3 Control Products That Are Expert-Approved & You Can Find At Home

As the summer humidity rolls in, those of us with frizz-prone hair know we have a bit more work to do. If winter means more parched strands, then summer means errant wisps. Now, let this be known: I'm actually one to enjoy a bit of frizz for my curly waves. I think it adds texture and tousle—more undone, less perfect. But it's a delicate balance because chic-disheveled tips over into messy-disheveled very quickly.  

Oils accomplish a lot for your hair: They can help strengthen and fortify the hair with natural fatty acids and nutrients. They can protect your hair from UV and free radical damage with antioxidants. They can condition the scalp and damaged strands. They help impart a slick layer of shine. 

And for frizz? Well, they can help seal down the cuticle1, which is what leads to frizzy hair in the first place. Not to get too into the science, but the cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft. The cuticle layer is made of tiny shingle-like platelets of keratin that overlap. When those shingles lift—due to humidity, damage, or just naturally—your hair separates, thus causing frizz. Oils (and other leave-in products) have the ability to smooth and hold these little platelets down throughout the day. 

While there are plenty of natural, at-home options you can reach for—a hairdresser favorite is argan oil.

If you have curly or frizzy hair, you've probably seen this hair hack go viral on social media: Skip the regular body towel, and opt for a gentle microfiber option for your strands. The idea is the thin, soft threads won't tug and pull at the hair or cuticle, helping your hair remain smooth as it dries. Take it from texture specialist and artistic director at Matrix Michelle O'Connor: "Traditional towels take too much moisture out of the hair," she says.

So here's a fun fact about your hair's cuticles: They lift in higher pH levels (alkaline) and lay flat in acidic pH levels. Now, water, as you might know, is neutral—at a 7. Your hair is naturally a touch more acidic, so water actually makes those cuticles lift. This is why humidity causes your hair to frizz: The water in the air is messing with your hair's natural pH1. (Cool, no?)

Well, many professionals suggest you tame that frizz with acidic rinses. The most famous is perhaps the apple cider vinegar rinse (which we do endorse, for the record!). However, many complain that the rinse is too pungent smelling, turning them off of rinses altogether.