Our best overall pick is Fekkai Brilliant Gloss Multi-Tasker Perfecting Crème
Nothing can thwart a good hair day quite like frizz. A moisture imbalance is to blame, notes stylist John Mouzakis. But the right products can restore balance, leaving hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free.
When moisture comes in contact with the hair shaft, it can cause it to puff out. Anti-frizz products work to lock moisture in the air, preventing it from penetrating the hair shaft. Overusing products can actually make frizz worse, so it’s important to find a formula that works for your hair type. “The excess moisture in the air can cling onto the product itself, especially if you use too much, leaving your hair looking weighed down, greasy, and still frizzy,” cautions Mouzakis.
We conducted hours of research on the best anti-frizz treatments, and tried a few of the most popular products out there, our testers rating how well they tamped frizz and smoothed fly aways. We also considered the formula’s texture and how it made your hair feel after application. We then combined these results with recommendations from stylists as well as our own research to compile our list.
Ahead, find the best anti-frizz products for every hair type.
Best Overall: Fekkai Brilliant Gloss Multi-Tasker Perfecting Crème
This formula uses plant-based ingredients including French cold-pressed organic olive oil to lock in moisture and lock out frizz. The antioxidants in the blend protects hair from other external stressors, like pollution and UV rays. The vegan formula is free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, and phthalates, which can all contribute to frizzy hair, according to Mouzakis. Reviewers note the fresh floral scent is light and appealing.
Best Drugstore: John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum
Think of this as a souped-up version of the original Frizz Ease serum, a cult classic that first launched in the U.S. back in 1990 (and was one of the first frizz-fighting products available). With even more smoothing prowess, this is especially ideal for the most unruly, frizziest hair out there. The formula, fortified with silk proteins and seaweed extract, works to both repel humidity and help seal split ends.
Best for Curly Hair: Naturally Drenched Rebalance
This silicone-free, clean and vegan formula is packed with hydrating ingredients that balance the pH of the scalp, like almond oil, bamboo extract, calendula and papaya. Wheat proteins help to strengthen hair and protect against dryness and breakage. It works as a pre-conditioning treatment and is especially good at restoring curl patterns with nutrients that add spring while reducing frizz.
Best for Curly Hair, Runner-Up: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
This oil-based leave-in imparts tons of hydration, tamps down frizz, and also acts as a primer for any styling products you may want to layer on top. And all of this without weighing down or messing with the shape of your curly spirals.
Best for Coils: Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream
A clean botanical blend of 12 oils including fractionated coconut oil give this oil-based gel a luxe and hydrating feel. It’s suited for all textures, but especially waves and coils. Reviewers note how well the formula increases shine, adds softness, and smooths out frizz while also nourishing dry scalp.
Best for Fine Hair: UNITE 7SECONDS BlowOut Crème
Work this into wet hair ASAP after getting out of the shower. As soon as your hair starts to air-dry it can start frizzing up, notes Mouzakis, who says applying a moisture cream like this one as soon as you get out of the shower is a good move. Even though it’s intensely moisturizing, it still feels lightweight, a good option for those with finer or thinner hair.
Best for Thick Hair: Moroccanoil Treatment Original
There’s a good reason why this oil is a cult classic. The argan oil and linseed extract in the formula hydrate the hair, effectively helping to knock out frizz. Because it is a bit of a heavier oil, it can be a bit much for finer hair, but for medium to thick types, it can’t be beaten.
Best Against Humidity: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
Sure, frizz can happen year-round, but it’s those hot, humid summer days that can be a real style-killer. Enter this hair-saving spray, arguably the easiest way to keep your hair ultra-smooth and sleek, no matter the weather. A proprietary anti-humidity complex acts almost like a mini keratin treatment of sorts, coating the hair to block out humidity. The best part? The effects last for up to three to four shampoos, a major win in our book. FYI, you do have to blow-dry your hair after using it, however, since the formula is heat-activated.
Best for 4C Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème
To give your hair a leg up against frizz, blow-drying is always a good move; it helps seal the cuticle, making it harder for moisture to penetrate. Before you do so, work one to two quarter-sized dollops of this guy from root to tip. The lightweight formula adds and seals in moisture, enhances shine, and also offers oh-so-important heat protection, a must when you’re using hot tools.
Best for Air-Drying: Odele Air Dry Styler
Yes, generally speaking, air drying isn’t a great idea if you want super smooth, frizz-free hair. That being said, we totally get that blow-drying every single time you wash your hair isn’t necessarily always a realistic (nor enjoyable) option. Enter the beauty of this guy.
Just a tiny dollop stops frizz in its tracks, all while adding softness and separation to your hair, essentially enhancing your natural texture in the best way possible. We’d also be remiss not to mention the incredibly chic packaging, squeaky clean formula, and affordable price, too.
Best Cream: R+Co Cool Wind pH Perfect Air Dry Crème
Another great choice for those who want to ditch the dryer, this newbie leaves your hair extra smooth, soft, and shiny—attributes that are typically very hard to achieve sans heat styling. Credit a unique cold styling polymer that helps do all of the above, as well as tame frizz. All you have to do is work a small dollop through towel-dried hair and prepare to be amazed at the effects.
Best Shampoo: Leonor Greyl Shampooing Crème Moelle De Bambou
Mouzakis advises starting your frizz-fighting routine in the shower; you can definitely layer on smoothing products after the fact, but creating the right foundation with the shampoo you choose can go a long way. This is one of the best ones for the job, with an ultra-creamy and hydrating formula that leaves hair softer, smoother, and stronger after every wash. Plus, the formula features silk and wheat proteins and bamboo in the mix, which is always a good thing.
Best Shampoo, Runner-Up: Suave Professionals Smooth Performer Shampoo with Amino Acids
Here’s another great smoothing shampoo to try, and a very affordable one at that. Sulfate-free (aka great if your hair is also dry and/or colored), it both strengthens the hair on the outside and smooths the cuticle on the outside simultaneously. Plus, unlike many other smoothing shampoos we’ve tried, this one still leaves our hair with plenty of volume and bounce.
Best Hair Mask: Redken Frizz Dismiss Hair Mask Intense Smoothing Treatment
If you want to just wash-and-go without having to add extra steps to your routine, reach for this smoothing treatment. Loaded with fatty acid-rich babassu oil, it improves smoothness and manageability and packs a hefty dose of hydration. Try using it in place of your regular conditioner two to three times per week (or whenever your hair needs a little frizz-fighting boost).
Best Spray: Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Hairspray
“Skip the hairspray and use this as the final step in your styling routine instead,” suggests Mouzakis. It keeps humidity at bay and hair frizz-free for up to 24 hours while also locking in your style, he says. It even adds a bit of body and volume, too, so it works equally well whether you’re wearing your hair up or down.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother
Those who are prone to frequent color treatments will benefit from this leave-in product. The Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother multitasks as a reparative and styling treatment to reduce frizz while protecting your hair from everyday damage (think heat and pesky split ends), color services, and more. Your hair will feel and look instantly sleeker after just one use.
Best for Dry Hair: Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream
Moroccanoil is known for one thing, and that is their argan oil. Not only does argan oil help to reduce frizz, manage detangled hair, and restore elasticity, it is also incredible for hydrating the strands for sleeker, healthier hair. The formula is lightweight, but works well for everyday use for conditioning and leaving a slight hold.
Best for Wavy Hair: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum
The argan oil inside the serum sinks deeply into your hair strands to enhance their shine, smoothness, and the definition of your curls. Garnier claims the product can control frizz in up to 97% humidity, so if you’re struggling with taming your waves regardless of the weather, this might do the job. Oh, and you can’t beat the affordable price, too.
Best for Volume: Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer
Some anti-frizz products weigh the hair down for frizz control, but this spray doesn’t sacrifice volume for sleek locks. You truly get the best of both worlds with just one spritz, as the product conditions and softens the hair with oils that mimic the oils your hair naturally produces without buildup or residue.
Best Serum: IGK Crybaby Anti-Frizz Smoothing Serum
Hair serums are great to use before you go in with your styling products because they can help boost their benefits. This serum, in particular, uses coconut oil and prickly pear cactus extract to nourish, add color dimension, and boost shine that feels weightless and non-greasy to the touch—perfect for those who enjoy using more than one hair product.
Best Oil: Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil
According to review, a little goes a long way with this hair oil to reveal bouncier, frizz-free hair. Similar to their anti-frizz spray, the oil contains a unique five-oil blend to mimic healthy hair oils. While an oil might seem best for moisturizing compared to an anti-frizz treatment, this one absorbs so quickly, you’ll only be noticing its impeccable, salon-worthy results.
Best Leave-In Treatment: Virtue Un-Frizz Cream
The secret to unruly, frizz-free hair? A leave-in treatment that lasts all day. No matter if you apply the cream dry or wet, it works just as well to eliminate frizz and work against humidity. And if you have curly or wavy hair, this product does a major job at curl definition. A win-win, if you ask us.
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Fekkai’s Brilliant Gloss Multi-Tasker Perfecting Crème. Plant-based oils seal in moisture and lock out frizz, and a blend of vitamins and proteins smooth hair. For a more affordable pick, consider John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum, a formula fortified with silk proteins and seaweed extract to smooth flyaways.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
What To Look For in Anti-Frizz Products
Silicones
They can be somewhat controversial, but for smoothing purposes, these molecules really are great for coating the hair cuticle and warding off frizz.1
Anti-Humidity Claims
As we’ve mentioned, a moisture imbalance is really the root of most frizz issues—and humidity in the air can contribute to that imbalance. The point being, if a product claims to help block out humidity, you can be pretty much confident that it’s going to be a great frizz fighter.
Directions
Depending on the product, it may need to be applied on damp hair or heat-activated with a blow dryer, whereas others work best as the final step on dry hair. Think about how you generally style your hair: If you’re a devoted air drier, a blow-dryer only formula isn’t going to work for your needs. And be sure to use as the directions indicate for the best result.
FAQ
What types of anti-frizz products are there?
You name it, it’s out there. This category runs the gamut with everything from shampoos to masks to spritzes to sprays to cream available, so it really does come down to a matter of personal preference when choosing one.
How often should you use an anti-frizz product?
The simplest answer is after every time that you wash your hair, at the very least. Most are made to be used on damp hair, though some can also be used on dry hair as a finishing step or as a touch-up when needed.
Do anti-frizz products expire?
Yes, so it’s important to reassess your entire hair care stash every one to two years. Using an old anti-frizz product most likely won’t do you any harm, but it can potentially become less effective the older it gets.
