What Causes Frizz? Understanding the Root Issues

If managing frizzy hair feels like a constant battle, you’re not alone. Frizz, especially for those with curly hair, is a common challenge many face.

We too have found ourselves shaking our fists at the sky and shouting, Why me? Where did I go wrong? 

We’re here to help. Let’s explore the factors that cause frizzy hair. 

Hair becomes frizzy when the individual strands step out of line and develop their own funky texture. Unlike the strands of curly hair, each characterized by a consistent curl pattern, frizzy hair strands take any shape they please. They don’t want to be like all the others. They want to, well, stick out. 

Is it just a phase?

In desperate times like these, we turn to science. Fortunately, there is some research-backed consistency among the causes of these frizzy outbursts.

Hair strands consist of several layers. The outermost layer is known as the cuticle. The cuticle’s job is to coat and protect the innermost layers. But, like the emotional stability of a teenager, it’s highly sensitive to disruptions.

Humidity is a major contributor to frizz, often causing the hair cuticle to swell and frizzy hair to result. Hair is made up of hydrogen bonds that link together to form the structure of your locks. And while they may get along on most days, their bond is easy to damage. If water or heat enters the scene, consider the band broken up.

If there is moisture in the air, it can sneak under the hair cuticle and rearrange the cohesive hydrogen bonds into new, irregular, outward-facing formations. Or, as we know it, frizz.

However, the weather isn’t the only factor to blame.

Those weekend heat styles, chemical treatments, and frequent washings can weaken hair cuticles, causing them to question their life’s work. Once those cuticles become damaged, they lift up in surrender, inviting the enemy in: moisture.

Texture also has a sneaky hand in deciding the fate of your day, or, your hair. Curly hair types are especially prone to frizz due to their texture.

The curlier the locks, the tighter together the shingles of the hair shaft are crammed against each other. This not only prevents strands from lying flat but also  allows moisture to escape.

Translation: Dryness and frizz.

While a lot of what causes frizzy hair might feel like it’s out of your control, certain habits could worsen the frizz.

That screaming hot shower you can’t wait to jump into the second you walk in the door? It might relax your muscles, but it will harm your hair health and slash your lifelong dream of having satiny smooth hair like the people in the shampoo commercials.

Hot water opens up the hair cuticle shafts, which, you know the drill, invites frizz to the scene. Opt for lukewarm water—or cold water, if you’re feeling brave—to help seal your cuticles, reduce frizz, and optimize smoothness. 

Now let’s talk post-shower. 

The rumors are true and we don’t like them any more than you do. Excessive heat styling wreaks havoc on your hair by damaging the cuticles, causing dryness. The higher you set the temperature, the quicker it breaks down Keratin, the protein found in hair that keeps strands hardy and healthy.

The results? Fragile locks with trust issues. 

If you prefer using a towel to dry your hair, there’s plenty to investigate there, too. 

Roughly towel drying your head scrambles the hair shafts, leading to irregular formations that promise to be unwelcome guests all day. Luckily, there are ways to dry hair without frizz. Opt for a microfiber towel or an old cotton shirt to dry your locks instead.

Avoid waiting for your hair to dry completely before brushing to prevent frizz. Your strands are stronger together. Brushing dried hair separates strands from each other, leaving each one in a vulnerable state—kind of like losing your mom in the supermarket.

Hair products are always a bright idea, right? 

Well, yes and no. To truly benefit your hair, the products you pick must have the right formula, or else they might as well be adding gasoline to the fire. 

Here’s what to watch out for. 

Always be wary of products laden with alcohol and sulfates. While they are wonderful at breaking down grease and cleansing the hair, they take their jobs a little too seriously, stripping strands of all moisture.

Your hair might feel clean, but it will also be brittle and prone to breakage.

Silicone, one of the most popular ingredients for silky tresses, comes with a caveat. While it might make your strands feel buttery soft in the moment, chemistry ultimately reveals an ugly truth: Silicone isn’t water soluble.

This means that silicone products won’t completely rinse out of your hair, leading to build-up over time. Not only does that buildup weigh your hair down, but it suffocates each strand, preventing moisturizing products from penetrating through. The takeaway is to use silicone-based products sparingly. 

Alright, things got pretty dark there. But don’t curl up in a ball yet. Let’s talk prevention.

Frizz might feel inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be. There are several practical steps you can take to make sure you don’t accidentally throw it back to the 80s at the office this week.

• Hydration and deep conditioning – The most crucial preventive care measure when combating frizz is moisture. Regular deep-conditioning treatments and hair masks help hair cuticles to seal, preventing frizz.  

• Heat protection and styling adjustments – When applying heat to your hair, always use heat protectants and be aware of the set temperature. The right products will coat your strands, creating a protective layer between the heat and your cuticles. 

• Anti-frizz serums and oils – Can’t tame the flyaways? Try applying a lightweight oil or serum to damp hair. This will ensure your hair dries encased in a protective layer, ready to fend off whatever the environment throws your way. 

If you’re frantically scouring your bathroom drawer for hair products you’ve had since prom, look no further—we have you covered.

At Virtue Labs, we’re passionate about formulating products that will give you sleek, frizz-free locks, without causing more damage in the long run.

What makes our products different? Our Keratin.

Keratin, the protein responsible for 90% of your skin, hair, and nails, is usually sourced from animals for use in hair care products. Ours, however, is human-derived. The body recognizes it as its own.

Our Virtue Labs’ Alpha Keratin 60ku® technology travels up and down your strands, filling in any areas of damage for stronger, healthier, frizz-free hair. Consider it your hair’s personal superhero. 

Our Keratin isn’t just a short-term solution—it’s regenerative medicine for your hair. We love it so much that we put it in all of our products—each of which is cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan, and formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic colors and dyes. 

We think that’s pretty cool.

But don’t just take our word for it. Try it out for yourself with some of our favorites. 

Our Virtue Frizz Block Smoothing Spray is a crowd-pleaser for a reason. Not only does it create a humidity-blocking shield that lasts for 72 hours, but it also protects from heat as high as 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh, and did we mention it doesn’t contain any alcohol? That means locked-in moisture and frizz-free hair that you don’t have to think twice about.

Another product that supports long-lasting regeneration is our Virtue Healing Oil, formulated to nourish your hair while sealing the cuticles off from environmental stressors. Lightweight and colorless, it will be your new secret weapon for when frizz strikes.

Keep up the good frizz fight with these other top-selling products: 

• Un-Frizz Cream – Formulated to eliminate frizz and cast a protective, anti-humidity shield over your hair, this intensive cream binds to and repairs damaged strands.

• Smooth Shampoo – More than your basic cleanser, this powerful shampoo works immediately to find and fill the cracks in your hair as you lather away.

• Smooth Conditioner –  Our Smooth Shampoo’s other half, this daily treatment glides over and penetrates your strands for vibrant, silky hair you’ll want everyone to feel. 

Try each and give yourself something to look forward to on hair-wash days. 

Life is filled with enough things you can’t control. We’re here to make sure you can always tame your locks. 

While you might feel like it, frizzy hair isn’t bad karma from a past life—it’s caused by dryness, damage, and improper hair care routines. With Virtue Labs, you can learn how to keep hair from frizzing. With the right products, backed by science and innovation, it can be a thing of the past.

Turn your hair from something you manage into something you flaunt with Virtue Labs. Because let’s face it, everything's better when your hair looks and feels exactly the way you want it to. 

Browse our wide range of scientifically formulated hair products for frizzy hair to find the ones that speak to you.

Sources: 

American Academy of Dermatology Association. Tips for healthy hair. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips 

Medical News Today. How can I stop my hair from frizzing? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-can-i-stop-my-hair-from-frizzing 

Science News Explores. Science works to demystify hair and help it behave. https://www.snexplores.org/article/science-curly-hair-care-behavior 

UVA Arts and Sciences. Chemistry of Wellness: Hair and Hair Care. https://chemistry.as.virginia.edu/chemistry-wellness-hair-and-hair-care