Whether you’ve always had curly hair, or you’ve just discovered your curls and are battling to control your frizz. In this post I’m going to show you how to beat halo frizz. Don’t look at frizz as the enemy, just room for improvement. Frizz is just a curl reaching out for attention – usually the moisturising type. But there are other causes of halo frizz too.
Have you ever wondered why the hair underneath is so much healthier, hydrated, defined and curly underneath. But you’ve got dry, damaged, frizzy, looser waves or straight bits on top? If that sounds familiar then the tips in this post on how to beat halo frizz are for you! And you’ll most likely be surprised at what’s causing it. But those curls and ringlets underneath are a clue at the curl potential your hair has, once it’s properly hydrated and you’re using the right products for your hair. See this post on how to build a curly girl hair routine.
When I searched “how to beat halo frizz” on Google, pretty much all the top hits involved either products or methods that weren’t conducive to embracing or enhancing naturally curly hair. It feels like society is constantly trying to suppress, smooth and tame curls and our hair’s natural curl pattern. As if frizz is a dirty word, undesirable and must be eliminated by any means possible, even if it’s damaging to the health of the hair. Here’s how to beat halo frizz without compromising your curls.
How to beat Halo Frizz
1. Turn down the power
Having a power shower may feel great on your body, but it wreaks havoc on your hair! And if you think about it, standing under the shower head, where’s the first place all that power hits? The top of your head – your “halo.” Then it cascades down the back of your hair, pulling and stretching out the curl pattern, drying out the top layer leading to a frizzier, drier, loose curl pattern on top and resulting in – you guessed it – halo frizz! So my first tip on how to beat halo frizz is to turn the power down on your shower!
There’s some myths out there that you should turn the power up to help loosen dirt, grime and oil on your scalp. I don’t recommend that, just use a good quality cleanser, and use your fingers, or a scalp brush instead, like this one from Bouclème. If you’re in the USA, PuffCuff have one exactly the same here, use code CURLMAVEN for 15% off. Here are some of my favourite cleansers that are great for regular use and remove dirt, oil, grime, sebum and product build up:
- Bounce Curl Clarifying Shampoo – CURLMAVEN for 10% off, shop it here if you’re outside the USA – use CURLMAVEN for 10% off at The Clean Beauty Edit, who ship worldwide.
- Innersense Colour Awakening Hairbath, or if you’re outside the USA, shop it here and use CURLMAVEN for 10% off. Also available here at Cult Beauty in the UK.
- Act + Acre Hair Cleanse
- MopTop Detox or Gentle Bamboo Shampoo – CURLMAVEN for 10% off
Get 10% off Bounce Curl using code CURLMAVEN at all of the following distributors/online retailers:
- USA: Bounce Curl
- IRELAND: The Clean Beauty Edit – ships worldwide
- UK: Kiyo Beauty – ships worldwide
- Canada: Curl Warehouse
2. Turn down the heat
Heat damage to your hair doesn’t just come from heat styling tools. Similar to point one above, hot water feels great on your body but it’s too much for your hair – it dries it out. And again, this hot water is hitting your halo first, also causing halo frizz. My second tip on how to beat halo frizz is to turn the temperature down! Ideally the water needs to be the same kind of temperature that you’d bath a baby in. Warm, not too hot, but not too cool either. You can do a cold water rinse at the end, especially if you want to add shine. But you need some warmth to cleanse and condition.
Another myth is that you need hot water to break down the oils in the hair and scalp – especially if you don’t wash your hair more than once or twice a week. Nope! Not only will warm water suffice, you actually want those natural oils in your hair to encourage curl pattern, reduce friction and breakage and maintain a healthy scalp. Don’t wash them away!
3. Do everything upside down
I feel like I say this in every post! But this method alone will hands down, massively reduce halo frizz! All that heat and power (should you ignore points one and two above) will hit the underneath layers of your hair. Therefore any frizz that you experience will be on the bottom layers of your hair. Underneath instead of your halo on top. If you use warm, low-pressured water to wash your hair upside down – you’re onto a frizz-free winner!
Please remember these tips take time! Think of how many showers, over how many years have you been washing with hot, high-pressured water beating down on the top of your head. You didn’t damage your hair overnight, you’re not going to fix or heal it over night either. It takes at least 3-6 months of consistently following these steps to see some improvement. But more like a year for the top canopy layer of the hair to properly heal, and look as hydrated and defined as the underneath.
4. Go longer between washes
When we were first roaming the earth, we didn’t wash our hair on the daily. Dry, or strip our hair using hot, high-pressured water or harsh cleansers. We used various botanicals to apply to our hair, but we’ve actually got the best one right on top of our heads! Our own natural oils, which if we stop washing our hair so much, will get a chance to build up, regulate and moisturise our own hair. Frizz is often caused by lack of moisture in the hair. So by going longer between washes, you will (in time) reduce your halo frizz.
The looser the curl pattern, the more you need to wash your hair. The tighter the curl pattern, the less often you need to wash. I recommend washing your hair 2-3 times per week if you have type 2 wavy hair, or a short style. Twice a week if you have type 3 curly hair. And once every 7-10 or even 14 days if you have type 4, afro or coily hair. This is because it takes longer for those natural oils to travel down the hair, due to the tighter the curl pattern. Imagine it like a slide, wavy slides are quicker and faster than curly slides.
5. Clarify & Chelate
Halo frizz isn’t just caused by lack of moisture or damage. If you have hard water, limescale, chlorine, metal and/or mineral deposits in your water. Or you swim in the ocean, sea, pool, rivers or lakes. These deposits can build up on the hair causing the hair to look dull, limp and lifeless. The hair doesn’t seem to absorb water or products properly into the hair. And you lack volume and definition and have lots of frizz!
This is because the film-like build up is preventing water from properly hydrating your hair, and your conditioners from properly moisturizing it. Resulting in frizz! A regular cleanser isn’t sufficient to remove these deposits from the hair. You need a chelating, clarifying shampoo – and the key ingredient to look for is Disodium EDTA or Tetrasodium EDTA. I recommend using it once a month if you live in a hard water area – Google “hard water map” followed by your country or State to check. If you swim regularly, more than 3-4 times a week, I recommend using it once every 7-10 days. Always deep condition afterwards. You can read more about clarifying in this post. But here’s some chelating shampoo recommendations, Bumble & Bumble is my favourite:
- Sally’s Ion Hard Water Shampoo
- Malibu C Undo Goo Shampoo
- Malibu C Hard Water Shampoo
- Ouai Detox Shampoo – CURLMAVEN for 20% off
- Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo –
6. Hydrate & Moisturize
Dry hair lacking in hydration and moisture is the most common cause of frizz. Think of it as a cry for help, your hair is literally reaching out into the atmosphere for what it needs: moisture. So make sure you’re cleansing (and clarifying) properly and regularly, to allow the water properly hydrate the hair. This post on the Golden Triangle of Healthy Hair is a great post to read! Then ensure you’re using a good quality conditioner, and regular deep conditioning treatments to keep your hair moisturized. Here are some of my favourite conditioner and deep conditioner recommendations, but remember hydration doesn’t have to be heavy:
- Innersense Colour Radiance Conditioner, or if you’re outside the USA, shop it here and use CURLMAVEN for 10% off. Also available here at Cult Beauty in the UK.
- Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner, especially good if you have really thick, coarse, dry, damaged or particularly thirsty curls! If you’re outside the USA, shop it here and use CURLMAVEN for 10% off. Also available here at Cult Beauty in the UK.
- Bounce Curl Ayurvedic Deep Conditioner (protein free, hydrating but not heavy) – CURLMAVEN for 10% off. Shop it here if you’re outside the USA, and use CURLMAVEN 10% off.
- Act + Acre Restorative Hair Mask
- MopTop Bamboo Daily Conditioner – CURLMAVEN for 10% off
- Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Conditioner (protein free and potently moisturizing!) – CURLMAVEN for 20% off
Get 10% off Bounce Curl using code CURLMAVEN at all of the following distributors/online retailers:
- USA: Bounce Curl
- IRELAND: The Clean Beauty Edit – ships worldwide
- UK: Kiyo Beauty – ships worldwide
- Canada: Curl Warehouse
7. Get Layers
Layers are a curly girl’s best friend! Getting regular trims, and especially layers, will really help to beat halo frizz. The outside layers of your hair are subjected to the most sun, heat, humidity and environmental damage. Keeping those outside layers healthy with regular trims will help to reduce halo frizz. Read this post on the best haircut for curly hair, how to communicate exactly what shape and length you want to your hairdresser. Here’s a video demonstrating it too!
8. Work from underneath
If you rake, comb or brush your hair (and this applies to everyone, even non-curlies), always brush from underneath your hair. Always have your brush bristles or fingers facing upwards. Using the wrong type of brush, or being too rough, can cause damage and breakage to your hair. Especially if you always brush, rake or comb your hair from the roots down, on the canopy (outside layers) of your hair, with the brush facing downwards and in towards the hair. Then it’s always the outside, canopy/halo layer of your hair that’s gets the most damage.
I recommend using this Denman cushioned paddle brush – CURLMAVEN for 20% off. Use when the hair is wet and has conditioner in. Then brush the ends first, gradually working your way upwards, from the underneath of your hair. Not only will you cause less breakage, you will also create more root volume, reduce frizz, knots and tangles. AND enhance your natural curl pattern and definition. WIN! WIN!
Finally, Heat & Colour Damage
If you spent years using heat tools on your hair, I bet the majority of your efforts were concentrated on the top, outer layer of your hair too – your halo. Therefore, this is where the most heat damage was done to your hair. The same goes for colour damage. See this post on how to maintain healthy hair when colouring. All the tips, advice and product recommendations in the world can’t repair heat or colour damage. So just be aware that although the tips in this post will help, you’ll need to gradually grow and cut that kind of damage out of the hair. Only then will you discover truly healthy hair, shine and curl potential.
Feeling overwhelmed?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the tips, advice and product recommendations. Click here for more information on my Curl Clinics™. A completely bespoke curl consultation service tailored to suit you and your hair. Designed to help get your waves and curls back and achieve your healthy hair goals.
When my hair is soft and frizzy, lacks curl definition and bounce, I do this modified rice water rinse treatment – read more here and see my amazing results!
Once you’ve tackled your halo frizz, here’s how to get root volume!
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Gabriella xoxo
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thank you for the info definitely going to try al these above-mentioned
This sounds crazy, but I teared up a little at the end reading about the little curlies underneath my hair showing me my true potential, I have tight ringlety curls underneath and wavy frizzy on top. I’m working on keeping patient through this curly process, but some days it’s so hard. I needed to read this today! Thank you for the curlspriation!
You are so welcome! I teared up a little when I read your comment! This is why I wanted to start a curly girl blog, so I could track my own journey, but share my knowledge and help other curlies too. So thank you so much, I’m glad this post helped you. Gabriella xoxo
Thank you this artilce was very usefull as I have frizzy curly hair
A very informative article with great tips. I follow most of these already, but have an issue with the doing everything upside down. My hair clings to itself and tangles, and if I rinse my hair out and add product when upside down, it sits weird when it’s time to flip it back. Am I not moisturizing enough? My hair isn’t particularly dry, but it is high porosity.
Hi Alyssa, that can be a problem at first when you try styling up side down. I will say, that this method of applying products and styling doesn’t work as well for shorter hair styles. The longer your hair, the easier it is to style your hair this way. If your hair keeps tangling, use a padded Denman Paddle Brush, makes sure you’ve applied enough conditioner, worked it through your hair and try not rinsing it completely out your hair. If those things don’t work, try parting your hair down the middle of the back of your head so your hair hangs either side of your ears/cheeks, and the front section over your forehead. Then apply products and style. No method works for everyone, it’s about finding out what works for you and little tweaks you need to make. Hope that helps xox
Hi, I struggled for years with my curly frizzy hair. I’m Mediterranean, and my hair does not want to be straight no matter what I try on it. I only wash my hair once a week, but I hate the mid week as by then the curls get matted and look like dreadlocks. I absolutely hated my beach hair/holiday hair. Last summer I had a brain wave. I took an extra bottle of conditioner just for my beach bag. Before going into the sun, I’d cover my hair in conditioner – no brush just fingers. Sitting on the beach, top up the conditioner. After a swim, more conditioner. It worked wonders! No frizz on the beach! Back to the here and now, I never blow dry my hair. I always wash it before bedtime, use my usual mix of products which includes some conditioner, and sleep with it wet. I wake up with gorgeous curls, but like I said they only last for about 3 days before they become matted. I think I have to wash my hair twice a week just to keep it looking right. I just wanted to share that, and also, I too suffer from anxiety, and lately coming to terms with the fact that I’m depressed. I need to stop denying the truth and deal with it, rather than suppressing it. Thank you so much for your blog, I love it.
Hi Angela, thanks for sharing. Conditioner really is a curly girl’s best friend! I wash my hair twice a week, and have done all my life. Don’t feel pressured to only wash it once a week. You could try refreshing your day 3 curls to get an extra couple of days out of your wash day if that’s something you want to do….Thank you for sharing about your anxiety and depression, it can be a struggle, and just like the curly girl method, there’s no quick fix, but a journey. But yes, accepting it is the first step to tackling it and managing, dealing and healing from it too. Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m so glad you’ve found my content helpful. xoxo
I tried your link to make your own thermal cap for deep conditioning but it doesnt work. Ones on amazon are not getting great reviews and was hoping your diy method would help me. I am new to the CG world with 3a hair. Can you please provide a correct link of where I can find your heat cap? Thanks so much!!!
Hiya, sorry that link is no longer available as I now make and sell my own thermal heat caps. If you’d like to know more, I can email you the details and photos if you like. x
Hello! I’m new to the CG method and have found your website to be SOO helpful! I am interested in your thermal heat cap as well. Can you send me more information?
Hi Sarah, Heat cap information can be found on my Etsy shop, if you click the Shop tab on my site. They are currently sold out and won’t be back in stock until the end of November 2019 x
How long does it take you to diffuse your hair? Do you dry with a microfiber towel first? I recently discovered I have low porosity hair after trying a bunch of new products, and my hair felt really straw-like and greasy, and it introduced a lot of frizz, but I have always had problems with volume. It takes me hours to air dry OR diffuse so everything always lays flat on top.
It takes me 30-45 mins to diffuse my hair. I prefer to use a cotton towel. I suggest you read a few of my posts, because there’s already answers in my posts to lots of your questions. For eg: How to beat halo frizz, how to get root volume and protein moisture balance – that’s because you said your hair feels straw like, greasy and is very frizzy, so definitely check out that post.
Absolutely love your blog!! Read almost all the posts, you write so well and clear!!
I am just stating my cg journey and I have a couple of questions.
How many days you go btw washes, and what you do on non wash day.
Also I wanna get your cap for deep conditioning but I don’t have a microwave, would it work without it?
Thank you so much for all the time and energy you put into third blog
HI Galina, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you’re finding my content helpful. I usually wash my hair twice a weeks, every 4 days or there abouts. I take my time during wash days so that I don’t have to do much on the days between. I will occasionally refresh with a little gel and water on those days, but I don’t do that very often. As for my heat caps, you do need a microwave to heat them up I’m afraid. Hope that helps and answers your questions x
Kia ora Gabriella, I am just starting the CGM. I LOVE your blog. xoxo It’s been my go-to over and over while I’m getting started. I am Australian/New Zealand Māori. I just wanted to ask; Why do you recommend Aussie Instant Freeze Gel when it has Benzyl Alcohol which is a drying alcohol? I’ve seen this product recommended a lot in CGM communities. Could you enlighten me? Thank you for this blog. Look your work. Keep writing. Arohanui x
Hi Lilia, thanks so much! I’m so glad you’ve found my content helpful on your curly journey. As far as I’m aware, Benzyl alcohol is a non-volatile alcohol used as a preservative in products. It should not impact the texture or feel of your hair. – NaturallyCurly.com I’ve never found it to be drying. You want to watch out for drying alcohols such as alcohol denat., ethanol, isopropyl, propyl and propanol. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been struggling with getting my natural curls back for several months, and a big issue for me is that my hair gets really greasy around the roots and around my forehead, as soon as the next morning if I’ve taken a shower the night before. I get the halo frizz too though. What should I be doing, or using, to help with that? I only use conditioner from my ears down because of the greasiness, but I’m so frustrated with how my hair looks. I’m currently using Redken All Soft shampoo, and Redken curvaceous leave in conditioner or Redken All Soft conditioner, I will usually alternate them. Thank you so much in advance!!
Hi!
First of all, where have you been on my life?! have been trying and kinda failing at the cgm for over a year now. Probably just now getting the products that are right for me. I do have a question that I cant seem to find.. I workout alot. Almost everyday and really hard, which means a sweat alot to the point that my hair gets drenched. So I rinse my hair every day with just water. And wash w shampoo/conditioner 2x/w. But that means I have to reapply product and start from the beginning everytime. And my hair is SUPER frizzy. I also live near the beach, which is a dream, but that means lots of salt and lots of humidity daily..Do you happen to have any advice?
Hi Sammie, okay a few things here. For working out every day, if you don’t want to do a full wash and style routine every time, I suggest using a CG Friendly dry shampoo like this one from Innersense: http://shrsl.com/1jszz If that’s not something you want to do, then I suggest simplifying your styling routine and using just one or two styling products, for example a mousse and a gel. Finally, you said your hair is super frizzy and that you live near the beach – do you swim often? Whether it’s in the sea or the pool, if you do, you’ll need to regularly clarify your hair using a chelating shampoo – you can read more about that in this post:https://curlmaven.ie/why-when-you-should-clarify-your-hair/ because the mineral deposits build up on your hair causing frizz, dryness and limp, lifeless curls. By the sounds of it (the salt, sea breeze and water, the daily washing and styling and sweat – which contains salt and therefore drying, and the frizz) you need to do regular deep conditioning – probably once a week, and getting a heat cap (I sell them on my Etsy shop here: http://tidd.ly/f72ddd09 currently sold out but due back in stock the end of Nov 2019) would be really beneficial. Hope that helps x
Thank you so much for this, I will definitely be turning down the shower heat and not blasting it out. I’m 3 months in to my CGM journey and I love your blogs!!!
Thank you for this post! I am starting my CG journey and so grateful for your tips! So excited for my next wash to try my new routine!
I have been following the curly girl method for years now and my hair looks so much better now than it did before. Except for that halo frizz. I actually don’t have frizz on the rest of my hair. Now I understand why. I have been making all the mistakes you mention in this post. Very eye-opening. Thank you!
Ah that’s so great to hear Clara! It will take a few weeks of consistently incorporating these techniques, but you should see your halo frizz reduce more and more over time! x
frizzy hair is not always curly. My hair is a little wavy but over the years became more frizzy and less wavy…and also thinner. A bad combo!!!!!! what do you recommend for that??
Clarify and deep condition, regularly. Check out this post for more info: https://curlmaven.ie/the-golden-triangle-of-healthy-hair/
My hair is more wavy than curly, but whenever I have it pulled back I get the little halo of hair standing up. Looks so horrible in pictures. So I’m looking for a way to take them without too much product. I’ll have to try the upside down method. I never blow dry unless necessary and rarely straighten or even wear it down because I don’t like it in my face and its always in the way.
Hydration, turn the temperature down on your shower, and the pressure, and your head. It will take a few weeks of doing that consistently every time you wash your hair to start seeing an improvement.
Hey Gabriella , been reading your posts and they are very useful and I can relate. I’m a natural curly thick ringlets / coils but fine.I never had a problem or had to use products at all on my hair but since having children ( I have 3 babies under 3) think that took a toll on my hair. I’ve just not had the time for my self. My hair limp , frizzy etc between washes over doing it on the co wash but not conditioning after when’s the best time to wash hair 1st thing in the morning or evening? Many thanks.
I’m a bit to start the treatments just waiting in the delivery of all the new products, I’m going to start off with the bumble followed by deep conditioner (matrix) I want to.include protein as well. What else can I try? am waiting on the blueberry mask.
Hairfinity Strengthening Amino Masque and/or Curl Junkie Repair Me! are great options. But if you already have the Curls Blueberry Bliss Mask, I’d stick with that for now and see how you go. You don’t need all the products, just a few. That’s all that’s really needed.
Hi Jade, don’t over do it on the co-washing, it sounds like you’ve over moisturised your hair which is why it’s limp, lifeless and frizzy. I suggest clarifying your hair with a sulfate shampoo such as Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo, and switching to a low lathering cleanser, and don’t skip conditioner either. Make sure you’re using a good quality, lightweight one that has a good amount of protein. If you’d like any more advice or recommendations, I offer 1:1 Curl Clinics via 30 min video call, to go through your hair’s needs, what issues and struggles you’re experiencing and build a routine and products to suit your hair and budget.
Hi Gabrielle, could you tell me how to revive my curls in the morning. My hair is frizzy and messy in the mornings and if I put products on my hair to reduce frizz it just looks dirty!
I recommend concentrating and putting your time and effort into your wash day, and then protecting your hair properly at night. That way you’ll be able to preserve the curls, reduce frizz and not have to refresh in between wash days. I don’t refresh my hair.
I am trying all these tips next wash day! My only concern is the recommendation to use a scalp massager/scrubber. I’ve used one for about six months (once a week and always with shampoo or conditioner on my head) and noticed an increase in halo frizz and, upon closer inspection, breakage. I don’t plan on using a scalp massager/scrubber again! I’m hoping the frizz calms down and the breakage regrows soon!
Why are all the hair products you recommend so expensive
Hey! While I do recommend a lot of products which are a little more expensive, they are great quality and highly concentrated, which means they last much, much longer than cheaper products. I go through one bottle of (good quality, highly concentrated) conditioner a YEAR! Cheaper products often only contain moisturizing ingredients, with little-no protein – which our hair needs. BUT…I do recommend more budget friendly products throughout most of the blog posts on this site. Such as Pantene Defined Curls Mousse, Giovanni, MopTop, As I Am and Matrix Biolage.