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Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s…frizz. Curly folks in particular are among the many who can relate. But really though, depending on the weather, styling, and more, pretty much anyone is prone to hair gone haywire. But listen up: It’s 2023, meaning we’ve got the solution to everything (well, almost). Seriously, if you want to know how to straighten frizzy hair, you’ve come to the right place. With just a few products, hair styling tools, and expert advice, you’ll be on your way to sleek, straight hair in no time!
About the Experts:
Jenny Cho is a celebrity hairstylist whose expert work has been featured on Ana de Armas, Emilia Clarke, and Leslie Mann—to name a few.
Beau Dieda is a Los Angeles-based salon owner and Leaf + Flower ambassador.
How to Straighten Frizzy Hair, Step-by-Step
Identify Your Hair Type and Snag a Corresponding Frizz-Free Shampoo
No two hair types are the same—meaning when you’re figuring out how to straighten frizzy hair, you must start by identifying your hair type. From there, you’ll need hair care products catered to your particular tresses (i.e. thick hair, thin hair, fine hair, curly hair, chemically-treated hair) with defrizzing properties.
“Frizz lives in all types of hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Jenny Cho. “To make sure frizzy strands stay straight and smooth, it’s not only the tools that will do the trick. It’s vital to start with the correct shampoo and appropriate conditioner that are right for your hair density and texture. If you’re not clear about your hair type, your stylist will be able to determine that for you. For example, thick, curly, frizzy hair, calls for a smoothing shampoo and conditioner for their hair strands.”
Los Angeles-based hairstylist Beau Dieda suggests utilizing products with cannabinoids. “CBD, CBC, and CBG are very moisturizing to hair and can help restore the natural balance of oils on the scalp to repair,” he says.
Dry With Microfiber Towel
Another point to note is regular cotton towels are the enemy. Sure, they’ll keep your body warm and fuzzy post-shower, but leave it at that. When it comes to your hair, reach for a microfiber towel, which is actually designed to tackle frizz before it starts (which will make the hair straightening process that much easier). It also takes the moisture out of hair quicker than a regular towel and is kind to the hair itself (i.e. doesn’t promote split ends or breakage).
“Out of the shower, dry hair gently with a microfiber towel by scrunching from the ends to the roots,” Cho suggests. “Microfiber towels are great for less friction, versus regular cotton towels.”
Apply Smoothing Products
Now it’s time to enlist the help of products. Both Cho and Dieda suggest seeking a multi-use cream or serum that’s not only nourishing but also designed to smooth frizz. Then it’s imperative to apply a heat protectant for the next steps to protect against heat damage.
Blow-Dry
Now that your hair is fully prepped, you can dive into the main event.
“It’s best to allow hair to air dry to 60% or 70% dry before using a blow dryer,” Dieda suggests. “It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you can do your makeup or other things for an hour before using the blow dryer, it can help reduce frizz when blow-drying.”
And when it comes to a blow dryer, not just any will do.
“Make sure to use a dryer with a nozzle for a concentrated airflow,” Cho says. “This will make it possible to smooth the hair without causing frizz or flyaways. Use a flat paddle or a Denman brush for a sleek finish, or a round brush for a bouncy look. This will help to pre-straighten your hair so you’ll have less work to do with the straightening iron.”
Once you’ve got tools at the ready, “Take your brush in one hand and your blow dryer in the other and pull hair taut with the brush,” Dieda says. “Point the nozzle downward toward the bottom of the hair and dry each section of hair until each is 100% dry.”
Now, for the majority of us who legitimately can’t use a hair dryer to save our lives, we have the option to use a heated styling brush. We personally just started using the amika 2-in-1 hair styling tool 2.0—and combined with some of the hair care and styling products listed below, we’ve turned our haphazard, frizz-prone strands into some truly shocking, salon-level locks. We’re also anticipating the launch of WEN by Chaz Dean’s foray into hair tools. The decades-long impresario will launch a high-end Blow Dryer Styling Tool on Oct. 18.
Enlist the Help of a Flat Iron
For an extra sleek look, there’s no doubt a flat iron is your best bet.
“Separate hair into one-inch sections max and flat iron each section” Dieda instructs. “Brush hair with a dry comb after you flat iron each section. That will help you see if any of the hairs need a second pass. Finish with a hair oil for weightless shine.”
Best Products for Straightening Frizzy Hair
superzero Deep Moisture and Anti Frizz Shampoo Bar for Curly, Coily & Extremely Frizzy Hair
If you haven’t tried superzero’s premium, zero-waste shampoo and conditioner bars, now’s the time. The brand relaunched its formulas to coincide with its very recent Sephora launch. Cho is a fan of the line and appreciates that it carries something for every hair texture and type. This shampoo is the perfect precursor to your frizz-free styling prep. To top off the cleansing bars, keep the defrizzing coming with the brand’s Instant Shine & Anti Frizz Hair Serum Treatment Bar, which is the perfect way to top off the aforementioned flat iron process.
Leaf + Flower CBD 7 Minute Blowout
Dieda stands by this pineapple-scented spritz because it reduces blow-dry time by up to 50%, and reduces damage and frizz for what he calls “a flexible bouncy look.” His recommendation aside, we’re personally huge fans of this product, which we reviewed in March.
Ghd Sleek Talker Wet to Sleek Styling Oil
No frizz? No problem. We love this rich formula because not only does a little go a long way, but it stands by its promise. Applied to wet hair and intended for heat styling, this lightly scented oil seals the cuticles for a sleek and chic outcome. For best results, pair with the product’s accompanying 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler, which we reviewed in April.
Mayraki Silky Smooth Proactive Hair Repairing Treatment
This all-natural, vegan, smoothing and repairing treatment features plant-based collagen, amino acids, flower extract, and wheat protein to create a pre or post-shampoo mask (depending on the condition of your hair). End result? Smooth, frizz-free strands that at least look healthy (even if it’s an optical illusion).
K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Repair Mask
We couldn’t list an explanation of how to straighten frizzy hair without including K18’s iconic leave-in mask. Consider your soon-to-be-sleek strands ready to go once this all-star has been applied. Formulated with patented peptide technology to repair broken and damaged hair, after four to six washes, you’ll be saying frizz who? For good! But even just one use will have you saying wow.
