Hello Curl Friend. If you have curly hair, you probably know frizz all too well. That soft halo of fluff, the stubborn strands that refuse to stay defined, or the unexpected puffiness after what you thought was the perfect wash day—frizz shows up in so many forms.
But here’s something I want you to know: frizz is not the enemy. It’s a natural ability of curly hair. It happens when curls just exist without manipulation, without effort, and without a thousand products. Frizz is part of the story your hair tells when you live your life, day after day, moment after moment.
In this blog, I want to talk about frizz with kindness and understanding—not as a “problem,” but as a result of the life curly hair experiences. I’ll explain the different ways frizz can happen, so you can see it for what it is: a natural, sometimes avoidable, sometimes inevitable, part of the curly journey.
Let’s begin.
1. The Raw State: When Hair Just Is
At its purest, curly hair is frizzy. Without any product, water, or styling techniques, curls naturally fluff up. This is because curly hair has a unique shape—spirals, waves, zigzags—that make it drier and more porous than straight hair.
When left untouched, curly hair interacts with the air around it, absorbing humidity or letting moisture evaporate. The result? Frizz.
Think of it this way: frizz is what happens when curls are free. It’s raw, natural, and real. If you’ve ever stepped out of the shower, air-dried your hair without doing anything to it, and looked in the mirror to see a cloud of volume, you’ve witnessed this natural frizz.
It’s not damaged. It’s not broken. It’s just hair being hair.
2. When Hair Has Build-Up
While frizz is a natural state for curls, sometimes it comes from what we put on our hair—or what gets left behind. Build-up happens when products, minerals from hard water, or dirt accumulate on the strands and scalp.
This build-up creates a barrier that blocks the hair shaft from absorbing moisture, leaving curls dehydrated. And when curly hair gets thirsty, it frizzes.
Signs of build-up can include:
• Hair that feels heavy but still frizzy
• Dry, dull strands that don’t respond to styling products
• A “waxy” or sticky feeling when you touch your hair
To prevent this kind of frizz, it’s important to cleanse the hair regularly—especially if you use products like gels, creams, or oils. A gentle hair detox can help reset your curls, giving them a fresh start.
BUY IT NOW ADVERTISING
3. When Hair is Overly Dry
Curly hair loves moisture, but it struggles to hold onto it. When curls become too dry—whether from skipping conditioning, detoxifying on time, or exposing them to heat or harsh weather—they lose their elasticity.
Dry hair becomes brittle, and frizz becomes more noticeable. Imagine a flower without water: its petals lose shape and start to crinkle. Hair does the same.
To combat dryness, curls need a balance of hydration and protection. This can look like:
• Regular detox and balanced deep conditioning treatments to restore moisture/protein
• Using leave-in conditioners with the "hold products" to seal the hydration
• Avoiding overwashing with harsh shampoos, which can strip the hair of its natural oils
Frizz caused by dryness is your hair’s way of saying, “I need some love!”
4. Frizz from Friction
Sometimes frizz happens because of movement—our heads against a pillow, hands constantly playing with curls, or even hair rubbing against a scarf or coat. This friction disturbs the curl pattern, lifts the hair cuticle, and creates frizz.
Friction-related frizz can be especially noticeable when you:
• Sleep on cotton pillowcases
• Wear wool or rough fabrics without protecting your hair
• Constantly touch or run your hands through your curls
To reduce this kind of frizz, small changes can make a big difference:
• Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to protect your curls overnight
• Wear silk scarves or bonnets to reduce friction during the day/night
• Try not to rake your fingers through your curls once they are set to avoid curl separation.
Remember, curls are delicate. The less we disrupt them, the happier they stay.
5. Humidity and Weather
Curly hair has a love-hate relationship with the weather. On humid days, curls soak up moisture from the air, causing the strands to swell and lose definition. On dry, windy days, curls can lose moisture, becoming fluffy and frizzy.
Both are completely natural responses to the environment.
While you can’t control the weather, you can protect your curls:
• Use gels or creams with humectants to manage humidity
• Apply stronger than usual hold products to shield hair from dry air
• Wear protective styles like braids or buns on especially challenging days once it's fully dry to avoid breakage.
Frizz caused by weather reminds us that our hair, like us, is sensitive to the world around it.
6. Halo Frizz from New Hair Growth
Another reason you might see frizz, especially around the crown of your head, is new hair growth. These shorter strands are often too short to clump into stronger, more defined curl patterns. Instead, they stand out and create what’s commonly referred to as "halo frizz."
New hair growth is a sign of healthy, thriving curls, but it can sometimes feel unruly. To embrace and manage this kind of frizz:
Use a lightweight leave-in conditioner to soften and smooth the shorter strands.
Avoid over-manipulating the roots to give new growth time to settle in.
Focus on scalp health to encourage even more growth
Use a non-toxic hair spray to calm it down at the crown.
Think of halo frizz as a little crown—a reminder that your curls are growing, alive, and thriving. Give it some time and it'll turn into curl.
Frizz is Not a Flaw—It’s a Story
At the end of the day, frizz happens because curly hair is alive. It’s sensitive to touch, weather, water, and the products we use.
Frizz might mean your curls are free. It might mean they’re thirsty. It might mean they’re reacting to build-up or friction. It might mean it need a delicate care after the color or other chemical treatment.
But it never means your hair is less beautiful.
So the next time you see frizz in the mirror, take a breath. Instead of fighting it, try understanding it. Give your curls what they need—hydration, care, and sometimes a little patience.
And on days when the frizz just won’t go away, remember: there’s beauty in the chaos.
Curls don’t have to be perfect to be loved.
And neither do you.
P.S. If you notice frizz happening in your "straight" hair, take it as a sign—you might be a potential candidate for curls with the right care. Sometimes, hidden waves or curls just need gentle encouragement to come alive.
About the author
Are you passionate about learning more about your curls and finding the best ways to care for them? Join our community of curly-haired enthusiasts by signing up for our newsletter!
Follow Me on IG:
Join My Facebook Group:
Comments