Ten Tips For De-Frizzing Your Hair

When the good folks over at Misikko.com asked me to contribute a guest article on hair care for their site, I happily complied. Who knew I was already an internet hair guru? Check out my article in its original form here, or just read below!

Ten Ways To Defrizz Your Hair: Take Control Of Your Locks!

Got frizz? Don’t fret – just follow these 10 simple tips to ditch the static and turn those frustrating fly-aways into a sleek, silken mane worthy of any shampoo ad.

1. Properly moisturized hair is less likely to be affected by static, so deep condition regularly; I recommend about once a week. You can leave the conditioner on for anywhere from ten minutes to all night long while you sleep!
2. Since moisture is tantamount in keeping hair smooth, avoid products with drying ingredients like alcohol or sodium lauryl sulfates.
3. If you have problems with frizz, you probably avoid using blowdryers the way Sarah Palin avoids answering questions. What many ladies don’t know is that towel drying can actually create more static than blow-drying if it’s not done properly. Here’s a trick: instead of rubbing or wringing hair out, blot dry with a thin towel made for drying hair. (If you don’t have one, a hand towel will do fine.)
4. Stop washing your hair every day. No, really. The scalp’s natural oils smooth hair and ward off frizz and tangles (which can cause breakage and lead to more frizzing).
5. Contrary to popular belief, blow drying can be done without creating frizz if hair’s properly finished; to do this, apply a leave-in conditioner that’s made to prep hair for heat styling and comb through damp hair with a wide-toothed plastic comb. Then, use the concentrator attachment on your blow-dryer and dry downward so that the follicle is smoothed flat toward the ends of your strands.
6. The appearance of frizz is often caused by split ends and breakage, which create weaker, larger ends of the hair’s strands that reflect sunlight particularly well and are very noticeable. Combat this effect by getting regular trims to keep ends healthy and smooth.
7. Brush your hair with a plastic-bristled hair brush rather than horsehair or other fiber bristles. Plastic bristles create less static and help the follicle to lay flat, avoiding further damage.
8. Run a fabric softener sheet (like the ones you use in your dryer) over your hair and watch static frizz and fly-aways disappear. (You can even use a sheet you’ve already put through the dryer, if you’re a tightwad like I am – the used ones work just as well.)
9. You might already use an anti-frizz or glossing serum to finish your style; but instead of applying it directly to your hair first or rubbing it between your palms, try smoothing the serum through your comb and then combing your hair to apply. This ensures an even application and dispels any frizz-breeding effects your brush’s bristles might impart on your hair.
10. In a hurry? A dab of moisturizer can double as an on-the-go de-frizzing cream. Simply rub the moisturizer between your fingers, and then run your hands over and through the frizziest parts of your hair. You’re so smooth.