Frizzy hair is the worst. It looks terrible, it feels terrible, and it’s pretty embarrassing too. But if you have thick, curly hair, it can be difficult to tame and fight frizz and keep your hair looking soft, smooth, and shiny. Thankfully, though, all hope isn’t lost. No matter what type of hair you’re sporting, you can fight frizz effectively if you know what techniques and tools to use. Continue reading for a few helpful hair care tips that will allow you to achieve the most beautiful, smoothest hair right at home.

Always Use Conditioner

Even if you purchase a shampoo/conditioner combination product, you should never skip on conditioning your hair every time you shampoo. This will help you deposit moisture into your hair so your cuticles will remain healthy and frizz-free. Just be sure to use a conditioner that contains natural ingredients that are hydrating. A good example is shea butter, which is a go-to moisturizing ingredient for women with dry hair.

Apply your conditioner from the midshaft downward to the ends if you’re worried about weighing your hair down by putting it at your roots. Otherwise, apply it throughout your hair from root to tip.

Use a Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Weekly

In addition to continually conditioning your hair, you can also apply a deep conditioning mask that will hydrate your tresses at least once a week. This is especially important during the colder months of the year, particularly in the winter when the air is dry.

Always Use a Heat Protective Spray

Whenever you are about to use heat to style your hair, whether you are about to grab the blow dryer, curling iron, or flat iron, apply a heat protective spray to your hair first. Regardless of what type of hair you have, this is a good line of defense against the damage that can be caused by heat that could lead to frizz.

Use a Cream Hydrator and Dry Your Hair with a Diffuser

If you have thick, frizzy, curly hair, it is best to use a cream hydrator after you have shampooed and conditioned your locks.

While your hair is still wet, apply the cream hydrator from the roots to the tips, but do not rub it into your hair. Instead, warm the cream between your fingers and palms and then squeeze it onto the hair. Wrap curls around your fingers so that you can shape them just how you like them, and then allow your hair to air dry naturally.

Once your hair has dried quite a bit, you can then finish the job by using a diffuser on your blow dryer. Set it to high heat on low speed and make sure that you aim it downward so you can keep frizz at bay.

Start Using an Ionic Blow Dryer

An ionic blow dryer is a great product to use if you regularly have to deal with annoyingly frizzy hair. It will help reduce the frizz by working on compressing your cuticles. This will lock out moisture that would otherwise result in frizziness. So if your current blow dryer doesn’t seem to be doing the trick despite all of the products that you are using in your hair, it may be time for an upgrade.

Remember, too, that a lot of hot air can dehydrate your hair and cause frizz, particularly during the winter. If your hair is only slightly wavy or totally straight, allow it to dry naturally 90% before blow drying the rest. If it’s curly, you can even let it air dry 100%.

Brush Your Hair Often

Brushing your hair often can actually help combat frizz, especially if you hang your head upside down and use a bristle brush. This works by distributing the natural oils on your head from the scalp and the roots to the rest of the hair. In the end, your hair should be more hydrated, and this, in turn, will help with blocking out humidity and preventing frizz and flyaways. So while you can certainly apply moisturizing oil-based products to your hair to restore moisture, remember that your natural oils can also help you in your quest to prevent frizz and maintain the smoothest locks possible.

Now that you know a few of the easiest ways to maintain frizz-free hair throughout the year, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t love your hair every day of the week. With the right conditioning and heat protective products, you can ensure that your hair will remain soft and lustrous, as well as completely smooth, without being weighed down.