Keeping the halo of frizz at bay.

It’s a big day. You are exhausted from all of the energy put into your ensemble – outfit is perfect, makeup is flawless and hair feels silky and looks shiny….until you have a chance to catch your reflection before running out the door – are you an angel, or, are you sporting the evil halo of frizz?  Frizzy hair is not a new concept, but, undoubtedly, one of the more infuriating hair care problems on the planet. Aside from actually having your hair straightened with in-salon treatments such as the Brazilian Blowout, there are numerous products on the beauty shelves and easy-to-follow styling techniques that will keep those maddening frizzies at bay.

What do the experts say?

“The definition of frizzy hair is when the cuticle of the hair shaft is shattered causing it to lose smoothness,” says Angela Soto, hairstylist, Mizu New York salon. “There are many culprits including the humidity level outside, dryness from over-processing hair with color or chemical treatments, applying products with high alcohol content and using heated styling tools. One of the more common reasons hair becomes frizzy and coarse is the need of a good hair cut and the texture such as curly or wavy hair, and even white or grey.” One of Soto’s favorite products is the Oribe Anti-Humectant Spray.  Soto suggests that as you blow-dry your hair, spray the finished section with the anti-humectant, roll into a barrel curl, clip and let it set for smooth and shiny tresses. She also uses it to spray on a dry section before using a hot tool such as a curling iron or flatiron for an ultimate shine and a frizz-free finish. “For curly hair, I diffuse with Oribe Gel Serum, then I spray the Oribe Anti-Humectant Spray and let it set. This is really great for curly hair since it is so susceptible to frizz naturally,” continues Soto.

Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny line works to smooth, add sleekness and shine to frizzy hair. "I start with the Super Skinny Daily Shampoo because its formulation is designed to reduce drying time and makes the hair smoother and more resistant to mechanical damage,” says Angus Mitchell, Co-Owner and Artistic Director of Education for John Paul Mitchell Systems. “Following the shampoo, I apply Super Skinny Relaxing Balm to towel-dried hair to create a great foundation that will allow the satiny style last all day." Celebrity fans of Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny collection includes Alicia Keys and Keri Hilson.

“The key to taming wild and frizzy hair is all about what products you use,” says Clay Patane, owner of The Loft Hair Lounge. On wet hair, Patane suggests either the Wio Straightening Balm by Framesi, or the Gelee Riche from L'oreal’s Texture Expert Line. “Use about a nickel size in your hands and distribute before drying, and you will see an impactful difference in how your hair responds to styling,” says Patane. In addition, on dry hair, using products known as “oil-less” oils such as L'Oreal Texture Expert Shine Perfection Anti-Frizz Shine Serum or Unite Shina Liquid gloss, will not make hair feel greasy or oily and are virtually weightless.

An unlikely source for smoothing locks is using a product formulated specifically for curly hair. “A hairdresser’s trade secret for lustrous hair is using curl products to blow dry hair straight,” says Ed Anthony Budzius, Stylist, Idgets, former product research and development specialist, Salon O'tiffe (323) 464-2500. “The moisturizers, anti-frizz agents and light gel hold in products designed for curly hair make for the perfect blow-dry product. Most curly hair stylers, such as Joico's Curl Definer, have heat protecting ingredients to keep the hair from being dried out and damaged by blow-drying.” However, if you have curly hair, stay away from the crunchy gels. Celebrity stylist George Papanikolas, known for his work with Nicole Richie, Mila Kunis, Minka Kelly, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Britney Spears, Jessica Stroup and Shenae Grimes, tells his clients with natural ringlets and waves to use a “good conditioner and curl crème” such as Joico’s Curl Definer Cream to smooth frizzies and give curls a silky texture.

A favorite among many hairstylists are products containing Moraccan Oil, however, oils such as hazelnut and olive oil are gaining momentum for their rich nutrients and silky smooth results. Leonor Greyl Serum De Soie Sublimateur  (www.beautyhabit.com) specifically incorporates hazelnut oil because of its fine texture and unparalleled ability to evenly distribute silk proteins over the hair. The Serum de Soie Sublimateur is a genuine “performance booster” that also provides hair with its own qualities, working to increase hair suppleness with a gentle, lightweight effect. The Olive Oil Glossing Polisher’s formula is a blend of silicone and natural oils including the essence of olive oil, Abyssinian oil, and coconut oil which not only infuse the hair with shine, but hydrates tresses as well. In addition, celebrity hairstylist Kimberly Kimble’s collection Kimble Hair Care  blends olive oil and vitamins A&E in the line’s Hair Butter to seal in moisture and help restore and maintain hair’s health. Hair Butter also eliminates frizz and flyaways while adding a slight sheen so hair appears natural and healthy. Hair Butter is a favorite for Kimble to use on her celebrity clients including Beyonce’s smooth, shiny style at the Grammy's.

Dry, brittle hair can quench its thirst with the Control Balm by Fa'Briq.  A favorite of Federico Calce, owner of Federico Salon, “The Control Balm gives hair the manageability it needs by removing the frizz and making the hair straighter without weighing it down. Fa'briq fuses ingredients such as aloe, UV protection and vitamin E to guard hair against free radicals, sun and damage caused by the environment.  Fa'Briq is sold exclusively at the Federico Salon and can be ordered online at www.federicosalon.com. 

New products for the frizzed-out beauty junkie.

If spending the money or the time with a salon-only straightening treatment to tame your Brillo pad is not on your agenda, Liquid Keratin Inc. has created a new revolutionary patented hair treatment, Liquid Keratin 30 Day Straight-Smooth-Strong & Long Treatment, which gives curly, frizzy, unmanageable hair the keratin protein that it is naturally missing. The Liquid Keratin treatment is the first safe, at-home alternative to hair salon treatments and is non-toxic or damaging to your hair. With one application, the Liquid Keratin treatment will make hair straighter, smoother, softer and frizz-free for 30 days. In addition, unlike in-salon treatments, Liquid Keratin’s system allows you to wear hair either hair curly without frizz or straight with minimal styling time. The Liquid Keratin 30 Day Straight-Smooth-Strong & Long Treatment Starter Kit includes Liquid Keratin 30 day straight smooth strong & long treatment, Liquid Keratin Infusing Healthy Hair De-Frizz Shampoo, Liquid Keratin Infusing Deep De-Frizz Conditioner and Liquid Keratin Filling Leave-In Conditioner and is available online from the company's website or www.beauty.com and in store at Ulta.

Multi-purpose products such as Product and Cake Beauty’s new Satin Sugar All-Purpose Treatment Balm  combat crazy hair days and work great on smoothing other important body parts. All-natural, organic hair pomade, Product, not only combats frizz, tames fly-aways, defines layers, controls curls and adds softness and shine to hair, but, the pure ingredients make this styler a favorite for soothing chapped lips, a cuticle conditioner and for softening rough, dry skin. Made with just five 100% natural, plant-derived components - certified organic shea butter, certified organic aloe vera oil, natural source vitamin E, wild harvested (pesticide-free) white beeswax and the scent of tangerine essential oil - Product can be applied on damp or dry hair and used with or without heat styling tools. Your hair can have its cake and eat it too with Satin Sugar All-Purpose Treatment Balm. Jam-packed with 86% shea butter and 12% beeswax, the Satin Sugar All-Purpose Treatment Balm sends frizzines running in the other direction as well as deeply nourishes dry lips and chapped skin and is free of parabens, phthalates, GMO, sulfates, synthetic dyes and triclosan.

Wiry tresses don’t necessarily need an expensive product to calm them down. If you want similar results to a designer salon brand, try Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray for long-lasting flexible hold that locks your style into place without stickiness or stiffness and gives hair a natural, healthy shine, even in the highest humidity, Smooth ‘N Shine Instant Repair Hair Polisher (available at Walmart, Target and Walgreens), an extra-strength polisher that instantly makes hair shiny, glossy and smooth, while at the same time instantly detangles and smoothes frizzies, split-ends and fly-aways and Citre Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, a high gloss polishing serum that treats coarse, dry or chemically treated hair.

Time is on your side when you use Profound Beauty’s HUSH Frizz Zero Time-Out Treatment. Frizz Zero Time-Out Treatment is a time-released, leave-in system that instantly detangles and smoothes open cuticles by depositing micro encapsulated ingredients over an extended period of time, restoring the hydrophobic state of the hair by rebalancing moisture all the while continually penetrating the hair fiber for a frizz-proof barrier. The luxurious cream-serum formula is light-weight and quickly absorbs into the hair with no residue. Frizz Zero Time-Out’s Hydrophobic ComplexTM mimics the hair’s natural F-Layer, a barrier that lies on top of the cuticle maintaining the hair’s moisture balance in order to prevent frizz.

Frying the frizz isn’t the best alternative.

Taking extreme measures to smooth the bristle will only result in damaged hair that is still frizzy. Mosaic Hair Studio owner and hairstylist Mike Van Den Abbeel loves to play with the latest styling tools, but isn’t a big fan of the new wet-to-dry flat irons. “Several of my clients who have used wet-to-dry flat irons complained that the steam has burned their scalp,” says Van Den Abbeel. “Also, since steam can reach very high temperatures it can scorch the hair.” Van Den Abbeel suggests using flat irons that are one-inch in diameter because the size allows you to create curls and flips. “There are three flat irons I would recommend. The best in quality are the CHI flat irons by Farouk because it heats quickly and locks in moisture without damaging the hair. The Metropolis T-Ion Tourmaline Ceramic 1" Flat Iron and GHD IV Styler flat irons are also superior brands on the market. Metropolis flat irons create a virtually humidity-free barrier and leave hair shiny and manageable. The GHD flat irons are slightly more expensive, but are exceptional quality and, according to the manufacturer’s website, can create “perfect curls, movement and volume.” A newcomer is the Carousel Strands Straight-Away Pro, the only professional quality cordless flat iron on the market. Lightweight, portable and rapidly heating, the Straight-Away Pro can be used at full heat for up to 45 minutes or for touchups over a period of eight hours. “The trick to creating a silky smooth style is by not going straight down with the hair in the iron,” continues Van Den Abbeel. “Hair should be in an arch or a slight curve which gives a more oval shape. For random wave or curls, take a small vertical section of hair and, from scalp to end, run the flat iron just like you would if you were creating a ribboning effect on a gift you are wrapping.”