Frizz is a natural occurrence in textured hair and can bring a unique charm by adding volume and personality to your look. While it might soften definition after styling, it’s also a sign that your hair may be craving a little extra care. Dryness is often a contributing factor, but other elements like humidity, friction, and product buildup can also play a role. If you’re looking to minimize frizz while keeping your natural hair healthy and vibrant, a combination of thoughtful remedies can help you find the perfect balance.
What is Frizz
In natural hair, frizz occurs when the hair strands are not aligned smoothly and appear raised, creating a fluffy or textured look. It is most common in curly, coily, and wavy hair types typically from type 3A to 4C. The textures in these hair types naturally have more bends and coils that can separate and absorb moisture from the environment, causing the strands to twirl.
Why Frizz is Common in Natural Hair
Natural hair has a unique structure that creates beautiful curls and coils. However, it tends to get drier often and more porous, which makes frizz a common problem. This is why most people embrace frizz as part of their natural hair texture that adds volume and dimension. Although it can be managed or minimized, frizz is a defining feature that many choose to embrace.
Types of Frizz
Depending on how frizz appears on your natural hair, it can either be:
- Surface Frizz: This includes flyaways, affecting only the outside of the hair. The main causes include overwashing, lack of moisture, and harsh products.
- Halo Frizz: This is when hair appears fluffy only at the crown due to factors like aggressive brushing or sleeping on a rough surface.
- In-the-Curl Frizz: This occurs in the curls and could be due to dryness, making them look unruly and fuzzy instead of being defined.
Causes of Frizz on Natural Hair
Frizz on natural hair occurs when the cuticle is raised. Every strand on your head has layers that when lifted, allow nutrients and moisture to seep in. When the hair is healthy, the cuticles lift up only temporarily. This prevents dirt, grease, and grime from penetrating while water, hair oils, and conditions seal it back to lock in nutrients. However, frizz occurs when the cuticles are damaged and end up being raised. The most common causes for this include:
- Humidity and Moisture Absorption: Since curly and coily hair is porous, it absorbs extra water from the air during humid conditions, causing the strands to swell and frizz.
- Hair Structure: Cuticles in natural curls and coils are more raised than in straight hair, which makes it easier for moisture to enter, leaving the hair looking fluffy or less defined.
- Lack of Moisture: The strands of dry hair may try to draw moisture from the air, leading to frizz.
- Damage and Breakage: The use of heat styling, harsh chemicals, or over-manipulation can weaken hair, making the cuticles rough and prone to frizz.
- Friction: Rubbing your hair against rough surfaces like cotton pillowcases or towels can roughen the cuticle layer, leading to frizz.
Other cause soft frizz includes not letting protective styles set properly, washing your hair with hot water, using terry cloth towels to dry your hair, or having low porosity hair that soaks up moisture easily.
How to Control Frizz on Natural Hair
The easiest way to control frizz naturally is to choose the right product ingredients. Since dryness is usually the main culprit, you will want to add oils and moisture to smooth and close the cuticles. Here are some of the tips you want to implement:
1. Moisturize Frizzy Hair
Although frizz can make your hair seem rough, it can look good and does not always need to be fixed. In fact, frizzy hair adds volume and frame to the face. However, if you want to smooth out frizz, you can start right in the shower with a hydrating and frizzy-free shampoo. Then detangle your hair thoroughly and apply a friendly conditioner for extra moisture. When you are detangling, use a wide-tooth comb, starting at the bottom of a section and working up to the root.
2. Deep Condition Your Natural Hair
Deep conditioning of the hair helps to add vital moisture and nutrients after washing. By delivering moisture, deep condition helps to prevent damage while softening the strands and restoring shine. Simply massage your regular conditioner in freshly washed hair, then leave it for about 10 to 15 minutes before gently rinsing out. You can boost moisture delivery by applying a targeted hair mask and applying a plastic shower cap, allowing the conditioner to sit for 30 minutes.
3. Dry Your Natural Hair with a Microfiber Towel
The choice of towel and drying technique may contribute to frizzy hair. To set your strands for success and control frizz, choose a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt. This will absorb a lot of moisture better and more gently than a regular towel, protecting your delicate strands.
4. LOC in the Moisture
Use the LOC method to lock in the moisture. Start with a leave-in, then an oil, and finish with a cream to boost moisture. This method ensures that you seal in the moisture and prevent dryness. Oils are particularly useful in moisturizing frizz-prone hair by smoothing any fraying edges.
5. Use Anti-Frizz Styling Products
Using anti-frizz serums can help in stopping or controlling frizzy hair. Products particularly made of coconut oil apple cider vinegar, argan oil, and mango butter are effective in controlling frizz. Also, make sure to avoid products with harsh chemicals such as alcohol, sulfates, petroleum, and parabens, which strip off the scalp its natural oils, leaving your hair dry.
6. Avoid Brushing
While brushing is not always harmful, brushing dry natural hair can disrupt curl patterns and add frizz. Using a rough or harsh brush can create unnecessary friction, lifting or even damaging the cuticles. For best results, detangle with a wide-tooth comb or gentle brush on wet or damp hair, and allow curls to dry undisturbed for optimal definition.
7. Let Styles Fully Set
Allowing your hairstyle to fully set and dry is essential to prevent frizz. If you’re doing bantu knots or twists, leave them in for at least 8 hours or until completely dry to achieve smooth, defined results.
8. Protect Your Natural Hair at Night
A lot of damage can occur while you sleep due to the friction from rolling around on your pillowcase. This can suck out the moisture from your hair and cause frizz. Wearing a bonnet or wrapping a silk scarf helps to protect the hair all night. It also helps to use satin or silk pillowcases because they are smoother and generate less friction than cotton.
9. Trim Split Ends Regularly
When you have split ends, they can contribute to the rough and frizzy look of your hair. Trimming them every six weeks can help make the hair fuller and prevent the frayed ends from traveling up the shaft.
Final Thoughts on Controlling Frizzy Natural Hair
Your natural hair may experience frizz and flyaways at any point. While many people embrace frizz as part of the texture that adds volume and dimension to their natural hair, simple tips such as moisturizing your hair and implementing the LOC method are effective if you want to reduce frizz.
