It’s time to get honest with the condition of your hair. If after washing and styling, you start to notice frizz and fly-aways setting in, this is your hair’s way of informing you that there is damage. Regardless if your starnds are straight, wavy, curly or a combination of the three – frizz has nothing to do with the type of hair that you have or even your genetics. In fact, there are three things that attribute to frizzy hair, your environment, the products you use and your hair’s overall hydration level. (Image Source)
Many people don’t understand what frizz is. Frizz is hair breakage, and when not treated immediately, just like any other condition, it gets worse. It’s important to understand the complexity of hair. Since hair is made up of several layers of follicles, there are three types of frizz to look for. First, there is Surface Frizz which develops only on the outside of your hair and is visible from roots to tips. Next, there’s Halo Frizz, which is seen only on the crown of your head. Finally, there’s In-The-Curl Frizz which develops inside the hair creating layers of tangles. In-The-Curl Frizz is mostly common with coily and curly tresses.
Another misconception is that frizz only develops in the hot summer months. Dry heat in the winter is also a contributing factor to hair damage. The good news is that it is never too late to reverse the damage. Here are my go-to beauty secrets that I tell all my clients. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll start to see and feel a difference in your locks.
- Hydration is key to taming frizz. Just like your body, your locks crave water. Use products, like RI CI, that have a low alcohol count and are sulfate-free to prevent drying. Just like your body, your hair craves moisture. Think of your hair as a sponge. It can only hold a certain amount of water in it. Beauty products that are water-based are great for hydrating locks. If you fill your hair with hydrating products, you satisfy your hair’s thirst and prevent it from getting the moisture outside.
- Your scalp and hair are two separate things. Regardless if it’s cold or humid outside, never put conditioner above your crown line. The oils in the conditioner are too heavy for your scalp and can leave you feeling greasy.
- Stop blaming your blow-dryer – it’s your brush that’s causing the damage. Stop brushing your hair all the time, especially when it’s dry. Dry hair is most fragile to frizz. When you brush dry hair you actually disturb the cuticle forcing it to stretch and break. Use a brush/comb only on wet hair and if you’re blowing it straight or using a diffuser, try to limit it to twice a week.
- Don’t use your fingers to distribute product. Instead, use your palms. Fingers contain natural oils which can lead to frizz. Also look for products that are silicone or water-based since your hair can easily absorb them. These products put healthy oils into your hair. Just make sure you don’t over use. A dime-size is more than enough for shoulder-length hair. If your hair is shorter, use less. Too much serum can make your hair look greasy.
When hair is treated correctly, it naturally has a healthy shine. Always talk to your beauty stylist about the condition of your hair. They are the experts and will provide you with tips and beauty products that will help your locks stay hydrated, frizz-free and strong from morning to night.
Ricky Pennisi is a prominent stylist, educator and founder of the RI CI haircare, a custom line that focuses on hydrating curls and combating frizz. With two decades of industry leadership, Ricky is known as the “king of curly hair” whose passion and dedication created the innovative line of products designed to bring moisturize, tame frizz and create shiny hair with each and every use. The RI CI haircare product line is sold exclusively at salons across the U.S. and is also available online for purchase. For more information on how to combat frizz and hydrate your curls visit www.ricicurls.com.
