There are four primary factors that cause frizz: the environment, diameter of the hair fiber itself, level of curl, and the amount of damage. Avoid long and hot showers, excess exfoliation, and hot tools like traditional hairdryers and flat irons to prevent frizz.
Frizz occurs due to a lack of moisture in the hair. This causes hair to seek moisture from the air around it, which is why humidity often makes matters worse. In addition to the weather and hair's lack of moisture, there are a number of factors that can leave your hair more vulnerable to frizz.
Dry hair – Dry hair is one of the most prevalent causes of poofy hair. When your hair is dry, it may become brittle, frizzy, and split ends may develop. This damage is visible and may be apparent regardless of how you try to style your hair.
While these terms are often used interchangeably and have similar symptoms, there is a common misconception that frizzy hair means damaged hair and this is simply untrue.
If you have dry, frizzy hair
A short haircut can do wonders for hair that is on the dryer or frizzier side, but it's important to keep it on the longer side and avoid tons of short layers so that the hair can sit nicely without going poufy.
Deficiencies in any of the following vitamins and minerals could manifest as conditions including generalized hair loss, frizziness or brittle hair: Biotin (vitamin B7): Biotin activates enzymes that break down the carbohydrates, fat and protein necessary for hair production and reducing frizz.
Biotin is an essential B vitamin (meaning we need to consume it daily) that's known to be important in hair and nail growth. "When patients have a biotin deficiency, they suffer from thinning, dry hair, and dry skin," says Zeichner.
So, for healthy hair, eat biotin-rich foods such as eggs, liver, milk, soy, hazelnuts and yeast. Generally, a varied and well-balanced diet will bring you all the essential nutrients your hair needs to be healthy and strong.
The reason it gets frizzy is simple, however. Your hair's outer layer, the cuticle, looks similar to a shingled roof. When hair is smooth, the many overlapping layers lie flat. But when you run a brush through it, those layers can lift.
If you notice your hair is frizzy after you apply conditioner, this may be because you haven't applied it on soaking wet hair. Your hair may also feel frizzy due to a lack of moisture, so you want to apply a deep conditioning masque that will help to prevent dryness.
If you feel you've tried everything to combat dry, frizzy hair, it might be worth mentioning your concerns to your doctor. As we enter midlife, our estrogen levels drop, and this hormone change can cause hair loss, changes in hair texture, dryness, frizziness and hair thinning.
Straw-like hair is often the result of common hair care oversights, such as these: using drying and styling tools (dryers, curling irons, electric rollers, flat irons) at too high a heat setting. using heat-based drying and styling tools too frequently. shampooing too often.
B Vitamins
Biotin (vitamin B7) is a particularly good form of vitamin B when it comes to hair. You'll find it's a common ingredient in a lot of hair growth products, although most people should be able to get enough biotin through their diet alone.
Just like your body, your hair requires protein to stay healthy. However, if these amino acids are compromised – by things like heat styling, colouring or other damage to the hair, the protein can become altered, leading to brittle, dry, fragile and frizzy hair.
Because hair is not a living tissue with regenerative ability, it cannot heal and repair. You can use oils, conditioners, hydrolyzed proteins or other ingredients to disguise the issues temporarily but it's akin to using makeup on the face.
A salon keratin treatment, like this one from Keratin Complex, will work to seal additional keratin into the hair, combating frizz, and giving the hair a silky smooth look in the process. And the results can last anywhere from six weeks to five months.
If your frizzy hair is thick or wavy, you can wear it shorter by having multiple layers cut or razored in to thin the hair out and avoid the unwanted poof. A good razor cut can be a beautiful way to reduce heaviness in thick or curly hair that is frizzy.
The Problem: Brittle hair and excess breakage
If your scalp produces less oil when you're stressed, this will add to the breakage, causing your hair to take look and feel brittle.
If you have dry, coarse, curly, or color-treated hair, you may benefit from conditioning your hair more frequently — daily or every other day. These hair types tend to be on the dryer side, and may love a little extra moisture.