There's a time and place for everything-- frizz included. Sometimes, it's inevitable due to environmental factors, but there are occasions where frizz is preventable. Here are 5 tips on how you can avoid frizz:
1. Keep your hands out of your hair!
Yes, we have all had "Hand in Hair Syndrome (curlynikki)" where we get the urge to play in our curls-- pull them, twirl them, and whatever else-- but constantly touching your hair can lead to frizz and other damage! Some naturals have noticed breakage after constant touching, so if you wish to have healthy, frizz-free hair, keep your hands at bay!
2. Skip the towel dry.
Using a towel isn't the best way to dry your hair; a t-shirt is! (Yes, I said a t-shirt.) Towels often absorb much of the moisture we need and although they seem soft to us, they're often rough on hair and can raise the cuticle layer which creates frizz! Using an old old t-shirt to dry your hair is a better alternative as it dries the hair and avoids roughening the outer layer thus reducing frizz.
3. Stay away from humectants in humid weather.
Humectants-- glycerin, propylene glycol, and even honey-- draw moisture from the air. When products that contain humectants are applied to the hair in humid conditions, it creates the opposite effect and causes frizz! Using products that contain little to no humectants in humid weather will keep frizz away. If you have had no issues and/or your hair benefits from humectants in any kind of weather, go for it!
4. Avoid using hot water.
You heard me-- skip the hot water during the wash process! Although hot water can remove dirt and buildup and it feels great, it causes more harm to the hair than good. Hot water is drying and raises the cuticle layer of the hair strand creating (you guessed it) frizz. Hair should be rinsed in very lukewarm to cold water. If you cannot bear cold water (big baby), I recommend using an ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) rinse. Just be sure to dilute the ACV with water! And no, you will not smell like vinegar; the smell will dissipate after a few minutes leaving you with frizz-free and shiny hair :)
5. Use products with the right amount of hold.
This is for your twist outs, WnGs, etc. When you do one of these styles, it is imperative that you use a product with the right amount of hold if you wish for the style to last several days. If you neglect to do so, you may (not necessarily will) experience frizz within a day or so of the style. I often use gel or some other kind of holding product when I do these styles because I want to create a shiny, defined, and frizz-free style! After about 3-4 days, I welcome frizz only because it makes the style expand and look that much more bad ass ;)
Until next time,
Ashley, xo.
Do you have any tips on avoiding frizz? Share them below!
