Why is my hair so frizzy?

[Temme]

My hair usually isn't too frizzy a couple days after washing my hair, but whenever I wash my hair, it dries frizzy. Also, even when my hair isn't very frizzy, it had no weight to it to the degree that it's uncomfortable to wear it down because it won't stay laying on my back but will instead all fly up into an uncontrollable mess.

I know a lot of the common solutions to frizz, co-washing, oil, etc., and I would like advice, but mostly I would like to know the cause of my frizzy hair. I feel like there must be some cause because I have known 4 people with hair around BSL who all just shampoo and condition, and they all have relatively frizz-free hair.

I take much more care; I wash every 4 days, use luke-warm water, only shampoo the scalp and avoid it running down the length, use lots of coconut oil as a leave-in, and my hair is still always frizzy. I have no damage. I don't even know why showers dry out my hair as all that touches my length in the shower is conditioner and luke-warm water. It seems to me that my hair is extremely more difficult than everyone else's.

As example, I just washed my hair this morning, then applied coconut oil until it was greasy, and it was still frizzy. I've tried cones, no cones, and sulphate-free shampoo. I'm at my wit's end; thank you!

[Anje]

Chances are, you have relatively curly hair compared to the people you know with less frizz. If it is, and you're breaking up those curls, you'll get frizz.

Pictures would help confirm if this is the case, if you wish to post them.

[Nadine <3]

how do you detangle? You might have curly hair that you're brushing out, causing frizz.

[molljo]

I agree, we need to see your hair so we can get an idea of how much wave and/or curl you're working with. What is your routine *after* you are done washing your hair? Do you comb or brush it while wet or dry it with a terrycloth towel? All of these mechanical things can contribute to frizz. Have you tried a hard-hold alcohol-free gel? What's the climate like where you live? Is it humid, dry, etc? I would familiarize yourself with dew points and humectants, and check your products for ingredients like aloe and glycerine, which may be doing more harm than good. I also highly recommend user Lapushka's WCC and LOC methods.

[lapushka]

Yes, if you don't mind posting pictures, it will help us with advice giving!

[Wildcat Diva]

Plus, we just love to see beautiful hair photos anyway (even when we are not helping).

[allycat]

Yes, pictures would help.

My hair gets much curlier and frizzier from humidity. That means right after showers and washing, or from rain or humidity in the air. It's much flatter and smoother days after the washing or during dry, un-humid weather. Just a thought.

Sounds like you have wavy or curly hair. Also, there's no point in comparing your hair to those others you mentioned. Their hair is likely a different hair type than yours.

[Temme]

This is a picture of my hair right after drying with some coconut oil that I put in while wet. I also combed while wet.
http://s10.postimg.org/weic4bkbd/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/) host image (http://postimage.org/)

And this is after combing.
http://s10.postimg.org/nkrfn7xcp/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/) screen grab (http://postimage.org/app.php)

[Nadine <3]

You definitely have curly hair! Maybe google the curly girl method and try that out. Co washing, detangling in the shower while covered in conditioner, rinse and don't touch it.

[Squirrelspring]

You said that you use only lukewarm water--perhaps after you wash you could try doing colder water to smooth down the cuticle, if that would work for you. :)

[lapushka]

That's definitely wavy, wurly hair. Do not comb when dry! That's an absolute rule. Just try and do a hairtyping picture for now - shampoo, condition, then leave alone and don't touch with comb or brush. Pretty!

[spidermom]

My hair also has a lot of curly hairs all over the surface. Those are new hairs that are so light they don't have anything to hold them down. I find that oil makes this worse, as the hairs long enough to have some weight on them are extra-flat, which makes the weightless curly hairs even more prominent. Try using the oil before washing instead of after. I agree with all other advice about learning to work with your wurly hair. It can become your best asset.

[Johannah]

I totally agree with Nadine!

[Temme]

lapushka, I did what you said, shampoo, condition, don't comb or brush, and this is what I got.
http://s11.postimg.org/422pg41yr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/) free screenshot software (http://postimage.org/app.php)

[GetMeToWaist]

I actually love your hair and dont think it looks frizzy at all lol. You could cowash? That really kicked my frizz.

[Temme]

That's definitely wavy, wurly hair. Do not comb when dry! That's an absolute rule.
Thanks lapushka and everyone who suggested this. I always thought my hair was between straight and wavy. I'm excited at the idea that it might be just full-out wavy!

Also, I didn't know this was a rule at all! Can I finger-comb my hair when dry, or should I not detangle it between washes?

[cathair]

Your wave patten reminds me a lot of mine :) You could probably make it quite a bit curlier with some scrunching if you wanted to. If I'm leaving mine down I try not to finger comb it, but if it's going up I finger comb then otherwise the ends end up matted.

[eadwine]

I just separate the hair, then separate each side again in threes, that is all I do on a morning :) It gets combed only on wash day, normally. :)

[patchoulilove]

I can relate. I believe we have very similar hair types. I've yet to find my holy grail routine, so I'll be following this thread with interest also! Are you living in the US in a humid state? It might be a good idea to seek out LHC members on the wurly thread who live in your region. Perhaps seeking out those wurlys who have experience with the weather in your particular climate might help you in securing a routine with consistent results that please you. I would imagine finding out what products work in that climate and what might be unnecessary given the seasons, etc. anecdotally from others with similar hair type could be useful. Hope this helps some.

Personally, I'm in the US midwest but not a native here, so I'm still in that limbo trying to dance between what I need in summer versus what my hair needs in winter given the strong shifts in the seasons.

Pretty waves! I love the thickness and length of your hair :)
Sorry, I don't have much routine-wise to share.

:blossom:
patchoulilove

[patchoulilove]

Oh! one more thing. As a self-professed lazy wurly, I have mornings where I don't like how my hair behaved overnight or it seems snarled etc., and I need to comb it to lay nice in an updo. To get a comb through without breaking my hair I apply a small amount of "Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in detangler" into my hand and wet my opposite palm. I rub my hands together to thin out the detangler and make my hands wet enough with water to smooth my length from ears down. My length will become very damp, but not dripping. Anyway, the detangler allows me to comb without issue. and then I can french braid, bun or whatever updo I am putting my hair in that day.

Note, as I am a light 2a, this method usually pulls out all my wurls, so bare that in mind. If you wanted to detangle but leave your hair loose, you could do the same routine as above but then scrunch in a bit more of the thinned-out leave in once you are done combing and allow to air dry (all contingent on your climate, though. No promises on the no-frizzies from this method). I find this leave in creates nice softness without crunch. Also the bottle lasts forever in my experience.

:blossom:
patchoulilove

[lapushka]

Thanks lapushka and everyone who suggested this. I always thought my hair was between straight and wavy. I'm excited at the idea that it might be just full-out wavy!

Also, I didn't know this was a rule at all! Can I finger-comb my hair when dry, or should I not detangle it between washes?

If you must, finger combing is OK, but it's always better to leave it completely alone when dry. My hair's washed once a week, and it gets combed, and brushed right before a wash. Then combed again post-wash when damp, to get the sheds out. Then it's styled and left alone to dry. After that it doesn't get combed or brushed for an entire week! On day 4 though, it gets finger detangled at night, as on day 5, and 6. Day 7 is wash day.

[lapushka]

lapushka, I did what you said, shampoo, condition, don't comb or brush, and this is what I got.
http://s11.postimg.org/422pg41yr/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/) free screenshot software (http://postimage.org/app.php)

That's very pretty. I would say that's 2a, possibly 2a/2b hair.

[spidermom]

I agree; that last picture is really pretty. If I want to wear my hair down, I let it dry without messing with it. But once I'm ready to put it up or braid it, which is most of the time, I comb and/or brush it out then.

[Inconella]

Your hair looks a lot like mine. I wrestle with frizz, too, and it's kind of a new thing for me, as my hair has gotten curler as its gotten longer. I'm still looking for my moly grail routine.

[Jennah]

This is a picture of my hair right after drying with some coconut oil.....


You can try doing some plopping when your hair is wet out of the shower.

It´ll help you set your waves a lot!

Just put a tshirt on the bed, flip your hair on the middle of it, and wrap the bottom around your head and twist and tie the arms on your forehead. It makes some kind of loose turban.

If I´m not making myself clear you can look it up online in youtube, but it´ll help you dry your hair and not get your clothes wet, and you only need to leave it for 20 mins or so.

Then just leave it alone.

Good luck!