Frizzy Natural Curly Hair

Long and frizzy curly hair
Photo: Michaelheim/Shutterstock
Q: I have extremely frizzy natural curly hair. I would love a wash and go, but that's impossible. Can you tell me of any OTC (over the counter) products that would help the MAJOR FRIZZ? I would love something that softens my curls and makes the natural curl manageable.
 
A: Well, there have been in recent years a tremendous number of products made available for helping to tame frizzy, naturally curly hair. In some cases, adding a single hair product is sufficient to give smooth, luxurious curls. However, for most women, their hair needs more help than a single product can provide. For these women, achieving smooth curls is a matter of developing a hair care routine.
 
It starts with the shampoo and conditioner. Look for the products that offer "sleek and smooth" hair. Make sure when using the conditioners in this line that you don't skimp on the length of time you leave them on the hair. In most cases, very curly natural hair is coarse and requires more moisture than is needed by other hair types.
 
After shampooing, squeeze the excess water from the hair, apply the conditioner and leave it on for at least 3 minutes (or the length of time directed by the manufacturer, whichever is greater) and rinse with cool water. (The cool water helps to contract the cuticle layer and helps the hair retain the moisture given by the conditioner.)
 
The next step requires the use of a smoothing serum/anti-frizz serum. After rinsing the hair, blot away the excess moisture using a dry towel and squeezing the hair between the folds of the towel, or pressing the towel against the scalp to blot away the excess moisture of the hair at the scalp area.
 
DO NOT rub the hair in the towel or with the towel. Rubbing the hair only creates friction in the hair strands and roughs up the cuticle layer of the hair causing frizz. If you prefer, you can simply wrap the hair in the towel turban-fashion and let the towel wick away the moisture as you continue your normal routine.
 
Once towel-dried, apply the anti-frizz/smoothing serum to your damp hair and use a wide-tooth comb to distribute it evenly. For best results, you should air-dry the hair whenever possible. If, however, you need it dried faster, always use a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer, and spray the hair with a leave-in conditioner before drying, but make sure to use the wide-toothed comb to distribute the product evenly.
 
You may use styling products (gels, lotions, balms) to give an extra hold to your curls, but make sure to use the wide-tooth comb to distribute these products through the damp hair before drying as well. Always choose products with no alcohol content to prevent drying out the hair and resultant frizz.
 
Dry the hair with the diffuser and your fingers. Use the fingers to lift the hair and allow the air to circulate through the curls. The more you lift the hair, the fuller the dry style will be, but be careful to try and avoid breaking the curls up as they dry. If they look too wet because of the clumping effect of the product used, simply squeeze them between the fingers in a "scrunching" manner.
 
You want to avoid running your fingers through the curls so that they stay as collected as possible. This should give you the smooth, luxurious looking curls you want.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Hair care
 
Dry hair causes and solutions
 
Why does hair frizz?
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