The Best Frizz Fighters for Summer
By style.com Staff
A New York City summer is pretty much a three-month battle of hair versus nature. While there’s the good (outdoor concerts in Central Park and the beloved institution of Summer Fridays), there’s inevitably the bad (scorching subway platforms and unpredictable weather). Here, we try the market’s newest frizz fighters guaranteed to get you through the dog days without a strand out of place. Style.com staff: 1, Humidity: 0.
Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield
Photo: Glen Luchford
The Icon: Shalom Harlow in an editorial lensed by Glen Luchford and styled by Melanie Ward from a 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar
The Tester: Nicole Phelps, Executive Editor
Hair Type: Curly
The Product: Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield, $22, Buy it now
The Review: “With my naturally wavy to curly hair, frizz is a way of life for me. The more conditioner I leave in my hair, the more the curls hold and the less frizzy it tends to be. But too much and it can be limp and horrible. Summertime humidity makes the condition worse. This spray did do a lot to eliminate frizz and it left my hair feeling soft, but the formula didn’t necessarily help my curls hold their shape.”
L’Oréal Paris Blow Dry It Thermal Smoother Cream
Photo: Getty
The Icon: Zoe Saldana
The Tester: Janelle Okwodu, Contributing Model Editor
Hair Type: Voluminous and curly
The Product: L'Oréal Paris Blow Dry It Thermal Smoother Cream, $5, Buy it now
The Review: “On the days that I took the time to flatiron, the heat protector prevented me from destroying my hair. It takes a lot to get my strands completely straight, so this allowed me to crank up the temperature and still have my hair look sleek (and healthy) hours later.”
John Frieda Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Primer
Photo: Getty
The Icon: Cher
The Tester: Amber Kallor, Senior Beauty Editor
Hair Type: Fine and wavy
The Product: John Frieda Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Primer, $10, Buy it now
The Review: “Laced with coconut oil and a frizz-fighting complex that prevents the absorption of moisture, this gel-like lotion kept my natural curls intact but prevented any pouf. And that halo of flyaways that crops up post-commute? Consider it gone.”
R+Co Foil Frizz + Static Control Spray
Photo: Getty
The Icon: Kate Moss
The Tester: Kristin Anderson, Associate Fashion Editor
Hair Type: Fine with loose waves at the roots and tighter curls at the ends
The Product: R+Co Foil Frizz + Static Control Spray, $27, Buy it now
The Review: “Among my many gripes with summer weather is New York’s god-awful humidity. I may leave the house with relatively tame bed head, but after 10 minutes waiting for the R train sans A/C, my hair gets bigger and bigger. I loved R+Co Foil, not only for the dreamy scent, but because even a generous misting—skipping the scalp area—didn’t weigh down my hair. And I could be imagining it, but my ends looked a touch more hydrated, to boot.”
OGX Healing + Vitamin E Penetrating Oil
Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy
The Icon: Mariacarla Boscono in the Givenchy Spring 2009 campaign
The Tester: Marites Algones, Art Director
Hair Type: Wavy to curly
The Product: OGX Healing + Vitamin E Penetrating Oil, $8, Buy it now
The Review: “I have used other oil products to tame frizz, but they often leave my hair flat and greasy. This, however, worked like magic—leaving my strands smooth and full of body that lasted for a few days. The key is to apply while hair is still damp to seal in the moisture and lock out humidity.”
Garnier Sleek & Shine Sleek Primer
Photo: Getty
The Icon: Amanda Seyfried
The Tester: Emily Farra, Assistant Editor
Hair Type: Fine and slightly wavy
The Product: Garnier Sleek & Shine Sleek Primer, $4.50, Buy it now
The Review: “This product definitely kept the majority of frizz at bay. I can’t say it was 100 percent smooth, but I was really impressed by the results. The mist was superlight, and I could combine it with my other styling products without worrying about my strands falling flat.”
Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultîme Satin Frizz Control & Protect Wax Powder
Photo: Getty
The Icon: Joni Mitchell
The Tester: Austen Rosenfeld, Contributing Writer
Hair Type: Curly and fine
The Product: Schwarzkopf Styliste Ultîme Satin Frizz Control & Protect Wax Powder, $7, Buy it now
The Review: “This formula is unlike any other anti-frizz product I’ve tested. You shake the powder into the palm of your hand, and when rubbed between your fingertips, it turns into a waxy consistency. You can be really precise—articulating curls and smoothing out places that make you look like a mad scientist—without weighing down hair.”
Redken Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Lightweight Smoothing Lotion Spray
Photo: BFA NYC
The Icon: Joan Smalls
The Tester: Karina Hoshikawa, Contributing Beauty Assistant
Hair Type: Thick and wavy
The Product: Redken Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Lightweight Smoothing Lotion Spray, $22, Buy it now
The Review: “In the summertime, my hair can reach Hermione Granger-level of frizz. I loved the ease of a lotion spray, and this lightweight formula was a quick fix for my unruly flyaways. Plus, the scent vaguely reminded me of a men’s cologne, which I’m kind of into.”
Macadamia Professional Anti-Humidity Finishing Spray
Photo: BFA NYC
The Icon: Emily Ratajkowski
The Tester: Daria Di Lello, Contributing Photo Assistant
Hair Type: Thick and straight
The Product: Macadamia Professional Anti-Humidity Finishing Spray, $25, Buy it now
The Review: “This product smells like cotton candy—in a good way. I actually sprayed it right onto the ends of my hair, which tend to be quite thirsty compared with my roots. I found that any unwanted frizz immediately deflated, but the featherweight mist didn’t decrease desirable volume.”
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