It’s only natural for your hair to change in texture and appearance with age. Your once smooth and silky hands are now frizzy. Frizzy hair is a result from dry and under-moisturized hair. The outer layer of the hair resorts to absorbing moisture from the air, causing it to swell and frizz. The cuticle layers, which should lay flat, open up when damaged or exposed to moisture. The good news is frizz can be managed and prevented. Say farewell to frizzy hair with these haircare practices.
- Use a Serum
A serum is a beneficial way to manage and repair damage, increase growth and shine, and smooth the strands. A serum or oil can serve as a barrier protecting your hair from humidity, which will help control frizziness. Apply oil to your hair while it is damp to help your hair retain moisture and dry smoother. Hair oils should be applied to the mid-length to the ends of your hair.
Look for these ingredients in a serum:
Argan Oil
Argan oil is high in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E which all helps to hydrate and soften your hair. Argan oil will seal your strands and allow them to stand up against humidity.
Bamboo
Bamboo extract improves hair’s moisture retention so it has a healthy, non-greasy shine and resists frizz caused by humidity or dryness. Bamboo will help you withstand breakage by increasing your hair’s elasticity.
Ginger
Ginger helps soften and nourish hair strands while stimulating the scalp.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is similar to the sebum your body produces naturally. Jojoba has moisturizing properties that signals your hair and skin follicles that it doesn’t need more sebum.
- Deep Condition Weekly
Conditioner acts as a protective shield by preventing swollen and waterlogged strands. Its oils, butters, conditioning polymers and other hydrating elements will help strengthen and smooth your hair. A conditioning mask soaks in your hair from anywhere between 5 minutes to all night long. To hydrate your strands, look for ingredients like avocado oil, olive oil, argan oil, shea butter, honey, and bananas.
- Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
The presence of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar gives it a pH level similar to that of human hair. The low pH level helps to reduce frizz. After shampooing your hair, pour apple cider vinegar over the entire head and let sit for about 30 seconds before rinsing — for best results, rinse with cool water. After this, condition your hair as you normally would.
- Reduce Friction
Your hair is most fragile when it is wet, so avoid abrasive hair towels. Firstly, towel-drying roughens the hair cuticle, which causes it to lift up rather than lie flat. Cotton towels can draw moisture out of your hair quickly and lead to frizz. Instead, use a microfiber towel to gently absorb excess moisture and reduce breakage.
Additionally, it is essential to protect your hair when you’re sleeping. Invest in a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction and prevent breakage. These slippery fabrics allow hair cuticles to glide across the pillowcase instead of getting snagged by it.
- Sulfate-Free, Glycerin-Packed Shampoo
It’s especially important to use a sulfate-free shampoo when you’re dealing with frizz! Sulfate’s strip and dehydrate your strands, causing them to become dry and frizzy. In addition to reaching for sulfate-free formulas, choose ones that are packed with glycerin, which helps combat frizz by penetrating the hair and hydrating it from the inside out. It’s also a humectant, meaning it absorbs the extra moisture in the air and creates a protective coating around the outside of the hair to help lock in moisture.