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Frizz is hair that does not align with the surrounding hair, but stands up or curls independently, creating a fuzzy or irregular texture. The three main causes of frizz are genetics, hair damage, and humidity. Frizzy hair can be seen as a positive or a negative trait depending on the current fashion and one's personal preference. Many hair products, such as hair gel, , and , are designed to reduce frizz.
By this definition, frizz is not exclusively a characteristic of curly hair; straight hair can be frizzy, and tightly curled or afro-textured hair can be frizz-free. "Frizz" sometimes refers to curly hair in general, but that is not what most people understand the term to mean.
Even when hair has a defined curl pattern, combing or brushing it when it is dry can break up the clumps, causing the hair to expand into a frizzy mass. This is often done intentionally to add volume.LaFlesh (2010), pp. 68–69. Blow dryer hair from the ends toward the roots can raise the hair's cuticle, resulting in frizz.Milady (2011), p. 466.
Excessive or rough Hairbrush can cause breakage. This results in frizz because the hair is stretched out of shape before it breaks, so that the shorter hair that remains tends to spring outward, away from the main body of hair. Backcombing can be damaging,Milady (2011), p. 542. as can combing curly hair when it is dry. Excessive use of heat styling tools such as blow dryers and Hair iron can weaken the hair, making it susceptible to breakage and split ends.Marsh (2015), p. 64. Recommendations for minimizing heat damage include using heat styling tools set on low,Milady (2011), pp. 64, 548. using a diffuser when blow drying, and never using a curling iron or flat iron on wet hair. Direct heat can boil the water in the hair, causing bubbles to form inside the hair fiber, weakening the hair.Blume-Peytavi (2008), p. 290. Some authors recommend avoiding heat altogether, and allowing the hair to air-dry.LaFlesh (2010), p. 113.
Other common causes of hair damage include the use of relaxers and other harsh chemicals; use of a razor to cut curly hair, which weakens the hair cuticle and promotes frizz;Milady (2011), p. 372. and harsh shampoos that strip the hair of its natural oils.Blume-Peytavi (2008), p. 512.
Having some hairs that are shorter than others is not necessarily a sign of breakage. Hair naturally sheds as it reaches the end of its growth cycle, and a new hair grows in its place; the average lifespan is about six years.LaFlesh (2010), pp. 26–27.
Although moisture causes frizz, which many women perceive as "unhealthy", many women also believe that moisture is good for their hair, and buy moisturizing hair products. In reality, these products are designed to smooth the surface of the hair rather than increase the hair's water content.Marsh (2015), p. 42.
Those looking for ways to reduce frizz encounter a great deal of conflicting information online and in the media. Products and treatments that work well for one person may not work for another due to factors such as curl pattern, hair density, hair porosity, the amount of sebum produced, whether the individual strands are coarse or fine, Hair protein levels (which are affected by one's diet), allergies to certain ingredients, regional humidity levels, and finally, subjective ideals of beauty. Moreover, some of the methods used to smooth frizz can cause damage, making hair even more frizz-prone than before; for example, flatirons can burn the hair (see Damage, above), and some hair gels contain drying ingredients.LaFlesh (2010), p. 144. Some experts recommend the use of products containing silicones,LaFlesh (2010), p. 179. while others warn that silicones can cause buildup. Myriad products such as serums, pomades, and hair waxes are designed to reduce frizz, and each has its advocates and detractors.
Some relatively non-controversial recommendations for reducing frizz include regular use of Hair conditioner;LaFlesh (2010), pp. 183–188. occasional hot oil treatments;LaFlesh (2010), pp. 123–124. and regular trims to remove any split ends or damaged tips.Marsh (2015), p. 38.
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