How to Get Rid of Frizzy Hair: A Stylist's Guide for NZ Conditions

If you want to know how to get rid of frizzy hair, the first thing to understand is why it happens. Frizz is not a hair type, it is a behaviour. It is what hair does when its outer layer, the cuticle, is raised rather than lying flat. A raised cuticle lets moisture in from the air, the strand swells, and you get that halo of flyaways.

That means the fix is not one miracle product. It is a combination of repairing the cuticle, keeping the hair hydrated, and styling in a way that does not rough it up. Here is how we approach frizzy hair in the salon.

What causes frizz

Three things lift the cuticle and invite frizz:

• Dryness. Dry hair pulls moisture from the air to compensate. The drier your hair, the more it frizzes, especially in humidity.
• Damage. Heat styling, colour and chemical processing all wear the cuticle down. Damaged hair is porous, and porous hair frizzes.
• Friction. Rough towel-drying, brushing dry curls and cotton pillowcases all rough up the cuticle physically.

Get on top of those three and frizz becomes manageable, often dramatically so.

Step one: hydrate from the inside

Because dry hair is the root cause, hydration is the foundation. Frizz-prone hair needs moisture put back in regularly.

Start with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner rather than a clarifying or volumising one, which can be drying. Then add a weekly mask. A rich treatment from our masks and treatments collection genuinely changes how hair behaves day to day, because well-hydrated hair simply does not need to grab moisture from the air.

For hair that is dry through the lengths, the products in our dry hair collection are formulated to restore that moisture balance.

Step two: seal the cuticle with oil or serum

After hydration comes sealing. A lightweight hair oil or smoothing serum lays the cuticle flat and creates a barrier against humidity. This is the single most effective everyday step for visible frizz control.

Apply a few drops to damp mid-lengths and ends before styling, and a tiny amount to dry hair afterwards to tame flyaways. Less is more, especially on fine hair. Our hair oils collection has options for every density, from feather-light finishing oils to richer treatments for coarse hair.

For colour-treated and chemically processed hair that frizzes, look at dedicated anti-frizz lines such as Redken Frizz Dismiss, which we stock in the frizzy hair collection.

Step three: fix your drying technique

How you dry your hair matters as much as what you put on it.

• Stop rough towel-drying. Rubbing with a terry towel lifts the cuticle instantly. Squeeze gently with a microfibre towel or an old cotton t-shirt instead.
• Use heat protection every time. Always apply a heat protectant before blow-drying or straightening. It shields the cuticle from the heat that causes long-term frizz.
• Dry in the direction of the cuticle. Point the dryer nozzle down the hair shaft, from root to tip, to smooth the cuticle as you dry.
• Finish with cool air. A blast of cool air at the end sets the cuticle flat.

Step four: protect hair overnight

Frizz often appears overnight from friction against a cotton pillowcase. Switching to a silk or satin pillowcase reduces friction and is one of the easiest changes you can make. Loosely tying long hair up, rather than letting it rub all night, also helps.

When to consider a salon smoothing treatment

If your hair is very frizzy, coarse or curly and home care only gets you so far, an in-salon smoothing treatment can be transformative. These treatments work deep into the hair to relax frizz for weeks or months at a time, depending on the system. They are not for everyone, but for the right hair they are a genuine relief.

Our stylists at UKIYO in Wanaka can assess whether a smoothing treatment suits your hair, or build you a home routine that keeps frizz in check without one. Call 03 443 1040 or book a consultation online.

The stylist's summary

You get rid of frizzy hair by treating its causes, not just the symptom. Hydrate deeply, seal the cuticle with an oil or serum, dry your hair gently and with heat protection, and reduce friction overnight. Do those consistently and frizzy hair becomes smooth, manageable hair, even in a damp or changeable climate.

FAQ

Why is my hair so frizzy even after I wash it? Frizz after washing usually means the hair is dry or damaged underneath. Washing alone does not seal the cuticle. You need a conditioner, ideally a weekly mask, and a finishing oil or serum.

Does humidity cause frizz? Humidity reveals frizz rather than causes it. Dry or damaged hair absorbs moisture from humid air and swells. Healthy, well-sealed hair resists humidity far better.

Can frizzy hair be permanently fixed? Frizz can be dramatically reduced with the right routine, and in-salon smoothing treatments hold it back for weeks or months. Permanent results depend on keeping hair healthy and hydrated long term.

What is the best product for frizzy hair? There is no single best product. A hydrating mask plus a lightweight finishing oil or anti-frizz serum is the most effective everyday combination for most hair.