Frizz occurs when hair is lacking moisture and becomes, resulting in the hair being dry as a result, whereas damage occurs due to an overuse of hair processes that disrupt the hair cuticle (the hair's protective layer).
In simplest terms, "dry" hair is hair that's lacking moisture. In most cases, this will show up in the form of frizz, because your hair is essentially drinking up moisture from the air to try and quench its dehydration. “If a client has frizzy, lackluster hair with a rough cuticle, moisture is needed,” says Schiebe.
When these cuticles are damaged or weakened, the core is exposed and vulnerable to snapping. When hair snaps off or breaks into split ends, the hair looks frizzy and dull. They may have similar symptoms (dullness, frizz, coarse texture) but dry and damaged hair are not the same.
When your hair is dry, frizz can happen when it absorbs moisture from the environment. Even for healthy hair, high humidity environments can lead to frizz when your hair absorbs excess moisture where an anti-frizz moisture hair barrier spray can help. Over-styling damaging the hair cuticle and causing frizz.
There are four primary factors that cause frizz: the environment, diameter of the hair fiber itself, level of curl, and the amount of damage. Avoid long and hot showers, excess exfoliation, and hot tools like traditional hairdryers and flat irons to prevent frizz.
Frizz occurs due to a lack of moisture in the hair. This causes hair to seek moisture from the air around it, which is why humidity often makes matters worse. In addition to the weather and hair's lack of moisture, there are a number of factors that can leave your hair more vulnerable to frizz.
Heat causes frizzy hair, and hot water is no exception. No matter what your hair type, the hair needs moisture to stay frizz free. Because hot water can strip the hair of natural oils, moisture escapes the hair shaft and results in frizz.
Dry, frizzy hair is another sign you're probably shampooing your hair too often. Washing your hair too often can also impact the texture of your hair. "A total lack of moisture from stripping oils can also cause a dry, flaky scalp and as your scalp dries out so does your hair," she said.
Curly hair and wavy hair tend to get a lot more frizzier when compared to straight hair. Your hair type is determined by the shape of your hair follicle. If you have a rounded follicle, your hair grows straight. If you have flat hair follicles, your hair type becomes wavy or curly, making it more prone to frizz.
"Make sure your hair is moisturized enough — dryness is typically what causes frizz," said Roszak. So, if your ends are frizzy, it's probably due to a lack of conditioner. As for products, steer clear of heavy oils or anything that contains wax, Kimble told us.
Your Hair Appears Dull
Dullness is a sign of hair damage. Hair with damaged cuticles will lack the smoothness and shininess that come from a smooth cuticle layer and properly moisturized hair. Damage that shows itself with dullness could be caused by pollution, UV rays, product buildup, hard water, and more.
“You can tell when hair is dehydrated because it's porous: it puffs up in humid weather, gets frizzy and looks dull. Every hair type needs hydration to keep the hair's cuticle smooth.
In general, frizzy hair is caused by a lack of moisture. To combat frizz, it's important to use styling and treatment methods that are friendly to curly hair. Read on to learn to decrease frizz while also accentuating your natural curls.
The best way to get rid of frizzy hair is by using the right hair products for your hair type. Look for moisture-based shampoos and conditioners and products that enable anti frizz treatment. Lowering the amount of heat and friction your hair fibers are exposed to will also get rid of frizz.
Dry or damaged hair: While noting that it depends on the level of damage and dryness, King typically recommends shampooing every five to seven days, as "you may need to allow some [of the hair and scalp's] natural oils to get in the mix until that time." Courtney adds that "if hair is dry and damaged, it could be that ...
Frizzy hair is often damaged due to colouring, heat, chemical treatment or colouring. Too much shampooing can further lead to dry cuticles and split ends. You can wash your hair twice or thrice a week with natural shampoos. Also, try to use chemical-free products which can further damage your hair.
Cold water for hair ensures your scalp remains cleaner for longer as it closes the pores, making it less vulnerable to grease, oil and dirt. Cold water controls breakage, frizz and pesky flyaways, which is important for those with curly or thin hair.
Most hairstylists agree that using warm water during the cleansing phase, and then colder water for the conditioning phase is ideal. This cold rinse at the end also helps to lock in moisture, preventing frizz.
Now, you may think that cold water spells bad news for your hair, but you couldn't be more wrong, because cold water can actually make your hair shinier and reduce frizz. This is because cold water can help seal your hair cuticles and pores after your hair is washed.
While these terms are often used interchangeably and have similar symptoms, there is a common misconception that frizzy hair means damaged hair and this is simply untrue.
Rinsing with hot water results in taking away essential oils and moisture from your hair. This can leave your scalp dehydrated and hair frizzy and static. Cold water seals the moisture in the hair, which leaves the scalp hydrated. It also closes the pores, preventing dirt and excessive oil from entering the scalp.
If you have dry, coarse, curly, or color-treated hair, you may benefit from conditioning your hair more frequently — daily or every other day. These hair types tend to be on the dryer side, and may love a little extra moisture.
Unhealthy hair usually has a rough texture, lack of shininess and luster, have split ends, lack of moisture and elasticity even after treatment and easily broken. Damaged hair will also get tangled up and result in knots due to hair dryness.