Hair looking like a bird’s nest? Using the best shampoo for frizzy hair can fix it right away.
I’ve always loved using hair straighteners, curling wands and other tools on my locks. But unfortunately, this has caused my hair to become frizzy over the last few years.
So I wanted to see if a good smoothening shampoo for frizzy hair can restore the softness of my locks.
Related: Best Conditioner For Frizzy Hair
Frizz happens when the cuticles of your hair open, either due to damage or due to humidity changing the structure of your hair molecules.
But shampoos for frizzy hair contain ingredients that help add moisture to the hair, and keep the flyaways to a minimum.
Shampoos For Frizzy Hair | Best For | Chief Ingredients |
R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo | African American Hair | Babassu oil Juniper berry extracts Glycerin |
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo | Oily Scalps | Algae extracts Shea butter Panthenol Rosehip extracts |
OGX Hydrate + Defrizz Kukui Oil Shampoo | Dry Hair | Kukui seed oil |
John Frieda Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Shampoo | Thick, Curly Hair | Coconut oil |
Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo | Damaged Hair | Cationic polymer Keratin protein |
How I tested the top shampoo for frizzy hair?
With the help of a few hair care experts, I tested the most popular frizz-control shampoos from different brands based on 5 factors to find the best one. On a scale of 1 to 5, I rated the products based on these 5 factors:
- Frizz Control - Frizziness is caused by the opening of hair cuticles due to damage, increased humidity, and opening of hair cuticles. The shampoo for frizzy hair should help smoothen down these cuticles.
- Moisturizing - The number one reason for frizz is dryness. So I’ve also rated the shampoos based on how well they nourish your locks.
- Volumizing - A lot of moisturizing shampoos can get heavy on hair. So it should help add volume too.
- Color-protect - A good shampoo for frizzy hair shouldn’t contain SLS, SLES, or other harsh surfactants as they can strip dye from your strands.
Top Shampoo For Frizzy Hair 2022
R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo
Among all the shampoos for frizzy hair I’ve tried out, I have a soft spot for the R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo because of its gentle, vegan, and cruelty free formula.
If you have color-treated hair, I really think you should try this one as it doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate.
So you can rest easy about it washing away your precious hair color.
The chief ingredients here are babassu seed oil, juniper berry extract, and glycerin that help restore your hair’s lost moisture.
They also work extremely well in smoothening hair, reducing frizz.
It helps maintain the oil production on your hair, so my tresses never felt limp or greasy despite the super moisturizing formula.
But a lot of other users have complained about this shampoo leaving their tresses drier after several uses.
The reason for this could be the added perfume in the shampoo. While it smells great it’s not for everyone, especially if you’ve got a sensitive, dandruff-prone scalp.
I liked the simple packaging this product came in. But my only disappointment was the price. There’s not enough product to justify its price tag.
But if you want something cruelty-free and which will take care of your dyed hair, this is not a bad pick.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty free formula that is environment friendly
- Paraben-free formula that won't cause any side effects
- Sulfate and surfactant free so it won't strip moisture or hair color
- Super nourishing as it contains babassu seed oil
Cons:
- Might not suit sensitive scalps as it contains alcohol and added perfume
- Makes dandruff worse on oily scalps as it's very rich and moisturizing
- Expensive compared to shampoos like OGX and Kerastase
Sulfate Free - Yes
My Ratings:
- Frizz Control - 4/5
- Affordability - 3/5
- Moisturizing - 4.5/5
- Volumizing - 3.5/5
- Color Protect - 5/5
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo
I love curling my hair. A lot. But I’ve noticed that frizz tends to be worse on curls.
And this is why I loved the Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo. It’s a black-owned beauty brand, so you can be sure they know a thing or two about curly hair.
This sulfate, paraben and silicone-free shampoo is a perfect choice for 3b, 3c, and even 4a and 4b curls.
The formula comes packed with rosehip extracts and shea butter, which help add moisture to your hair and smoothen it.
There’s also panthenol that increases hair elasticity and prevents frizz from damaging your hair. And algae keeps your scalp healthy.
In fact, over 95 percent of the ingredients are naturally-derived. Like the R+Co shampoo, this one is also cruelty-free and vegan.
But we think you should stick to R+Co if you have color-treated hair.
This Briogeo shampoo is sulfate free alright. But it still contains a milder version of surfactants in the form of Sulfonate and Sulfosuccinate.
While this is perfect if you have an oily scalp or need a shampoo with more cleansing power, it can fade your hair dye.
The pump bottle is also super easy to use in the shower.
Pros:
- Cleansing and moisturizing at same time so your hair looks bouncy and frizz-free
- Vegan and cruelty free formula
- Sulfate free shampoo that is safe for color-treated hair
- No DEA or artificial dyes so it's good for sensitive scalps
- Helps repair chemically treated or damaged hair as it contains keratin and biotin
- Soothes inflamed scalp and reduces oiliness thanks to panthenol in the formula
Cons:
- Very expensive for the quantity given
Sulfate Free - Yes
My Ratings:
- Frizz Control - 4/5
- Affordability - 3/5
- Moisturizing - 4.5/5
- Volumizing - 4/5
- Color Protect - 3.5/5
OGX Hydrate + Defrizz Kukui Oil Shampoo
OGX has been a cult-beauty product for so long, I just had to try it! And my experience has been quite mixed so far.
On one hand, this shampoo is very affordable and easily available.
There’s also the nourishing blend of Kukui nut oil that helps hydrate dry tresses and helps control frizz.
On the other hand, this shampoo contains a milder form of surfactants like Sulfonate, added perfume, and artificial dyes.
So I don’t suggest using this if you have a sensitive scalp. If you use it everyday, it might even fade hair dye quickly.
It left my dry hair feeling smooth and silky. But other users, who have oilier scalps, have complained that it leaves their locks greasy and limp.
But if you compare the price of this OGX shampoo to others on this list, it is quite impressive for the price tag it comes at.
Pros:
- Hydrating as it contains kukui oil
- Add amazing shine to hair thanks to the silicones in the formula
- Good frizz control in one wash itself
- Very affordable price
Cons:
- Contains added perfume and colorants so not suited for sensitive scalps
- Can strip hair color as it contains surfactants
- Silicones in the shampoo can cause product buildup over time
Sulfate Free - Yes
My Ratings:
- Frizz Control - 4/5
- Affordability - 5/5
- Moisturizing - 4/5
- Volumizing - 3/5
- Color Protect - 3/5
John Frieda Frizz Ease Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Shampoo
If you want to look at more budget-friendly shampoos for frizzy hair, here’s a good one.
This John Frieda shampoo contains coconut oil as its chief ingredient. It’s fantastic for adding shine and moisture to dry, frizzy hair.
My dry, coarse hair seemed to like this oil formulation. But I’m sure, it’ll get too heavy if you have very fine or straight hair.
So I think this shampoo is best suited to people with thick or curly hair textures.
I didn’t like one think about this shampoo. It contains sulfates!
So if you’ve got color-treated hair, very brittle and dry hair, or sensitive scalp problems, I say steer clear.
The OGX shampoo is a similarly-priced shampoo and it’s much better for its lack of harsh surfactants.
Pros:
- Nourishing coconut oil formula
- Very affordable price
- Good for thick, curly hair
Cons:
- Contains sulfates
- Contains added perfume
Sulfate Free - No
My Ratings:
- Frizz Control - 4/5
- Affordability - 5/5
- Moisturizing - 4/5
- Volumizing - 3/5
- Color Protect - 3/5
Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo
Another famous shampoo for frizzy hair that I just had to try out was the Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo.
It’s marketed as the one-stop solution for dry, overly chemically-processed, and damaged hair.
And as someone who loves experimenting with hairstyles and colors, I felt like this is just what I needed.
So did it work? Yes… and no.
The shampoo contains a unique Morpho Keratin formula that adds keratin protein back to your strands and helps seal the cuticles.
There’s also a cationic polymer that helps smoothen hair, prevents frizz and repairs damage. It tamed my flyaways on my hairstyles to a great extent too!
What’s the catch then? Well, it’s not very color-safe.
There are no SLS or SLES. But it’s got a milder form of surfactants in the formula. These can strip hair of color in the long run.
And there’s also added perfume, which I found to be a bit overwhelming.
While I was lucky enough to escape this, a lot of users have complained about fake sellers and receiving a dupe product on online shopping sites. So be careful.
Pros:
- Repairs damaged, chemically-processed hair
- No sulfates
Cons:
- Contains milder surfactants
- Fragrance is too strong
Sulfate Free - Yes
My Ratings:
- Frizz Control - 4.5/5
- Affordability - 3.5/5
- Moisturizing - 3.5/5
- Volumizing - 4/5
- Color Protect - 3/5
Here is a quick comparison between the top shampoos for frizzy hair
Top Shampoos For Frizzy Hair | R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo | Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo | OGX Hydrate + Defrizz Kukui Oil Shampoo | Beyond Smooth Frizz-Immunity Shampoo | Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo |
Images | |||||
Price | Expensive | Slightly Expensive | Very Affordable | Slightly Expensive | Affordable |
Formula | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Cleansing Power | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Ingredients Quality | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Sulfate-Free | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Suitable For Color Treated Hair | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
What is the best shampoo for frizzy hair?
After checking all the parameters and testing out all these products, I’ve noticed that the R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo is the best shampoo for frizzy hair in the market today.
The R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo has got a very nourishing formula that hydrates dull, dry hair. It’s natural formula is excellent for controlling frizzy hair. I also liked how the shampoo is natural, vegan, and sulfate free, making it completely safe for hair and scalp.
How To Select A Shampoo For Frizzy Hair - A Buying Guide
If you want a shampoo for frizzy hair, you should keep in mind the following criteria.
Moisturizing Ingredients - Frizz is usually happens when hair is too dried out, so using a shampoo with rich, moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, aloe vera, etc. is a good idea to hydrate strands and replenish lost moisture.
Lack of Sulfates - Sulfates are good for cleansing hair thoroughly but they can strip excessive moisture from hair, leaving hair dehydrated and prone to frizz. I'd suggest going for shampoos that are completely free of SLS and SLES if you have frizzy hair. Plus harsh surfactants like sulfates also strip hair color so using a sulfate-free shampoo can enhance the longevity of your hair dye.
Silicones might not be so bad after all - I know, I know silicones have had a bad rep when it comes to hair. But having ingredients like dimethicone in shampoos is a way to instantly get frizz-free hair. Silicones are smoothening agents and coat the hair strands to add gloss as well. So having extra shiny hair is also a huge plus. You just need to make sure you are using a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week to get rid of the extra buildup!
Drying agents are a no-no - There are certain ingredients like alcohol (except for cetearyl alcohol), perfumes, panthenol, witch hazel, salicylic acid, etc. that can dry your hair. And dryness is a huge contributor to frizz. So avoid shampoos with these type of components if you have excessively frizzy hair. Not all of these ingredients are "bad" for hair however, they might be bad for frizzy hair as they remove moisture from strands.
Frizzy hair can be a huge disappointment. But with a good shampoo for frizzy hair, you too can get smooth, silky hair.
The shampoos reviewed above are rated on factors like price, smoothening ability, hydrating formula, etc.
So you can pick the right one based on your hair texture and needs. What are you waiting for then?
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