1CURL CREAM
Tested by: Laura Kenney, YouBeauty Editor-In-Chief
Mine’s the type of frizz that’s weather dependent. On dry days, it’s manageable. But when the barometer climbs over 60 percent, it’s buh-by sane strands, hello frenetic coils and fuzz. I have lots of thin strands and the usual frizz taming suspects deliver slick strands with silicone which weighs down my ‘do.
So I was excited to try Garnier Fructis Curl Calm Down, a frizz tamer that doubles as a styling cream. It’s packed with nourishing shea butter that added soft definition to air-dried curls and when I blew it straight, acted as a styling cream for a bouncy, frizz-free blowout. The press release promises that the formula works for 24 hours and even though I didn’t stay up all night to make sure (bad me!), when I woke up in the AM my blowout was still smooth. I’d give it a 90 percent.
2HAIR MASK
Klorane Hair Mask with Papyrus Milk, $24
Tested by: Courtney Dunlop, YouBeauty Senior Editor
Contrary to what most people think, my very fine, straight hair does get frizzy. During a particularly swampy week, wise beauty oracle (and YouBeauty Cosmetic Chemistry Expert, Ni’Kita Wilson) told me to use a hair mask instead of regular conditioner, and to rinse with cool water because hot water dissolves more of the frizz-controlling ingredients. Not only did the trick work like a charm but this Klorane mask (with smoothing papyrus milk) made my hair feel like silk, and I love the fresh-cut grass scent.
3HAIR OIL
Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy, $35
Tested by: Angelica Catalano, YouBeauty Assistant Editor
I don’t blow dry my hair so I was psyched that I could apply this oil to damp or dry hair. With seven different oils from exotic locales such as the Kalahari desert and tropical Tahiti, this treatment is called “rare blend” for good reason. In fact, I couldn’t quite put my finger on the scent—which may be part of the mystique. And the absence of phthalates and parabens made me feel like I was actually getting the oils in their purest form.
A pea-sized drop was all I needed to smooth away flyaways. It claims to repair damaged hair, but as expected, it didn’t completely transform the texture of my coarsest strands. It did, however, make them softer and shinier—without turning me into a greaseball. Overall, this was a versatile product for my no-fuss hair routine.
4Tested by: Melissa Goldstein, YouBeauty Contributing Beauty Editor
IN-SALON TREATMENT
Redken Smooth-Lock-In Service, Redken Smooth, from $45
As a big proponent of keratin treatments, I was so eager to try this quick treatment. Could it deliver similarly smooth results to my thick, wavy hair, but in an hour’s time and at a fraction of the cost of keratin? Redken’s promise: This in-salon treatment contains a thermal active polymer that creates a humidity-resistant barrier for strands. It’s shampooed in and supposedly keeps strands sleek for up to 10 shampoos (longer if you use the accompanying products).
It held up through the first few shampoos but then along came a a particularly wet and humid NYC morning when even after blowing out and flat-ironing my hair, a halo of scraggly hair soon began framing my face. Perhaps this makes a better option for those not-so-stifling in-between months (i.e. Not July and August).
5LATEST DISCOVERY
Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner and Nourishing Styling Cream, $12-$24 each
Tested by: Melissa Goldstein, YouBeauty Contributing Beauty Editor
This is what happens when an MIT scientist decides to tackle one of women’s biggest woes—the invention of OFPMA, a polyfluoroester molecule that goes beyond the capabilities of silicones and oils. Basically it forms a super-thin force field over each individual strand without dulling or weighing hair down. Did it deliver the incredibly sleek results of a keratin treatment? No. But it was the closest I’ve come to that look using a bottled product.
6PILLOWCASE
Branche Beauty Sleep Charmeuse Case, $84
Tested by: Courtney Dunlop, YouBeauty Senior Editor
This product is available on our sister site, BeautySage, where we only sell products proven to work!
It seems silly to spend so much money on a pillowcase, but I am telling you it’s worth every penny. The 100-percent silk pillow topper has a slippery surface that hair glides over without getting all roughed up. Think fewer flyaways and tangles come morning. Consider it as a good hair investment; I’ve been rotating the same two pillowcases for over seven years and they’re still good as new. Simply wash in cold water and hang to dry.
7SERUM
L’Oreal EverStyle Alcohol-Free Smooth & Shine Serum, $7
Tested by: Amanda Schupak, YouBeauty Research Editor
L’Oreal EverStyle Alcohol-Free Smooth & Shine Serum stood up admirably (if not quite flawlessly) in the face of some serious July and August humidity and kept my messy waves from going totally bonkers on steamy days. But what I really liked was that it didn’t leave my hair greasy at all. I have pretty fine hair, but I could even go a day between shampoos without looking like an oil spill victim.
8ORGANIC
John Masters Organics Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer, $16
Tested by: Rachel Grumman Bender, YouBeauty Health Editor
My hair frizzes the instant it meets humidity and I’ve found that very few products live up to their promise to truly fight frizz. But I was intrigued by John Masters Organics Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer, which is an oil-based formula—something I’d never tried before. It’s made from 100 percent certified organic plant and essential oils. I used three tiny drops (the most it recommends on the label) on my wet hair, blow dried my strands as usual, and braved the summer heat.
So is it a miracle in a bottle? No. But it did help hydrate and smooth out my locks better than the anti-frizz cream I’d been using. Although I don’t love the product’s almost medicinal-like scent, I like that it’s all natural and that it didn’t make my fine hair oily or weigh it down.
9KERATIN
Suave Keratin Infusion Smoothing Lower Sulfate Shampoo and Conditioner and Serum, $5 each
Tested by: Valerie Fischel, YouBeauty Photo Editor
I’ve been using the Suave shampoo and conditioner for a few weeks now and it appears to quell flyaways. The serum and leave-in conditioner don’t feel too heavy or greasy, nor do they weight down my hair like some other products do. I’ve used it on really humid days and rainy days and it seems to keep things under control. The scent is pleasant enough without being overpowering.
10Tested by: Jordan Greene
I have long, thick, curly hair so controlling frizz is my number one priority. And when it comes to taming frizziness, hydration is the name of the game. John Freida’s Frizz Ease line contains four products to keep hair shiny and smooth: a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioning spray and a serum.
I let the leave-in conditioning spray sink in overnight and my hair felt more moisturized by morning, but it’s the serum that was my favorite product. I evenly distributed one and a half pumps through my locks before styling, and it left my hair shiny without a flyaway in sight. Bottom line: the leave-in conditioning spray is the most hydrating, while the serum is your best bet for a sleek coiffure.
