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The best products for smoothing frizzy hair, according to over 240 women
If you're off on a humid holiday this summer, these formulas deserve a spot in your suitcase
Tested by Maria KumarBeauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Best products for frizzy hair
Best anti-frizz spray for damp hair
John Frieda Dream Curls Oil-Infused Wave-Revitalising Spray
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Smoothing frizz for those with curls and coils, especially if it’s humid or your dealing with sudden temperature fluctuations, can be a daily challenge.
Some hair types are more prone to frizz than others, and it's definitely not always a bad thing – it typically means you've got more voluminous locks. Some people, however, prefer to soften frizz when styling. Thankfully, if smooth, silky locks or defined curls are the goals, there are plenty of styling creams and sprays that can help. The best frizzy hair products work to tame flyaways, smooth frizz and control curls, come rain or shine.
Read more Tried and Tested haircare reviews: Best hydrating hair masks | Best heat protection sprays | Best hair repair treatments
How we test frizz-control products
So, we tested 21 market-leading formulas at the Good Housekeeping Institute with the help of our at-home panel to find the ones that really work.
We asked 240 testers, with a range of hair types, to trial each frizz-control product at home for a minimum of a week before providing detailed feedback on how easy it was to use, what they thought of the texture and scent and, most importantly, whether they rated its frizz-fighting ability and if they were happy with the overall finish.
We also invited over 100 women into the Good Housekeeping Institute lab to have their pictures taken before and after applying the frizz-control products, before analysing any visible difference.
These are the ones that came out on top.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Treatment
Score: 87/100
The claims: This cream is designed to hydrate, boost resilience and detangle strands, leaving hair frizz-free. If you’re often reaching for your straighteners, this is a good choice as it also protects against heat up to 230°C.
How do you use it? Rub in a small amount to clean, damp, towel-dried hair.
The verdict: This scored full marks in our lab test, effectively and immediately reducing frizz. Our at-home panellists agreed that it smoothed flyaways, controlled frizz and left their hair much sleeker, better conditioned and more manageable afterwards.
The effects lasted over six hours, and some testers mentioned that a spritz of water helped to reactivate it when hair started to frizz.
Key specifications
| Product type | Cream |
|---|---|
| Hair type | All |
| Heat protection | Up to 230°C |
John Frieda Dream Curls Oil-Infused Wave-Revitalising Spray
Score: 81/100
The claims: It works to revitalise and enhance your curls' bounce, tame frizz and nourish strands.
How do you use it? Shake well and spray liberally on damp roots through to ends, distributing evenly. Scrunch small sections of hair in your hand to add volume and then either blow dry or air dry. You can spray and scrunch onto dry hair too if it isn’t hair wash day, which adds to the product’s convenience.
The verdict: Almost everyone agreed this helped give their hair bounce. One tester told us, “It really defined my curls, which was great – especially for a non-wash day!”, while another said, “My curls tend to go frizzy, but this moisturised and defined them at the same time.” Panellists also said the spray didn’t leave any stickiness or residue (which is a common curly product gripe), as long as they didn’t use too much on dry hair.
Key specifications
| Product type | Spray |
|---|---|
| Hair type | Curly/coily hair |
| Heat protection | None |
Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion
Score: 81/100
The claims: If you have thick hair that's hard to tame, this smoothing lotion is meant to help, providing a medium hold and giving extra definition while tackling frizz, combatting humidity and leaving locks soft and manageable.
How do you use it? Apply a small amount to damp hair and blow-dry.
The verdict: Good news for thicker hair types – this left thick, wavy tresses tangle-free and added shine. Everyone’s hair was left soft, hydrated and frizz-free and testers said it made locks easier to style, especially when blow-drying. Virtually everyone said the effects lasted all day with no need to reapply.
Key specifications
| Product type | Lotion |
|---|---|
| Hair type(s) | Suitable for frizzy, unmanageable hair |
| Heat protection | No |
Score: 81/100
The claims: It promises to deliver smooth, defined curls for 24 hours, without the crunch.
How do you use it? For best results, work this through damp hair and twist your curls around your finger to add definition.
The verdict: This really delivered on its claims, leaving testers with smooth, frizz-free lengths. One panellist said it gave her “a beachy bounce that lasted all day”, while another told us: “This would be great for the curly-haired contingent that don’t need extra-strong hold, but want hair to keep its shape without being weighed down.”
The jelly was easy to use as the tube dispensed just the right amount per squeeze. Its hold lasted for a long time, and it was weightless and residue-free when applied. It left hands a bit tacky, but that’s what the best luxury hand soaps are for, right?
Key specifications
| Product type | Jelly |
|---|---|
| Hair type | Curly/coily hair |
| Heat protection | None |
Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer
Score: 79/100
The claims: This is a dry conditioning spray designed to protect your hair from daily damage. It repels dirt, tackles frizz and provides UV protection, while softening, smoothing and adding shine.
How do you use it? Use on dry hair. If you have medium to thick hair, hold the canister about six inches away and spray in a sweeping motion, then smooth with your hands or a comb. For fine hair, focus on applying from the mid-lengths to ends. To spot treat, spray into your hand and apply where it’s needed.
The verdict: Most panellists were happy with their style after using this spray and the lightweight texture was also a hit. Frizz and flyaways were visibly improved, hair was left softer and more manageable, as well as looking smooth, shiny and sleek. Results lasted for 4-5 hours on average.
Key specifications
| Product type | Spray |
|---|---|
| Hair type(s) | Suitable for all hair types |
| Heat protection | No, but it does provide some UV protection |
John Frieda Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Featherlight Smoothing Creme
Score: 79/100
The claims: This lightweight cream is designed for fine hair, helping to turn frizzy strands into smooth, sleek locks without weighing them down.
How do you use it? Apply to wet or dry hair. Dispense one pump into your palm, rub your hands together and distribute evenly throughout hair.
The verdict: The lightweight texture was a big plus for our testers, who said it was easy to apply to both wet and dry hair, with no sticky or greasy feeling. Frizz was reduced immediately and locks felt softer and more manageable for over six hours.
Key specifications
| Product type | Cream |
|---|---|
| Hair type(s) | Fine hair |
| Heat protection | No |
Score: 77/100
The claims: If you’re taking a holiday somewhere tropical this summer, you may want to pop this spray in your suitcase. It's designed to tackle humidity-related frizz and smooth static flyaways.
How do you use it? Easy – just spray it over your hair as and when you need it.
The verdict: This reduced frizz and left our testers’ hair much shinier. Almost all our panellists were happy with the result – hair was soft, more manageable, smoother and, impressively, the effects lasted for a few days after applying. As promised, it kept hair frizz-free during wet, damp and humid weather.
Key specifications
| Product type | Spray |
|---|---|
| Hair type(s) | All hair types |
| Heat protection | No |
What causes frizz?
Frizz occurs when hair is dehydrated. This makes your hair's cuticles rougher and they become raised, which damages the strands by making them more porous. Moisture can then pass more easily in between them, causing swelling.
If you have curly hair, its bends and twists mean the cuticle is naturally more raised, so it tends to swell more easily. The scalp's natural oils also have further to travel to down each strand to the ends.
Besides hair type, there are a number of reasons why locks may lack moisture. Here are some of the most typical:
- You aren’t drinking enough water
- Hair is not being conditioned often enough.
- Your shampoo is too drying
- Your conditioner isn’t right for your hair type
- Hormonal changes
- Hair has been over-processed/chemically damaged (e.g. with bleach)
Want to change up your haircare routine? Check out our roundup of the best shampoos for every hair concern and the best conditioner for smooth, shiny results.
What is an anti-frizz product and how do they work?
The best products for frizzy hair aim to control visible frizz by creating a barrier around your hair’s cuticle, smoothing the porous surface so strands lie flat. By sealing the strands, moisture is prevented from entering and causing swelling.
Some formulas reduce the static electricity between strands by adding moisture and neutralising the charge, so they don’t repel each other and cause flyaways. These sometimes have other benefits too, such as UV and heat protection. Note, we always recommend using one of the best heat protection sprays to avoid damage while styling.
How do I use frizz-control products?
Most frizzy hair products are suitable for everyone, but there are some formulated specifically to target key hair goals. Curly or afro hair, for example, often needs extra care to maintain curls’ shape and keep them hydrated.
If you have particularly dry hair, look for conditioning products, such as lotions or oils. For mild frizz, a spray or lightweight serum will probably do.
To use, generally speaking, it’s best to start with a small amount of product and work through the hair gradually. Avoid applying anything directly to your roots, as this may leave hair looking greasy.
How do you care for frizzy hair?
If you have hair prone to frizz, these are some of the ways to keep it feeling and looking its best:
- Get regular haircuts to keep hair healthy
- Condition often with a suitable product for your hair type
- If you have curly hair, air dry or use a diffuser
- Avoid products containing alcohol, as these can dry hair out
- Avoid washing hair with very hot water as this can strip its natural oils
- Minimise use of heated styling tools that can damage and dry out hair
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.
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