Why Your Hair Is Frizzy And How To Fix It FAST

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If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that frizzy hair is an annoyance we’d rather not deal with. However, during the winter months with cooler temperatures and increased indoor heating, sleek, soft hair is a lot harder to maintain and frizz is sadly much more common. Although, don’t stress… To help you tame your mane, we got in touch with our go-to hairstylist and all-round haircare savior, Eduardo Bravo, who has styled the tresses of supermodels like Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber. He gave us the full rundown on why your hair frizzes, how to prevent it, and how to deal with it.

Why Your Hair Gets Frizzy

“Frizz is caused when the hair is dry and lacks moisture,” Eduardo begins, hence why frizz is common during the winter months. He continues, “When your hair is dry this causes the cuticle – the outermost layer of the hair structure – to be rough, and when the weather is humid the hair takes in the moisture of the air, causing the hair to swell and frizz.”

How To Prevent Frizz

To prevent frizz, there are a number of hair care rituals that’ll seriously help. Some of them are as simple as a drying technique but trust us, they really work. Here are Eduardo’s top five tips:

1. Do Not Over-Wash Your Hair

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“I would recommend that a healthy scalp only needs to be cleansed with shampoo three to four times a week, depending on your activity.” If you’re a gym bunny you may need to adapt this number. However, Eduardo insists that “This doesn’t mean you can’t rinse your hair daily. You can wet your hair on a daily basis but instead of shampoo, just use the running water and massage your scalp with the balls of your fingertips for one minute for a blissed-out self-care mini treatment.”

2. Use the Right Shampoo

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We’re huge believers in investing in a good shampoo and conditioner, as is Eduardo: “Frizz prevention starts in the shower; make sure to wash your hair with shampoos that are fragrance, silicone, paraben, and sulfate-free. Clean ingredients help nourish the hair and smooth the cuticle, locking in the moisture you’ve just washed your hair with.”

We’d also recommend finding a shampoo and conditioner that’s suited to your hair type as even if you’re investing in a good shampoo, if the formula isn’t catered to your hair concerns it could increase frizz. For example, a lightweight formula will not work for curly and coarse hair, and likewise, a heavy formula will leave fine hair looking greasy. Eduardo recommends Tropic Isle Living as they have a “wide range of shampoos that focus on moisture, using Organic Cold-Pressed Jamaican Castor Oil” So you can find one that works for you.

3. Don’t Rub Your Hair Dry

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Once you’ve shown your hair some love in the shower, “Make sure to never rub your hair with a towel,” says Eduardo. “Instead, after rinsing your hair, use a wide-tooth comb while still in the shower and detangle your hair. Then squeeze excess water using your hands. Once you’ve toweled your body, use a separate towel, preferably made from microfiber, and blot your hair dry.”

The Pattern Beauty Microfibre Towel, $19, is a great option and we can confirm it definitely makes a huge difference to your frizz levels. Eduardo finishes by saying, “You can twist the hair up on top of your head while doing your beauty routine, but the point here is to have hair dry without friction.”

4. Use a Silk Pillowcase

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If there’s one thing you should put on your Christmas wishlist, it’s a silk pillowcase. Eduardo explains why “We often do our haircare in the bathroom and forget about it. If you think about it, we are in bed (hopefully) for a minimum of eight hours, laying and rubbing our hair against the pillow that supports our head. If you have frizz, this can actually be the most damaging since the friction breaks down the cuticle even further, causing all that moisture we just worked into it to escape. My favorite silk pillowcase is the Slip Silk Pillowcase, $85, and as a bonus, this silk pillowcase prevents wrinkles and helps fight puffy pillow face.” To find out more about the benefits of a silk pillowcase, read this.

5. Be Careful Using Heat

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We all know that using heat styling products damages our hair and, as it turns out “Overusing heat will cause more frizz in the long term.” While Eduardo says he realizes, “Sometimes air drying is just not an option, especially during the winter months or that big dinner date.” However, he insists that when you do use heat styling tools “Make sure you always protect your hair with a clean, silicone-free serum. As a serum will feed your hair with moisture and leave your locks shiny and make them healthier.”

How To Wash Your Hair To Prevent Frizz

Besides, washing your hair with water rather than shampoo on occasion, there are other helpful hair washing rituals you can use to combat frizz. Eduardo begins; “Do not use hot water on your hair. Instead, save the steamy water for your skin when your washing your body and have a conditioning mask in your hair (as explained earlier).”

Yup, cold showers are better for you hair, Eduardo adds that “They’re not only amazing for hair but for your health! Don’t worry, you don’t need to freeze/shock yourself the whole time. Just make sure that you start with lukewarm water, add shampoo, wash your body and rinse with cold water for at least 30 seconds. A little challenge; breathe deeply through the rush! Your hair, soul, and brain will thank you! After washing with the right shampoo, you will notice that your hair doesn’t need as much conditioner! Unless, you have extremely curly, dry and frizzy hair you will only need to condition two to three times a week. A mask that I love and recommend on all hair types is by Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask, $39, for intense moisture.”

Eduardo’s Airdrying Tips To Reduce Frizz

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Of course, there are healthy hair hacks at every stage of your styling routine, and this includes drying time. Airdrying is always better for the hair, and when doing so, Eduardo says “Do not brush hair when letting your hair air dry. A big mistake most people do when they try to fight frizz is trying to tame the hair by brushing it and over touching the hair. What this does is further ruffle up the cuticle and make the frizz worse. Instead, once you’ve showered, blotted hair dry, and added a moisturizing oil, leave the hair alone! Do not touch while drying, both air and diffusing with blow-drier. Only use your fingers to separate or scrunch hair once fully dry.”

Eduardo’s Must-Have Product To Reduce Frizz

When we asked Eduardo for the best anti-frizz formula, he replied “Argan Oil. Hands down, it’s the best oil to use in your hair due to the oil molecules being small enough to penetrate the hair shaft making it instantly, deeply moisturizing while strengthening without weighing the hair down. It’s rich in antioxidants, like Vitamin E, which protects the cells from oxidation. This is beauty food, not only good for hair but for the skin as well, meaning the scalp! It helps against psoriasis and eczema.”

However, Eduardo adds, “One big warning, not all Argan oils are created equally! Cheaper quality Argan oil comes from oxidized seeds that are left in sacks until fully filled, causing the seeds to dry out. Then, when they are pressed, they produce a rancid smell. To mask the smell, a deodorization process is implemented which kills all nutrients.”

Adding “The brand I swear by, and literally the only oil I have and use for everything, even on my salads, is Arganic. Arganic is the real deal, pure and 100% sustainable. The seeds are immediately cold-pressed after they are separated from the shell of the fruit so they are not affected by oxidation. No silicones, fillers, preservatives or fragrances are ever used! Additionally, instead of just giving instant and superficial relief as any cheap quality hair lubricant can do, the Cosmetic Argan Oil, $26, improves the quality of the hair over time by increasing elasticity making the hair smoother and glossier. Argan oil has also been proven to stop hair shedding when used regularly on the scalp.”

But Remember, Healthy Hair and Skin Starts From Within!

On one final note, Eduardo says “Make sure you know that treating frizz is not just a one-time fix. Be patient and loving with your hair, and most importantly; YOURSELF! Following the above will definitely get you on the right path. Remember that beauty and self-love starts in the kitchen with mindful eating, with your fitness exercise, and implementing healthy habits. As an amazing consequence; your skin and hair beauty will shine through!” If you want to eat with your hair in mind, check out these 15 beautifying foods.

For more hair care tips from Eduardo, check out how to revive your hair in three steps.