Hair Care

How to Tame Frizzy Hair with Moisturizing Products

Posted on Feb 3, 2021

Lorie Knickle

If frizz has ruined more than a few great hair days, it's no wonder that you're looking for a solution. Frizz can be a real style buzz-kill. Luckily there are frizz-control products and tricks that can help you tame the unruliness.

Frizz sets in when hair is dry and cuticles (small, shingle-like scales that coat your hair shaft) become rough and lifted. Cuticles are regularly smooth in healthy hair and protect strands from moisture loss by sealing in all the hydrated goodness. When cuticles are lifted and hair is dry, it pulls in moisture from the surrounding air. This causes strands to swell and become frizzy.

how to tame frizzy hair

Your best line of defence against frizz? Minimize cuticle damage, keep hair hydrated and use products that help block out humidity. 

So how do you achieve this magical mix of hair health and hydration? Keratin can play a large part in cuticle and hair health by helping with the structure of the hair. For more on keratin, click this link. Also look for rich, hydrating formulas that work hard to deeply replenish moisture. And lastly, use products that help block out humidity by adding a protective coat to your strands.

Here’s how to tame your frizzy hair and keep your style sanity!

Tip #1

Use Smoothing, Frizz-Fighting Shampoo and Conditioner

Look for gentle, sulfate-free formulas that won’t strip hair of natural oils. If your hair is damaged, try a pair formulated with keratin.

Ones to try:

frizzy hair shampoo
frizzy hair conditioner

Goldwell Kerasilk Control Shampoo and Conditioner 

This line-up features keratin and liquid silk to give cuticles much-needed TLC. 

frizzy aging hair shampoo frizzy aging hair conditioner

Alterna Caviar Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

This line contains a climate shield complex to lock out humidity and keep moisture in. Plus, it contains anti-aging compounds to care for maturing hair.


Tip #2

Moisturize with a Mask

Work a hydrating hair mask into your hair care routine 1 - 2 times a week. Look for rich formulas and leave on for the maximum amount of time to allow the product to penetrate the hair shaft.

Ones to try:

how to tame frizzy hair mask

Redken Frizz Dismiss Mask

Provides nourishment to soften and hydrate unruly hair.

tame frizz

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask provides hydration for thicker hair types, or try Moroccanoil Weightless Hydrating Mask for finer hair types. 

hydrating hair mask
Both contain anti-oxidant rich argan oil and provide deep hydration to thirsty strands.

Tip #3

Less Friction

While it's not exactly a moisturizing recommendation, reducing friction is an important tip none-the-less. When towel-drying, try not to rub the towel briskly over your hair. This can roughen the cuticle and cause damage in fragile hair. Instead, squeeze out the excess water gently and wrap hair in a microfibre towel, or even a clean t-shirt! This results in less friction and provides a smoother surface over your strands.

Additionally, you can start fighting frizz in your sleep! Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase can help keep hair smooth and cause less friction over night. 

satin pillowcase
Try a satin pillowcase from Kenneth Bernard.

Tip #4

Use a Hair Serum

Hair serums work on the surface of your hair to smooth the cuticle and lock out humidity. By helping to keep the cuticle smooth, moisture stays in and humidity stays out. Plus, serums help to make hair more manageable for easier styling. Use on damp, clean hair before applying any other products. Avoid your roots and apply from mid-shaft to ends.


Ones to try:

Serum for frizzy hair

Goldwell DualSenses Just Smooth Serum

This serum for frizzy hair instantly provides 6 smoothing benefits: anti-frizz, humidity control, taming, manageability, smoothing and natural shine.

serum for frizzy hair

Pureology Smooth Perfection Smoothing Serum

Smoothes and restores with a blend of camellia and shea butter. Provides UV and heat protection for colour-treated hair.


Tip #5

Use a Hair Oil

Hair oils penetrate strands deeply to provide much-needed moisture to the core, whereas serums work more on the surface of strands. Because oils absorb into strands, they work to keep the core hydrated so hair doesn’t pull moisture from the surrounding air. Use an oil on damp hair from mid-shafts to ends as a styling prep, or on dry hair. To learn more about hair oils, click for 5 Ways to Use Hair Oils.

Ones to Try:

Moroccanoil for frizzy hair

Moroccanoil Treatment - Regular for medium to thick hair or Light for fine hair

A classic argan-infused oil that nourishes deeply, leaving hair silky and shiny.

tame frizzy hair oil

Goldwell Kerasilk Control Rich Protective Oil

Formulated with rich keratin and liquid silk to help strengthen and protect strands, all while taming and adding shine + manageability.

Tip #6

Try a Creamy Leave-In Product

To tame hair that is particularly unruly and coarse, try a softening leave-in cream. Many also provide light styling properties while conditioning hair and making it more manageable. Most can be used on damp or dry hair; use on damp hair as a styling prep and on dry, to tame flyaways throughout the day.

Ones to try:

tame frizzy hair

Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Leave-in Treatment

This vegan, cruelty-free option is enriched with almond and peach oil for all-day frizz protection.

Frizzy hair cream

Virtue The Polish Un-Frizz Cream

Contains Alpha Keratin 60ku®, a keratin protein that binds directly to hair to help transform the hair structure leaving hair sleek and frizz-free.

Tip #7

Heat Protection

Because heat can compromise cuticles and can contribute to moisture loss, thermal protection is a must. Although many of the products listed earlier provide heat protection, it’s an important to ensure you use a heat protectant before breaking out the hot hair tools. Another hot tip (or not so hot tip in this case!): try turning down the heat on your hot tools to help further reduce moisture loss and damage.

Ones to try:

Thermal protection spray for hair

AG Hair Firewall

Infused with argan oil for extra shine and frizz control.

frizzy hair spray

Kenneth Bernard Protect Thermal Protection Spray

Shields hair from hot tools while creating a moisture barrier and providing light styling.


Tip #8

Finish with Spray

Try a humidity-blocking spray to finish your style. There are options that provide everything from zero-hold to heavy hold. On baby hairs and fine flyaways, try spritzing a clean toothbrush with a bit of spray and then lightly brush down into place.

Ones to try:

frizzy hair spray

Goldwell Kerasilk Control Humidity Barrier

Finish off your look with this shine-enhancing, silk and keratin-infused spray that's nice and light.

frizzy hair spray

AG Hair Frizzproof

This argan-oil-infused, lightweight spray locks out humidity all day.

Frizz control

Follow these frizz-fighting tips and say hello to smooth and happy hair days!

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