8 Best Shampoos for Frizzy Hair
Updated: Mar. 18, 2024
Smooth hair starts in the shower with these frizz-busting shampoos
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Combating frizzy hair is big business, with beauty stores’ shelves full of styling products promising silky locks. The truth is, smooth hair starts in the shower from the moment the suds bubble on our scalps. If that’s your aim, you need the best shampoo for frizzy hair.
Glycerin, keratin, argan oil and coconut oil are excellent ingredients to seek out for smoothing frizz, according to Tatiana Ramos, hairstylist and Pureology educator. “Glycerin is a humectant that helps draw moisture into the hair, which is key in the anti-frizz process,” she says. “Keratin strengthens the hair and smooths the hair cuticle, further aiding in the reduction of frizz. Coconut oil and argan oil are both rich in antioxidants and help protect the hair from damage caused by UV rays and other environmental stressors, which aid in adding a healing and nourishing impact to hair in anti-frizz formulas.”
While all of these ingredients are excellent for both curly and straight hair, people with thicker, curlier hair also benefit from shea butter, jojoba oil, honey, avocado oil and aloe. “These ingredients add extra hydration and proteins, allowing for intensified curl definition,” Ramos shares. “Curly hair typically requires more hydration than straighter hair textures, therefore, it is okay to use more products inclusive of butters and oils.”
Best Shampoo for Frizzy Hair
- Best overall: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Shampoo
- Best budget: Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo
- Best splurge:Â Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
- Best for color-treated hair: Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo
- Best for curly and coily hair: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydration Shampoo
- Best for UV protection: Verb Curl Shampoo
- Best for sensitive skin: Seen Shampoo Fragrance-Free
- Best for blowouts on textured hair: Mizani Press Agent Shampoo
Best overall
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
For any hair from straight to curly, Briogeo’s frizz-smoothing shampoo claims to fight frizz up to 48 hours. The sulfate- and silicone-free formula rinses away excess oil and dirt while the rosehip, argan and coconut oils lock in hydration and seal out humidity—which everyone knows is the number one culprit for fuzziness. This shampoo also earned Sephora’s Clean + Planet Positive seal, for leaving out ingredients that may be harmful to human health and the earth’s environment.
Pros
- Best for all hair textures
- Sulfate- and silicone-free
- Cleans while hydrating
- Seals out humidity
- Increases shine
Cons
- Oils might weigh down fine hair
Best budget
Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo
Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo offers a frizz-fighting formula infused with coconut oil, shea butter, rice protein and vitamin E at a wallet-friendly price. The brand also seeks to be a good citizen, earning the Leaping Bunny certification that promises all of its practices are cruelty-free. Bonus: These pretty pink bottles make excellent shower accessories and they’re recyclable.
Pros
- Budget-friendly price
- Good for coarse, curly or coily hair types
- Certified cruelty-free
- Over 500 ratings, averaging 4.4 stars, on Amazon
Cons
- Ingredients may be too heavy for fine hair
Best splurge
Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
Boasting a 4.5-star rating on Sephora, Living Proof’s No Frizz Shampoo is easily a candidate for the best shampoo for frizzy hair, if price is no object. The color-preserving, humidity-blocking formula cleanses hair of dirt, oil, and product buildup and touts improved texture in one use when used with its matching conditioner. It does its magic using jojoba oil and amino acids, without using sulfates, silicones or a litany of other undesirable ingredients. It also doesn’t lather, so if suds are your personal preference, it may take some getting use to—but many happy users think you’ll love the results.
Pros
- Great for all hair types
- Promises improved texture in one use
- Sulfate- and silicone-free
- Color-safe and color-protective
- Blocks humidity
- Protects against heat damage
Cons
- Pricey
- No-lather formula doesn’t appeal to everyone
Best for color-treated hair
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo
Though it may seem pricier than our splurge pick, a little goes a long way with Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo: The highly concentrated formula gives over 75 shampoos from one bottle, a dime-size dab at a time. Suitable for all hair types and textures, the unique blend of ingredients promises to protect hair from fading due to the sun and other environmental damage to keep hair color looking its best. All the while, it smooths and seals to reduce frizz.
Pros
- Protects hair color
- Works for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair textures
- Over 75 shampoos in each bottle
- Sulfate-free
- Vegan formula
Cons
- On the pricier side
Best for curly and coily hair
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydration Shampoo
This extra-hydrating shampoo is made with wavy, curly and coily hair in mind. Formulated with aloe vera leaf juice, coconut oil, biotin and honey, it gently cleanses the hair and scalp, removing buildup without stripping away natural oils and moisture. What’s just as important is what the creamy formula leaves out—it contains no parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil or harsh sulfates.
Pros
- Formulated for wavy, curly, and coily hair types
- Color-safe
- Creamy formula for dry hair
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Contains honey, which makes it not vegan
Best for UV protection
Verb Curl Shampoo
Planning to spend a lot of time outdoors? The sunflower seed extract in the Verb Curl Shampoo hydrates each strand while providing natural UV protection to prevent color fading. The shampoo also contains glycerin that works to naturally bind moisture to strands, reducing frizz to curly locks. The result: well-moisturized, bouncy, sun-protected hair.
Pros
- Offers UV protection from sunflower seed extract
- Formulated with moisture-binding glycerin to reduce frizz
- Color-safe and color-protective
- Curl-enhancing
Cons
- May be too heavy for fine hair
Best for sensitive skin
Seen Shampoo Fragrance-Free
Finding a fragrance-free shampoo for any hair—let alone frizzy—is a challenge. However, this frizz-fighting option is not only made sans fragrances, sulfates, silicones and dyes, it received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance. In addition to fighting frizz, the dermatologist-developed formula promotes scalp health, strengthens hair and provides color and heat protection.
Pros
- Certified safe for sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- Formulated without fragrance, sulfates, silicones and dyes
- Reduces frizz with plant-derived ingredients
- Color-safe
Cons
- On the pricier side
Best for blowouts on textured hair
Mizani Press Agent Thermal Smoothing Sulfate-Free Shampoo
For naturals, getting a silk press is a welcome change, but given hair’s natural texture, frizz remains a concern. For coily and curly hair, this sulfate-free shampoo cleanses, detangles, preps, and protects hair for heat styling. Additionally, the argan oil in the formula helps protect hair from split ends while the shampoo’s UV filter protects the hair from sun damage.
Pros
- Fights frizz for blowouts
- Offers heat protection
- Preps hair for heat styling
- Protects hair from UV damage
Cons
- Some reviewers aren’t a fan of the packaging
What to consider when buying the best shampoo for frizzy hair
When snagging the best shampoo for frizzy hair, consider hair type and texture first. “The next important step is to consider your specific needs, whether it be to help with dryness or damage, for example,” Ramos says. “Curly, thicker hair textures typically require an extra boost that may be too heavy for those with straight, finer hair types.”
Finally, your shampoo only takes you so far—you’ll also have to chose a frizz-reducing conditioner to seal your hair in the shower.
How we found the best shampoo for frizzy hair
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
How do I stop my hair from being frizzy?
Ramos says lack of moisture is usually a frizz-inducing culprit. Moisture may be caused by genetics, hair type, texture and environmental factors, she notes. Selecting the correct products and limiting hot tools, chemical treatments and overexposure to UV rays helps combat frizz.
What triggers frizzy hair?
“Frizzy hair may be a combination of things [from] damaged hair [to] chemical processes or coloring,” says DJ Quintero, Living Proof ambassador and celebrity hairstylist. “Being gentle in the coloring process and chemical department is helpful.” Additionally, overwashing hair can be a source. If you’re shampooing every day, hit pause and add a hair mask to your routine to give it some much-needed TLC.
Why is my hair so frizzy after I wash it?
For starters, you may not be using the best shampoo for frizzy hair or your hair type. Secondly, the environment may be playing a factor (think: humidity, temperature), so don’t forget to consider that when adding a new shampoo.
Additionally, make sure you’re using products as directed. “Do not overuse or underuse products,” Ramos. “For example, using too much oil in curly hair on a regular basis leaves the scalp reliant on intense hydration. This causes an overproduction of natural oil on the scalp, which then leads to skin conditions and dandruff. Overly moisturized hair is also prone to breakage and further damage as it becomes weakened and fragile.”
Sources:
- DJ Quintero, Living Proof ambassador and celebrity hairstylist
- Tatiana Ramos, hairstylist, all-texture expert, and Pureology educator
Originally Published: March 18, 2024
