Anyone with hair prone to frizz (you're not alone) will know humidity is public enemy number one - summer and winter. The causes of persistent flyaways are varied. From dryness, bleaching, and excessive use of hot tools - how your hair is cut can also be questioned. Because you can't control the weather, the best way to combat frizz is to follow the steps below, says editor Trudi Brewer.
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What causes frizz?
We all know that humid conditions and wet weather create frizzy follicles; when there’s lots of moisture in the air (summer and winter), the water vapours enter the porous hair shaft, breaking the bond between the hair's keratin proteins and its hydrogen molecules, and almost instantly hair becomes frizzy and limp. Greys are also a significant cause of frizz. They are finer in weight than other pigmented hairs and usually start shorter, so they appear flyaway. Frizz can be an issue, especially around hairlines, where baby hairs can snap from over-processing colour or heat styling.
New this month
The latest collection of frizz-controlling products we are uber-impressed with and not just the price - they are also 94 per cent natural. Discover how it works.
NEW UMBERTO GIANNINI FRIZZ FIX SHAMPOO, $26.
KeraFUSION bond repair, a technology made from thistle milk extract, with hyaluronic acid, and a metal detox technology to remove minerals from shower water.
This styling cream helps you achieve a salon-looking blowout. Thanks to the KeraFUSION, peptides, vitamin E, and pro-vitamin B5, glossy locks await.
NEW UMBERTO GIANNINI FRIZZ FIX CONDITIONER, $26.
That same plant-based keratin, KeraFUSION, blended with coconut oil and vitamin E, does more than smooth every strand. It leaves hair feeling soft and looking ultra-glossy.
This dry oil is the finishing touch frizzy hair needs. It's stacked with plant-based kerasylium (a keratine alternative) to smooth those extra flyaways.
Skip a wash
You do not need to wash your hair every day. Hair looks better on day two because a little natural oil (aka slightly dirty hair) helps weigh the hair down just enough to fight the frizz.
Schwarzkopf Osis+ Glow Shine Serum, $34.
This silicone-free, shin-enhancing serum is super lightweight. It helps control flyaways and frizz by protecting hair against humidity thanks to shea butter, rich in hair-loving fatty acids. Apply to damp hair and then style as usual.
How to prevent frizz?
Beyond the weather and heat styling, there are certain hair habits you can practice to help reduce and prevent frizz. The first is cutting back on heat styling, and adding an oil or hair serum to your routine helps; prepping hair with frizz-fighting shampoo and conditioner is a great place to start.
ALTERNA CAVIAR ANTI-AGING REPLENISHING MOISTURE CC CREAM, $54.
This hair treatment cream is always on rotation thanks to its ten benefits. It adds moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, anti-breakage, heat protection, a light hold styling cream, UV colour priming protection, manageability, and strength.
The cut
Contrary to popular opinion, layering does not cause frizz, but the way the hair is cut will. Be sure your stylist uses scissors—never a razor, which can create a wispy effect on the ends, encouraging frizz. For those with waves, you need weight to achieve a soft and loose curl, so the ideal style falls to your collarbone or below. For blonde hair (that has been bleached), have regular trims, a few inches every eight weeks, which will keep your ends looking even and clean, and choose a blunt cut with a little layering that requires minimal heat styling.
MOROCCANOIL Frizz Shield Spray, $62.
The famous hair-loving Agran oil, hydrolyzed quinoa and jackfruit extract nourish each strand. At the same time, the HydroResist technology helps to leave a protective veil on hair that repels humidity, allowing you to blowdry for days. To use, spritz into damp hair and heat style as usual.
A salon solution
Unlike traditional smoothing hair treatment using keratin, Agi One is a blend of silk protein and amino acids. While keratin is a natural protein extracted from sheep's wool, feathers, or animal horns, some formulas contain chemicals, including formaldehyde. The other downside of a keratin treatment is waiting 48 hours before washing your hair. Not so with an Agi One. You can wash and colour your hair straight after treatment. The processing time for Agi One is only around 90 minutes, depending on the length and density of your hair, and the treatment lasts between three and five months. An AGI One treatment costs $185 for short hair and $380 for long hair.
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