Affordable Non-Toxic Remedies For Frizzy Hair And Dry Hair, Too

Has summer’s searing heat cooked your coif to a dull dryness? Or do you struggle with the frizzy hair all year? Either way, don’t despair. Here are the six most common dry-hair culprits, plus reviving tips from top stylists.

Frizz seems to be the bane of every curly girl’s existence, especially in the summer months when humidity levels are higher. I am often asked about products and methods to combat frizz, so I compiled this information to help you tame your mane and get more frizz-free wear out of your styles!

What Is Hair Frizz?

Frizz occurs when the cuticle layer of your hair is raised, allowing moisture to pass through and swell the strands. As a result, your hair appears dry and frizzy instead of smooth and defined. In general, curly hair tends to have more frizz than straight hair because of dehydration in the strands, which leaves it more vulnerable to frizzing.

Reasons Why Hair Becomes Dehydrated and Frizzed

• You probably are not drinking enough water during the day. Begin your day with a glass of warm water with lemon and carry a water bottle to remind yourself to hydrate.
• You are sleeping on the pillow case made of the fabric that creates friction and drying of your hair. Use a silk or satin pillowcase!
• The oil your scalp naturally secretes builds up at the root of the hair follicle instead of traveling down the hair strands. It’s usually characteristic of coily and kinky hair types.
• Your hair receives insufficient or incorrect shampoo and conditioning. It could be wrong products you are using. are not deep conditioning often enough, or with the right types of products for your porosity level.
• Your protein to moisture balance is off; you are using too much protein without enough moisture.
• Hair moisturizers you are using are are not penetrating the hair shaft.
• Are you on certain medication? Some medications can cause changes in your body that affect your hair.
• If your hair is colored or processed in any way, you may have an accumulation of chemicals in your hair, like high-lift dye or bleach, that have damaged the cuticles.

Hair porosity is your hair’s natural ability to absorb water and treatments. Low porosity hair require a longer time to get wet and dry. High porosity hair can absorb water and hair treatments quickly.

How to Prevent and Heal Sun Damaged hair

This one’s an easy fix: Before heading outdoors, either don a stylish sun-blocker hat like this ONE or spray your tresses with a UVA protectant.

Check out my detailed post featuring Non-Toxic UV Hair Protection Products for year-round well-being.

Then, once a week, treat your hair to a deep conditioner or a half-cup of warmed olive oil.

follicles already are filled with water, they cannot absorb conditioners,” says Umberto Savone, Selma Blair’s stylist.

Next, apply the conditioner or olive oil. Then wrap your head in a warm towel for 20 minutes.

Finally, rinse. You may be tempted to wear a shower cap to bed and keep the conditioner on overnight, but don’t bother. Savone says the treatment loses effectiveness over time.

Washing Your Hair Too Often

If your hair is dry, you should shampoo two to three times weekly – tops. “Overshampooing strips hair of the natural sebum oil your scalp produces,” says Mark Anthony Talavera, owner of Houston’s Mark Anthony Salon. “So massage your scalp as you scrub to stimulate oil glands.”

Look for a pH-balanced shampoo, which will close your cuticles. Then follow up with a light conditioner. If needed, rinse your hair or use a dry shampoo between showers.

Check out a detailed post on some of the Best Natural Hair Care Products to strengthen hair cuticles and tame and control frizzy hair.

What Ingredients Cause Hair Damage and Hair Loss

Gels, mousses, hair sprays and styling creams may keep your mane nicely styled, but many of them contain alcohol as a primary ingredient, which slowly robs your hair of moisture.

Instead, “live with what nature gave you–- and read the ingredients list,” says Talavera. “The first three items constitute 70 to 80 percent of the contents. You want emollients and conditioners and only denatured alcohol, which are less damaging.”

Frizz Fighting Products

In fact, products that labeled to fight hair frizz contain silicones. Silicones put a stop on humidity entering into the hair’s shaft. Always use hydrating shampoo and deep hydration conditioner to help minimize the hair frizz effect.

What you need to know is this. Frizz fighting hair care products contain certain types of proteins to strengthen and hydrate your hair. Such proteins may include soy or wheat proteins. Other good ingredients in the hair care to fight frizz are various essential fatty oils that exercise their sealing power on hair cuticles. Such oils could range from avocado, coconut, olive, mango or shea butters.

Are Blow Drayers and Curling Irons Good for Hair?

If you can’t air-dry your hair, make a point to cut – or at least curb – your drying time.

Fine, straight hair needs only 30 seconds per section on high speed, medium heat, says Gregory Patterson, stylist to Anne Hathaway and Janet Jackson at New York City’s Blow.

Curly, thick hair needs, at most, a minute per section, starting with medium heat for the first half and high heat for the second. Stop once your hair is warm, not hot.

Explore some amazingly easy, yet so practical Curly Hair Care tips.

Learn some effective Textured Hair Care Tips and Tricks.

And before you switch on the heat, safeguard your hair with leave-in serum and a blow-dry accelerator. Look for soothing ingredients, like aloe vera and rice, soy, milk or almond proteins. “Think creamy,” says Patterson. “And always, always use a dryer nozzle. It closes cuticles, adds shine and stops the heat coil from hitting and frying hair.”

Check out some invaluable Hair Drying Tips Without Damaging It.

Your Hair Is Exposed to Water for A Long Time

Pool chlorine and ocean salt stress your hair, says Talavera. Before taking a dip, seal your hair cuticles with waterproof spray and (sorry!) wear a swim cap. Shampoo right after you get out of the water, and use a chlorine-countering clarifying shampoo once a week.

An Art of Taking Care of Naturally Curly Hair

Not only is curly hair dryer than straight hair, but the cuticles are rougher, adding to dullness. Restore the glow with polishers – preferably pigmented ones, because they have less parching peroxide and ammonia, says Talavera.

Or hit your kitchen: “Apple cider vinegar makes hair shiny by shutting cuticles,” he says. “Just rinse after shampooing, and your hair will look healthy.”