Best Hair De-Frizzers for Curly Hair

Once you start aging and experimenting with color, you change the structure of the hair. Besides adding products to give the look of luster, the right haircut makes all the difference to curly hair. Hair stylist Oribe Canales, owner of Oribe Salon Miami Beach, says, “You want imperfect, erratic layers, with fullness on top and not just on the sides.”

Frizzy hair is thirsty, broken hair. Daily shampooing can strip it of its natural oils. Choose a low- or no-lather shampoo to clean it without dehydrating it.

To buy: Wen by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner, $29; DevaCurl No-Poo Cleanser, $8; Living Proof No-Frizz Shampoo, $10

Always use a rinse-out and leave-in conditioner. Combined, they seal in moisture without weighing hair down. “Cold water rinses are also great for the hair,” says hairstylist Ted Gibson, co-owner of the eponymous salons in New York City and Ft. Lauderdale.

To buy: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner, $5; Oribe SuperShine Moisturizing Cream, $49; Shu Uemura Essence Oil-in-Cream, $45; Fekkai Essential Shea Conditioner, $25; Pantene Pro-V NatureFusion Smooth Vitality Conditioner, $4

Rubbing a heavy terrycloth towel back and forth across wet hair will exacerbate frizz and disturb strands. Instead, use a thin microfiber cotton type, and gently squeeze your hair with it.

To buy: Curl-Ease Towel, $20

RELATED: How to Color Your Hair Safely

“Never use products with a lot of alcohol,” Gibson says. “They dry hair, making it even frizzier. Especially if you have long hair, it’s more susceptible to frizz because it has more history. Use serums and shine enhancers to protect hair from the elements and hot tools.”

To buy: Sally Hershberger Style Primer for Wavy Hair, $13; Davines MoMo Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid, $18; Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum, $18; Ouidad Mongongo Oil, $36

Gibson recommends this blow dryer-diffuser set, flat iron, and small-barrel curling iron to dry and style frizzy hair. “Dry heat eliminates and tames frizz,” he says. If you prefer air-drying, don’t touch it until it’s completely set.

To buy: T3 Tourmaline Featherweight Luxe Dryer, $190; T3 The Diffuser II, $30; Paul Mitchell ProTools Express Ion Style Professional Styler, $134; Iso Beauty 5-Piece Curling Iron Set, $100

Any frizzy hair—wavy, curly, somewhere in between—tends to lack shine; light doesn’t reflect well off its C-shape strands. Once it’s dry, boost shine and moisture, and keep it clump-free with these lightweight wonders.

To buy: Original Mineral Frizzy Logic Shine Serum, $10; B. The Product Dust, $31; Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray, $14

With frizzy hair, there’s no such thing as too much conditioning. At least weekly, use an extra-moisturizing mask to soften and replenish hair. Better yet, put on a shower cap and let the product penetrate for 20 minutes before rinsing out.

To buy: Klorane Mask With Papyrus Milk, $24

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Once a week, apply a glaze after shampooing and conditioning. It smooths out rough texture and maximizes your hair’s shine potential for days.

To buy: John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine, $10

RELATED: How to Extend Your Haircut and Color

If, after all this, your hair still refuses to cooperate and threatens to turn into a fur ball, keep a purse-sized arsenal on you for quick, on-the-go control and polish.

Contents Animal Attraction Rectangle Kit Cosmetic Bag, $10; Ouidad Climate Control Frizz & Flyaway Fighter, $22; Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray, $20; Living Proof No-Frizz Weightless Styling Spray, $36; Ted Gibson Polishing Hair Sheets, $25; Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins, $6; France Luxe Large Rectangle Ponytail Holder, $16