How to Stop Your Hair from Getting Frizzy After Washing It

Fight off the post-shower frizz with these simple yet effective haircare tips

Co-authored by Bianca Cox

Last Updated: March 24, 2023 References

Reducing Frizz with Everyday Habits

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Applying Anti-Frizz Hair Treatments

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Using Anti-Frizz Washing & Styling Products

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Q&A

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Tips

Wondering why your hair gets so frizzy and how to tame it every time you get out of the shower? You're not the only one! Hair has an outer layer called the cuticle, which resembles a series of protective roof-like tiles. When these microscopic tiles lie flat, your hair appears smooth; however, humidity, lack of moisture, friction, styling, and chemical damage can unsettle the cuticles and cause hair to frizz. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to fix that! Read on for a comprehensive guide to preventing hair from frizzing after a shower, from haircare advice to the best smoothing products and treatments.

Things You Should Know

Shower with warm (not scalding hot) water to avoid drying out your hair, and rinse it with cold water to minimize frizz once your hair dries.
Air-dry your hair instead of blow-drying, as the friction from blow-drying causes frizz. Avoid towels as well; pat your hair dry with a t-shirt or microfiber cloth instead.
Use hair treatments like coconut oil or jojoba oil to moisturize your hair, focusing on the ends of your hair and stopping halfway up its length.
Wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, and use anti-frizz products like lightweight hairspray and smoothing serum after your shower.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Reducing Frizz with Everyday Habits

1
Rinse your hair with cold water after washing it in the shower. The cold water helps to close up your cuticles after washing your hair—and when your cuticles are closed, your hair looks smoother. You certainly don't need to take an entire shower with freezing water; give your hair a quick rinse in cold water at the very end before getting out of the shower.^{[1]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Heat is one of the biggest causes of frizzy hair because it lifts your cuticles, which in turn makes your hair look fluffy. That's why countering heat with cold can help tame your frizzy hair.
- Try not to use excessively hot water while showering. Scalding water can pull the moisture out of your hair and dry it out. Use warm water to shower instead!
2
Dry your hair with a t-shirt or microfiber cloth. When drying your hair after a shower, it's best to skip the towel entirely. Instead, wrap your wet hair in a t-shirt or microfiber cloth. Regular towels create friction, causing your hair to frizz. T-shirts and microfiber cloths are gentler and will help your hair lie flat as it dries.^{[2]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Friction causes frizz because, like heat, it lifts your hair cuticles. That’s why exposing your hair to any kind of friction—from towels to rough bedding—makes your hair frizzy.
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3
Detangle your hair while it's damp with a wide-tooth comb. Brushes and combs often create friction that can damage your hair or upset the strands. Breakage and frizzing are even more likely when using a dry brush on dry hair. To reduce frizz from brushing, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle and smooth out your hair after getting out of the shower.^{[3]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Many brushes and combs have stiff bristles that easily snag on your hair, which causes tearing and damage. Try a detangling spray or comb through tangles with your fingers to help prevent this.
- Wide-tooth combs are perfect for evenly distributing conditioner and detangling. They can also be used on dry hair, but detangling will likely go more smoothly while your hair is still wet.
- If you need to brush your dry hair, a boar bristle brush can also be effective. Just remember that it'll damage wet hair!
4
Apply styling products right after you shower. Applying styling products right after getting out of the shower can help to lock in moisture. Just be sure to wring out your hair first, or the products will not absorb. Look for products that contain polymers and silicone, which help fight humidity.^{[4]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? When your hair is super dry, it tries to soak in moisture from the air, which causes the hair shaft to swell. Locking in moisture with styling products can prevent frizz caused by dryness.
- Humidity is also a major cause of frizz for the same reasons. When water in the air enters your hair shaft, it swells, making your hair look frizzy and fluffy.
- For fine, wavy hair, try mousse; it won’t weigh your hair down so much. For thicker hair, try hair cream, which can hold up against thicker curls.
- When using products on frizzy hair, focus on the ends of each strand, working the product halfway up your hair. Applying it to your scalp may make your hair look greasy.
EXPERT TIP

Bianca Cox
Professional Hair Stylist
Bianca Cox is a Hair Stylist, Licensed Cosmetologist, Owner of The Hair Throne, and Co-Owner of Bianchi Salon. Her salons pride themselves on their modernity, individuality, art, and professional services. You can check out The Hair Throne and more of Bianca's hairstyling on Instagram @hairthrone and on her personal Instagram @biancajcox.

Bianca Cox
Professional Hair Stylist

" 'Our Expert Agrees:' "If you want to keep your hair from frizzing after you wash it, blot out most of the water with a towel first. Then, use a taming product of some sort, like a heavier styling cream, a hydrating cream, or an air-dry foam.
5
Let your hair air-dry instead of blow-drying it. Blow-drying your hair can leave it feeling (and looking) extremely frizzy from all the heat and dryness. Avoiding the blow-dryer as much as possible and air-drying your hair instead can help prevent your hair from getting too frizzy.^{[5]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Hairdryers can suck all the moisture out of your hair very fast, leaving it dehydrated. They also expose your hair to a lot of heat, if you use a high setting, which unsettles your cuticles.
6
Wash your hair less frequently. Frequent washing can strip natural oils away from your hair and may cause your hair to frizz. That's why it's possible to reduce frizz by washing your hair less often. If you have fine hair, shampoo it every other day. If you have thicker hair, aim to shampoo it once every 3 days.<ref<https://youtu.be/iNCEvGmC-GI?t=235</ref>
- Why is my hair so frizzy? When you overwash your hair, your cuticles tend to stay open after every shower, which in turn leads to dryness and more frizz.
- If your hair tends to be oily (or you sweat often from work or exercise), you may need to wash your hair more frequently. Use conditioner on non-shampoo days to remove sweat and dirt and allow easy styling.
7
Reduce the number of chemical treatments you use on your hair. Chemical treatments like coloring, perms, and relaxers can dramatically change the texture of your hair, causing it to get frizzy. Limit how often you get chemical treatments each year to help combat this kind of frizz.^{[6]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? When your cuticles get damaged, that’s an automatic recipe for frizz. Chemical treatments often cause brittleness and breakage, ultimately damaging the cuticle and causing your hair to frizz.
- If you want to color your hair frequently, consider using root touch-up powders between colorings.
- As an alternative to chemical treatments, try wearing it in styles that allow you to rock your natural texture!
8
Put your hair in loose braids after getting out of the shower. To help your hair cuticles dry flat and look smoother, try tying your damp hair in a loose braid (or a couple of loose braids, if you prefer).^{[7]
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Research source} Braids will prevent flyaways and frizz, leaving it looking sleek when your hair fully dries, and you let it down from its braids.
- Why is my hair so frizzy? Your hair gets frizzy when it can’t retain enough moisture and dries out—which can be caused by anything from harsh shampoo to dry weather. Braiding your hair locks in moisture and keeps it hydrated.
- Be sure that you leave your braids nice and loose! Tight hairstyles can cause tension in your hair, sometimes leading to damage and breakage.
- If you prefer, you could put your hair in a loose bun instead.
9
Keep your hands off your hair during the day. The more you touch your hair throughout the day, the more friction you create against the strands. As time goes on, your hair will get more and more unsettled each time you touch it. Try not to touch your hair often, and avoid putting it up and taking it down repeatedly throughout the day.^{[8]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Touching your hair all the time can ruffle your cuticles, which in turn can cause frizz.
10
Trim your hair regularly. When you don't trim your hair for a while, it might develop split ends, which are brittle and frayed hairs split into two or more strands due. Split ends can make your hair look more frizzy and dull, so trimming your hair periodically is helpful. A quick trim can remove split ends, ensuring your hair doesn't get any more frizzy than needed.^{[9]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Split ends aren’t the same as frizz, but they can add to the overall frizzy effect. Furthermore, split ends are caused by issues like dryness and damage to your hair, both of which can also cause frizz.
- If you have shorter hair or your hair is damaged from chemical treatments, aim to trim it every 4 to 8 weeks if possible. Try to get a trim every 8 to 10 weeks for longer hair.
11
Put silk pillowcases on your pillows to stop your hair from frizzing at night. A silk pillowcase has a super smooth texture, which means there's very little friction between the pillowcase and your hair when you're asleep. Because there's no friction, your hair will lose less moisture—plus, it'll look less frizzy and mussed up from tossing and turning. Cotton pillowcases tend to snag hair and get it tangled overnight.^{[10]
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- Why is my hair so frizzy? Resting your head on a pillowcase made from a material with a rough texture (like cotton, for example), can pull moisture from your hair and tear at it while you sleep, upsetting your cuticles.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying Anti-Frizz Hair Treatments

1
Seal moisture into your hair using a weekly avocado hair masque. Mash up 1 avocado and spread the avocado paste over clean, damp hair with your fingers—but be sure to keep the avocado masque a few inches away from your roots. If you have fine hair, you only need to apply this masque to the ends of your hair. Let the masque sit in your hair for 15 minutes, then rinse it out with water.^{[11]
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- To maintain the effects of the hair masque, aim to apply this treatment roughly once per week.
- The oils in the avocado will naturally coat your hair and protect it from damage and humidity. It will also lock in moisture to keep it from drying out.
- Olive oil can also be used as a hair masque. Heat the olive oil until it's warm (but not too hot to touch) and apply it to damp hair. Wait 30 minutes, then wash your hair normally in the shower.
- If you'd rather not use a DIY solution, there are many pre-made hair masques you can buy instead.
2
Treat your hair with jojoba oil each week to eliminate frizz. Jojoba oil is a natural plant-based oil often sold as a moisturizing hair treatment. It's very useful for frizz-prone hair, and also promotes hair growth!^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Apply the oil to your hair starting below your ears, focusing on the ends, where more damage is likely to occur. Keeping the oil below your ears will also prevent your hair from appearing flat.
- To maintain your smooth hair using jojoba oil, do this treatment once every week.
3
Use coconut oil to moisturize thick, frizzy hair twice a week. Coconut oil can be used on thick hair to seal moisture and prevent frizz. Apply the oil to clean, damp hair, starting at the ends and working your way up. Stop midway up your hair; applying it near the scalp will make it appear greasy.^{[13]
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- You can also find other types of moisturizing hair oil to use, so figure out what works best for you!
4
Chill your hair with cold air from a freezer to cool your cuticles. Sometimes, frizzy hair is caused by heat-styling or warm weather. To set your hair after styling it, stand in front of the freezer for a minute. This will allow your hair cuticles to cool and settle smoothly before you go outside, where your hair may be exposed to sun and humidity.^{[14]
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- If your hair dryer has a cool shot button, you could also use that on a finished hairstyle to achieve the same effect.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Anti-Frizz Washing & Styling Products

1
Protect your hair with paraben and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Sulfate and parabens in shampoo are great at stripping away dirt and oils, but they're also incredibly harsh on hair, dehydrating it and causing excess frizz. Next time you're in the market, look for paraben and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to reduce the drying, frizzing effect on your hair.^{[15]
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- Look for conditioning shampoos and conditioners. Products specifically designed to hydrate your hair will leave it looking shinier and smoother after you shower.
- Leave-in conditioner can also be super helpful for keeping your hair smooth and shiny. Apply the conditioner immediately after taking a shower for the best effect.
2
Run a smoothing serum through your hair before styling it. Hair smoothing serum controls your frizz and makes your hair look shinier, often made with nourishing ingredients like argan oil, castor oil, or jojoba oil. Typically, working a dime-sized amount of serum throughout your hair is enough to keep it looking smooth until the next time you wash it.^{[16]
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- The best time to apply smoothing serum is after washing your hair and getting out of the shower while it's still wet but has yet to be styled.
3
Steer clear of hair products that contain alcohol. Hair products with alcohol (such as certain hair sprays) can be damaging because alcohol removes the moisture in your hair, leaving it dried out. Before you buy a hair product, check for alcohol in the ingredients list. If you spot alcohol there, find a different product.^{[17]
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- Specific alcohols to avoid include: Ethyl alcohol (ethanol), Isopropyl alcohol, and Denatured alcohol (alcohol denat).
- Some alcohols are safer to use. Fatty alcohols, including Lauryl alcohol, Cetyl alcohol, Myristyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, and Behenyl alcohol won't dry out your hair so much.
4
Apply a lightweight hairspray to keep flyaways in check. Spray a light coating of hairspray over your wide-tooth comb and gently brush your hair with it, paying special attention to areas that are already frizzy or have a lot of flyaways. Lightweight hairspray help get your frizz under control without weighing your hair down or making it even more frizzy.^{[18]
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5
Invest in an ionic hairdryer or diffuser if you need to heat-style your hair. Use heat-styling tools like blow dryers, straighteners, and curlers sparingly, since their heat can damage your hair and lead to more frizz. If you need to heat-style your hair more frequently, an ionic hairdryer is the way to go since it's designed to lock moisture into your hair.^{[19]
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- Alternatively, invest in a hair dryer diffuser attachment, which can disperse hot air and expose your hair to less heat overall, which also results in less frizz.
- If you're using a standard blow dryer, wait until your hair is 90% air-dried, then blow-dry the last 10% of your hair. This will help to reduce the damage caused by the heat.
- When using heat stylers, apply a heat protection spray to protect hair cuticles from heat and lock in moisture. This will prevent both frizz and damage if you curl or straighten your hair!
6
Maintain smooth hair by using dry shampoo between washes. Regular shampoo dries out your hair, and the friction from washing your hair can contribute to frizz. Try using a dry shampoo in between washes to help eliminate oil near your scalp. This will keep your hair from looking greasy on days when you don't shower while also controlling frizz by reducing your need for continual washing.^{[20]
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- If you use dry shampoo too frequently, it can leave build-up on your hair, drying it out and making it frizzier. Combat this by using a clarifying shampoo on your hair once per month.
7
Smooth out your hair with an anti-frizz solution of conditioner and water. If your hair is prone to frizz, create a simple solution to smooth it out. Take 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of your regular conditioner and mix it with about 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Apply a small amount of the solution to the ends of your hair with your fingers. Keep this solution handy for a quick frizz fix, or make it part of your daily hair care routine!
- Make sure that you only apply this solution to the ends of your hair, not the roots.
- You can also put some of the solution in a small spray bottle to keep in a purse or bag and use as necessary throughout the day.

Community Q&A

Question

Do I just leave the conditioner in my hair and don’t rinse off?When it’s dried or wet?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Rinse off normal conditioner in the shower; leaving it in may make your hair brittle and dull. However, a leave-in conditioner (which is a separate product) can definitely help control frizz and you don't need to wash it out. Check the label of conditioning products to make sure it's "Leave-In Conditioner" versus normal conditioner.
Question

I have fairly straight hair with some natural waves, but I've tried everything. It seems like I have very thick hair as well, any advice for me?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Leave-in products can really help control thick hair. Try a leave-in conditioner, coconut oil, or a thick styling cream, and see if that helps.
Question

Should I air dry or blow dry my hair?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Air-dry your hair whenever possible. If you really need to dry it faster, use a low setting on your hairdryer or invest in an ionic hairdryer to prevent frizz.