A Dental Floss Hair Frizz Hack Has Emerged On TikTok
Getty Images / Avel Shah / EyeEm
If your FYP feels like it's chock full of simple, money-saving beauty tips, you might find yourself wondering if some of 'em are just too good to be true. Case in point: a recent hair hack that involves using dental floss as an anti-frizz tool. Yes, really.
In a clip on the app from earlier this month, New York-based hair stylist Matt Newman revealed that the #flosshack — which involves taming your flyaways by gliding dental floss down your hair — is one of his "FAV #hairhacks." If you caught Newman's post or a remake from another user, you probably have some questions about whether dental floss is as effective as the best anti-frizz products. (Related: This Spray Finally Solved My Summer-Frizz Hair Struggle)
Obviously if you're looking for an easy and affordable solution, this DIY can't be beat. But whether or not it actually stands a chance in the never-ending battle against frizz is another story. In fact, while it might work to tame frizz in the moment, "I'm not sure of the staying power or consistency throughout the day," says Katelyn Hunziker, New Jersey-based hairstylist and owner of Mane Local salon.
Carolyn Holden, an Austin, Texas-based stylist at Mirror Mirror salon agrees, acknowledging that it may be worthwhile in a pinch if you're running in to dinner or to an event. "Flossing your hair is a trick for a quick fix, not a long-term solution," says Holden. "...It can tame a few flyaways in the short term, but humidity, wind, and your hair texture will limit the efficacy of this trend."
If you want to try it out, know that you'll need waxed dental floss. The wax is the key to gripping the hair and and making frizz stay down, but that's exactly why you might not want to use this technique often, explains Holden. "When you're holding the floss and sliding it down your hair, you're holding the floss with great tension and that tension transfers the wax to your hair shaft, smoothing mild frizz and flyaways," she says. "The wax is the hero of this trend, but it's also the reason I wouldn't recommend doing this regularly. As a stylist, we don't want wax on your hair all the time — a buildup of wax could ultimately compromise the integrity of the hair, and even make it more difficult for color to take." The tension could also potentially lead to breakage and damage — two issues known to cause frizz and potentially add to the problem, says Hunziker.
Also, depending on your hair type, the trick might not work as well, notes Jordan Jones, colorist at Taylor Taylor London. "Curly or coily hair will need more tension to slick the hair down compared to straight hair, so dental floss might not cut it," says Jones. Only those with straight, fine hair would likely benefit from this DIY de-frizz trick, says Holden. (Related: The Best Products for All Types of Frizzy Hair)
As for more lasting alternatives, "proper hair maintenance, keeping your hair conditioned and trimmed, and anti-frizz products are the best methods" for keeping your strands looking smooth and frizz-free, says Holden.
If you're still interested in trying the floss hack, consider trying it in conjunction with an anti-frizz product for more lasting results. "You'll need to use hair gel, hair spray, or some type of product with hold to get the hair to stay in place when using the dental floss, as it works in a similar way to a comb in that it can bring the hair into the position you want it, but can't make it stay in place all day," says Jones. "Floss does help to bring tiny flyaways down, but only as much as a comb or brush does, so if you don't have a comb or brush to hand it could be useful — otherwise just stick to your regular frizz-taming methods."
