How to tame frizzy hair, according to your hair type

We all suffer from frizz now and again. There are a couple of reasons for it. Get frizz when it’s humid? When hair is damaged or dry, parts of the outer layer (aka the ‘cuticle’) lift up instead of lying flat, which lets the moisture in the air pass through into the strand’s core, causing the hair to swell. Damage can cause frizz too, especially from brushing – your hair is pulled out of shape before it snaps, so what’s left springs away from the rest. That’s frizz. Frizzy hair might have the same general causes, but each hair type responds to different treatment. In this article, we’ll help you find out the cause of damage as well as recommend products, washing routines and styling tips to help keep frizz at bay – all you need to know is your hair type.

Naturally curly or dry hair

Why am I prone to frizzy hair?

Both naturally dry and curly hair are prone to frizz as there are less oils in the lengths than other hair types. This means it tends to become dry and damaged much more easily – a fertile ground for frizz. For this reason, both hair types benefit from the same kind of care to help keep frizz under control.

How often should I wash my hair?

Good news – less washing actually helps both dry and curly hair stay looking its healthy best. Too much washing can dry your hair out, because you strip strands of their (already sparse) natural oils. So if you have natural textured hair, washing every 1-2 weeks is usually just about right depending on how in need of a cleanse it feels. For others, every 3-5 days should keep your strands looking healthy and nourished – depending on its natural dryness.

Your anti-frizz kit:

• Detangling brush for brushing dry hair, wide-tooth comb for combing conditioner through hair in the shower, rinsing after 15 minutes
• Dove Absolute Curls Shampoo & Conditioner for curly hair, or Dove Anti Frizz Oil Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner for dry hair
• Dove Advanced Hair Series Quench Absolute Crème Serum
• Dove Anti Frizz Oil Therapy Mask

Tips for keeping naturally dry or curly hair frizz-resistant:

• Brush dry hair with a detangling brush to help avoid breakage and combat knots (but use a wide-tooth comb after washing as your hair is more fragile when wet)
• Use deeply moisturizing products for frizzy hair tailored to your hair type, particularly when it comes to shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks
• Apply a serum through mid-lengths to tips after every wash
• Let hair dry naturally and, if you do blow dry, use a diffuser
• Keep a nourishing hair serum in your bag for frizz control whenever the time calls

Fine hair

Why am I prone to frizzy hair?

Firstly, fine hair and thin hair are not the same thing. Fine hair refers to the actual thickness (or rather thinness) of the diameter of the hair and thin hair is when there are less strands altogether. When hair fibers are finer, hair isn’t as naturally strong as some other types, so it’s more vulnerable to damage and frizz – which means it helps to give your hair more tailored care to keep it beautiful.

How often should I wash my hair?

Fine hair tends to need washing more regularly than other hair types, because it gets weighed down quickly and the build up of oils (and styling products if you use them) becomes more noticeable. A wash every 2-3 days should keep your hair looking its healthy best, applying conditioner only from mid-lengths to ends.

Your anti-frizz kit:

• Boar bristle brush for brushing dry hair
• Wide-tooth comb for combing wet hair
• Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner
• Dove Anti Frizz Oil Therapy Mask
• Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo

Tips for keeping fine hair frizz-resistant:

• Brush dry hair with a boar bristle brush to gently distribute the natural oils through your hair (but when hair is wet use a wide-tooth comb to help prevent breakages)
• Use a moisturizing yet light shampoo and conditioner, like those in Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture range (and keep hair fresh between washes with a dry shampoo)
• To help prevent split ends, use Dove Anti Frizz Oil Therapy Mask once a week from mid-lengths to ends of hair (avoiding the roots) to really moisturize your frizzy hair
• Keep heat curling and straightening to a minimum if possible

Heat-styled/chemically-treated hair

Why am I prone to frizzy hair?

Most of us love experimenting with our hair at some point or another but, if you style it regularly, all that straightening, curling and coloring may make hair increasingly fragile. For that reason, your strands are particularly prone to becoming dry and damaged – hello frizz!

How often should I wash my hair?

This depends on whether your hair is naturally thick or fine. If it’s thick then every 3-5 days should do it; if it’s fine, then washing every 2-3 days usually gives the best results. And remember, if your hair is colored, then the more you wash it, the quicker it will fade – so try to avoid shampooing too often if you can. Instead, Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo will help refresh your hair between washes.

Your anti-frizz kit:

• Paddle brush for brushing dry hair
• Wide-tooth comb for combing wet hair
• Dove Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner or Dove Repairing Ritual Shampoo & Conditioner 
• Dove Intensive Repair Mask
• Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo

Tips to help keep heat-styled/chemically-treated hair frizz-free:

• Brush hair with a paddle brush or, if your hair is fine or dry/curly, choose the brush recommended in those sections above (and whatever your hair type, use a wide-tooth comb when hair is wet to prevent breakages)
• Wash heat-styled hair with Dove Repairing Ritual Shampoo & Conditioner or use Dove Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner on color-treated hair
• Treat yourself to a deeply nourishing hair mask once a week for a moisturizing pick-me-up