Beauty Tips & Life Hacks, Salon Tips

Frizzy Hair in Humidity: Why It Happens and How to Stop It

Kenra Anti-Humidity Spray 5, amika frizz-me-not and Joico Dream Blowout Glass
25 Sep
Reading time: 7 min

Hair frizzes in humidity because it soaks up water from the air and swells, and hair with a worn or damaged surface soaks up more. To stop it, keep hair conditioned, wash and dry it gently, limit heat and chemical damage, and finish with a leave-in or an anti-humidity product.

Key takeaways

  • Hair holds more water as humidity rises, and water makes the strand swell.
  • Rough washing, friction, sun and chemical services wear away hair’s water-repelling surface, so damaged hair frizzes more easily.
  • Condition after every shampoo, and wrap wet hair in a towel or T-shirt instead of rubbing it (AAD).
  • Curly hair: wash only when needed, add a leave-in, and don’t brush it dry (AAD).
  • In lab tests, oil coatings slowed moisture uptake but didn’t block it.
  • Go to bed with dry hair. A loose braid, and satin or silk, may cut friction (AAD, Cleveland Clinic).

Why does hair get frizzy in humidity?

Hair absorbs water from the air. In a 2007 lab study, the water hair held rose steadily as relative humidity climbed from 40% to 85% (Gao). Water makes the hair shaft swell (Gavazzoni Dias, 2015). Three things matter:

  • The surface. A 2015 review by dermatologist Maria Fernanda Gavazzoni Dias explains that a fatty layer on the cuticle, 18-MEA, makes healthy hair repel water. Rough washing, unprotected drying, friction, sun and alkaline chemical services strip it, leaving hair more water-loving and negatively charged, and damaged hair far more porous. In one lab test, bleach nearly tripled hair’s surface area within a minute as new pores formed (Hessefort et al., 2008).
  • Friction and static. The same review names attrition, the wear from friction, as the main cause of frizz. Negatively charged strands push each other apart. Dermatologist Zoe Draelos wrote in 1991 that dyes, perms and straighteners disrupt the cuticle and leave hair more susceptible to static and to humidity.
  • Your style. A blow-dry reshapes hair because water breaks hydrogen bonds in its keratin, and hot irons alone straighten hair only temporarily (Gavazzoni Dias, 2015). Water breaks those bonds but not the stronger disulfide bonds (Xu et al., 2017). Put together, these findings suggest why a smoothed style can loosen as hair picks up moisture.

Repeated swelling and drying may also wear hair down, which researchers call hygral fatigue. In a 2001 lab study, coconut oil penetrated hair while mineral oil did not, oil limited the hair’s swelling, and the authors suggested coconut oil may protect better (Ruetsch et al.). Few studies have looked at oils on hair, the 2015 review notes.

Habits that make frizz worse

The AAD says styling habits can leave hair brittle and frizzy. These are the ones the AAD and Cleveland Clinic flag:

  • Rubbing hair dry with a towel. Wrap it in a towel or T-shirt instead, and air-dry when you can (AAD).
  • Scrubbing shampoo through the lengths. Massage it into the scalp and let the rinse flow through the rest (AAD).
  • Very hot showers. Cleveland Clinic says hair expands more in hot water, which makes it more prone to breakage and frizz, and suggests warm showers.
  • Washing curly hair too often. The AAD says this can leave curly hair dry, frizzy and hard to manage.
  • Frequent high heat. Use the lowest heat setting, limit how long hot tools touch your hair, and aim to use them once a week or less (AAD).
  • Brushing curly hair dry. The AAD says to avoid it because it can make hair break and frizz.
  • Over-brushing. Hair never needs 100 strokes a day. Brush only to style it (AAD).

How to stop frizzy hair: a routine for humid days

  1. Shampoo the scalp in warm water. Let the lather rinse through the lengths (AAD, Cleveland Clinic). For curly hair styled with gels, creams or oils, the AAD suggests a clarifying shampoo before your regular one; see our clarifying shampoo guide.
  2. Condition every time. Put conditioner on the ends of fine or straight hair and along the full length of dry or curly hair (AAD).
  3. Blot, don’t rub. Wrap hair in a towel or an old T-shirt (AAD).
  4. Detangle gently. Use a wide-tooth comb and start at the ends. The AAD says to comb thick, curly hair in the shower before rinsing out conditioner, and to let straight hair dry a bit first.
  5. Add a leave-in. For curly hair, the AAD suggests an oil or leave-in conditioner and names argan oil, glycerin and fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol as ingredients to look for.
  6. Keep heat low and protected. The AAD advises low or medium heat plus a product that protects hair from heat. Heat-activated anti-frizz sprays go on damp hair before blow-drying; some also claim heat protection, so check labels before layering. See how to use heat protectant.
  7. Finish light. An anti-humidity finishing spray goes on last. Keep the hold light: the AAD lists styling products with long-lasting hold among habits that can damage hair.

Do anti-humidity sprays work?

Coatings can slow moisture down, but lab work suggests they don’t block it. In a 2007 lab study, hair coated with oils took up moisture from the air much more slowly, but a considerable amount still got in. Once the oil film was removed, the hair absorbed moisture like untreated hair again (Keis et al.). Reapply as the label directs once a coating washes out.

The time on the bottle is the maker’s claim. Kenra says its Anti-Humidity Spray 5 blocks humidity for up to 72 hours, Matrix lists up to 96 hours of frizz control among the benefits of its Mega Sleek line, and Color Wow says Dream Coat lasts three to four washes.

Conditioners help from another angle. They add positive charge to cancel hair’s negative charge and lubricate the cuticle with ingredients such as oils and silicones, which cuts friction and minimizes frizz (Gavazzoni Dias, 2015).

Curly vs straight hair: what’s different?

Curly hair tends to be drier. Cleveland Clinic explains that scalp oil has to travel along corkscrew-shaped strands to reach the ends, and the AAD says thick, curly hair is more prone to breakage and dryness. A 2021 study led by L’Oréal researchers found that humidity changes may affect how frizzy curly hair feels to the touch more than straight hair (Skedung et al.).

  • Curly or coily hair: wash only when needed, but at least every 2 to 3 weeks; condition the full length; add a leave-in; detangle when wet with your fingers, a wide-tooth comb or a brush made for curls (AAD).
  • Straight or fine hair: wash as often as your scalp’s oil calls for, which may be daily; condition just the ends; let hair dry a bit before combing (AAD).
A night routine for less frizz

Compiled from the American Academy of Dermatology and Cleveland Clinic.

  1. Let hair dry before bed. To speed it up, use the dryer on low or cool (Cleveland Clinic).
  2. Gather curly hair in a loose ponytail on top of your head (a “pineapple”) or a loose braid to cut friction against the pillowcase (AAD).
  3. Try a satin or silk bonnet or pillowcase. The AAD says these may reduce friction, and a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says satin or silk can help protect fragile wet hair.
  4. In the morning, wet your curls and detangle with a leave-in instead of brushing them dry (AAD).

Cleveland Clinic adds that a scalp kept damp overnight can encourage yeast and dandruff.

When frizz is a sign of damage

Frizz with breakage or split ends is different from weather frizz. The AAD says damaged hair is fragile and tends to break, and breakage leaves hair looking frizzy. Dermatologist Rodney Sinclair noted in 2007 that frizz and split ends are especially common in people who repeatedly change their hair’s natural style. Our guide to protein vs moisture shows how to tell whether hair needs strength or softness.

To limit chemical damage, the AAD suggests one service at a time, perming or relaxing 2 weeks before coloring, and stretching touch-ups to 8 to 10 weeks or longer in winter. If better care doesn’t help, or you notice thinning, see a board-certified dermatologist (AAD).

At OBB

Call or text (949) 591-5304 with your list and we will confirm stock and pricing, then pick up at our Westminster store.

Related reading: How to Use Heat Protectant, Protein vs Moisture for Hair and How to Clean a Hairbrush and Comb.

FAQ

Why is my hair frizzy when the air is dry?

Dry air brings static. Cleveland Clinic says static builds when dry winter air and product buildup keep moisture out of hair, and suggests conditioner, a leave-in or a hydrating shampoo.

Do silk pillowcases help with frizz?

They may. The AAD says satin or silk bonnets or pillowcases may reduce friction, which can make hair frizzy and easier to break. A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says letting hair dry before bed matters most.

How long do anti-frizz products last?

Until they wash out or wear off. Lab work on oil coatings shows they slow moisture uptake rather than stop it, and hour counts such as 72 or 96 are the makers’ own claims.

Is hygral fatigue real?

Researchers use the term for damage from repeated swelling and drying, and a 2015 dermatology review lists it as a factor that can damage hair. The research on it comes from lab tests on hair samples, such as a 2001 study of coconut and mineral oil.

Sources

This is general information, not medical advice. Follow the directions on each product. If you notice sudden breakage, thinning or bald spots, or an itchy, flaky or sore scalp, see a board-certified dermatologist, as the AAD advises.

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