How to reduce frizz: Your complete guide to smooth, shiny hair

My hair has always reflected my many moods. They’ve gone from waist-long to blunt lob, readily jumped on a three-month-long bright magenta ride with me only to return with a bleached-blonde personality that needed a veil of dark burgundy after, and yet, they continue to play along with my experimental decisions. I may mess with my strands, but I also treat them right. I am constantly looking out for gentler ways to care for my hair, and fighting frizz with tried-and-tested methods (and nixing unnecessary products) is at the top of my agenda. Here's what I've learnt from my experience so far.

Why does frizz form?

“Increase in humidity causes the shaft to swell, thus making it frizzier than normal,” says Natasha Naegamwala, director at Nalini & Yasmin Salon. Curly hair complaints are real too. “Over-processed, dry and curly hair types tend to be more rebellious. Excess moisture in the air penetrates and gets trapped in the cuticle layer of your hair, thus undoing your efforts you put to tame it,” explains Kanta Motwani, founder, Kromakay Salons and Academy. The dryness and damage caused due to heat usage and chemical treatments doesn’t help either, “damaged and dry hair tends to absorb the moisture quicker and alter the texture.”

We often ignore that our hair needs internal nourishment too. According to Jean-Claude Biguine India's creative director Michel Baltazar, lack of nutrients along with lack of hydration can lead to frizz, “Hair is sensitive to room temperature, if the temperature is hot and more humid, these two factors attract the water present in the air, which catches the hair fibre and opens the cuticles.” It may be impossible to completely remove frizz, but it is possible to limit it.

How to reduce frizz

1. 1

   Practice social distancing from your hair. “Avoid constantly touching your hair. You may be tempted to smoothen them with your hand but doing so causes friction and forms a tighter and stubborn curl pattern of its own resulting in more frizz,” explains Motwani.

2. 2

   “Minimise dehydration by drinking lots of water.” says Baltazar, who also suggests cold water rinsing and drying your hair gently with a towel, by sponging not rubbing, and then brushing.

3. 3

   Protect your hair from friction while brushing by applying a restorative oil to create a filter on the hair. “And no heat too,” says Baltazar. Naegamwala agrees, and shares her ‘praying hand technique’, “apply a small amount of a leave-in conditioner in the hair once out of the shower, and flatten the hair shaft between the palms of both hands. Stay in a cool room till it’s dry.”

4. 4

   Sleep on silk. “Silk does not absorb oils from hair, and the smooth, soft texture prevents friction. Cotton will do the opposite,”explains Naegamwala. Similarly, opt for a micro microfiber towel, or replace your cotton one with a worn-out t shirt. “The older and softer, the better.”

5. 5

   Go no-poo, at least every few days, “Do not shampoo every day and choose mild, non-detergent formulas,” says Motwani.

6. 6

   Stick to air drying. “limit the use of heat and heat devices as much as possible. Whether it is hot water or the high heat of your drying tools. Remember to keep the temperature of the water when showering low, and at the very end, do one last rinse with cold water,” explains Naegamwala, who suggests keeping the temperature below 180 degrees if using heat.

Make your own DIY smoothing masks and conditioners

Kanta Motwani’s homemade leave-in conditioner and conditioning mask

Leave-in: Mix 2 tbsp silicone-free conditioner, 2 tbsp fresh aloe vera juice to correct and balance the pH level of your hair, 2 tsp almond or olive oil and 3 to 4 drops of glycerin into a bowl. Pour this in a spray bottle and mist it over your hair to close the cuticle.

Wash-off mask: Blend 1/2 a ripe banana, 2 tbsp honey and a few drops of almond oil. Apply this mixture on your strands and allow it to set with a shower cap for 20 minutes before rinsing. Bananas help maintain the moisture of your hair, smooth frizz and also soothe itchy scalp.

Michel Baltazar’s easy three-ingredient recipe

Mix 2 large tbsp of yoghurt, 1 tbsp of agave syrup (or liquid honey) and 1 tsp of organic aloe vera gel and apply as mask. Then rinse for less frizzy, more supple strands.

Natasha Naegamwala’s nourishing concoction

“I love a concoction of oils like homemade coconut oil, or a cold pressed one, a little bit of argan oil, with a small amount of organic honey. Warm it up, apply on the hair, leave for 20-30 minutes followed by shampoo and conditioner,” she says. She warns about not scrubbing it in as that could reverse the effects.

Also read:

Why you need to consider your hair porosity before trying new products and treatments

How often should you wash your hair in an ideal haircare routine?

10 hair products that will save you the trip to the blow-dry bar