If you’re a curly girl, then you know that the struggle with frizz is REAL. Whether you embrace the frizz or fight it every step of the way, we all have to live with frizz. Curly hair frizz can be caused by many different factors…the humidity (hello, Lion King!), our curl type, products,  application, and more! In this post, we’ll explore the different types of frizz and how to deal with them. 

Read on to discover what causes curly hair frizz and how to fix it.

Types of frizz in curly hair

Surface Frizz 

This type of frizz appears only on the top surface of your hair. If you lift the top layer, the curls  underneath will have minimal frizz. 

Halo Frizz 

As its name suggests, halo frizz appears around the crown of your head, creating the illusion of a  halo. It doesn’t show up anywhere else on your head. 

Dry Frizz 

This is frizz that is caused by literal lack of moisture. The hair feels bone dry and lacks bounce and  shine. 

Spiderweb Frizz 

If you have a lot of surface frizz, you may get spiderweb frizz! This means that different hair strands  separate and weave into a web on top of your head. This type of frizz can be caused by wind, poor  application, or the wrong products for your hair. 

In-the-curl Frizz 

This type of frizz goes through a curl when individual strands separate from the main curl. It can be caused by a lack of moisture or over-handling the hair.  

Now, let’s explore some possible causes for frizzy curly hair and how you can solve them. 

Possible Causes for Curly Hair Frizz

Cause 1 for Curly Hair Frizz: Not Using a Styling Product

If you are starting your curly hair journey, you may not see what the point of using a gel or mousse is.  After all, your hair doesn’t need it, right? Wrong. A styling product does more than simply help your  curls look good. It also seals in moisture, prevents damage, and reduces frizz in your hair.

Solution: Gel or Mousse

 If you want beautiful, healthy hair, I recommend that you always use a styling product. But, if you like your  curls to be loose and beachy, use a mousse. For defined, tight ringlets, try a strong hold gel.  Styling product will definitely cut down on the frizz! It’s worth it.  

Cause 2: Not Enough Product

If you use a great product, but don’t use enough, your hair will still be thirsty. Curly girl veterans know  that, whatever the bottle says, you’ll probably need twice as much (if not more).  

Solution: Use More

If you are struggling with frizz, try increasing your conditioner, curl enhancers, and styling products  (gel or mousse). If you use too much and end up with product-heavy hair, just write a note in your Hair Journal (available in my ebook) for later. You can experiment until you find the right balance!  

Cause 3 for Curly Hair Frizz: Incorrect Application

Every curly girl is different, and what works for my hair may not work well for yours. If you’re  struggling with curly hair frizz, try changing your application techniques. 

Solution: Try a New Application Technique

If you always style with dripping wet hair, try squeezing the water out first before styling. Or, if you  always squeeze the water out first, try styling on dripping wet hair. Also, I recommend trying the roping  and pulsing technique to apply your products. It minimizes your hand-hair contact and should greatly reduce frizz.

Cause 4: Cotton Pillowcase

If you are still sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, it’s time to level up! Cotton is a natural fiber that will  tangle with your curls and cause extra frizz. Another no-no is leaving your hair down at night. One girl who asked me for advice said that she always left her hair loose at night, and she wondered why it was frizzy and tangled. That’s exactly why!

Solution: Silk or Satin Pillowcase

To reduce frizz, switch to using a silk or satin pillowcase. And always wear your hair in a pineapple, loose bun, loose braid, or other protective style at night. Another option is wearing a buff or satin bonnet. Just don’t leave it down- it WILL get tangled and frizzy. Read this post for tips on how to protect your curls at night.

Cause 5: Air Drying

Some curly hair doesn’t respond well to air drying. During the drying process, it gets big and frizzy. If your curls get frizzy when you air dry them, it’s time to try something new.

Solution: Hooded Dryer or Diffuser

Instead of letting them air dry, try sitting under a hooded dryer for part of the drying time. Or, use a blowdryer with a diffuser attachment (on a low setting). Read more about how to diffuse your hair here.

Cause 6: Color Damage

Repeatedly bleaching or coloring your hair, especially if it is a big color change, can damage your strands. And it may also cause a lot of frizz.

Solution: Color Less Often

If you do color your hair, try to space out your coloring sessions to 6-8 weeks. If possible, stay close to your natural color, and avoid harsh bleach treatments. Choose ammonia-free, semi-permanent dye instead of permanent. And ensure that you provide lots of deep conditioning and moisturizing before and after coloring. This will help reduce damage and frizz.

Other Tips for Reducing Curly Hair Frizz

Get your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks.

Regular trims keep your ends hydrated and prevent your curls from getting scraggly.

Use lots of conditioner.

Curly tresses are thirsty! If you aren’t providing enough hydration, they will protest with lots of frizz. Use a CG-approved, silicone-free conditioner to keep those tresses quenched.

Try squishing to condish to leave in the right amount of conditioner for your hair. Or, if you do rinse out your regular conditioner, always add a leave in conditioner for extra moisture.

Choose your towels wisely.

Stay away from terrycloth towels, which can cause extra friction. Instead, choose a softer option to dry your curls. Carefully blot them dry with a soft t-shirt or microfiber towel.

Never brush, comb, or detangle dry hair.

If you do use a brush or wide-tooth comb, do it only on wet hair AFTER you have coated it in conditioner or another product with slip. Brushing or detangling dry hair will only cause breakage, damage, and tons of frizz!

Don’t touch!

To prevent frizz, try to touch your hair as little as possible. I know it’s tempting to play with your curls, but it really does cause unnecessary frizz! Just refresh it and leave it alone.

Do a deep treatment with heat.

To help repair frizzy tresses, try doing a deep treatment with heat. You can use the DIY deep treatment (recipe here) or a purchased deep conditioner. Thoroughly coat your hair, and then put on a plastic bag or swimming cap. Sit under a hooded dryer, or rotate a blow-dryer around your head to heat up the hair. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and then cleanse thoroughly.

Layer oil under your styling products.

For extra hydration, layer on an oil before you apply styling products.

If you have wavy hair, try jojoba oil.

If you have curly hair, try a medium-weight oil such as pomegranate seed oil.

Kinky types should choose a rich butter, like mango or shea butter.

Experiment with different oils until you find your favorite!

Try a vinegar rinse.

To make a vinegar rinse, mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Apply to your hair after shampooing and then rinse thoroughly. This will balance the pH of your hair strands and close the cuticles, leaving them shiny and frizz-free.

Experiment with a honey & lemon infused shampoo.

According to curly girl Nora Huber, this hack will seriously reduce frizz and give you amazing curls. To do this, pour enough shampoo for 1 wash into a measuring cup. Mix in a small amount of lemon juice and honey, and use it to wash your hair as normal. It will leave your curls soft and shiny!

Want to learn more?

Purchase a copy of my new ebook, Embrace Your Curls: A Manual for Curly Girls. It’s 120+ pages of information, techniques, and methods to help you have the hair of your dreams! Check it out here. (Get 30% off with code welcomecurly30.)

Let’s Chat:

Do you struggle with curly hair frizz? You may have surface frizz, halo frizz, spiderweb frizz, dry frizz, or even in-the-curl frizz. To fix it, you’ll need to add moisture and minimize friction. Have you tried any of these tips to fix curly hair frizz? Share your favorite tips + tricks in the comments!

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