What Actually Is Frizz & What Causes It?

13 April 2023 | Curly Hair

Have you ever battled with the frizz? If frizzy hair is the bane of your life, particularly during the summer, then you might want to know a) what is frizz, b) what causes frizz and c) how to stop hair frizzing. And lucky you – this is what this blog is all about.

Okay, frizz fighters. What do you need to know? 

The fact is, no matter what type of hair you have, you might not be immune to the frizz. But the good news is that once you know what causes frizzy hair, you can proactively take steps to banish it.

What Is Frizz?

Frizzy hair is when your hair loses its sleek and glossy look and takes on more of a frazzled and fuzzy appearance. It’s easily identified by its lack of moisture – it looks dry and in need of a little TLC.

This is because when your hair is damaged or thirsty, it doesn’t lie like it normally does and instead curls up of its own accord, or stands up.

This gives it an irregular – or frizzy – texture and creates that parched, fluffy look that doesn’t exactly scream healthy, happy hair.

What Causes Frizz?

There are three main culprits when it comes to frizzy hair and these are damage, humidity or hot weather and –  unfortunately – genetics. How moisturised your hair is in the first place will also play into the frizziness factor.

What actually causes frizz is a lack of moisture. And when your locks are lacking in moisture, they try to absorb it from the air. This only exacerbates the frizziness  – and this also explains why, when the air is humid, your hair can look even frizzier.

However, on the plus side, if you want to know how to stop hair frizzing, there are things you can do. Let’s take a look.

How To Stop Hair Frizzing 

So we’ve looked at what frizz is and what causes frizzy hair, but the real question here is how do you stop your hair from frizzing?

Are you guilty of any of these things?

  • Brushing Your Hair Too Much

If you over-brush your hair you could be causing it to break. And that will result in split ends and brittle strands. And that makes your hair more likely to become frizzy.  

So how do you rectify the problem? First and foremost, stop brushing your hair so vigorously or so often. We also recommend using a shampoo and conditioner that are formulated for frizzy hair to whip it back into shape. We have a bit of a thing for Davines’ LOVE Smoothing Duo which will hydrate locks and tame frizz.

  • Using Hot Water To Wash Your Hair

Washing your hair with really hot water simply strips your hair (and your scalp) of all those lovely natural oils that they need for moisture and nourishment. 

And when you remove that moisture, that’s when the dreaded frizz will strike. Luckily, this one is an easy one to rectify: simply turn the temperature down when you’re washing your hair.

  • Towel Drying Your Hair Roughly

Aggressively rubbing at your wet hair is doing it precisely zero favours. Bath and hand towels are actually pretty harsh on the hair and can even draw those healthy oils out of it. And what does this cause: yep, frizz. 

So ditch the regular towel and either use a microfibre towel or even an old cotton t-shirt to pat your hair dry. These will both be a lot kinder to your locks and soak up water without damaging your hair and causing frizziness.

  • Not Getting Rid Of Split Ends

As we touched upon above, split ends are a very real candidate for frizz. And the longer you leave them, the worse they’ll get. 

Luckily, this is a no-brainer. To deal with split ends, book in for regular trims with your local, friendly hairdresser. Meanwhile, if you’re fighting the frizz and in between appointments, a product such as Davines’ OI Liquid Luster will tide you over. It illuminates hair and leaves it with a glass like finish. 

  • Not Using A Heat Protector

There are numerous ways you can be kinder to your hair but if we’re wondering what is frizz, what causes frizz and how you can stop hair frizzing, along with opting for hairstyles that don’t damage the hair, using a heat protector is up there.

Heated styling tools, when used frequently, can stress your hair out and strip it of its natural moisture. This means hair is more prone to frizz. Combat damage with a product such as Davines’ This is a Blow Dry Primer which is an all-in-one heat protectant spray, anti-humidity barrier and shine-enhancer. 

How To Stop Hair Frizzing In Humidity

Okay, so now we’ve come to one of your hair’s biggest foes: humidity. Looking after your hair in summer can be a burden in and of itself. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

With the right products and a good haircut as your starting point, there’s no need to let humidity destroy your hair game.

But why does humidity cause frizz in curly hair – and even straight hair too? 

When the weather is humid, the cuticles in your hair become thirsty and open so that they can absorb the moisture that is a side effect of humidity. These open cuticles look rough and unkempt and the dry hair becomes frizzy as it laps up the moisture from the air.

While we all want to know how to stop hair frizzing, it’s a sad fact of life that unless you’re some kind of witch, you’re not going to be able to control the humidity levels in the air.

So what do you do? Well now you know what frizz is and what causes it, you are well equipped to purchase the right products to defend your hair against it!

For example, for fast and effective results, the LOVE Smoothing Instant Hair Mask by Davines will tame and straighten hair in just 30 seconds. 

What Causes Frizz In Curly Hair?

Meanwhile if you’re wondering what causes frizz in curly hair, it’s the same as it is for your straighter sisters, but you’ll want to use a product that is specially formulated for your thick, curly or wavy locks. 

We really like the LOVE Curl Mask, also by Davines, which leaves even the unruliest of hair soft and manageable.

It’s also well worth seeking out some hair care tips for curly hair if you’re wondering what causes frizz in curly hair and you’re looking to wrestle your beautiful curls under control.

Keep in mind that if you have naturally curly hair you are, sadly, more prone to frizz. This is because of the shape of your hair’s strands – the natural oils that the scalp produces are unable to travel down the shaft as effectively as they can in straight hair.

How To Stop Hair Frizzing At Tierney Salons, Hertford

Regular trims and nourishing your hair are the best weapons in the fight against frizz. So whether you’re still wondering “what is frizz?” or you want to chat with someone knowledgeable about what causes frizz, we’re the people to speak to. 

Our team of expert stylists and colourists have plenty of tips on how to stop hair frizzing and we’ll be more than happy to help restore your locks to their former glossy glory.

Our nanokeratin treatment leaves your hair smoother, shinier and more manageable. It works to repair damaged hair cells and smooths out the hair surface. Amazing looking hair without the damage? It couldn’t sound better!

Don’t put up with frizzy hair. Book your appointment here and we look forward to seeing you soon!