When your hair is out of control with frizz or static, you’ve got volume that you just want to turn down. Before you can turn it down, you have to identify what’s causing your unwanted volume and go from there.

While both frizz and static can create a similar look, they’re very different. One is caused by too much moisture, and the other is caused by not enough. This is why identifying the problem is the key to finding a solution.

Do you suffer from frizz?

If you have naturally curly hair, then you probably are familiar with frizz. The curlier your hair, the more likely you are to experience frizz. Why is this?

Frizzy hair happens when too much moisture enters the individual hair shaft and “puffs” it out, making it look frizzy rather than smooth and silky. The reason this is a problem for people with curls is that curly hair has raised cuticles on the outside of the hair shaft, whereas straight hair has cuticles that tend to lie flat. When the cuticles are lifted, it’s easier for moisture to enter the hair shaft.

The really interesting thing about frizz is that it’s caused by too much moisture, but it happens when your hair is dry and dehydrated and gasping for moisture. That’s why, on a humid day, your hair frizzes, it’s trying to pull moisture from the air.

How to tame frizz

Frizz isn’t possible to cure because it’s an effect of your hair’s natural structure. But the good news is that there are some things you can do to add moisture to your hair and fight off the tendency to frizz.

1. Use oil

There are some great styling oils, like Hair La Vie's Organic Argan Oil, which gives you 100% pure Argan oil for ultra-moisturized hair infused with frizz-fighting power.

2. Nourish your hair

If your diet is not full of healthy foods and cell-supporting protein, then your hair is going to suffer, and it’s going to look like it’s suffering. If eating right is hard for you, opt for a daily supplement like Hair La Vie's Clinical Formula Hair Vitamins. These vitamins are full of naturally sourced nutrients that support hair health from within. 

3. Better blow dryer

If you diffuse your hair, a ceramic blow dryer is essential. If you want to do even more to protect your locks, pick an ionic ceramic blow dryer.

4. Use a heat protectant

Always use a heat protectant, even when you’re not styling your hair. They create a barrier between your hair and the environment.

Do you suffer from static?

While frizz tends to happen when there’s a lot of moisture in the hair, static happens when the air is dry. When two objects rub against each other, like your hair and the sweater you’re pulling on, electrons are transferred from one object to the other. 

This leaves one object with too many electrons and one with not enough, or a positively charged item and a negatively charged one. If the air is humid, the charge dissipates. If the air is dry, like it is in winter, the strands of your hair repel each other because they have too many electrons to lie flat. 

That’s how dry air and static electricity in your hair force your lovely locks to stand up and be unmanageable. 

How to tame static

If you’re hounded by static, there are several different things you can try to either prevent static in the first place or to tame the flyaways when they happen.

1. Ionic hairdryer

An ionic hair dryer uses negative ions to separate water molecules and dry hair faster. In doing so, they add more negative ions to your hair, which has a balancing effect on your hair, neutralizing the static.

2. Hairspray

A little hairspray spritzed onto a wide-toothed comb can help remove and tame flyaway hair that’s caused by static. 

3. Leave-in conditioner

A hydrating leave-in conditioner, like Hair La Vie N° 77 uses naturally sourced ingredients to add moisture to your hair. This will not only tame your current static issues but can help prevent future ones.

4. Deep condition

If you really want to battle the dry air, a deep conditioning session is in order. To add the most moisture to your locks, create your own static fighting super recipe by adding a few drops of Hair La Vie Serum to the Hair la Vie moisturizing Hair Mask. 

5. Get a new comb

If you’re using a plastic comb on your hair in the winter, you’re just asking for static. Switch to a wooden comb, a metal one, or a ceramic comb. These combs attract static and don’t produce any themselves. If you’re looking for a brush to use, opt for boar bristles.

6. Skip a shampoo

Washing your hair every day removes the natural oils that can fight static. If you really want to battle static, opt for a no-poo existence, co-wash with a conditioner, or start skipping your shampoos every other day.

Final thoughts

Moisture, moisture, moisture—is there anything more important for your hair? Having the right balance of moisture in your hair is essential if you want luscious locks that spark envy. But having too much moisture at once can cause curly hair to frizz. Not having enough moisture when the air is dry gives everyone static.

The good news is you can implement a moisture routine that adds hydration to your hair on a regular basis, improving its health from the inside out. Making sure you have the right nutrients in your diet also gives you that inside-out health your hair demands.

Adding some protection to your hair and selecting quality styling tools and products will give your hair some defenses against both humidity and dry air. Being both proactive and reactive is the best approach.