Battling Frizz? We Asked the Experts for Their Holy-Grail Hair Products

Thin & Fine Hair

Contrary to what you may think, having thin and fine hair are not one and the same. Fine hair refers to the thickness or diameter of your actual strands of hair, which are narrower than medium or thick textures. Thin hair refers to the number of your hair follicles and how closely they’re spaced throughout your scalp—essentially, how dense your hair is overall. This hair type and texture can be easily weighed down, so choosing products that aren’t too heavy is paramount. It’s also prone to flyaways and frizz, but luckily, a few products and tools are all it takes to tame it.

Mark Townsend: “Even if your hair is fine or thin, it’s still important to use a very light conditioner to seal the cuticle to avoid frizz. Sprays work great, too. I really love Drunk Elephant Wild Marula Tangle Spray to seal the cuticle without weighing down the hair.

“For my clients with fine hair that gets frizzy throughout the day, or if they have dry ends, I tell them to use Dove Go Active Dry Conditioner on dry hair after styling to tame frizz or spray on their ends to smooth out the hair.”

Justine Marjan: “I love the GHD Glide Hot Brush to instantly smooth and defrizz hair without losing fullness. It heats up quickly, won’t cause damage, and is the perfect quick fix for smooth, sleek hair. Color Wow Dream Coat is one of the holy grails for humidity resistance. Think of this product as an anti-humidity treatment for the hair. Mist in wet hair before styling, and it will last for three shampoos. I love how the WetBrush Shine Enhancer brush easily glides through the hair without pulling or snagging, while adding sheen to the hair. It’s great for distributing natural oils for instantly  smooth, shiny hair. The Leonor Greyl Eclat Naturel Styling Cream is like lotion for the hair. Use a small amount to instantly tame frizz and flyaways on dry hair.”

Nigella Miller: “I love using a curly mousse for fine or thin hair because you can find one that gives you volume as well as control frizz. Usually they tackle multiple things when it comes to different hair types, like a mousse that has hydration with a hold, or you can find one with that’s [for] curly [hair] and is moisturizing. Mousse is better because it allows the hair shaft to swell and create texture, especially when working with fine or thin hair.”

Medium Wavy & Curly Hair

This hair type has slightly more density, while textured hair from 2a to 3b has a slightly coarse hair shaft. Using products to smooth any openings in the hair cuticle will help minimize frizz—serums, creams, and sprays are all fair game for these types of textures.

MT: “Frizz-free hair starts in the shower, so make sure to use the right shampoo and conditioner. Never skip conditioning if your hair has a tendency to get frizzy, and always rinse with cold water to seal off the cuticle! To keep the hair cuticle closed and smooth post-shower, I love to use Iles Formula Finishing Serum for touch-ups throughout the day because it quickly eliminates frizz and adds tons of shine.”

JM: “I love Tresemme Keratin Smooth Serum, which is a shine-enhancing serum on wet or dry hair, because it smooths frizz and flyaways. The Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream assists in blow-drying curly/wavy hair types for a super smooth blowout while hydrating and adding shine to the hair. Aveda Smooth Infusion uses plant-derived fibers that attach to the hair to loosen curl patterns, resulting in quick, smooth styling for silky hair.”

NM: “I love leave-ins because it’s a good prep to moisturize the hair and control frizz. Then I love to add any styling cream to cocktail my products. This allows me to implement some control [over the texture]. I find 2a–3b is all about control, because the pattern isn’t too tight, so this gives that type of texture a neater, more manageable look.”

Thick Curls & Coils

Super curly girls know it’s all about hydration when it comes to the look and feel of your hair. Using nourishing creams and masks will help prevent damage from styling, tools, and the environment, and will ensure that your curls look full and beautiful all day long. And remember—if your hair is on the thicker side, you’re going to want to adjust the amount of product you use accordingly.

MT: “I’m obsessed with Dove Twist In Moisture Shaping Butter Cream for thick, textured hair! I like to use this on wet hair and let it dry naturally for frizz-free twist-outs or braids that are soft and smooth.”

JM: “VirtueLabs UnPolish Frizz Cream is an amazing anti-humidity smoothing cream that hydrates the hair and prevents it from frizzing up over time. Mizani ThermaSmooth Sleek Guard Smoothing Cream prevents split ends and damage in the hair while assisting in the use of hot tools for smooth, healthy hair.”

NM:  “I love lighter products for hair that’s already thick. I’m more into balms that melt into the hair and hydrate from roots to ends. I think the lighter [it is], the better results because the texture is a tighter coil, so using lighter products, you’re able to layer. I would say hair masks and deep conditioners are your go-to, [especially] a protein mask for thicker hair. Then you can use a hydrating mask to moisturize as well as using a deep conditioner when it comes to strengthen. It’s endless when it comes to treatments.”