“Frizz is a curl waiting to happen,” according to Lorraine Massey, co-founder of DevaConcepts and Devachan Salon, curly expert and author.
Curly hair experts can turn frizzy hair into healthy-looking, beautifully cut and shaped curls in a relatively short period of time. But recreating no-frizz salon perfection at home is a challenge even to the most curl-savvy consumer. The resulting frustration can lead to using shortcuts, techniques and poor product choices that encourage frizz.
How can you achieve no-frizz curls between visits to the salon? And what frizz mischief do you get up to when you’re not being diligent?
Compulsive Touching
Beautiful curly hair begs to be touched. If you have the hands-in-hair obsession, you are likely to have a frizzy hair problem. But like nail biting, this is a curable habit you will be motivated to overcome once you see the results.
Allow your hair to dry completely after styling it wet, without touching it. Although air drying takes less time in the hot summer weather, if you don’t have the patience, partially diffuse to 70% or 80%, then allow curls to air dry completely. And no touching! Once it’s dry, you can use a tiny dab of pomade, oil, cream or serum to break up the gel cast and enhance shine.
Under- or over-applying products
Curlies who apply stylers unevenly and use too much or too little product may find one hair section too coated or weighed down and another frizzy, dry and flyaway. Watch your stylist to learn how she applies stylers to your hair. Work a small section under her supervision. This can save you a lot of hair-aches between visits to the salon.
Under moisturizing
Curly girls who have regular color and chemical services know how essential regular salon deep treatments are. But the same women who get massages and facials like clockwork may balk at salon moisture treatments. You might do them at home all too infrequently, or not thoroughly enough, and miss out on the pampering of a good salon deep treatment. Treat yourself to a restorative hair treatment service, on a routine basis—you’ll have a great a reason to sit back, relax and get an essential treatment that will help curls stay smooth and moisturized.
For home deep treatments, Massey recommends heating the treatment in the microwave and cooling stylers. “In the summer, all the gels and stylers are great to put in the fridge,” she advises. “So it cools and refreshes, and helps close the cuticle when you put them on your hair. Every frizz is a curl waiting for moisture.”
