No one likes dry, frizzy hair. If you read ourprevious post, you already know what frizz is, why it happens, and ways to prevent it. Today, we are going to discuss products that can help you keep frizz under control. Specifically, we’ll be discussing ingredients that help tame frizz, so you know which products to use. This is a way to round out the healthy hair routine we helped define in our last article. From nourishing oils to health supplements, read on to see which ingredients will help you keep your hair feeling smooth and looking healthy.
Nourishing oils are regarded as such, because they foster various health benefits in the human body. Argan oil, macadamia oil, peach kernel oil, and coconut oil are great beauty oils, because they serve to increase the health and appearance of skin and hair. For the purposes of fighting frizz, there are two main ways to use these oils: As a hair mask or as a styling product.
Argan Oil
Let’s start with the popular argan oil. Derived from the kernels of the argan tree, argan is native to Morocco. Great for cosmetic purposes, because it is rich in vitamin E (an antioxidant, which is key in fighting aging and inflammation). This is an oil that is non-comedogenic, so it can be used from head to toe. It really is the one-stop shop of oils.
When using argan oil as a hair mask to prevent frizz, saturate your hair from roots to ends and let it soak in for at least fifteen minutes. Some people like to let it soak in overnight. As long as you rinse it out afterwards, there is no harm in an extra-long steep. This mask should leave you with soft, manageable hair and minimal frizz.
If you don’t have time for a hair mask, use argan oil after washing and styling. Put a drop and rub between your palms, then use it to tame flyaways. As the old saying goes,a little dab'll do ya’; you don’t want to weigh down hair or cause it to look greasy. This is the most direct way to use argan oil to tame your frizzies. Running your oiled palms over dry strands will tame any wild stray hairs and leave you with a subtle sheen.
Macadamia Oil
This oil packs a powerful punch of fatty acids and vitamin E. Fatty acids are great for a multitude of health problems. For cosmetic purposes, they help keep hair and skin lustrous and healthy. When combined with vitamin E, one could see why this one-two punch would be a benefit to hair health.
When used as a hair mask, you should make sure not just to saturate from roots to ends, but also the scalp. Macadamia oil has shown toimprove scalp health in such a way that improves overall hair health. After consistently using this oil as a mask, you should notice stronger, shinier, healthier looking hair. If you have damaged hair and are looking to rebuild a healthy mane, using this oil as a hair mask should be your first step.
Though an oil, macadamia oil is not as greasy or heavy as others on this list. Thus, when you use it to tame flyaways, you do not need to worry about weighing hair down or looking like you haven’t washed your hair in a week. Even so, start with a dime-sized drop and see how that works towards taming frizz.
Peach Kernel Oil
One of the most interesting aspects of peach kernel oil is that it is a great source of boron. Boron has a lot of health benefits, but it has shown to fight bacteria and decrease inflammation. This oil is a good option for those with sensitive skin who have found other oils irritating. Peach kernel oil is also great for those with color-treated hair, as it has been found to offerUV and other environmental protection. If you are looking to improve the overall health of your hair, while offering it some protection, try giving this oil a go.
Like the other oils, it can be used as an overnight hair mask or simply to tame flyaways. As a mask, it helps condition, so you end up with shiny, soft, and healthy hair. If you are using it after styling in order to tame frizz, it’s another lightweight option. This may be the best option for those in urban environments or outdoorsy types, due to the environmental protection it offers. It rinses out easily, so you don’t have to worry about your hair accumulating oil and getting weighed down over time.
Coconut Oil
Popular for its many uses, coconut oil has been a health and beauty staple for decades. In recent years, it has become ever more popular and easier to find. Touted as a great conditioning treatment and a helpful frizz-taming styling product, you may be surprised to hear this is the one oil that isnotfor everyone. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, which can cause proteins to build up in the hair shaft and prevent your hair from retaining moisture. This means that coconut oil can actually be detrimental to low-porosity hair! The most important thing before using coconut oil is toidentify your hair typeand make sure it will work for your hair.
If you are one of the lucky people who would benefit from the use of coconut oil, you will absolutely love the results. When used as a hair mask, make sure to penetrate your strands, but avoid the scalp. Coconut oil is comedogenic and can potentially clog your pores. The last thing you need is build-up on your scalp. Whether you leave it on overnight or just for fifteen minutes, you will feel like your hair is simultaneously denser and softer.
You will also love the results of using coconut oil to style and tame frizz. Rub a very small amount between your palms and pass over dry hair or comb through when damp. This method will tame any wild hair, add sheen, and leave hair feeling silky smooth.
While humectants pull moisture from the environment into hair, anti-humectants block moisture. Even though logic would tell us that getting moisture into hair is agood thing, when it comes to humid environments, it isnot.When too much moisture gets into the hair, it puffs up and frizzes out. Another counterintuitive idea is that silicones are a key factor in anti-humectants. While it is often wise to avoid silicone-heavy products, they are not as detrimental to hair as once thought. As silicones are not water soluble, this helps to block the extra moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and turning your hair into a wild lion’s mane.
The key to using anti-humectants is knowingwhento use them. When the weather report indicates a high dew point and excess humidity, whip out an anti-humectant from your arsenal. If it is a low dew point or a dry environment, an anti-humectant is not only entirely unnecessary, but potentially ruinous to a good hair day.
Keep in mind, as previously mentioned, anti-humectants, whether silicones or beeswax, are not water soluble; you will need to shampoo them out of your hair.
As always, healthy hair starts from within. This means that there are certain supplements that will help to maintain healthy, luminous hair.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are great for overall health and are believed to not only promote strong hair, but increased growth, as well. Supposedly, omega-3’s increase scalp circulation and help prevent follicular inflammation, all things that would promote healthy hair growth. As previously mentioned when discussing the use of fatty acids in macadamia oil, omega-3’s are believed to increase overall shine.
Lipid (fatty) content of hair is important, so supplementing your diet with fatty acids is key to lustrous, healthy hair. If you want shiny, smooth hair, consider taking a fish oil supplement or any vitamin with an omega-3 fatty acid.
Biotin
Biotin is a popular supplement to stimulate hair growth. It is also commonly taken to promote strong hair and nails. If you have weak hair, adding biotin into your regime can help you produce healthier strands. Growing healthier strands is a great deterrent to split ends and frizz.
Amino Acids
If you have thinning or lifeless hair, it could be because of a protein deficiency. Proteins always go to essential functions first, so if you want strong, healthy hair, you have to boost your protein intake. Finding a way to supplement amino acids will help rebuild the keratin structures of your body (hair, skin, and nails). Healthy hair is the first step to shiny, frizz-free locks.
As you well know from our previous articles on thebest materials for heat styling toolsand the causes of frizz, tourmaline is an amazing mineral. Positive ions in the air are one of the causes of frizz. The miracle of tourmaline is that it produces negative ions, thus working against one of the frizz-causing elements of our universe. Though you may be familiar with it in terms of plate materials for heat-styling tools, you may not know it can also be used in cosmetic and hair products.
Tourmaline can be turned into a fine powder and incorporated into shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks. Just as in tourmaline plates, tourmaline products help seal in moisture. By using tourmaline in your hair care products and heat styling tools, you are doing the most you can to surround your hair with negative ions, thus attacking and stopping frizz. For a sleek, silky shine, consider incorporating tourmaline-infused products into your frizz-fighting routine.
Now that you are armed with the knowledge of not only what causes frizz, but what ingredients and products are necessary to fight it, there is nothing stopping you from having sleek, healthy hair. Whether you prefer supplements, oils, or the occasional anti-humectant, from the inside out, you know what you need to have your best hair ever. Get out and there and prepare to dazzle.
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