
Many traditional haircare products contain alcohols or other chemicals that can really dry out your hair. For example, think about the smell and texture of hairspray- those toxic chemicals are extremely damaging to hair (not to mention your lungs!), and suck all the moisture out, leaving your hair feeling crispy and frizzy.
Other styling gels and sprays may temporarily make your hair look good, but once they are washed out, the damage is revealed. There is, however, a highly versatile essential oil that is perfect to apply to your hair as well as many other areas of your body— Argan oil. Recently, more and more companies have started using argan oil in their shampoos and beauty products because of its high concentration of fatty acids, as well as antioxidants and vitamins.
You can either mix argan oil into your existing shampoo, or apply it directly to the scalp and hair. The oil will help restore your hair’s natural moisture and elasticity, as well as hydrate and sooth a dry or itchy scalp. Doing this on a regular basis will help to make your hair healthy again, and prevent future frizziness. For particularly humid and frizzy days, try rubbing a few drops with your hands and massage it into the tips of your hair for frizz-free, shiny, healthy hair.
As an added bonus, argan oil can also be used for other areas of dry skin, as well as to help clear up breakouts. Make sure to look for premium, unrefined argan oil that is not mixed with anything else. We recommend Pura d’or 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil.
Styling
Even if you take very good care of your hair and it’s extremely healthy, damage caused by brushing and styling can leave hair damaged and frizzy. Therefore it’s important to follow a complete healthy hair routine, starting with what you eat and drink, how you wash your hair, what products you use, and how you style your hair. It may seem obvious, but the heat from your hair dryer, straightener, and curling iron can all be very damaging, and can lead to breakage and frizz.
If you must use heat products, then make sure you are using a natural heat protector to prevent damage. We recommend Art Naturals Heat Protection Spray. It’s also a good idea to re-moisturize your styled hair to replenish the moisture lost due to the styling heat.
Your hairbrush might also be a source of frizz. Brushing dry hair can damage the ends, creating a recipe for frizz. Ideally, you would finger-comb your hair as much as possible, maybe with the help of some argan oil to detangle, then comb out the rest of your wet hair, being careful of the ends.