There are countless products on the market that promise to eliminate frizz, with new “miracle” solutions appearing every year. The truth is, most of these products work in very similar ways, whether you spend five dollars or twenty. One of the primary causes of frizz is humidity. Women with naturally curly hair tend to struggle with it the most, but those with straight hair experience it too, often in the form of flyaways.
At some point, you may have to learn to live with frizz. While using products that add moisture, health, and shine to your hair is important, it’s unrealistic to expect a complete cure. I have thick, coarse, curly hair, and as a child, I was teased for having big, long, frizzy hair, tangles included. I still remember my mother pinning me to a chair, combing through it forcefully in an attempt to tame it. For much of my life, I chose to wear my hair short or straighten it simply to avoid dealing with frizz altogether.
Straightening was time-consuming, but it allowed me to hide the frizz and escape the painful tangles. Ironically, when I wore my hair curly, frizz, tangles, and all, I felt different. I received far more compliments with my “crazy hair” than I ever did when it was straight. People often asked if I had a perm, and many women told me they wished they had hair like mine. It just goes to show, you often want what you don’t have.
As my hair grew longer, I finally committed to wearing it curly all the time. I experimented with countless products, from the most expensive to the least, and discovered that while some worked better than others, none were miracle solutions. It’s always better to use a product that helps make your hair more manageable than to use nothing at all, but remember, products alone won’t eliminate frizz.
This isn’t an endorsement for any particular brand. Use what works for you, and don’t be discouraged if it takes some trial and error to find the right fit. Try to minimize overuse, as some products contain chemicals that may do more harm than good over time. When blow-drying, use a diffuser on the lowest setting and dry your hair only about two-thirds of the way, allowing the rest to air-dry naturally. A light shine serum can help tame unruly strands, and a curling iron can smooth flyaways where needed. You may not eliminate frizz completely every time, but your hair will look healthy, styled, and beautiful.
Above all, attitude matters. Change how you think about your hair. Accept it, love it, and have fun with it. Many women spend a lot of money trying to achieve what you’ve already been blessed with.
