Let's face it, frizz happens! I don't know about you and yours, but my hair isn't frizz proof and I have had many days of fighting frizz. This is something I've been battling with since becoming natural. Free Spirit and I definitely have had our share of frustrations with it. Instead of whimpering into a corner or reaching for your cute little fedora (go ahead, I won't judge) gear up and go to war with Frizz. It could be in the midst of summer, on a hot and humid Georgia day, or even in the winter when you're attacked by frizz. As I've already stated, frizz happens regardless.
What exactly is frizz? Frizzy hair is often the result of two things: 1. Damaged hair; which includes but is not limited to, split ends, broken hair, and flyaways. 2. Static, humidity, or a negative charge in the air which are much more commonly acknowledged. When those two combine you get frizz! Okay so enough with all the science of frizz. Lets discuss some tools you can use to combat frizz. Let's go to war!
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| Frizzy Fro |
Shampoo:
If you shampoo your hair be sure to use a hydrating/moisturizing shampoo. These shampoos gently cleanse hair while replenishing the hair with hydration. Your hair's natural moisture can evaporate with harsh shampoos that strip your cuticle. You want your shampoo to soothe and cleanse your hair without stripping it of it's natural oils. Most hydrating/moisturizing shampoos are only needed to boost moisture. If your hair is severely damaged on the other hand, you may want a shampoo with a silicone or add a little oil to your shampoo. Yes. I said silicone. If it's not broken, no need to get your tool case out.
No-Poo and Co-Washing:
For those of you who believe using shampoo is taboo, try incorporating no-poo into your regiment. No-poo is not a dish rather it is not using shampoo on one's hair. Many who are conscious of harsh ingredients opt to use this method instead of a shampoo then using conditioner option. Another reason one may no-poo is the harsh ingredients some shampoos have that often strip the natural oils our scalps produce. Co-washing will be the best alternative for you. Co-washing is the act of not using shampoo but simply washing the hair with a conditioner. Co-washing can dry your hair out though depending on what product you use. Make sure you use a moisturizing conditioner that is silicone free. That way you can avoid dryness and buildup as well as the silicone you prefer not having.
Moisturize and Deep Conditioning Treatments:
Just say yes to using a moisturizer! In my opinion, if you don't add moisture back to your thirsty roots, you will only have parched hair. My favorite option to moisturizing my hair besides using shampoo, conditioner, or a moisturizer is deep conditioning treatments. Why should one deep condition their hair? Deep conditioning helps to get our hair back into shape. It replenishes vital moisture and leaves the hair stronger. Each strand of hair has three layers. When you are doing a deep conditioning treatment you are strengthening the outer layer. The outer layer is the cuticle.
Recall from my video on Youtube, Lessons Learned: A Transitioned Natural's Perspective, where I discuss the cuticle resembling shingles on a roof. Shingles lay flat on a roof therefore allowing the roof to remain flat and not letting anything into the house. When your hair becomes damaged and dry, those "shingles' stand up. Same thing with the cuticle. When it becomes dry and damaged it to will stand away from the hair shaft. This will then give your hair that dull, fried, and frizzy look.
Protect Against Heat:
Do as I say and not as I do. This is an area that I am currently working on when it comes to applying a heat protect 100% of the time. When dealing with heat, one should always be mindful of the tools they are using. Your tool could be a blow dryer, concentrator, or diffuser for added volume to your curly fro. It could be your flat iron you use once a month for sleek, straight hair. Whichever your tool of choice, you should be sure to use a heat protectant. I would also recommend investing in Tourmaline Ceramic tools. Yes they may be costly but pay the cost upfront instead of later after using gold-plated flat irons that may eventually burn your hair.
One thing that I have found helps to maintain a given style and prevent frizz is setting it with heat. As of lately, I have been wearing wash and go styles because its so easy and my hair is so curly. But if I dare leave home without it being dry I will have a dreaded puff within hours. What has helped me make sure that my hair is dry before leaving home is A. using a blow dryer with my concentrator attachment. I use it once I've let my hair airdry for a little while. If my hair is about 80% dry, I can just grab the blow dryer and concentrator and focus the heat on the roots of my hair while carefully pulling the ends of my hair. I say carefully because you're not trying to have a blow out or lose curl definition. You are simply trying to elongate the look of your hair.
All of this is done once the products of your choice (oils, creams, shea butters, leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, etc) are added. Personally, going section by section and applying/shingling the cocktail of products (that coat, seal in moisture, and also protect the hair) to my hair then setting with heat helps fight away the frizz. B, doing everything I just described with sectioning and shingling product through hair and then sitting under a hooded dryer for at least 20 minutes. After that, depending on shrinkage, you can use the concentrator to stretch your hair. The key to not causing frizz is to try not to touch your too much. This disturbs your curls.
Personally, I don't mind frizz as far as aesthetics! I have fine, 3C/4A, very curly hair (if you are in to hair typing) so frizz gives my hair character. She IS named Free Spirit for a reason. Enjoy the pictures below of how I style my frizz when it happens:
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| One side is in one flat twist towards top of head, other side is free. |
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| Curly fro from a Wash & Go |
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