Sorry, I don’t have a perfume topic today, but perhaps one that may be near and (but maybe not so) dear to some of your hearts: frizzy hair.
The past week or two we have had so much humidity, rain, fog and cloudy skies that I’m starting to think my city was secretly transplanted to the Pacific Northwest when I wasn’t looking.
Now I really do like the rain and don’t mind cloudy days, but when we haven’t seen the sun for what feels like ages, the back yard looks like our own private lake, and the neighbors start to grumble about building an ark, then I begin to protest.
But on a more personal level, what’s really bugging me is my hair. It’s pretty straight and is normal to oily in most seasons, save for winter, but here lately I’ve been stuck in a frizzy state of mane. Not enough frizz to look cool and stylish and natural, but just enough to look ratty around the edges, verging on unkempt.
I tried spraying a bit of hair spray onto my hands and trying to calm it down, but that was no real help. And I would try an anti-frizz cream but fear it will weigh my hair down and make it oilier even faster.
I have been pulling out the hat trick, but hate to keep wearing them day in and day out lest my co-workers think I’m trying to hide something. Plus on the warmer days, it gets a little toasty because they are velvet or velour or wool and I would feel decidedly weird wearing my airy straw boaters in November. And I am sooo not chic enough to pull off a scarf wrapped around my head or one of those turban looks.
Do any of you ever have this problem? If so, any suggestions for fighting the frizzy hair blues? Maybe there’s a miracle product that calms the frizz without the side effects. Or something else that helps nip it in the bud. You all always seem to know the best tips and tricks for fixing beauty issues.
I am so envous of the women I’ve seen with big, beautiful, full, blown-out frizzy ‘dos — they look great, but my hair is way too thin and limp to ever pull that off.
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Loving the comments. My hair is fine and frizzy, year round, and what I do is embrace the frizz. A layered cut, the minimum amount of conditioner, Lush’s sea spray, shake it and I’m good. And yes, never comb or brush it after it’s dry! It’s not worth the trouble to blow it out here, unless I’m attending a wedding, or something. Just too darn humid, and I want to be always ready to swim, if the opportunity arises!
Solanace, I love your “embrace the frizz”! And I bet your hair looks great. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say. My frizz is just enough to look pathetic, alas.
Embracing it is pretty much just what you have to do, and probably what you’ll end up doing eventually out of sheer lack of will to continue fighting it.
And once you do it’s amazing how drastically your life improves. No more worrying about humidity or rain. No more worrying about it being too hot and sweating and ruining your hair. It’s like a massive weight is lifted from your shoulders.
Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil – a few spritzes on damp hair before styling works miracles! I’m also a fan of Alterna 10-in-1 Styling Creme. My hair is also fine and frizzy, and these products bring me the sleekness I love!
More great products to try! Thanks, maggiecat, I’m looking forward to some sleekness, too (and also hoping the rain/mist/humidit stops soon).
I’ll second the argan oil recommendation. You’ll want to use so little that you can’t imagine it can possibly do anything. That’s exactly the right amount! I rub it between my palms, then ‘stroke’ it onto my hair from the ears downward (my hair is shoulder length), both upright and with my head down (the underside of the hair). Then I comb it through. My hair is naturally light blonde and very fine, but does frizz with humidity.
Just shampoo and the argan oil?
Ah — another vote for argan oil! I love the simplicity of it, too, Teri!
I apologize. I should have been clearer. I use the argan oil between shampoos, on dry hair. I do use a conditioner when I shampoo. I use Paul Mitchell’s Colorcare Conditioner and have done ever since I started coloring my gray.
Good to know. Thanks, Teri!!
Hi Ann! Here’s what worked for my mom who has similar hair to what you describe (and also for me though my hair is thicker than my mom’s) :
1) rub a drop or two (not more) of argan oil between your fingers and comb through hair (not scalp)- it is a very light oil so gets absorbed quickly.
2) Optional step : you can follow this with Original Moxie’s Mane Tame which is a light anti frizz (I personally stopped using this because it contains silk, an ingredient I try to avoid, but it is a lovely product and my mom loved it).
3) I end this routine with some of Cocoapink’s glissade which is a silicone free anti-frizz and so very light. For me it works more to make my hair look ‘styled’ and ‘not dead’ rather than tame frizz.
I would start with 1) and 3) OR 2) and 3). These products don’t weigh the hair down so they might work for you..
oh and all that is to wet hair. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Lavanya! I never thought of using argan oil on hair, so now I’m digging through my products trying to find mine. And glad to hear those products don’t wear hair down — my biggest fear!
Oops — that should have been “weigh hair down.” 🙂
Ann, another sufferer from split personality hair here. If the weather’s arid, have straight to slightly wavy hair. Any humidity and look out! Here’s what works for me:
-shampoo with Living Proof No Frizz
-condition ends with Fekkai Color Care Technician mask (doesn’t weigh down fine hair)
-apply Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream if super humid; apply their Wave-Making styling cream if less humid (it’s disco’d but still available on a “gone but not forgotten” section of their site)
-use a comb to style into desired shape & diffuse for a few minutes or let air dry. Really key to never use a brush on frizz-prone hair. Hair will be crunchy & look wet until you comb it out–I usually leave it alone for an hour or two, but once dry & combed it will look good & resist frizzing more than any method I’ve tried.
Great tips there, Caroline — thanks! And more votes for Living Proof, I see.
I think I actually have some of the Fekkai around here as well. But it will be quite a challenge for me not to use a brush as I always use one to work on turning the ends under for my bob.
when you have product in your hair, you can turn the ends under with a comb, shoot for a minute with a diffuser, and it’ll dry turned under (I have a bob too, sometimes layered, sometimes close to all one length). Step away from the brush, Ann!
OK, Caroline — I’ll give it a try! (But I might have to lock my round brushes away) 🙂 !!
My hair is multi shades of grey, fine and somewhat oily, layered from ears to shoulders. I just had a body perm – best ever – with keratin in it. Really minimal frizz. I condition the ends after washing, and if it will tolerate it without going flat (depends how recent the perm is, the more recent the drier and frizzier) I rub some conditioner on my fingers and just barely touch the ends all the way around before loosely blowing dry. Then I smooth and curl with a 3/4″ hot brush – not too hot. The perm assures both that it holds the curl, and that I don’t have to use too high heat. Anything more than a smidge of hairspray guarantees I’ll have to wash it again the next day.
As for going outdoors, decorative bobby pins just above the ears hold it out of your face, prevent snarls and frizz, and sometimes lend a bit of a bend in the hair. Just pull them out when you get to the office or wherever. Maybe a casual french twist for control in the wind? I don’t like to wear my hair pulled back from my face, but for temporary control I’ll compromise.
Hope something here is helpful.
Oh, yes — Andrea, thanks so much!! I especially want to try the bobby pin trick, and maybe a body perm would be helpful, too.
My hair is fine and becomes frizzy when I let it air-dry and on humid days. I haven’t found any product that helps. Oh and my hair is naturally wavy. Usually I usually prefer it straight so I use a hair straightener/flat iron. I don’t know why – maybe the heat – but it also takes all the frizz away. Always works.
Maya, that’s genius! I never thought of a flat iron. Might have to borrow my bestie’s and see if it works for me. Thanks!
I’m on a quest to find the answer to this question as well. I have half the hair I used to have and what I have is frizzy. Big poufy fuzz. Occasionally I have a good hair day but mostly it’s just dry and awful. I’m trying Deva Curl products now to see if they help. I like oils a lot too. I find my hair looks best when it’s freshly colored.
Howdy, Poodle! I keep hearing good things about Deva Curl, too. And I agree wholeheartedly with you — I think those wiry little grays act up and are one of the prime culprits when it comes to the frizz. So hair color, here we come! Plus, hair color seems to dry out the hair a little (mine at least) so it doesn’t seem to get oily quite so fast.
Yep, my hair is fine, limp, and frizzy. Which is why I just chopped it all off into a fab pixie cut! Highly recommend – no regrets! But I have always been more of a makeup girl than a hair girl. Back when I was trying to tame the beast I found Unite’s 7 second leave in conditioner spray (spray when hair is damp before drying or air drying) did help stop the frizz and does not weigh the hair down at all. Also, my natural dirty blonde hair has been every color under the sun and find going a bit darker helps give the hair some shine and life.
Cindy, your pixie cut sounds beautiful I used to wear mine that way and loved it. I need to try that conditioner spray you mention as well. Thanks!!
A pixie cut works so nicely with all sorts of makeup. Hope you’re having a lot of fun with yours.
I really am enjoying it! Thank you!
Yay!!
The only thing that works for my fine, frizzy hair is Living Proof, specifically the Perfect Hair Day range. That and drying it immediately when I get out of the shower with the DevaCurl microfiber towel.
Hi, Joanna! I’m so glad you mentioned the Living Proof line — I’ve heard good things about it and wanted to try it. Hadn’t heard of the DevaCurl towel though. Thanks!
By the way, I live in Houston, Tx. I am all too familiar with rain and humidity! 🙂
Amen, Brandi!
I like Matrix Biolage shampoo, conditioner and hair gel during the colder, wetter season. It leaves my hair very soft and smooth. I won’t impress anyone with my hairstyle, but really, who does on a cold wet day? I have fine hair and using products to smooth my hair during the washing and conditioning process is better than applying some non frizz goop afterwards that makes it look greasy and clumpy instead. I find it at the local drug store. We are still dealing with 80 degree temps and mosquitos. It rained yesterday and I was happy to finally be donning a rain jacket and boots!
Hi, Brandi! You make a good point: Maybe I should try the Biolage and see if I can’t control the frizz that way, so thanks. BTW, I had family members who lived in Houston years ago, so I know what you’re saying. It stays pretty warm there for quite a while into the fall. Enjoy the rain, as it might help break things up and usher in cooler temps.