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Frizzy brittle hair...what's your solution?

Minaminu

Veteran

UK is still in lockdown but it looks like some restraints will soon be lifted. Today I booked a haircut's appointment for the 22nd May, so I have time to plan how to cut them but also to find a solution for the frizz! Spring and Summer are difficult for my fine hair, they get frizzy and styling never looks right. When the humidity levels rise, my only solution is to do a ponytail or a French pleat... which is not ideal. The alternative would be to let them air dry and loose, but I would look like a poodle .

What's your solution? I have noticed that when they reach a certain length, they seem to be easier to style. I will need to cut several inches as they are quite brittle now. I have attached a picture of my last haircut last September and they were already starting to frizz half an hour after the haircut! At least that's my impression! They now longer but I think I will cut them shorter this time (as one doesn't know if there will be another lockdown!).

Has anybody ever tried a treatment against frizz? I have been reading about keratin, brazilian blow-dry and yuko treatment and it's all very confusing! If it is something that works, I'd consider it!

I am even considering the Dyson hair straighteners corrale....

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Anonymous

I had a keratin treatment, and it worked great on my fine, frizz-prone hair. You have to let it "set" for a few days before you wash it out, so it's a little inconvenient in non-pandemic times, but if you're mostly staying at home, it's very doable. If I were going on an extended trip, I would do one again to minimize time spent on hair care while traveling.

Other stuff that seems to help: Olaplex hair products (I use Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7), and I also recently bought a Revlon styling brush which seems to do a pretty good job of smoothing and eliminating frizzies. It gets so hot, though, even on the "low" setting, that I'm worried about hair damage. The Olaplex No. 7 product is supposed to work as a heat shield up to 450F, and I'm hoping it does.

cat2

Veteran

I have better luck with longer hair, it pulls out some of the Irish Setter ear curls to a wave. I also like the Aveda Smoothing treatment; it’s an at home remedy that lasts through a few shampoos, but isn’t a chemical bath for my hair.

cat2

Veteran

It’s the Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener.

doggeh lover

Seconding Cat2's recommendation. Works best for me when I use the same line for everything....

Minaminu

Veteran

Xtabay, thanks! I heard good things of Olaplex and will be looking into this. I also worry about heat damage and that's part of the reason why I am looking at a hair treatment that can help strengthen the hair...

Cat, yes to the Poodle/Irish Setter hair! you get the picture! thanks for recommending Aveda, I always forget about this brand and it's easily available here... will check this out as well! thanks!

Minaminu

Veteran

thanks Doggeh lover! it's good to know that Aveda is working well for many people!

Minaminu

Veteran

I just realised that the thread is marked as "general". Apologies, I was meant to mark it as "off topic", sorry!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I use this cheap as chips hair mask with keratin and milk protein. https://ziajaonline.co.uk/coll.....-hair-mask

rachylou

Veteran

I have to put in another plug for Olaplex. It strengthens and smooths.

nuancedream

Veteran

I have a lot of fine very curly hair that's prone to frizziness. I use Davines Love shampoo and conditioner, which are moisturizing without weighing my hair down with heavy ingredients like coconut oil.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I had a Brazilian Blowout a few weeks ago for the first time & was very pleased with the results.

It made quite a difference! My hair was a bit like yours, what I used to think was "body", was really more like frizz It is fine and has been color treated so it is a bit dry. I like to let my hair dry naturally and prefer pretty low style maintenance, so the blowout was exactly what I needed.

I don't have a before photo handy, but here is an after photo from my stylist. I would love to do it again! it should last 4 months or so. (The best part is that it looked the same after I washed it on my own)

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Vildy

Veteran

Not as long-lasting solution as many of the above but I have really frizzy hair and it's very humid where I live. My friend gave me this and it really works for me. Assume, from the brand, that it's easily available and inexpensive:
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave In Conditioning Cream. 3 day. Probably not color safe but I gamble and use it anyway when I feel like it. Sometimes I just enjoy the frizz and pretend I live at the beach.

Joy

Veteran

I wash my hair in cream rinse and live in a dry climate. Even snow evaporates rather than melts. Using an oil project on my hair also helps and makes it shiny.

cat2

Veteran

The Brazilian Blowout is 12 percent formaldehyde; other keratin treatments have similar formulations. I would not want the chemical exposure either for me or for my hair dresser.

cat2

Veteran

Just a further update on status, as of 2025, California has banned both formaldehyde and a chemical precursor also used in keratin products from cosmetics. The history on that includes the findings that these are human carcinogens and that the current treatments offer unsafe levels of exposure for salon workers.

Minaminu

Veteran

RoseandJoan, thanks! I will look it up! I think a good mask could also be a good solution, albeit temporarily!

Rachylou, thanks for another vote for Olaplex! It's interesting to see how many people are using it with good results I have seen that they offer a small starter kit, it may be a good way to try them.

Nuancedream, thanks! Coconut oil is fab for hair - unfortunately my scalp reacted badly so I am on the cautious side with this ingredient!

Rebekahphoto thank you for sharing the pictures of your treatment! Fab hairstyle and lush hair! I like the fact that you don't even need to style it, which is fab during the summer!

Vildy, thanks! I'll look it up!

Joy, thanks! I have been reading about applying the conditioner first and then shampoo and then conditioner again...might try it that too!

Cat2, thanks for flagging the high level of

formaldehyde! This would be a big concern for my health. I'll try to find some articles on the matter and share in this thread as it can be helpful for us all.

Minaminu

Veteran

duplicate - apologies!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Looks to me like a good chop to lop off split ends would be a place to start, probably needs to be a couple inches. It sounds drastic, but then actually helps hair grow better. I’ve needed that for a while now. For the little fly-aways, try putting a couple drops of serum or oil on your hands, rubbing them together, and then running them through your hair. Easy does it—you don’t want to coat it all around, just give it a touch.

LaPed

Veteran

My approach to flyaways and frizz is mostly: trim the ends, shampoo less often. Also, I feel like a broken record, but a silk pillowcase can make a big difference; it won't pull the moisture and natural oils out of your hair the way cotton does.

I haven't used it myself, but a friend was just raving about NatureLab Tokyo's "Smooth" line. She has long, straight hair that gets dry and frizzy in the winter, much like yours, and says this stuff really works and makes her hair feel great. The company promotes itself as using only "clean" ingredients (I haven't looked too deeply; I think they're sulfate-free, paraben-free, etc). https://naturelab.com/collections/smooth

Minaminu

Veteran

FI, thanks! a haircut is indeed long overdue, it may also be the reason why they are so brittle now, though I do a weekly hair mask!

LaPed, thanks for reminding me of the silk pillowcase! I'll buy some this week, I read so many good reviews about them and just forgot to buy some!

Gigi

Veteran

I use a silk pillowcase, like LaPed, and I find it is very helpful.

If you try the Olaplex and it doesn't help, your hair might be protein sensitive, and using a lot of protein might be causing the brittleness. I have fine hair too, and the recommendation for fine hair is always to use protein, but that makes my hair dry and brittle. I limit my protein use to one day a week, and that is perfect.

I would try a deep condition with a protein-free conditioner (doesn't need to be labeled as a deep conditioner--any protein-free conditioner will do if left on the hair for 30 minutes). I would also try putting some oil (almond, sunflower, or olive) on your hair the night before you wash. You could start with just a few drops rubbed into your palms and smoothed over your dry hair. The oil will penetrate your hair overnight and make the hair softer. You just wash it out with your regular shampoo routine the next day.