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Hot, hazy, and humid weather can do a number on makeup and hair alike—but the best anti-frizz products are able to run interference, keeping frizz and flyaways at bay even in the midst of a heatwave. And despite its association with summer, frizz can happen at any point, whether your hair is damaged, curly, or simply prone to dryness; all of these can predispose you to the telltale halo around your head.
Our Top Picks
- Best Shampoo: Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, $34
- Best Heat Protectant: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Crème, $26
- Best Styling Spray: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray, $12
- Best for Shine: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, $28
- Best Oil: Garnier Fructis Sleek Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, $7
- Best Leave-In: Redken Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Leave-In Conditioner Spray, $30
- Best Lotion: Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion, $36
- Best Conditioner: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Conditioner, $41
In this article
- What causes frizz?
- Does anything really help frizzy hair?
- What to Look for in Products for Frizzy Hair
- Meet the Experts
For that reason, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to frizz. “Just like skincare, the right regimen is totally unique to every individual,” says Oribe global artist Adam Livermore. It’s highly dependent on your hair type and routine; for instance, someone with curls and a wash-n-go style requires a different frizz-control formula than another with a standing blowout appointment. With that in mind, the best anti-frizz products offer something for everyone.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray
- Why We Love It: An icon in its own right, the original Frizz-Ease set the standard for frizz-control products to follow, giving hair a manageable slip and smoothness without a discernible crunch. What sets this apart is its conditioning ingredients, which deliver moisture and shine to curls. You can apply it to damp hair to help define curls or to dry hair to reshape, and it s lightweight enough not to weigh down looser curls and waves.
- Best For: Waves and curls
- Size: 200 ml
- Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, panthenol, glycerin
- Type: Spray
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t leave hair sticky or shift | Contains silicones, which may build up on curly hair |
| Can be used on second-day hair |
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
- Why We Love It: The name doesn t exaggerate—its effects really do seem supernatural, leaving hair shiny and smooth whatever the forecast. This game-changing formula uses polymers to create an undetectable, weightless layer over hair, blocking frizz-causing humidity. “This is applied after shampooing and before blow drying,” says Jennifer Nast, a hairstylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City, who notes that it lasts for three washes. However, it s not for curls; it s activated by heat and needs to be blown dry while brushing hair out, so it works best for blowouts.
- Best For: Those who heat style
- Size: 200 ml
- Key Ingredients: Panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed silk
- Type: Spray
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Delivers all-day frizz protection | Not an option for air-drying |
Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Conditioners manage frizz by definition, but shampoos are more likely to strip hair of moisture. That s not the case with this silicone-free formula, which gently cleanses hair with sulfate-free surfactants. (Sulfates, while effective, can be too drying.) Not only that, but it deploys jojoba esters to simultaneously moisturize strands and resist humidity, leaving hair smooth, soft and clean.
- Best For: All hair types, including curls
- Size: 236 ml
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba esters, phytantriol
- Type: Shampoo
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Makes hair easier to manage and style | May be too heavy for fine hair |
Garnier Fructis Sleek Shine Anti-Frizz Serum
- Why We Love It: Yet another anti-frizz icon of the aughts, Garnier’s Sleek Shine serum has earned its staying power with an updated formula. It now pairs argan and apricot kernel oils with other smoothing agents that together control frizz and lend polish for days. The silicone does give it a slip, so it’s best to start with a drop and only add more as (and if) needed.
- Best For: Thick or coarse hair
- Size: 150 ml
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil, apricot kernel oil, dimethicone
- Type: Hair serum
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A little goes a very long way | May be too heavy for finer hair types |
| Offers long-lasting frizz control |
Redken Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Leave-In Conditioner Spray
- Why We Love It: While conditioner s nourishing nature gives it innate frizz-fighting abilities, a leave-in spray can take that power a step further by offering long-lasting results and a weightless feel. This lightweight spray helps detangle, defends hair against humidity, and leaves hair smooth without the typical heft. It also offers heat protection.
- Best For: Fine or thinning hair
- Size: 200 ml
- Key Ingredients: Babassu oil, pracaxi oil, glycerin
- Type: Spray
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight enough for fine hair | May not be moisturizing enough for very thick or coarse hair |
| Helps detangle hair for easier styling |
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Crème
- Why We Love It: Designed with blowouts in mind, this styling cream takes smooth hair seriously. It uses a blend of rosehip, argan, and coconut oils to offer lasting frizz control (even amid humidity) and heat protection up to 450-degrees Fahrenheit. As effective as it is, however, it can be a bit heavy for fine or thin hair types—so start with a pea-sized amount and allow it to dry before styling.
- Best For: Thick or coarse hair that’s heat-styled
- Size: 118 ml
- Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, argan oil, coconut oil
- Type: Styling cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Leaves hair shiny and soft after styling | Doesn’t work as well as fine hair |
Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion
- Why We Love It: While Moroccanoil earned its reputation for its standalone argan oil, this Smoothing Lotion proved to be a good alternative for those seeking a more lightweight (but no less potent) styling cream. Infused with argan oil and butter—as well as a patented ingredient that helps protect hair from humidity—the formula helps defend against breakage, boost shine, and nourish strands. It also offers medium hold, making it especially ideal for unruly curls.
- Best For: Anyone defining waves and curls
- Size: 300 ml
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil, argan butter, Polyquaternium-70
- Type: Styling cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Offers enough moisture for Type 4 curls and coils | May exacerbate the look of split ends |
Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother
- Why We Love It: Damaged hair is frizz-prone hair, which is why repair is non-negotiable for smooth, frizz-free hair—especially if you color or heat-style your hair. This formula contains Olaplex’s proprietary ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, to relink the bonds broken when hair is processed. That leaves hair less prone to frizz—as does the blend of aloe vera, green tea, and panthenol. For those devoted to their styling tools, it can also cut down on the time needed to blow-dry hair.
- Best For: Damaged hair
- Size: 100 ml
- Key Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, coconut oil, panthenol
- Type: Styling cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Actively repairs bonds broken from heat and color services | Nothing to note |
| Reduces drying time |
Kérastase Sérum Filler Fondamental Repairing Anti-Frizz Serum
- Why We Love It: Like a peptide serum for your hair, this relies on the strengthening ingredient to fortify strands and replenish smoothness. It s intended to protect hair against multiple sources of frizz, including hard water, heat damage, and (of course) humidity. Glycine, a key amino acid, helps relink keratin chains to reduce breakage and seal split ends.
- Best For: Weak, brittle hair or split ends
- Size: 90 ml
- Key Ingredients: Glycine, peptides, dimethicone
- Type: Hair serum
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Helps strengthened damage hair | It’s not especially moisturizing |
| Protects hair against the effects of hard water |
SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Mousse
- Why We Love It: While the ’80s may have damaged mousse s reputation, it s still a worthwhile addition to a curl routine, as it delivers volume and definition without the crunch of a spray. This formula is particularly moisturizing, with shea butter, coconut oil, and neem oil—and it enhances curl memory to create a consistent, long-lasting curl pattern that stands up between washes. It’s also free of silicones.
- Best For: Curly, coily, and kinky hair
- Size: 222 ml
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, neem oil
- Type: Mousse
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Free of silicones that can contribute to build-up | Much too heavy for finer hair textures |
| Offers long-lasting curl shaping and definition |
Oribe Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler
- Why We Love It: Intended for 3B to 4C curls and coils, this lotion allows for easy detangling without the breakage—thereby cutting down on new flyaways. “Anytime I wash or even rinse my hair, I use Oribe’s Priming Lotion right out of the shower,” says Livermore, who has Type 3A curls. “After application, I comb or brush the product through my hair to detangle and smooth those cuticles down.”
- Best For: Waves, curls, and coils
- Size: 250 ml
- Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, jojoba oil, mango butter
- Type: Styling cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Takes a little trial and error to determine the right amount for your hair | Doesn’t have the same scent as other Oribe products |
| Defends against heat damage |
Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Nourishing Treatment
- Why We Love It: All hair types can be prone to dryness, so a thick, heavy cream isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, consider this leave-in treatment, which feels more like a lotion and immediately tempers frizz with a blend of 16 essential oils—pracaxi seed oil, bay laurel leaf oil, bergamot oil, and fennel seed oil among them. Its hydration is weightless, so it won’t add unwanted weight to even fine or thinning hair.
- Best For: Fine or thinning hair
- Size: 30 ml, 98 ml, 200 ml
- Key Ingredients: Pracaxi oil, shea butter, olive extract
- Type: Styling lotion
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Sinks in immediately and without residue | Only works on damp or freshly washed hair |
Iles Formula Finishing Serum Haute Performance
- Why We Love It: Intended as the final step in your styling routine, this multitasking formula is a favorite of New York City hairstylist Temur Hamilton. “It makes the hair silky smooth and also provides protection against hot styling tools, color fading and UV rays,” he says. The secret to its efficacy? It’s infused with Japanese silk to smooth the hair cuticles, thereby reducing frizz. He recommends applying it to damp hair and either letting it air-dry or heat-styling as you normally would.
- Best For: All hair types, and for those who heat-style
- Size: 200 ml
- Key Ingredients: Tucuma seed butter, macadamia nut oil, silk extract, panthenol
- Type: Serum
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Nourishing enough for most waves and curls | Some might not like the floral fragrance |
Christophe Robin Night Recovery Oil
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- Why We Love It: For thick and curly hair types, this overnight treatment provides intensive conditioning. “It strengthens hair and reduces frizz while protecting against daily damage and environmental stressors,” says Hamilton, who notes that it can also be used before a color process to protect the hair. Using it takes a little more preparation: The formula is so thick that it’s solid at room temperature, so you have to warm it in hot water for up to 10 minutes until it turns into a liquid. Wear a cap overnight to protect your pillow, “then rinse and shampoo in the morning,” says Hamilton. (If you have thick hair, you don’t have to wash it out unless you want to.)
- Best For: Thick or curly hair
- Size: 90 ml
- Key Ingredients: Monoi oil, lotus flower extract
- Type: Oil
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| The white lotus extract gives it a nice scent | Can take some time to apply and wear |
| It can also help seal split ends |
Crown Affair Leave-in Conditioner
- Why We Love It: Leave-in conditioners can often be heavy, but Crown Affair’s take strikes the right balance between moisturizing and a weightless finish. That makes ideal for fine waves or curls, and powerful enough to control errant flyaways and baby hairs. Instead of the typical heavy oils and butters, it deploys tsubaki seed oil, mustard flower extract, and sugar beet extracts to deliver virtually imperceptible conditioning.
- Best For: All hair types, but especially fine hair
- Size: 150 ml
- Key Ingredients: Tsubaki seed oil, mustard flower extract, sugar beet extract
- Type: Leave-in conditioner
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Smooths baby hairs and flyaways | Contains alcohol and silicones, which may be a dealbreaker for curly hair types |
| Can be used on damp and dry hair alike |
What causes frizz?
Frizz happens when the cuticle of the hair lifts up. “It s the outermost layer of a hair strand, and hair cuticles are like shingles on a roof or scales on a fish; they are little plates that overlap each other,” says Livermore. “If the cuticles are undamaged, smooth, and flush with the hair strand, the hair will be shiny and frizz-free.”
Hair can be naturally frizzy, as is the case with curls, coils, and waves, since these tend to be dry. And, “because of its thickness and larger diameter, coarse hair textures are also prone to dryness and frizz,” says Nast. That s also the case with gray hair, which has more layers of cuticle than pigmented hair.
Finally, frizz can also arise from damage caused by aggressive styling or chemical processes, like color treatments, says Livermore.
Does anything really help frizzy hair?
Anything that smoothes the cuticle of the hair can help control frizz. Silicones tend to be among the best ingredients for this, as “they lubricate the hair, smooth the cuticle down, and seal it closed,” says Livermore.
Also, certain styles lend themselves to frizz control. “You can cut down on frizz by blow drying and/or flat ironing your hair,” Nast says. “This will help to close the hair cuticle, protecting it from absorbing moisture.” However, be sure to prep hair with a heat protectant first, or else the resulting damage will only incur more frizz over time.
Extending your time between washes can also be helpful. “Even shampoo can slightly open and swell the cuticle,” says Livermore. “That’s why we use a conditioner afterwards—to close it back down and smooth it.” He also recommends rinsing with cold water, which can help (temporarily) seal the cuticle.
Finally, your overarching styling routine can help with prevention. “Always use a heat protectant, make sure you are not over-shampooing, add a deep conditioner to your weekly routine, and get regular trims,” says Nast.
What to Look for in Products for Frizzy Hair
Since there’s a vast array of products that claim to control frizz, here’s how to narrow down the options to those that may work best for you.
Key Ingredients: Both Nast and Livermore recommend seeking out nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, argan oil, and jojoba oil. “These have a rich moisturizing ability that usually helps tame and smooth big, frizzy hair down,” Livermore says. Nast also points to hydrolyzed keratin as a good option, especially if you have heat or chemical damage; not only does it help repair, but it also smooths the cuticles, she says.
Your Hair Type: Your hair type can determine a lot about the formula you use. For instance, while silicones like dimethicone are ideal for those with straight hair, they may not be the best bet for those with wavy or curly hair. “Because some silicones aren’t water-soluble and can build up on the hair, many people with curly textures prefer silicone-free products,” says Livermore. As washing hair can remove moisture, those with curls tend to wash less—leading to more potential buildup from silicones. Meanwhile, for finer hair types, Hamilton seeks out texturizing and volumizing products that add body while fighting the effects of humidity.
Product Type: Between serums, oils, mists, and conditioners, it can be hard to parse what works best. For those with fine or thin hair, Hamilton recommends lightweight serums and sprays, particularly those that have additional volumizing benefits. Conversely, “for clients with thick, curly hair, I prefer heavier formulas, like oils and leave-in products, which provide a lot of moisture and nourishment over a long period of time,” he says.
Meet the Experts
- Adam Livermore is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Cher and Jennifer Lopez. He’s also an Oribe global artist.
- Jennifer Nast is a hairstylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City