Three people with varying curly hair textures demonstrate the positive results of frizz management. Three people with varying curly hair textures demonstrate the positive results of frizz management.

Frizzy Curly Hair: 7 Proven Ways to Tame Unruly Curls

If you have any type of natural curls, you know about the inevitable trade off: frizz. The struggle is real, especially when conditions are humid or dry, or when you overdo the hot tools. The good news is you don’t have to resign to a life of frizzy curly hair. It can be tamed once and for all with the easy strategies in this guide on getting smooth frizz-free curls, so let’s get started!

What Causes Frizzy Curls?

As you probably know, curly frizzy hair is basically a moisture imbalance. Curls demand more moisture than straight hair because it takes longer for natural hair oils to travel down from the scalp and coat each ringlet. If you don’t rehydrate accordingly, the hair cuticles can suffer damage. Other reasons that curly and frizzy hair go hand in hand include triggers like seasonal dryness and ill-adapted hair care routines that rob your curls or coils of much-needed moisture (think straightening irons and chemical treatments).

How to Get Rid of Frizzy Curly Hair

If you find yourself constantly wondering how to get rid of frizzy curly hair, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a step-by-step guide for kissing frizzy curls goodbye and achieving the definition you’ve always dreamed of.
A close-up of a person with wet, curly hair, likely in the process of applying or rinsing out shampoo.

1. Use a Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly Hair

The best curl products for frizzy hair do not contain sulfates, which can be very drying. You need specially formulated shampoo and conditioner that both hydrate and help retain moisture while adding nourishment. The Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish line is the perfect blend for combatting frizzy curly hair, plus it won’t strip any of your natural oils. Start your curly hair care routine with Curl Nourish shampoo and conditioner.

2. Trim Your Hair Regularly to Prevent Split Ends

Stay one step ahead of split ends by regularly snipping them off. Frayed tips coarsen your hair texture and are major culprits of frizzy curls – and a big reason your locks may look unruly and unhealthy.

Prevent split ends - Garnier
A woman conditions her hair in the shower.

3. Deep Condition Weekly for Maximum Hydration

The ultimate goal when taming frizzy curly hair is striking the ideal moisture balance. Deep conditioning treatments like leave-in Curl Air Dry Cream and hair masks are your ticket to restoring the happy hydration medium.

4. Apply Lightweight Hair Oils to Tame Frizzy Curly Hair

Plant-based oils have been conquering frizzy curls for millennia because they naturally seal in moisture without the weighdown. After washing and conditioning, but before styling, apply a hair oil that suits your curly hair texture like Curl Multi-Use Oil with vitamin E and coconut oil.

A person with curly hair smiles while applying hair oil.
A woman with long wet hair uses a comb, illustrating one of the recommended tools for managing curly hair.

5. Avoid Brushes and Go Wide

Traditional hairbrushes can actually cause frizzy curls and breakage. Always gently style and detangle with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers, and make things easier with Pure Clean Detangler. Look for a detangling comb made from pliable material to avoid unnecessary tugging and only use it only on wet hair.

6. Control Frizzy Curly Hair with a Regular Routine

Keep your curly hair routine simple and consistent: diligence goes a long way to preventing frizzy curls over time. Shampoo and condition in the shower, add a leave-in conditioner or cream to damp hair, apply some hair oil, style with a detangling product, air-dry, and deeply hydrate weekly with a curly hair mask/treatment.

A close-up of a person with curly hair, eyes closed, enjoying the feel of air-dried curls.
Curly hair when you sleep - Garnier

7. Protect Your Curls While Sleeping

Once you have curly frizzy hair under control, don’t mess it up! Maintain your soft curls by sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase. Resting your head on cotton can create friction that dries out curls and worsens tangles and frizz. Also try wearing a protective hairstyle like pineappling or a silky bonnet.

The Best Products for Taming Frizzy Curly Hair

The best curl products for frizzy hair contain ingredients that hydrate, soften, nourish, and define. Garnier Fructis has developed an entire line of solutions called Curl Nourish for every stage of your curly hair care routine. It’s also good to know what formulas you should and should not use on your ringlets.

Top Ingredients to Look for in Curly Hair Products

Your top options for fighting frizz are key ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, and coconut oil. Say no to anything that may dry out your hair like sulfates and alcohol because they tend to cause frizzy curls.

Best ingredients for curly hair - Garnier

How to Choose the Right Styling Products for Frizz Control

It’s important to get the texture and purpose of your hair care products right. Leave-in conditioners are applied after the shower and focus on extra hydration. Gels and creams are usually used for styling, hold, and definition. They all contribute to controlling frizz. Also look for products based on your curl type like wavy or coily.

Curly Hair Mistakes That Make Frizz Worse

There’s a chance you may be making your frizzy curly hair worse without knowing it, so make sure you’re not committing these common curly hair no-nos.

How to Tame Frizzy Curly Hair in Humid Weather

If you don’t live in an arid climate, you know how humidity can cause frizzy curls. This is because curly locks are more porous, so they absorb moisture in the air. When the weather gets extreme, try reducing frizz with a protective hairstyle or wrapping your head in a silky scarf. And check out Garnier’s humidity-fighting products for frizzy hair like Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk with argan oil, Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner for up to 72 hours of control or Anti-Frizz Serum with our exclusive Kera-System+ technology.

Embracing and Managing Your Natural Curls

Adopting a frizzy curly hair care routine is a gesture of self-love because there’s everything to adore about manageable curls! Embrace the beautiful natural bounce in your hair and keep trying different products and techniques until you find the perfect ritual.
Frizzy Curly Hair FAQ
  • The best way to hydrate curly frizzy hair is to repeatedly apply moisture and allow nature to work. That means not stripping natural oils with overwashing or sulfates, adding a weekly deep conditioning step to your routine, using hydration treatments like hair oil, and enhancing curls with defining products like gels and creams.
  • Your hair is so dry and frizzy for one big reason: it’s craving moisture. Some of the top reasons your hair is parched are overuse of hot styling tools (including blow dryers), too much time in the sun or a chlorinated pool, and washing with a shampoo that contains drying ingredients like sulfates.
  • Some nutritional deficiencies can help cause frizzy hair, but they are usually not the sole culprit. A chronic lack of vitamins and minerals like biotin, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids can weaken your hair and dry it out, thereby making it more susceptible to frizzing and breaking.
  • Curly hair can get frizzier with age for a few reasons. Hormonal fluctuations tend to cause the production of natural oils to decrease and the texture of our curls to change. Gray and white hair are also coarser than your regular hair, so it might react differently to products you’ve been using for years.
  • The worst ingredients for frizzy curls are the ones that zap moisture from your hair. These baddies include sulfates, silicones, alcohol, synthetic dyes, and parabens. Whenever you want to try a new product for frizzy curly hair, read the label carefully before you buy and try – even if it gets rave reviews.
  • You should wash curly and frizzy hair sparingly, but it also depends on your curl type and what your hair needs. For example, thick curly hair requires less washing than fine curly hair because it has a higher need to maintain moisture. For more details, read our article about how often to wash curly hair.

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