Can Essential Oils Help Tame Frizzy Hair?
Frizzy hair can be incredibly frustrating to deal with. It’s hard to control and style, ends up damaged and dry, and never quite looks polished. If you’ve ever battled frizz, you know how annoying it can be.
The good news is that essential oils can help tame frizzy hair naturally. Certain oils have properties that nourish hair, lock in moisture, and smooth the hair cuticle to fight frizz.
Keep reading to understand what causes frizzy hair, how essential oils can help smooth and tame unruly locks, and the top frizz-fighting oils you should try.
What Causes Frizzy Hair?
Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand exactly what causes frizzy hair in the first place.
Humidity
Humidity is one of the biggest causes of frizz. When humid air penetrates into the hair strand, it causes the cuticle to swell and lift up. This allows hair to absorb extra moisture, making it frizzy and unmanageable.
Those with curly and naturally frizzy hair types are especially prone to humidity-induced frizz. But even people with straighter hair textures can experience frizz when moisture levels in the air are high.
Coastal climates, summers, monsoon seasons, and rainy weather all provide prime conditions for frizz-causing humidity.
Hygral Fatigue
Hygral fatigue refers to the damage done to hair from repeated wetting and drying. Over time, water causes the cuticle layer to swell and contract. As the cuticle starts to wear down, it becomes prone to lifting and allowing moisture infiltration.
Frequently washing hair accelerates hygral fatigue, especially if harsh detergents are used. Coloring or chemically treating wet hair also contributes to moisture damage.
Combating hygral fatigue requires minimizing washing, using gentle cleansers, limiting chemical treatments, and utilizing damage-repairing ingredients.
Heat Styling
Frequent use of hot tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners can cause protein and moisture damage. The high heat breaks down the hair’s hydrogen bonds, allowing the cuticle to lift up and hair to become porous.
Those who regularly heat style their hair are especially prone to experiencing frizz. The damage causes hair to become puffy and loose its smoothness almost instantly when exposed to humidity.
Protecting hair from heat and keeping hot tools on lower settings can help prevent this frizz-inducing damage.
Chemical Processing
Chemical treatments like bleaching, coloring, perming, straightening, and relaxing utilize harsh ingredients to change the hair’s structure and shape. This damages the protective cuticle layer as well as the strands’ inner structure.
Repeated chemical processing leaves hair very porous and moisture-deprived. Cuticles lift up, causing frizz and tangling. The damage also makes hair more prone to humidity issues.
Avoiding unnecessary chemical treatments and turning to more natural styling methods are key to preventing this type of frizz.
Dryness
Lack of sufficient moisture causes hair cuticles to become rough and lift up rather than lying flat and smooth. Properly moisturized hair has cuticles that tightly overlap to seal in hydration and keep out humidity.
Shampoos that strip away the hair’s natural oils can lead to extreme dryness and frizz over time. Other contributing factors include nutrient deficiencies, aging, mechanical damage, and use of hot tools without protectants.
Focusing on moisturizing and hydrating natural ingredients is essential for combating dryness-related frizz.
How Do Essential Oils Tame Frizz?
So how exactly can oils help smooth and control unruly, frizzy hair? There are a few key ways that both essential oils and carrier oils combat frizz:
Emollient Oils
Emollient oils have a molecular composition that allows them to fill in gaps and tears in the cuticle layer. This helps create a smoother cuticle surface and reflect light better, enhancing shine.
Common emollient oils used in hair care include:
- Argan oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Almond oil
These oils have high amounts of fatty acids that condition and smooth the cuticle. Argan oil in particular is excellent at taming frizz thanks to its vitamin E content.
Humectants
Some botanical oils act as humectants, attracting moisture from the surrounding environment into hair strands. Using humectant oils allows hair to absorb moisture when the air is dry, which helps prevent swelling and frizz on humid days.
Humectant oils also seal hydration into hair strands by filling gaps in porous, damaged cuticles. This prevents moisture within the hair from evaporating out.
Natural humectants include:
- Honey
- Aloe vera
- Glycerin
- Panthenol
- Hyaluronic acid
- Jojoba oil
Sealing Oils
Sealing oils are able to coat the hair shaft and protect it from environmental elements. This helps keep strands smoother and prevents cuticles from lifting to let in humidity.
These oils essentially create a hydrophobic barrier, locking in moisture and keeping out frizz-inducing humidity. They make the hair more “slippery” so strands glide over each other rather than getting tangled and puffy.
Excellent sealing oils include:
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Castor oil
- Jojoba oil
- Shea butter
- Avocado oil
Essential Fatty Acids
Oils derived from plants like coconut, olive, almond, and rice bran are rich in essential fatty acids. These nourish and strengthen hair, preventing moisture loss and cuticle damage that causes frizz.
Using oils high in fatty acids improves hair’s lipid barrier and elasticity for stronger, smoother strands less prone to swelling. They also replenish lipids lost through chemical treatments and heat styling.
Antimicrobial Activity
Some essential oils like tea tree, rosemary, and lavender contain anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial compounds. Using these can combat germs on the scalp that contribute to frizz and dandruff.
They help clear away dead skin cells, product buildup, and excess oil that can clog follicles and lead to inflammation. Unclogged, healthy follicles mean smoother hair growth less prone to frizzing.
Soothing Compounds
Essential oils like chamomile, ylang ylang, and vitamin E contain antioxidants, vitamins, and other compounds that soothe irritation and inflammation. This helps reduce frizz caused by abrasions, chemical damage, and environmental irritants.
Using soothing oils can also increase scalp circulation and relax the hair follicles for optimal growth. Healthier follicles produce stronger, smoother hair strands.
Top Essential Oils for Frizzy Hair
Now that you know how oils combat frizz, let’s look at some of the top essential oils to try!
Argan Oil
Argan oil has an exceptional fatty acid profile, containing omegas 3, 6, and 9. This makes it excellent at nourishing hair and sealing in moisture. The vitamin E and antioxidants also boost shine and vibrancy.
How to use: Warm a few drops between palms and smooth through damp or dry hair, focusing on midlengths and ends. Can use alone or add a few drops to conditioner.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft due to its low molecular weight and high lauric acid content. Once inside, it lubricates strands and prevents the cuticle from swelling.
How to use: As a hair mask, melt 1-2 tbsp coconut oil and apply thoroughly to damp hair. Let sit 30 mins, then shampoo out.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba closely mimics the natural sebum produced by our scalps. This makes it excellent for moisturizing dry, frizzy hair without leaving buildup or greasiness.
How to use: Add 5-10 drops to your conditioner or serum. Apply to wet hair, avoiding direct contact with scalp which can cause over-oiliness.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is rich in fatty acids like oleic acid to nourish and strengthen hair against breakage and frizz. It also contains squalene to help hair better absorb and retain moisture.
How to use: Warm a tablespoon of olive oil and massage through clean, damp hair. Let sit 30 minutes then shampoo thoroughly.
Lavender Essential Oil
In addition to its soothing fragrance, lavender has antimicrobial properties that help treat bacterial and fungal issues causing dandruff and irritation. This improves scalp health for frizz reduction.
How to use: Mix 5 drops with 1 tsp carrier oil like jojoba or coconut and massage into scalp. Rinse thoroughly after 30 mins.
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium helps regulate sebum production in the scalp and balance oil levels in hair. This prevents greasiness that causes strands to stick together and exacerbate frizz.
How to use: Add 2 drops to your shampoo or conditioner each time you wash.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Contains antioxidants that nourish and hydrate hair. Also has an aroma that relaxes the nervous system and calms irritation/itching that can lead to frizzy flyaways.
How to use: Mix 2-3 drops with quarter-sized amount of regular hair serum or argan oil. Apply to damp or dry hair, avoiding direct scalp contact.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil combats fungus, bacteria, and clears away clogged hair follicles that prevent healthy, non-frizzy growth. Its antimicrobial activity also helps treat dandruff.
How to use: Mix 3-4 drops with a teaspoon of carrier oil and massage into scalp before showering. Rinse thoroughly after 30 minutes.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint provides a stimulating, tingling sensation that increases blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles. Better circulation nourishes follicles for optimal growth.
How to use: Dilute 2 drops with 1 tsp carrier oil and massage into scalp. DO NOT apply to wet hair as this can worsen frizz.
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary boosts scalp health and circulation, removing oil and dirt buildup that causes inflammation and follicle clogging. This enables strong, non-frizzy hair growth.
How to use: Mix 5 drops with 1 tsp carrier oil and massage into scalp before showering.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Has clarifying properties that help remove excess oil and residue from hair and follicles. This prevents greasiness that causes strands to clump together into frizzy locks.
How to use: Add 2-3 drops to shampoo and massage into scalp while washing hair.
DIY Anti-Frizz Essential Oil Recipes
Rather than buying pre-made products, you can easily make your own frizz-fighting oils at home:
Basic Nourishing Hair Oil
- 1 tablespoon argan, coconut, or jojoba oil
- 3-5 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops cedarwood or geranium essential oil
Combine ingredients in a small glass bottle. Shake before each use. Apply a few drops to damp or dry hair, rubbing into hands before smoothing over strands.
Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 3 drops ylang ylang or lavender oil
Melt coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave or hot water. Mix in remaining ingredients. Apply thoroughly to damp hair and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse out thoroughly with warm water.
Anti-Frizz Styling Serum
- 1 tablespoon argan oil or aloe vera gel
- 1/2 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 5 drops geranium or lemon oil
- 3 drops lavender oil
Mix ingredients together in a small bottle. Shake before use. Apply 1-2 pumps to damp hair before blow drying or air drying. Focus product on midlengths and ends.
General Tips for Using Oils on Frizzy Hair
To maintain hair health, follow these tips when using essential oils:
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Always do a patch test before widespread use to check for allergic reaction
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Use a 1-2% dilution rate – for 2 cups hair this equals:
- 12-24 drops total oil in 1 tbsp carrier oil
- 3-5 drops essential oil with 1 tsp carrier oil
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Oils can stain – use an old towel and tie hair back after oil treatments
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Allow oil to fully absorb before lying down or styling hair
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Apply oils to damp or dry hair focusing on midlengths and ends
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Avoid using too much oil directly on scalp which can cause greasiness
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Rinse out oil treatments thoroughly with gentle shampoo
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Certain oils increase sun sensitivity – cover hair or rinse before sun exposure
The Takeaway
Using essential oils can help restore shine, smoothness, and moisture balance to frizzy, out-of-control hair. Just a few drops provide powerful nourishing, smoothing, and frizz-fighting benefits.
Be sure to dilute oils properly using carrier oils and stick to a 1-2% ratio. Always source 100% pure, high-quality oils for the best results on your hair.
Next time you deal with frizzy, tangled locks, reach for essential oils as an all-natural solution. With continued use, you can achieve smooth, frizz-free hair all year round!