How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair: Products and Styling Tips

I love giving advice to others about how to deal with frizzy hair.

Frizzy hair is the bane of any hairstyle. Nobody likes the look of stray baby hairs or wild locks. Battling frizzy hair can be expensive, tiresome, and frustrating. I should know! My hair is long, thick, and coarse and is reminiscent of Medusa's serpentine locks on a good day, to say nothing of humid, blustery days.

Over the years, I've experimented with countless products and styling tricks to try to calm my crazy hair. As a college student, I've always had to keep affordability in mind, so the products that I found that work the best won't break the bank and I've tested them on the wide variety of hair types that my roommates have. One has coarse, naturally curly hair. The other has pin straight hair of average thickness and the last one has thin, straight hair.

Finding a specialized regimen to tame your frizz can take time, but once you get the basics down, you should be good to go!

Shampoo and Conditioner for Frizzy Hair

Every good hair day starts in the shower with your shampoo and conditioner. When it comes to a lot of beauty products, cost doesn't always equal quality. However, in the case of shampoo and conditioner, cost actually does tend to equal quality, although there are some notable brand exceptions like Fructis and Herbol Essences that are inexpensive, but work well to tame frizzy hair.

Some things to keep in mind when it comes to picking a good brand of shampoo and conditioner:

• Are they sulfate free? Sulfate's are harsh on the hair and are what causes shampoo to get frothy when you use it. Opt for healthier hair and go sulfate free.
• Does it have Keratin? Keratin makes hair products more expensive, but it's great when it comes to making hair shiny and smooth.
• Is there a matching conditioner? It may seem like it's a gimmick, but I've always had better results when I use a shampoo and conditioner brand together.
• Does it advertise sleek, smooth or shiny hair? All of these are trigger words that essentially promise the same thing as frizz-free hair.

Products for Frizzy Hair

The products you use on your hair while it is still wet are important as well. The best way to help eliminate frizz is to blow your hair dry, so you'll need a serum or product that offers heat protection while ensuring sleek hair.

A salon product that is expensive, but works the best is Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment. My hair has honestly never felt so silky and smooth after being blown dry. A little goes a long way with most hair serums and products, and a dime size dollop is appropriate for most hair types.

A cheaper alternative that combats frizz and offers heat protection is Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme. Compared to other very similar products that I've tried, like L'Oreal's Smooth and Shine Creme, Frizz-Ease also effectively eliminates static electricity without weighing hair down.

In general, cremes and serums are the best for battling frizz. Sprays or liquid products don't seem to work as well. For curly hair, the Pantene Anti-Frizz Straightening Creme works well as a frizz fighter, and protects your hair from heat if you decide to straighten it. If you don't straighten your hair after application, it still works well.

Styling Tips for Frizzy Hair

If you're lucky, you have hair that will air dry perfectly straight with minimal frizz. But if you're like me, letting your hair air dry not only takes hours, but also creates a halo of frizzy hair. If you want a sleek, straight hairstyle, blow your hair dry! If you have naturally curly hair, blowing it dry only creates more frizz (according to my curly-headed roommate) so you should probably opt for letting it air dry. Use any of the Curly Hair Pantene Line. My roommate has every single product from that line and swears by them all.

When blowing you hair dry, use a concentrator attachment (Image on right). These attachments come with hair dryers many times and fit on the end of the dryer. Follow these tips:

• Angle the dryer down and dry hair from top to bottom.
• Use a paddle brush to help spread hair out as it dries.
• Dry your hair thoroughly. No damp spots!
• Once your hair is dry, use the cold setting on the dryer and use the cold air to set your hair in it's sleek, straight style.

Some of you may be finished at this point, but some other hair types may require one or two minutes with a straightener. Run it through your hair quickly and loosely. This gets rid of any last bit of frizz and also sets your hair one last time.

• Spray a fine toothed comb with hair spray and run it through your hair. Instead of spraying hair spray on your hair directly (which can cause matting or sticky hair), the comb diffuses the hair spray throughout your hair and will protect it from fly-away's and frizz throughout the day.
• Carry a dryer sheet and a comb in your purse throughout the day. If you notice your hair getting frizzy, pierce the sheet with the teeth of the comb and then run through your hair slowly. Dryer sheets remove static electricity from your laundry, so why not your hair?

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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Stanley Green from Czech Republic on March 01, 2014:

Thanks for those valuable tips and tricks. I know some of them already, but some were new to me and really useful. Thumbs up!

MissJamieD from Minnes-O-ta on February 27, 2013:

I love these ideas! I have always had dry, frizzy hair so it's nice to know that some of these products actually work. I've tried a few different products but they never work, I get so discouraged! So thank you again for these tips, I'll definitely be trying these products next time I go shopping!

Sarah Carlsley from Minnesota on December 20, 2012:

Useful hub! I've tried that Brazilian keratin shampoo and conditioner but it did nothing for my hair. But everyone is different!

CityM on November 29, 2012:

My hair is thick, not colored, but prone to frizz in the heat. After using the Shielo Hydrate line, my hair doesn't feel at all frizzy, and the Antioxidant leave in protectant spray just tops it all off perfectly. You can expect to feel a difference in your hair after the first application, I would say.

The shampoo and conditioners are very thick, so they don't drop through your fingers down the drain. But you will need to work it through your hair. Personally, I like that a lot, I lose a lot of money slipping through my fingers down the drain!

Lybrah on October 18, 2012:

Good article. I will try the products you mentioned.

Linda from Texas on October 12, 2012:

I have long curly hair too and I LOVE the Argan Oil.

Kelly Kline Burnett from Madison, Wisconsin on September 30, 2012:

I use these products and I have been taking a vitamin supplement Biotin. Biotin helps my nails and my hair. Being under 50 and frizzy hairs is not attractive - being over 50 and frizzy hair adds decades to the youthful appearance we are all striving for. Thank you for helping us. Great tips.

Jenn from Pennsylvania on September 06, 2012:

These are great tips! I have curly hair that is very prone to getting frizzy, so this was very useful.

Janelle from Houston on August 30, 2012:

Thanks for the tips! Good hub!

vibesites from United States on August 27, 2012:

I've voted this up! Frizzy hair are really a hassle and a distraction to my everyday activities. Thanks for the tips, they'll certainly save my bad-hair days. :)

mmsu from Pakistan on August 21, 2012:

I will tell about this hub to my sister.She is always after new hairdoos!!!

Blurter of Indiscretions from Clinton CT on August 21, 2012:

I totally needed this hub. Frizz and me are good friends. Thanks for sharing!

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on August 21, 2012:

I've always had problem with frizzy hair. I've resorted to a Brazilian keratin treatment recently, but am not sure I want to go that route again as the fumes during the treatment are so noxious. I'm going to try the shampoo/conditioning and silkening treatment you mention. Who knows, maybe it'll work for my hair too! Thanks so much for the helpful information. Voted up and shared!

Kalpana Iyer from India on August 15, 2012:

Interesting! I used to have problems with my frizzy hair too but like you said blow drying makes managing unruly hair simpler. The days I decide to air dry it, I simply cannot manage it afterwards. It's so tedious. I have been hearing a lot about Frizz Ease products (the serum too). Will see if I can get it here in India.

Eria on July 19, 2012:

The dryer sheet seems a good tip, especially when on my hols. il give it a go thanks Shanna.

http://www.eriacta100.com

takerecess from USA on July 18, 2012:

Thanks for posting the products you use. I hate looking at all the product on the shelf to decide which one I should get. They all offer amazing results, but I don't want to waste money testing them. I will check out the ones you suggest!

Melbourne31 from Ogden, Utah on June 26, 2012:

Thanks for the tips! Lets try it..

T4an from Toronto, Ontario on June 18, 2012:

Very good tips. Thank you for sharing. I never thought of using dryer sheets. My hair is a nightmare. Thin and wavy. Not a nice wave but one that looks like I walked through a hurricane.

Tom Brooklyn on June 17, 2012:

I have thick hair that is course and wavy. I have tried no less than 20 different frizz reducing sprays over the last 15 years or so. I have tried the designer ones and the drug store ones and every one in between. Yes, even the expensive moroccan oil! I keep coming back to the Antioxidant Leave in Protecter from the Shielo brand. NOTHING works better to calm the frizz, add shine and protect hair from all the heat styling instruments.

Melissa Flagg COA OSC from Rural Central Florida on June 09, 2012:

Great hub. I didn't know about the sulfates and the keratin. Although, the keratin makes sense. I used to use Frizz Ease leave in spray conditioner, which worked really well, but got a bit expensive (I was using a lot of it). Now I use vitamin E oil. My hair has never been softer or shinier! You'd think it would weigh the hair down, but apparently my hair is so dry, it just absorbs it.

I'm going to try the keratin shampoo and conditioner though. Thanks for this hub!

AmyEliza from Toronto on June 08, 2012:

I have the WORST frizzy hair ever. When people say that their hair is frizzy I laugh at them. I have a bird nest on top of my hair. Frizz Ease works SO well. I also would be lost without my flat iron. Great post.

missioneventsaz from Arizona on June 07, 2012:

I have crazy ringlets, lots of volume and fine hair texture. One of my best discoveries has been coconut oil. A little goes a long way. I just mix a bit of leave-in conditioner with it and... voila! My hair is always soft, shiny and the curls stay frizz free.

Lisas-thoughts101 from Northeast Texas on June 07, 2012:

Shanna, my hair is long and thin but does get frizzy. Do you still recommend the Organix? Did you try that product on your thin haired friend? I voted useful and interesting. Good hub.

Lisa

Teresa Coppens from Ontario, Canada on April 24, 2012:

As I'm getting older, I'm finding my hair is often drier than in the past. the winter is especially bad now. I will be trying many of your suggestions. Great hub Shanna!

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on April 24, 2012:

I haven't had long hair in a long time, but now I do - and the frizz makes me nuts. I'll have to give these products a try! Great hub and many votes. :)

emilybee on April 24, 2012:

I'm so happy to see the Oranix conditioner here!! Don't you love it!!! I currently use that and I agree-it makes my hair so soft. My hair is so thick so I don't have to wash my hair more than twice a week. It just doesn't get oily. Awesome tips.

Nare Gevorgyan on April 24, 2012:

Ohh, you can't imagine, I have been looking for an article like this to find out what product to use for my crazy hair. The thing is that I didn't know the word in English how to call my hair :D so it is fizzy I guess. My hair is thick and straight, well a little wavy. After I take shower it gets really "fizzy" if that's the right word, especially the lower layer. I usually do them with a hair dryer but anyway even if it is perfectly straight and shiny, it is never my desired smooth and "slippery" hair like the one in the picture. Why is that? Can't i ever get that kind of hair just cuz my hair is too thick for it? Or will these products help? Thanks.

Jeannie Marie from Baltimore, MD on April 24, 2012:

Great information and really helpful tips! I fight a constant battle with frizzy hair, so I am going to try some of these tips. I might just try using a dryer sheet today! Thanks! Voted up!

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on April 24, 2012:

John Freida products never worked for my hair. Pantene prodcuts always do. I highly recommend them! Great hub!

Alissa Roberts from Normandy, TN on April 23, 2012:

Your hair looks amazing in that first picture! I too swear by the Frizz-Ease. It does work wonders. Very useful tips here - voted up!

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on April 23, 2012:

I'm so glad I found these tips! I have very curly hair, but it's super fine (I envy your coarser texture!). I hadn't heard of some of these products; I'll look into them! You are absolutely right aboitit sulfate free products. I switched to those and my hair breakage almost disappeared. I like the tip about the dryer sheets, and spraying the comb. I've sprayed my brush, but I think the comb will work even better.

Thanks for publishing this! Voted up, useful, interesting and socially shared!

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on April 19, 2012:

Good tips and tricks. Very useful. Thanks for sharing. Voted up.

Rachel Vega from Massachusetts on April 19, 2012:

I swear by the Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon. It's amazing, but becoming increasingly difficult to find. Great hub! Voted up and useful.

rmcleve on April 18, 2012:

Great points! Don't forget to eat well. Meeting your daily requirements for vitamins, minerals, and proteins will make your hair healthy and strong, which helps me fight the frizz.