Taming frizzy hair

We've all been there. Hair is shiny and beautiful, then, suddenly, the frizzies set in and you become a cloud of fuzz. Eve Cameron reveals how to beat the frizz.

According to top trichologist Philip Kingsley you can blame it on the weather, as it's mainly humidity that causes frizzy hair, as well as static electricity.

It can affect all hair types, though curly hair suffers most of all. While you can't do much about the environmental conditions, you can take precautionary measures.

Taming and styling frizzy hair is all about product says former British hairdresser of the Year Lisa Shepherd. 'Frizzy hair lacks moisture, so products should be focused on replacing it,' she explains.

So what to do?

This means starting off your haircare routine with a moisturising shampoo and conditioner. You could also try using a leave-in conditioner once or twice a week and an intensive treatment every few weeks for an extra shot of moisture. Make sure your hair is always completely dry before going out too, as damp hair quickly becomes frizzy.

It's a good idea to use a specific frizz-fighting serum or cream before blow drying as this will seal the cuticle against further moisture loss and also smooth it, so the hair looks shinier. With this type of product, remember less is more – just a few drops are needed for a result. Too much can weigh your hair down or make it look greasy.

Top styling tips

As for styling frizz-prone hair, try these three top tips from Australian celebrity stylist Kevin Murphy:

1. Always wait until your hair is just about dry before using your hair dryer. If your hair is too wet you will lose your natural wave and get a frizz rather than a curl. When blow-drying the hair, keep the dryer moving instead of just concentrating on one section - this will again help to prevent frizz.

2. If you want to pull some of the curl out of your hair without fear of frizz apply a moisturising cream to your hair while it is damp. Section your hair into two parts (left and right). Twist each side until the hair twists on itself, secure with a band and leave until dry. Remove the bands and let the hair untwist on its own, the result will be soft flowing waves and no frizz. The secret here is not to disturb the hair while it is drying - playing with your hair as it dries can promote frizz.

3. If you have slightly frizzy hair and want smooth waves, apply a setting lotion or curl enhancing lotion and, when your hair has dried, put your hair in rollers (Murphy prefers old-style plastic ones to Velcro or bristle ones). The top section should be rolled back off the face with the sides and back rolled down.
Leave the rollers in for 10 minutes or so and then remove them without disturbing the hair too much, letting it drop of its own accord. The result will be soft, natural looking waves and no frizz.

4. After styling you can add more serum or a spritz of an anti-frizzing hairspray (also a good investment if you have a few greys, which changes the texture of the hair to be coarser and frizzier).

5. One final tip: don't underestimate the importance of regular trims – they'll keep dry, fuzzy ends under control and make you look more groomed.

If you need more help, there are lots of products specially formulated to cope with frizzy hair – read our top 10 recommendations here

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