How can I relax my curls to frizz-proof waves? Help!

[Anonymous]

Hair help 101. I have moderately curly hair, kind of on the border of 2b/2c. I have blown it out straight for literally two decades. I'm so tired of this, plus I now live in the South where it frizzes the instant I step outside my door regardless of what products I use so I feel like I am putting in the effort for nothing. It's just too humid here for most of the year.

I'd like to minimize my curls a bit to more of a 2a moving forward. However, how best to do this? Blow it out and then add back waves with some type of tool? Or is there a product that will relax my curls a tad? And most of all, how can I do this and ensure my hair isn't a puffy frizz-ball regardless of what technique/products I am using? Despite the heat-styling my hair is actually pretty healthy so I'm starting with a decent foundation although I am about 20-30% gray now and that hair is coarser. Help!

[Anonymous]

A texturizer AKA “Baby relaxer”. There are at home kits, but a stylist can do it.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever done a Keratin treatment? That is the only thing that keeps my hair from frizzing. It won’t exactly relax your curls, but it will make your hair so much more manageable that you might not mind the curls. I barely have to comb my hair now that I do keratin. But, it’s pricey.

[Anonymous]

You need some type of hair oil, like Argan or almond. Try different products to see which one works.

[Anonymous]

Definitely don't blow out and try to add back in with a heat tool. All the heat treatment is probably contributing a lot to your hair's tendency to frizz when you wear it natural.

I'd start with a leave in conditioner, which will help add in moisture and also weigh your hair down a bit. Then when it's wet, apply some mousse or gel to build in the waves. I know this sounds counterintuitive since you are trying to relax the curl a bit, but just don't use a product that promises to "enhance curls" and don't really scrunch it the way you would if you wanted it to curl. Just kind apply to your hair, focusing on the ends.

Don't use heat at all. Blowdrying will cause frizz, and if you diffuse, it's likely to make your curls shrink up. Instead, just don't touch it and let it dry. When it's completely dry, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out any "crunch" from the product (don't use a towel, a t-shirt works better because it is less likely to rough up your hair and cause frizz).

I have 2c hair and this is what I do. Very occasionally, if I want it to look *perfect* I'll take a curling iron to it in parts to make sure the waves look regular and even, or to add a little volume at the root. But mostly the combo of leave-in conditioner, some product to define the wave, and then keeping it away from any heat until it's fully dry is enough. I've found the waves look best second day, so often I wash my hair after dinner and just make sure it's dry before I go to bed. Sleeping on it helps further relax the curl (whereas stepping out into high humidity will often make it curl up a bit, but honestly not that much).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely don't blow out and try to add back in with a heat tool. All the heat treatment is probably contributing a lot to your hair's tendency to frizz when you wear it natural.

I'd start with a leave in conditioner, which will help add in moisture and also weigh your hair down a bit. Then when it's wet, apply some mousse or gel to build in the waves. I know this sounds counterintuitive since you are trying to relax the curl a bit, but just don't use a product that promises to "enhance curls" and don't really scrunch it the way you would if you wanted it to curl. Just kind apply to your hair, focusing on the ends.

Don't use heat at all. Blowdrying will cause frizz, and if you diffuse, it's likely to make your curls shrink up. Instead, just don't touch it and let it dry. When it's completely dry, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out any "crunch" from the product (don't use a towel, a t-shirt works better because it is less likely to rough up your hair and cause frizz).

I have 2c hair and this is what I do. Very occasionally, if I want it to look *perfect* I'll take a curling iron to it in parts to make sure the waves look regular and even, or to add a little volume at the root. But mostly the combo of leave-in conditioner, some product to define the wave, and then keeping it away from any heat until it's fully dry is enough. I've found the waves look best second day, so often I wash my hair after dinner and just make sure it's dry before I go to bed. Sleeping on it helps further relax the curl (whereas stepping out into high humidity will often make it curl up a bit, but honestly not that much).

OP here. This is great advice (and thanks to all other posters too!). What leave-in conditioner do you use? And after sleeping on your curls for a night, how do you comb it out in the morning without causing a frizzy mess?

[Anonymous]

You only use a comb one when its wet. And never a brush. Finger comb in the morning. Maybe with a little of bb cream 3-1.

[Anonymous]

I have long, layered 2c hair, and here’s what I do after washing: comb through damp, add a good styling creme (I use Oribe curl creme and Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine), and smooth it back into a low ponytail. I take out the ponytail before bed and sleep on it damp. The result in the morning is more smooth in the front with curl in the bottom two thirds. Do not comb or brush! The only time I comb it is after the shower. The styling creme really helps with frizz. I wash/style every other day.

[Anonymous]

Go to reddit and look for the curly hair community. Lots of great inspiration pics, as well as a pinned post at the top which is a beginner’s guide.

[Anonymous]

Relaxers kinda straighten, not take away frizz. Keratin treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely don't blow out and try to add back in with a heat tool. All the heat treatment is probably contributing a lot to your hair's tendency to frizz when you wear it natural.

I'd start with a leave in conditioner, which will help add in moisture and also weigh your hair down a bit. Then when it's wet, apply some mousse or gel to build in the waves. I know this sounds counterintuitive since you are trying to relax the curl a bit, but just don't use a product that promises to "enhance curls" and don't really scrunch it the way you would if you wanted it to curl. Just kind apply to your hair, focusing on the ends.

Don't use heat at all. Blowdrying will cause frizz, and if you diffuse, it's likely to make your curls shrink up. Instead, just don't touch it and let it dry. When it's completely dry, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out any "crunch" from the product (don't use a towel, a t-shirt works better because it is less likely to rough up your hair and cause frizz).

I have 2c hair and this is what I do. Very occasionally, if I want it to look *perfect* I'll take a curling iron to it in parts to make sure the waves look regular and even, or to add a little volume at the root. But mostly the combo of leave-in conditioner, some product to define the wave, and then keeping it away from any heat until it's fully dry is enough. I've found the waves look best second day, so often I wash my hair after dinner and just make sure it's dry before I go to bed. Sleeping on it helps further relax the curl (whereas stepping out into high humidity will often make it curl up a bit, but honestly not that much).

OP here. This is great advice (and thanks to all other posters too!). What leave-in conditioner do you use? And after sleeping on your curls for a night, how do you comb it out in the morning without causing a frizzy mess?

PP here. Honestly, so many leave in options. I actually use a regular conditioner (Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Conditioner) as a leave in -- I just apply in the shower, comb it in with a wide tooth comb, leave for 5 minutes, and then don't rinse it all the way out. Works great.

And the other PP is right -- do not comb or brush out once dry. You just finger comb and reshape by hand. Combing or brushing will cause frizz. If your hair is well moisturized, you really shouldn't need much.

Another tip is to get a pillowcase for curly hair -- I use a satin one. It can really cut down on morning frizz. But you can also add a small amount of a creme or some oil in the AM when you finger comb to smooth and decrease frizz.

Good luck! It takes some trial and error but the key is to increase moisture, eliminate heat, and decrease friction (brushing, combing, manipulating). It really makes a huge difference for frizz, especially in humid weather. Once your hair adjusts, you may even find your hair does better in humid weather than drier weather.

[Anonymous]

OP here. These are some pretty awesome tips. Thanks everyone! From my curly-hair days I know that I can't comb or brush it, and to be honest that was one of the reasons I fell into straightening it for so long. I hated not being able to run a brush through it when curly.

I wash my hair in the morning because I work out in the morning, and I don't know that I'll then have time to air dry my hair before heading out the door when I'm back to working in person (still teleworking). I'll have to figure out what works. I am thankful for all of the advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely don't blow out and try to add back in with a heat tool. All the heat treatment is probably contributing a lot to your hair's tendency to frizz when you wear it natural.

I'd start with a leave in conditioner, which will help add in moisture and also weigh your hair down a bit. Then when it's wet, apply some mousse or gel to build in the waves. I know this sounds counterintuitive since you are trying to relax the curl a bit, but just don't use a product that promises to "enhance curls" and don't really scrunch it the way you would if you wanted it to curl. Just kind apply to your hair, focusing on the ends.

Don't use heat at all. Blowdrying will cause frizz, and if you diffuse, it's likely to make your curls shrink up. Instead, just don't touch it and let it dry. When it's completely dry, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out any "crunch" from the product (don't use a towel, a t-shirt works better because it is less likely to rough up your hair and cause frizz).

I have 2c hair and this is what I do. Very occasionally, if I want it to look *perfect* I'll take a curling iron to it in parts to make sure the waves look regular and even, or to add a little volume at the root. But mostly the combo of leave-in conditioner, some product to define the wave, and then keeping it away from any heat until it's fully dry is enough. I've found the waves look best second day, so often I wash my hair after dinner and just make sure it's dry before I go to bed. Sleeping on it helps further relax the curl (whereas stepping out into high humidity will often make it curl up a bit, but honestly not that much).

OP here. This is great advice (and thanks to all other posters too!). What leave-in conditioner do you use? And after sleeping on your curls for a night, how do you comb it out in the morning without causing a frizzy mess?

The only leave in that I've ever liked, but I'm different poster and have curly hair, is Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Body Moisturizer. It seems like it has a tad of styling product to it. Not just adding grease. Pea size amount. Can try sans conditioner.

I wonder if a brushable hair spray would help you. My DD has OP hair and it's always frizzy mess. She doesn't wash it enough to go leave in conditioner route.

[Anonymous]

How much leave-in or moisturizing anything you need will depend on your hair type, not your curl size.

I scrunch in a TON of gel, diffuse, and then air dry. When it is completely dry (and hopefully very crunchy) I scrunch my hair out and I get (mostly) perfect curls.

It took a lot of trial and error with both product and styling technique but it’s pretty easy for me now. And my hair finally does really well in humidity.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm Paul Mitchell Hair and Body Moisturizer poster.

What my trick is, when I have frizz on my dry hair, is the orange Isoplus Moisturizing Gel. I rub it between my palms, then swipe it down my hair, and make like 2 or 3 big twists of all my hair at bottom. Then let go, and 90% of frizz gone. It is a Black hair product, but anyone can use it if it works for you. I've never found anything like it. It's super light hold. You can try on wet hair too and see if you like.

https://www.amazon.com/Isoplus-Styling-Gel-Pre-Conditioning-Light/dp/B0149L322I