Explainer / How to prevent frizzy hair – and what treatments to use? From K18’s game-changing Leave-In Molecular Repair loved by celebs like Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber, to Olaplex’s famed No. 8 hair mask

Oct 6 , 2023

Say goodbye to frizzy hair with K18’s biomimicry technology. Photo: @k18hair_hongkong/Instagram

Frizz happens when the hair cuticle rises up to absorb moisture in the air, resulting in a perceived increase in puffiness, as the raised cuticles create a rougher texture on the outermost layer

Olaplex’s No. 8 hair mask penetrates hair strands to repair disulfide bonds while K18’s ‘molecular’ products mimic keratin to restore broken hair; meanwhile, experts suggest skipping a wash or two

Every strand of hair brings distinct thickness, texture, hue and shape to the table, which can evolve throughout our lives. With such diversity, it’s no surprise that hair care routines sometimes fall short, especially when it comes to managing the stubborn issue that is frizz.

Many people struggle with frizz, regardless of hair type. Photo: Rodan + Fields

The enigmatic phenomenon where hair strands defy gravity, springing chaotically instead of easily falling together, frizz is an intimately personal challenge. The playbook that heals one person’s frizz might not even scratch the surface for another, but thankfully, a path to taming it exists, provided you’re in tune with your own frizz type.

Understand the root cause

Frizz happens when our hair cuticle rises up, desperate for hydration. Photo: Olaplex

To confront the challenge effectively, understanding its root cause is key, and in the case of frizz, the main culprit is an unruly hair cuticle – the outermost layer of the hair strand. When this cuticle lays flat, your hair appears smooth and manageable. Yet, if the cuticle rises up, a gateway for moisture infiltration opens, paving the way for frizz to take over.

Our hair craves water naturally, so when the surrounding air is damp, your hair tries to balance its hydration levels by absorbing ambient moisture. This response results in a perceived increase in hair thickness, as the raised cuticles create a rougher texture, causing each strand to puff up.

Olaplex is shaking up the hair care world by providing solutions beyond the traditional surface-level treatments. Photo: Olaplex

The beauty industry is aware that this is a struggle most of us will deal with from time to time in our lives, so it has come up with thousands of products designed to tame frizz. However, for those struggling with truly unruly frizz, most of these products will not do much more than add some shine and softness.

But don’t despair: two names stand out like beacons of hope for those who’ve tried everything but still haven’t found a worthy solution: Olaplex and K18. These two brands are focused on immediate frizz control as well as long-term prevention with their revolutionary formulas and transformative effects.