Frizz 101: how to manage frizzy curly hair

Why is my hair frizzy? How to manage frizzy hair? What are the best products for curly frizzy hair? If you have curly hair, you will no doubt have tried to find the answer to one of these questions at some point in your life. Perhaps that’s what led you to read this article. ‘Taming’, ‘banishing’ and ‘managing’ frizz is a lifelong quest for many curly-haired individuals, but the reality is that naturally curly hair is prone to frizz, and it’s something that should be embraced rather than banished.

Although a certain amount of frizz is normal for curly hair, (I mean, who doesn’t want a bit of functional frizz to give a volume boost?!), dealing with consistently frizzy curly hair can be frustrating, leading many curlies to look for hair treatment for frizzy hair.

At Bouclème, we’re all about embracing the natural shape and texture of our curls. That means celebrating frizz in all its glory and making it work for you. So, let’s not ‘fight’ the frizz – if you’ve got it, flaunt it, we say. Instead, let’s look into what may be causing your frizz, how to care for your curly locks and the best products for frizzy hair.

What causes frizzy hair?

The weather

The atmosphere is one of the things that affects curly hair the most. You could be having the best hair day of your life, step outside into the rain and end up with a frizzy, poofy mess. Rain and hot, humid weather both cause frizz because the excess moisture in the air makes hair cuticles swell. Wind causes frizz because our hair is run ragged in the gusts. 

The best way to prevent frizz caused by the weather is to: 

1. Make sure hair is fully hydrated so it’s less likely to suck moisture out of the air 
2. Keep hair protected from the elements
3. Use glycerin-free products like our humidity-banishing Seal & Shield Range

Lack of moisture

Dry hair = frizzy hair. One of the other main causes of frizzy curly hair is a lack of moisture. When curly hair lacks moisture it will reach out into the atmosphere to find it instead. Environmental factors like humidity can exacerbate this. 

To reduce frizz, it’s essential to maintain a hair care routine focused on moisturising, including using sulphate-free shampoos, deep conditioners and leave-in treatments, while avoiding excessive heat styling and ensuring regular trims.

Product build-up

If you use styling products that contain heavy butters and oils, if you co-wash instead of low-poo or if you have fine hair, your curls may be more susceptible to product build-up (or just build-up in general). Build-up can happen even if you use products that contain natural ingredients. 

It can be caused by dirt and pollution in the air, certain hair products, and even the water you use to wash your hair with (hard water build-up is a thing!). 

To combat product or hard water build-up, your hair may benefit from a clarifying wash.

Protein deficiency

Sometimes, our hair can become over-moisturised. Yes, that’s right, curls can reach optimal hydration and beyond. Over-moisturised hair will feel very soft, lack definition and may experience a lot of wet frizz. This will then translate into soft, mushy frizz when hair is dry.

Tip: Before deciding whether your frizz is due to a lack of protein, ensure your hair is properly hydrated. The signs of hair needing protein or hair needing moisture are often similar, so it’s important to be certain before potentially overloading your hair with protein.

Protein overload

An overload of protein can happen after a heavy protein treatment that wasn’t needed, or through regularly using styling products that contain lots of protein. Some hair is more sensitive to protein than others, so it’s important to listen to and understand your own hair.

A 7-step treatment for frizzy hair

If you’re looking for a bit of a game plan and a more prescriptive checklist - we’ve got you covered with 7 steps to manage your frizzy hair, including product recommendations, formulated to hydrate, strengthen and define your curls, coils and waves.

1. Cleanse and hydrate

Frizzy curls are often dry curls. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair, so it generally needs more moisture. You can hydrate your curls through the products you use to wash and style your hair, and by using techniques like ‘squish to condish’.

Our recommended shampoo for curly frizzy hair: refresh roots and revitalise curls with our Curl Cleanser formulated with argan oil, virgin coconut oil and organic aloe vera. Our newly reformulated co-wash removes dirt and buildup while preserving your scalp’s natural oils. 

2. Condition

Enrich your curls with Seal + Shield Curl Conditioner. Infused with Vitamin B5, cupuacu butter and wheat bran extract, our new lightweight conditioner controls frizz and keeps curls defined even in high humidity.

For ultimate hydration, opt for a dry hair treatment like the Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatment. Leave on for up to an hour and your curls will thank you! In fact, leaving some conditioner in full stop – no rinsing out – can be a game changer for some. If your hair is dry and thirsty, this is an essential step – try it and see what works for you.

3. Treat

Just as our bodies need a dose of protein to stay fit and healthy, so does our hair. Simply turbo-charge your cleanser, conditioner, or Curl Cream with Protein Booster for improved elasticity and stronger bonds that protect against breakage.

4. Style

Our Seal + Shield Curl Cream contains marula oil to hydrate thirsty locks, keeping softness and shine.

5. Hold

Maximise definition, lock in your products and smooth flyaways with Curl Defining Gel. Our best-selling moisturising gel defines curls with no flaking or tell-tale stickiness. The serum-like consistency makes it effortless to apply. It dries to create a soft cast around curls, holding your style and curl shape with a lasting medium hold. 

6. Dry naturally - minus the heat

Ditch the terry towel - they rid the hair of too much moisture and ruffle the hair cuticle, resulting in dry, frizzy curls. To remove excess water after washing, curly hair needs something a little less harsh, like the Bouclème Curl Towel. A soft, jersey towel - made from organic cotton, bamboo and elastane - that reduces frizz and drying time. 

Heat styling tools like hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons can also exacerbate frizz and cause damage to curly hair. The high temperatures can strip moisture from your curls, leaving them dry, brittle and prone to frizz. Here are some alternatives:

• Air-drying: after washing, gently squeeze out excess water with a Bouclème Curl Towel. Allow your curls to dry naturally by leaving them down or gently scrunching them upwards as they air dry.
• Plopping: Plopping involves wrapping your wet hair in our Curl Towel to absorb excess moisture and encourage curl formation. Leave your hair wrapped for 15-30 minutes, then release to reveal defined, frizz-free curls.
• Diffusing on low heat: If you absolutely must use a hair dryer, opt for a diffuser attachment and set the dryer to low heat and low speed.

7. Protect your hair

Some types of frizz can be prevented by protecting your hair. If you know the weather is going to be bad, why not wear a hat, our Preen silk scarf or opt for an up-do? 

If you often wake up with frizzy, dehydrated hair, there’s an art to sleeping with curly hair - learn how to protect your curls overnight. The Bouclème silk pillowcase is a game-changer for this! 

Bouclème’s natural products for frizzy hair treatment

Did you know Bouclème’s products for curly frizzy hair are at least 92% plant powered and free from silicones, sulphates, PEGs, parabens, mineral oils, petroleum and phthalates? They also include the following powerhouse ingredients for definition and nourishment: 

Virgin coconut oil

A popular choice for homemade hair masks, virgin coconut oil deeply moisturises curls and helps seal in moisture. Extracted from fresh coconut milk, virgin coconut oil also boasts antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. An ingredient with superpowers!

Argan oil

Coming from the kernels of the argan tree, native to Morocco, argan oil has a sweet, nutty scent (and flavour!). This luxurious oil adds shine, tames frizz, and promotes healthier, more defined curls. 

Shea butter

Shea butter is derived from the nuts of karité trees native to the Sahel region of Africa. It is rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, E and F - perfect for dry hair and dry scalps. When combined with oils like coconut or argan, it creates a rich treatment that softens curls, adds moisture and enhances curl definition. 

 Aloe vera 

This medicinal, succulent plant is an evergreen perennial originally from the Arabian Peninsula. Primarily used for its antioxidant properties, aloe vera has a multitude of uses - often employed as a remedy for digestive, dental and skin health.

When it comes to hair - its soothing properties can calm frizz and enhance curl pattern. It can also be used as a detangler in leave-in conditioners.

Our other plant-powered formulae also include cupuacu butter, marula oil and babassu oil. These ingredients have been used to hydrate hair since forever, and are the go-to choices for our curly hair product formulae to nourish and define curls. 

Now you’re armed with advice on what causes frizz and how best to manage it, feel free to apply it to your own curly hair journey. But please know that frizz is a part of curly hair and getting rid of it entirely is unrealistic. The principle we work with is to discover ways to look after your hair and keep it healthy, and embrace your curls and the frizz that comes with them.