Fuzzy, frustrating and the hair issue most likely to make us use the other F-word – frizz is a total pain. Celebrity hairstylist Lee Stafford says 90 per cent of women he sees suffer from frizz effects. But why? “Frizz is caused by humidity and moisture,” explains Lee. “Water vapour in the air disturbs the hydrogen bonds in each individual hair that create shape, meaning smooth, styled hair loses its elongated shape and returns to its natural, more frizzy state. This process can be made worse by rough brushing, styling tools that are too hot and by using products that dry hair out.” But your locks aren’t destined to spend a lifetime in the wispy wilderness: we’ve tackled the frizz-ssues for you…
Your frizz-ssue
Style overload Do you continuously colour your hair? Does the thought of walking out of the front door without perfectly straightened locks give you a funny turn? Do your tresses often get out of control when they’ve been overworked? Overusing dryers, tongs or straighteners and over-colouring or bleaching hair can all damage your hair’s cuticles (the protective layers that keep out moisture), resulting in the dreaded frizz.
Hair saviour Oil-based hair products are a style ’n’ colour overloader’s new BFF. “L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Coloured Hair, £9.99, has been cleverly crafted with six flower extracts, which nourish and smooth hair cuticles. The oil also prevents moisture getting into cuticles and causing new frizz problems,” says Cheryl Cole’s hairstylist, Lisa Laudat. Work a small amount through your mid-lengths and ends before drying. Or for cases of really bad frizz, apply and leave for 10 minutes before shampooing. If you have fine hair, oily products can make it go limp so only use a pea-sized amount to keep your hair voluminous and frizz-free.
Celeb frizz friends The bleached look is too much for Pixie Lott and Tulisa’s tresses.
Your frizz-ssue
Born that way Does your hair retreat into a ringlet at the first sign of moisture? We love curl power, but it has a definite downside – remember Monica’s Barbados hairstyle in Friends?
Hair saviour It’s best to leave your curls be. “Let hair dry naturally,” recommends Natasha Mannan Khan, stylist with Daniel Galvin Jr. “Finger-comb an anti-frizz serum through your locks to coax cuticles into order.” To fix that end-of-day flop before you go out, when even the cutest curls lose their bounce, try the Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Curling Tong, £29.99. It infuses hair with micro-conditioners made from smoothing keratin. “Only revive the top layer, as it’s most affected by air-conditioning, heat and rain,” advises Natasha. “Take small sections, curl with tongs, then run serum through the ends.” Urban Therapy Twisted Sista Different Strokes Serum, £4.99, protects against environmental damage, thanks to softening argan oil and green tea.
Celeb frizz friends In the wrong weather, Rihanna and J.Lo sport the dreaded fro-no.Your frizz-ssue
Texture factor Limp locks? Wispy bits the bane of your life? Fine hair can equal frizz, especially if you suffer from baby hair. This fluffy hair around your hairline causes annoying static-like fuzz. While it’s tempting to cut off this accumulation of damaged cuticles, don’t! It’s part of your hair’s natural cycle and important for re-growth. If you notice one area is worse, you may be doing something to make this fine hair break.
Hair saviour Fine hair is high-maintenance as it varies wildly from person to person. “Ask your hairdresser about products that suit you,” says Pol Garcia, hairstylist at Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa. “Longer locks need heavier products, while shorter and straighter hair benefits from lighter ones.” New Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment for Fine and Light-Coloured Hair, £12.85, is specially formulated to be lighter and instantly absorbed, penetrating the hair follicles and shafts, so that wispy bits are smoothed back together, without weighing it down.
Celeb frizz friends Alexa Chung and K-Stew have fine hair that can get wispy.
Supercharged frizz fighter For a semi-permanent fix, try KeraStraight, a salon treatment that uses keratin to strengthen, straighten and protect locks (from £25 at Trevor Sorbie).
The smooth movers
*Toughen up and rinse off your conditioner with cold water! This helps to close your hair cuticles, smoothing them down and making your locks less susceptible to frizz. It adds shine too. Score!
*Post-shower, don’t rub locks with a towel as this encourages cuticles to bend, and leads to frizz. Allura Microfibre Hair Wrap, £1, an ultra-absorbent towel, gently dries your hair instead.
*Hairdressers use powerful hairdryers to blast your tresses at super speed, which compresses the cuticles and locks out frizz-inducing moisture. DIY at home with a 2,000-watt salon-esque tool such as Diva Rapida 3600, £49.99.
*Run a tumble-dryer sheet over your hair. They contain positively charged ions to balance out the negative static in your ’do .
