Why does curly hair tend to frizz?

👩‍🦱 Curly hair is beautiful, but it needs special attention and a specific care routine to prevent frizz. You may be wondering why your beautiful curls often end up forming those unruly little flyaways? Let's take a look at the reasons why curly hair is more prone to frizz, and how to enhance it.

The porous nature of curly hair

The structure of curly hair

👉 Curly hair is naturally more porous. This means that its cuticles, the protective scales that cover each hair, are more open. This increased porosity allows moisture to penetrate the hair more easily, which can be both a blessing and a curse. The more spiky scales of curly hair are essential for creating the curl's shape, but they also make hair more susceptible to losing moisture and absorbing humidity from the surrounding air.

Humidity and frizz

💧 When curly hair is dry and damaged, it absorbs water vapor from the air, especially in humid weather. This water absorption causes the hair cuticles to swell, causing them to open even wider. The result? Hair swells and ends up frizzy. It's a vicious circle: the more humidity the hair absorbs, the more the cuticles stay open, and the more frizz appears.

Factors contributing to frizz

1. Dry hair

☀️ Curly hair tends to be drier than other hair types. The spiral shape of curls prevents the natural sebum produced by the scalp from distributing evenly along the hair fiber. This lack of sebum makes curly hair more vulnerable to dryness and damage, which encourages frizz.

2. Capillary damage

Excessive use of chemicals, such as coloring and straightening, as well as frequent exposure to heat from hair dryers and straightening irons, can damage the structure of curly hair. This damage accentuates the hair's porosity and increases its propensity to form frizz.

3. Environmental factors

🧐 Weather conditions play a crucial role in the formation of frizz. Humidity, wind, and even the sun can all affect the texture and health of curly hair. In particular, high humidity causes hair to swell and open cuticles, leading directly to frizz.

How to care for curly hair and prevent frizz?

1. Moisturize and nourish hair

💧 To combat frizz, it's essential to keep curly hair well hydrated and nourished. Use products specially designed to deeply moisturize and nourish hair without weighing it down. Moisturizing hair masks, vegetable oils and butters are excellent for providing the necessary hydration and strengthening the hair fiber.

2. Use protein products

Curly hair also benefits from protein treatments that help strengthen the hair structure. Protein-rich products fill in damaged areas of the cuticle, making hair more resistant to humidity and less prone to frizz.

3. Choose the right products

🤩 Arnaud, aka @justgimb, has developed a moisturizing and restructuring spray with a fluid cream texture especially for curly hair. His project "You're so curly" helps you deliver the moisture and nutrition you need to maintain well-defined, frizz-free curls.

4. Adopt an adapted hair routine

Wash hair gently

Use sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse without drying hair. Wash your hair with lukewarm water rather than hot water to avoid further drying out the hair fiber.

Apply moisturizing conditioner

A good moisturizing conditioner is essential to gently detangle hair and provide an extra layer of moisture. Leave it on for a few minutes for optimum effect.

Use a leave-in conditioner

Leave-in conditioners are perfect for providing continuous hydration and protecting hair from external aggressors. Apply to damp hair to seal in moisture.

Scrunch your curls

To redefine curls without damaging them, adopt the scrunching technique. Apply a suitable styling product to damp hair, then pull strands up in an accordion pattern from the ends to the roots. This gesture creates well-defined curls while reducing frizz.

Find out here 👉 everything you need to know about how to scrunch your hair!

5. Protect hair at night

Use a satin or silk pillowcase to minimize friction and breakage during the night. You can also tie your hair into a protective hairstyle like a loose braid or high bun to preserve curl shape.

6. Avoid heating appliances

Limit the use of hair dryers, straightening irons and curling irons, which can damage hair and aggravate frizz. If you must use a heating appliance, always apply a thermal protector beforehand.

Conclusion

❤️ Curly hair requires special care to prevent frizz. By understanding the porous nature of curly hair and the factors that contribute to frizz, you can adapt your hair routine to keep your curls well-defined and healthy. Moisturize, nourish and protect your hair with the right products and gentle gestures to say goodbye to frizz and hello to beautiful, carefree curls. With the right care and a little patience, you can transform your curly hair into dazzling, full-of-life hair!