Beating Frizz or Learning to Embrace It

Frizz can feel like the ultimate curly hair struggle - but it doesn’t have to be. With the right techniques and products, you can keep your curls smooth, defined, and full of life.

You can also embrace the frizz, learn to love a voluminous style that's got character, individuality and rocks your personality.

It's firstly important to understand why frizz occurs.  Frizz happens when the hair’s cuticle layer, the outermost part of the strand, lifts or opens up instead of lying flat. This lets moisture from the air pass through and swell the hair shaft unevenly, making curls, waves, or even straight hair look puffy, fuzzy, or undefined.

The main reasons frizz occurs are;

✨ Moisture imbalance - Curly and textured hair tends to be naturally drier. When it lacks moisture, it tries to grab it from the air, causing the hair shaft to swell and frizz.

✨ Humidity - In damp environments, excess water molecules get into the hair’s structure, disrupting curl patterns and creating flyaways.

✨ Raised cuticle - Damage from heat, harsh brushing, or chemical treatments roughens the cuticle, making it harder for strands to lie smoothly.

✨ Friction – Cotton pillowcases, rough towels, or over-manipulation of curls can disturb the cuticle and lead to frizz.

✨ Product build-up or imbalance – Using the wrong products - too heavy or too light - can leave hair unprotected and vulnerable to frizz.

Ultimately frizz is the hair's cry for balance - lacking moisture or struggling with a rough cuticle surface.

So here are a few tips to help deal with Frizz.  

1. Keep Hair Hydrated

Frizz often comes from dryness. Water is your friend! Cleanse thoroughly but avoid harsh shampoos that strip the natural sebum from the scalp.  Use a nourishing conditioner and where needed a Leave in Conditioner too but ensure they're light and will not weight the hair down which can result in too much moisture and limp curls.  

2. Don’t Overwash

Curly hair doesn't need washing every day, in-fact less frequent washes is often best - aim for around once a week but learn to feel what your scalp and hair needs.  Washing removes dirt, excess product and build up.  If you don't use heavy styling products, you won't need stringent shampoos, it may be that you need water and a refresh rather than a shampoo cleanse.  This will all help to prevent frizz.

3. Condition Generously

Moisture is key.  Because of the way curl hair grows, the natural sebum often doesn't reach the length of the hair follicle, so extra help is needed.  Apply a good nourishing conditioner that can be absorbed into the hair delivering the necessary oils and strengthening from within.  Leave the conditioner in the hair to do it's work - don't wash it off too quickly to ensure the goodness seaps in.  

4. Seal in the Moisture 

Once you've added in the moisture, seal it in.  This can be through a serum or lightweight oils that coat the hair.  Our Leave in Conditioner is a one stop shop with oils that penetrate and coat using castor oil, sweet almond oil and abyssinica oil in the right quantities to protect.  

5. Don't Disrupt the Follicle

Curly hair is delicate and doesn't like to be overly disrupted.  When drying after a wash, use a microfiber towel and gently pat dry the hair, rather than rubbing which creates friction and leads to frizz.  Likewise when sleeping, protect the strands using a satin or bamboo pillowcase or bonnet so the moisture isn't sucked out of the hair during the night. 

The key is to remember that whilst curls look robust they're actually quite fragile and need more moisture than you think.  Avoid over-manipulation and breaking the curl strands.  They like to clump together and when left alone they'll last much much longer! 

Or Learn to Embrace the Frizz, adopt a new style and let your hair do it's thing.