Nothing bothers curly haired clients more than frizz. Humid day? Frizz. Overstyling? Frizz. Wrong product? Frizz. It’s curly hair’s way of saying, “I’m not happy.” Mel Paldino, ColorProof Platform Artist, reveals her best solutions for keeping curly hair frizz-free and happy.
Q. Why is curly hair so prone to frizz?
A. In straight hair the cuticle layer lays completely flat, allowing for maximum light reflection, a barrier against friction and a tight seal that blocks out humidity. On curly hair the scales don’t lie flat, creating an “open door” to frizz-producing elements like humidity and friction. Round curls, or S-shaped curls, become frizzy when disrupted with friction, or even when they’re cut too short. Tight, corkscrew curls are lighter in weight, making them very susceptible to humidity-produced frizz. And baby-fine zigzag curls have fewer cuticle layers, so there’s less of a natural barrier, which allows frizz to form easily.
Q. Why are nourishing oils key to fighting frizz in curly hair?
A. Hair oils hydrate thirsty curls, seal in moisture and help smooth down the cuticle, giving the client beautiful, bouncy, frizz-free curls. I recommend ColorProof Evolved Color Care’s TruCurl Anti-Frizz Oil. It’s designed exclusively for naturally curly or color-treated hair, and formulated with revolutionary polymers, sugar cane and seaweed to give curls structure, while Abyssinian, camellia and grapeseed oils soften and nourish the hair.
ColorProof TruCurl Anti-Frizz Oil tames frizz by hydrating the curls with blend of natural oils.
Q. What techniques do you use to keep curls frizz free?
A. I like to use a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel to dry the hair after washing. Traditional terry towels can rough up the cuticle and will strip natural moisture, resulting in frizzy curls. In a pinch, paper towels can work great for blotting out excess water without disturbing the cuticle. I also advise clients to cover their hair with a silk or satin cap at night, which protects their curls and prevents breakage.
Q. What do you tell your curly clients when humidity is high and frizz is a big worry?
A. Moisture, moisture, moisture. The reason curly hair gets frizzy is that it lacks moisture. When it’s humid outside the strands reach out, hoping to grab that moisture and absorb it. As long as their strands are moisturized and the cuticle is locked down, they should stay frizz-free. For more extreme climates, try an anti-humidity spray, like ColorProof HumidtyRx Anti-Frizz Weatherproof Spray, which blocks humidity from penetrating the hair shaft.
A few other frizz-blocking oil treatments to try…
Alfaparf Milano
Precious Nature Leave-In Oil is infused with grape serum to tame frizz and detangle curls, all while maintaining an optimal moisture balance.
Marula Oil
Rare Oil Treatment seals down the cuticle with cold-pressed marula oil, replenishing curls with oleic acids.
MOROCCANOIL
Treatment conditions the hair with antioxidant-rich argan oil, smoothing the cuticle for defined waves, ringlets and coils.
Sexy Hair
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Oil controls frizz with the moisturizing power of argan oil, leaving curls soft and shiny.
Agadir
Argan Oil Hair Treatment hydrates and conditions curls with a non-greasy argan oil infusion, banishing frizz without weighing down curls.
Neuma
Argan Treatment gives curls an extra dose of frizz-blocking moisture with a blend of plant extracts and essential oils.
