Style How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair: 15 Tips That Actually Work

If you're looking for a quick answer to how to get rid of frizzy hair, we hate to break it to you, but there's no magical, one-size-fits-all trick. While hair care brands have bombarded us with messaging that frizzy hair is the enemy, there is something to be said for embracing it. Frizz can be a halo or a crown, and it gives hair texture and life.

But if you prefer a sleeker look, are looking for ways to decrease damage and get more healthy hair overall, or find flyaways to be personally annoying, we get that frizz isn't everyone's jam—especially when it's not intentional. For those days, we gathered intel from 14 women with various hair textures who always leave us wondering how their hair looks so incredible. Read on for the frizzy hair tips and tricks they swear by.

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1. Invest in a great hair dryer

If frizz is something that's really driving you crazy, it might be time to invest in a gold-standard dryer, as they really lay the foundation for smooth hair. “Over the years I’ve realized professional hair-dryers are like sports cars: crafted with high-velocity engines and top-of-the-line parts and performance-driven design and features,” says Glamour digital director Perrie Samotin.

“Do your homework and be willing to spend the money. Coupled with the right high-quality brush for your texture, a professional-grade dryer is the best way to tame frizz.” She swears by Solano and Turbo Power dyers since they're made in Italy and last forever. We're also big fans of the Dyson Supersonic and Harry Josh Pro Dryer for their powerful but gentle capabilities, but any of these options from our list of the best hair dryers will leave you in good hands.

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2. Style your hair when it's wet

If you have curls, it's not only important to consider what products you use (like these best curly-hair products), but when you use them. “If you apply your product to hair that is the slightest bit dry, your product will not evenly saturate, and you will be left with frizzy, undefined curls," says Melissa Guido, a hairstylist and curl expert. Instead, she advises to skip a towel turban, and instead apply product on super-wet hair, right out of the shower.

“A great rule of thumb to follow is if it looks frizzy when it's wet, it’s going to be frizzy when it's dry," she says. "I personally like to comb through a leave-in conditioner, then rake in a curl cream with my fingers, and lastly, scrunch with a liquid gel. This provides moisture, enhances curl definition, and holds the style so your curls stay defined for days.”

3. Try a Silk Pillowcase

As a former beauty editor, copywriter Jillian Ruffo has had access to every product imaginable to stretch her weekly blowout. Nothing worked, until she introduced silk pillowcases and scrunchies into her routine. “They changed my life,” she says. “I twist my hair into a high bun and secure it with a silk scrunchie before bed—the fabric doesn't crease my hair, especially when I'm also laying my head on a slippery silk pillowcase. In the morning I take my hair down, mist my roots with dry shampoo and I'm good to go—no frizz at all.”

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4. Keep your hands off

Sometimes, the best advice is totally free. “My number-one tip for preventing frizz: Keep your hands out of your curls,” says blogger Ashly Rodriguez. “Constantly touching your hair will bring all the frizz you try to avoid.” This tip may be easier said than done, but it's a good thing to remind yourself.

5. Hairspray is your friend

An old hairstylist trick is to lightly mist your brush or comb with some hairspray to tame frizzies and flyaways. Influencer Michaela Podolsky says she deals with frizz on a daily basis, and spraying her comb with L'Oréal Elnett Satin Strong Hairspray is the only thing that works for her. “After spraying, I lightly brush through the top of my hair to set it in place,” says Podolsky. “On top of that, I wish this hairspray came in a perfume—I love the scent! And it holds my frizz down for the entire day.”

6. In a pinch, use hand lotion

“My secret hack if I’m out somewhere and have frizzy hair I need to deal with is to just use a little hand lotion,” says Anna Moeslein, senior editor at Glamour. “A small bit goes a long way, and I’m much more likely to have a travel-sized lotion in my bag than hair products." If you have finer hair, just be sure to focus the cream on your ends or rub it in your palms first to diffuse it, so your hair doesn't get too greasy.

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All her life, writer and producer Elle Johnson just wanted her hair to blend in. It took working on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, a show about the tangled politics of Black hair, for her to finally embrace the freedom of standing out—and speaking up.That taboo persisted for years. But, of course, I wasn't the only one who felt that way. I remember when Chris Rock's film Good Hair came out in 2009, and it was such a revelation to so many people because it was like, here’s what’s going on in the Black community, and you’re completely unaware of what a big issue hair is for Black women.

7. Start in the shower

Tangles and frizz go hand in hand, so a big step in learning how to get rid of frizzy hair is cutting down on tangles. If you have straight hair, all it may take is the right brush, but if you have curls, you know the process requires a little more TLC. Glamour commerce writer Erin Parker swears by DevaCurl Wash Day Wonder Pre-Cleanse Slip Detangler to stop tangles in their tracks. “It makes your strands extra slippery and easier to work through, whether you’re finger-detangling or using a wide-tooth comb,” she says.

8. Swap out your towel

The towel you dry your hair with is just as important as the products you apply, so consider hair “plopping", which recently took off on TikTok. “First you apply your regular styling products to freshly washed, still damp hair,” says Parker. “Next you lay a microfiber towel—not a traditional one; this is key to minimize frizz—or an old T-shirt down on a flat surface. Then you bend over and plop your hair down into the towel or T-shirt." This allows the water in your hair to soak into the microfiber towel or T-shirt, which helps you avoid the damaging friction that traditional terry cloth towels can cause.

9. Use products strategically

Often only one product isn't enough to get rid of frizzy hair, especially if you have thicker or curly hair. Instead, think of your products as a holistic routine that works together to fight frizz. “I emphasize having a system,” says hairstylist Hachoo, whose clients include Kimora Lee Simmons, Rico Nasty, and Doja Cat. “Finding the system for your curl type is essential to a stress- and frizz-free day.” She swears by a regimen of hydrating shampoo, Style Factor's Wig Out Curl Fitting Foam, leave-in detangler, and curl gel for both her clients and herself, but it's all about finding what works for you.

10. Straighten smarter, not harder

Taming frizz on your natural texture is one thing, but keeping straightened hair sleek is a whole other can of worms. Luckily, Glamour commerce editor Shanna Shipin has figured out a trick that makes straightening her curls smooth sailing. “While it’s super tempting to grab a brush and detangle my hair before straightening, I never do it,” she says. “Taking a brush through my hair separates the strands and makes my hair super frizzy when I go over it with a flatiron. Instead, I use a detangling brush in the shower—and if it gets a little knotty while straightening, I finger comb it." It also helps to use a heat protectant spray.

11. Consider your environment

Since frizz is caused by your hair looking for the nearest source of water in the air, humidity levels have a huge effect. “My thick, semi-wavy hair was so manageable in New York, but when I moved in with my parents in Florida, my hair was not prepared for the humidity,” says Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour weekend editor. If you're planning a trip, consider the climate, and plan accordingly by adding smoothing or moisturizing products to your routine.

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These are the essentials getting the actor through quarantine.Which, to be clear, is perfectly okay. But after months of uncertainty, the 55-year-old actor says she's rediscovered why it's important for her mental health to keep up with the self-care routines she had before the pandemic. “When you do little things to take care of yourself, whether it’s eating right, taking a walk, drawing a bath, or even getting the gray out of your hair, it’s just a great boost of confidence,” she says. “Then you feel like you do everything else better. I get reminded of that every time.

“Thankfully, my mom shared her bottle of Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner, and my hair is back to being (mostly) frizz-free,” says Tannenbeaum. "Its lightweight formula is super easy to work through all of my hair, and I have a lot of it, with just a tiny amount without making it look or feel greasy.”

12. Moisture is your friend

“Frizz has always been an issue for me," says Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant at Glamour. “Now, I can confidently say I appreciate my curly, sometimes puffy hair, and have learned to understand what it needs with the frizz does arrive, and that's moisture.” Her product of choice is SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Leave-In, since it delivers instant hydration and leaves her hair silky smooth and conditioned.

13. Don't discount the classics

© @hopedisguised

It can be tempting to always look for the newest and shiniest, but certain products are classics for a reason, and you shouldn't sleep on them. “Honestly Eco Styler Gel seems to be a staple for all Black women,” says organizer and writer Hope Giselle. “I don’t know a single one of my girlfriends or random Black woman who doesn’t own or use one of the formulas.” She prefers the Eco Styler Olive Oil gel, since it “keeps me sleek and frizz free through the worst humidity," especially when paired with Ebin's 24 Hour Edge Tamer.

14. Use a diffuser

If you're a curly girl, blow dryers may scare you, but there's a better solution for them: use a diffuser. Traditional hair dryers jostle your curls around too much, but a diffuser will soften the air flow so your curls are bouncy, not frizzy. Model Toni Macaroni swears by one for full bouncy curls. “Do it with your head upside down to achieve maximum volume,” she suggests.

15. Lean into it

Sometimes, you've just got accept your frizz for what it is. Illeisha Lussiano, hairstylist and owner of New York's The Way salon, agrees. “My number-one styling tip when it comes to frizz is that it's most important to roll with it, especially if it’s caused by humidity,” she says. “Mother Nature is a battle you don't want to fight.”

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.