Taming hair frizz have you ever wondered how to control those pesky fuzzy hair strands?
Because if you happen to live in a humid environment like I do in Singapore . It can be an annoying occurrence that happens far too often.
It can be easy to forget that your hairs do grow out of your head in all different directions and that some of them will be finer or more wavy than others.
This you probably will not notice if you live in a dry climate.
But once you venture into a moist atmosphere it may surprise you as to how your hair starts to react completely differently.
You can find that your normally straight hair will suddenly become wavy. And if you have a head of wavy hair you may find it is starting to look a lot curlier.
On top of this you may find yourself starting to struggle with the problem of frizzy hair.
I am a great believer in that in knowing how to tame that hair frizz starts by understanding why it is happening to your hair.
What Is Frizzy Hair?
Frizzy hair as defined in the dictionary – Tight wiry curls or hair not being smooth and neat.
Unless you have hair that is frizzy due to genetics. We generally mean when we talk about frizzy hair as hairs are frizzy if they do not blend with all the surrounding hair.
Instead individual hairs stand up or curl independently so creating a frizzy texture.
You can find this happen over you whole head or only in parts such as the area around your hairline where your hair strands tend to be finer.
The three main causes of hair strands becoming fuzzy are
- Humidity – Water molecules in the atmosphere.
- Hair damage – Caused by rough treatment of your hair or chemical treatment.
- Genetics – In your family gene
In this post I will be concentrating on the first two main causes from the list above.
Hair Types That Are Vunerable.
Naturally Curly Hair.
Naturally curly hair will often curl more in a humid climate but at the same time be more prone to frizz.
Because as the hair is growing in a spiral pattern the hair’s cuticle tends to be rougher.
Making the hair more fragile and easily damaged.
It is better not to brush the hair especially when dry. Because this will invoke friction which will cause the hair to frizz.
Find more curly hair care tips here
Fine Textured Hair.
The layers of protective cuticle tend to be fewer on finer hair than on a courser textured head of hair.
With less layers of protection moisture is able to penetrate into the hair shaft more easily.
Knowing this it is a good idea to keep your hair in good condition by applying treatments to keep your hair. Whilst also trimming split ends regularly. As split ends tend to go frizzy in humidity.
Chemically Treated Hair.
If you have chemically treated your hair you may find it to be a little drier. Than hair that has not seen a chemical process.
This is due to the hair’s cuticle still being partly open.
When your hair’s cuticle is not fully closed your hair becomes more porous.
Meaning that it will absorb moisture faster. Yet at the same time lose moisture quickly.
Try and use products that will help to seal your hair cuticle.
Taming Hair Frizz Know Why Your Hair Frizzes.
Hopefully I will explain this without going to deep into the science of hair.
Your hairs middle layer which is known as the cortex layer is made up of keratin bundles and these are held together by what we hairdressers call cross bonds.
One of these are known as Disulphide bonds. The other two which are the ones that matter when it comes to frizzy hair are known as Ionic bonds and Hydrogen bonds.
Both of which can be broken down by water.
Therefore when you shampoo your hair the Ionic and Hydrogen bonds in your hair will break down thus making your hair more malleable.
Then when you blow dry and style you hair these bonds are being formed into a new shape.
Although this is only temporary as once your hair gets moist each individual hair will again revert back to it’s original shape.
Hair Porosity Why It Matters.
Why your hair gets frizzy has a lot to do with its porosity.
In other words the ability of your hair to absorb and retain moisture.
Your hairs cuticle or outside layer should be tightly bound, smooth and flat. Although for most of us since passing our early teens this isn’t the case. Due to many reasons such as heat drying, harsh brushing and chemical processes.
Our hair gets damaged and the cuticle layer has holes in it. So instead of the cuticles laying smooth, flat and overlapping each other. Which helps to form a protection against moisture in the atmosphere.
They are instead slightly lifted and open which means that your hair is exposed to the humidity in the air.
And will absorb a lot of moisture.
But in turn your hair will also lose moisture very easily.
Knowing Your Hairs Porosity Level Helps In Taming Hair Frizz.
Knowing your hair’s porosity is important as this will help to give you an idea how easily moisture is able to pass both in and out of your hair’s cuticle.
Low Porosity Hair – Has the cuticles very close together. You will find that it takes a little while to get your hair sopping wet when showering.
If you have low porosity hair you will find that any products that you use on your hair will not be absorbed very easily. You may also find that your hair will take a long time if you leave it to air dry.
Medium Porosity Hair – The cuticles on this hair are less firmly bound together. You will find this hair easy to style and that it absorbs color very well.
High Porosity Hair – There is more space between the cuticles on hair that has a high porosity. You will find when washing your hair that absorbs water very quickly Any moisturizers that you use will be quickly absorbed into the hair.
When air drying your hair will dry quickly. You can find that your hair is fragile and breaks easily.
How Your Hair Works To Stay Healthy.
To stay healthy your hair like your body needs to be hydrated and these two layers of your hair do play an important part.
Here is the formula to achieving a head of strong healthy hair
The Hair Cuticle.
This is the tough outside layer of your hair. Which is made up of small cuticles that overlap each other.
The Hair Cortex.
This is underneath your layers of hair cuticle and is the thickest layer of your hair. It is made up of curled bundles of keratin proteins and also your hairs color pigments.
For your hair to stay healthy natural oils, water and your moisturizing products need to be able to pass through your hairs cuticle to reach the cortex layer.
Where we want them be retained.
Because if this is not the case when you venture into a humid atmosphere. One that contains far more water molecules in the air than a dry atmosphere.
Your hair’s clever natural response is to hydrate itself.
Which it does by sucking in some of those water molecules from the atmosphere around it. That is why humidity causes high porosity hair to swell.
Now if you happen to have low porosity hair you can find that humidity makes your hair greasy.
Taming Hair Frizz Choose Your Method.
I will discuss below the two different schools of thought when it comes to taming hair frizz. Which one you choose will maybe depend upon how frizzy your hair becomes in humidity and how much time that you are willing to spend on your hair care.
Method 1. Taming Frizzy Hair With Synthetic Chemicals.
Knowing that hair frizz happens when your hair absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. What is needed is a product that will create a layer that forms a barrier over your strands of hair.
Because this will help to keep moisture inside your hair and at the same time and more importantly to you. Stop your hair from absorbing any more moisture.
This area of hair care has become a very big income earner for hair product makers. Who are busy producing products that promise you that taming hair frizz without weighing it down is easy.
Product One. Hair serum which provides your hair with slip and shine.
The one drawback is that a lot of these products do contain silicone. Or maybe I should say silicone’s as they have many different names.
Think of the silicone being like a plastic seal that fills in the gaps on your hair shaft to make it look shiny and silky.
Now this can be great in the short term but over time can cause a build up on your hair depending upon the type of silicone ingredient that’s in your chosen hair serum.
Because some silicone’s have been modified so that they adhere much better to your hair.
Look for products using light weight silicone’s such as Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone copolyol as these tend to be easier to wash out of your hair when shampooing.
But be a little wary of what I call heavy weight products. These will contain Amodimethicone or Dimethicone which do give your hair great shine and conditioning. But are very difficult to remove as they are water insoluble.
If you do use these type of products on a regular basis. I would highly recommend giving your hair a detox once a month. Check out how here.
How To Correctly Apply Your Hair Serum.
1. After washing your hair gently pat off the excess moisture.
2. Apply one or two drops of your hair serum into the palms of your hand.
3. Massage these drops between your two palms.
4. Start to massage your hair between the palms of your hands working from the ends of your hair up.
5. Once finished applying blow dry your hair as usual.
Product 2. Hair smoothing treatments a semi-permanent fix.
Hair smoothing treatments a semi-permanent fix that over time will revert back to your hairs natural texture. No matter what they are called work with a synthetic chemical that creates a barrier to your hair.
Hair smoothing treatments do work.
Although for me there is one major setback.
That being that for the smoothing effect to stay for a reasonable period. It must contain an ingredient that produces formaldehyde when heated.
Because simply put formaldehyde changes and glues in place the keratin structure of your hair.
The post Hair smoothing treatments facts & myths will give you more information on this semi permanent hair frizz fix.
Should you decide on a smoothing treatment for taming your hair frizz. I recommend that you do book an appointment with your stylist for the process and not try to do it yourself at home.
Method 2. Hydrating To Tame The Hair Frizz.
Frizzy hair is experienced by people who have dry hair. Whether naturally or due to the use of a lot of hair styling products or chemicals procedures.
Therefore working on the theory that dry hair is more absorbent in the same way that a dry sponge is.
If you increase the moisture content in your hair sufficiently so that it is well hydrated. The proteins that need moisture in your hair will already be saturated.
And like a wet sponge that can only take in so much water. Your hair will have taken in its fill.
In other words once your hair has the moisture it needs to stay hydrated it will attract very little moisture from any humidity. Meaning frizz free hair.
Now every head of hair absorbs products differently so working out how much moisture your hair can hold may take some practice.
So here is a guide that may help you.
Low Porosity Hair – your hair tends to hold moisture very well so a lightweight shampoo and conditioner should be all you need.
Medium Porosity Hair – If your hair porosity is here keep doing what you are doing. Shampoo and condition use a mask once or twice a month as you may have small areas of your hair that tend to frizz.
High Porosity Hair – This hair needs a good dose of moisture so masking your hair once a week is a priority. Look for shampoos that contain ingredients like butters and oils. Finishing off with a leave in conditioner.
Hair Oils Help To Hydrate Your Hair.
There are numerous hair oils in the market place although a lot do also contain a silicone ingredient.
So try and shop for pure oils they are a little more expensive but well worth it.
One of the most common oils that can be used to fight frizz and add shine is Argon oil. Two others are Avocado oil and Coconut oil as both contain fatty acids and have the ability to go through your hairs cuticle and into the cortex. So helping to strengthen your hair.
To apply your hair oils always start with a little to begin with.
Place a small amount into your hands and rub through your strands of hair before you blow dry. After you have finished drying your hair add a little more as this will help to seal in your hairs existing moisture.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you found it helpful please share it with a friend.
