How to get rid of frizzy hair: 6 expert tips, plus why frizz happens and how you can avoid it in future

Frizz happens when dry or damaged hair absorbs too much water. Curly hair is especially susceptible. Experts suggest steps you can take to minimise it

These steps include adding products to your hair care routine, adjusting the frequency of your hair washing and swapping your cotton towel for a microfibre one

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Frizz is one of the most common hair problems. Experts explain its causes and offer tips to fix it and avoid the problem recurring.

Published: 7:15pm, 11 Oct 2022

One of the most common hair complaints you will hear about is frizz, and there are lots of formulas, collections and accessories out there that will supposedly fix it.

Sadly, there is no one magic trick to get rid of frizz. There are many factors that can cause it, and the best way to remedy it is to find out what is causing yours.

What is frizz?

If you put a strand of your hair under a microscope, you would see that the cuticle – the outside layer – is covered in scales.

When your cuticle is healthy, the tiny scales are smooth and point in the same direction. When it is dry or damaged, the scales stick out in all directions, like a pine cone.

The best way to remedy frizzy hair is to find out what is causing it for you.

When that happens, water from the environment – sweat, humidity and rain – penetrates the strand, causing it to swell and change form.

“Hair is a porous structure,” explains Dr Sharon Wong, a UK-based dermatologist who specialises in hair and scalp disorders. “The amount of water absorbed from the environment is determined by how dry the hair fibre is. The drier the hair, the more water it can absorb, and the frizzier it gets.”