Why Is My Hair So Frizzy? Understanding the Real Causes—and the Technology That Stops It

Frizz: it’s one of the most common—and most frustrating—hair issues out there. You smooth it down, flatten it out, maybe even coat it with oil… but somehow, it’s back by lunchtime. 

If you’re wondering what causes frizzy hair, you're not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong.

According to Dr. Joe Cincotta, Chief Chemist at Color Wow, the key to managing frizz is understanding what’s actually causing it. Because frizz isn’t one single problem—it’s the result of several different triggers that affect the structure and behavior of your hair.

Let’s break it down with his help.

What Is Frizz, Really?

Frizz happens when hair strands lose their uniform structure and start to behave independently. This is usually caused by cuticle disruption—your hair’s outer layer becomes rough or raised, allowing moisture to enter or escape unpredictably.

The result? Swelling, puffing, curling, and halo-like fuzz.

For more details on what frizz actually is and how to spot it, visit our article.

The 5 Most Common Causes of Frizzy Hair

1. Humidity and Weather Conditions

Humidity and dampness are some of the most common reasons for frizzy hair. When the air is humid, it causes your hair to absorb moisture, which can lead to cuticle swelling and frizz. This means that if you live in a humid or rainy climate, you may experience more hair frizz than someone who lives in a dryer environment.

2. Hair Type and Texture

The type and texture of your hair can also play a role in whether you experience frizz. People with naturally curly or wavy hair are more prone to hair frizz due to the structure of their hair.  Curly hair tends to be drier, more dehydrated than straight hair, which makes it more susceptible to frizz.

3. Lack of Moisture & Hydration

The core cause of frizzy hair is a lack of hydration and moisture. When your hair is dry and dehydrated, it's more susceptible to frizz. Many styling habits and choices (and even the ageing process) can cause your hair to become increasing dry and dehydrated over time, leading to frizz-prone texture.

3. Heat Damage

Hot tools rob hair of moisture, disrupt natural protective barriers and lift the cuticle.

Over time, this leads to increased porosity and chronic frizz.

4. Chemical Processing

Coloring, relaxing, bleaching, perming—these services open the cuticle, creating a “frizz-prone” hair texture.

5. Sulfates or Residue-Heavy Products

Sulfates strip natural oils, while conditioners and stylers with heavy waxes or silicones can build up, block moisture absorption, causing dehydration and raised cuticle roughness over time.

Why Traditional Frizz Fixes Don’t Work

Most anti-frizz products rely on oils, heavy silicones, or creams that simply smooth and flatten the cuticle to shut down frizz temporarily.

These products can build up, make hair feel weighed down, greasy and can even attract more humidity.

And most importantly: they don’t change how your hair behaves when confronted with moisture or humidity. Which is exactly why frizz keeps coming back.

The Real Solution: Stop Frizz Before It Starts

To truly prevent frizz, you need to protect your hair from the environment—before it swells, lifts, or misbehaves. That means sealing the cuticle, reinforcing the structure, and keeping excess moisture out.

That’s where Color Wow’s “Dream hair” technology comes in, led by renowned frizz-fighting superhero, Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.

This invisible, featherlight formula creates a micro-thin, water-resistant matrix around each strand that repels moisture, smooths the cuticle, and stops frizz before it starts. And it lasts up to 3–4 shampoos.

So if you're dealing with chronic frizz —whether it’s from humidity, heat damage, or just your hair type—Dream Coat is your best line of defense for smooth, sleek styles that don’t re-frizz in the face of moisture. 

Frizz Taking the Form of Puffy, Fluffy, "Swollen" Strands? We've Got the Solution

For some damaged and dehydrated hair types frizz shows up (blows up!) as wads of motionless, wiry, dehydrated, cotton candy” hair.

A powerful transformative treatment for frizzy hair types, Dreaming can be used on its own or as a reparative and frizz-prevention prep prior to applying Dream Coat. 

For best results, put Dreaming on rotation in your anti-frizz routine and use every 2-3 shampoos in lieu of your normal conditioner.

For other habits and hacks that can help keep frizz in check, take a look at our article on how to get rid of frizzy hair for advice on how to fix frizz for good.

In the meantime, let’s clear up a few other questions about what really causes frizz...

Frizz Facts 101: What’s Actually Causing It?

Does air-drying hair cause frizz?

Yes—if your cuticle is raised or your hair is porous, air-drying can leave strands rough and puffed out. Our article on why hair gets frizzy when it air-dries is packed with more information.

Does blow-drying cause frizz?

Not if done right. Blow-drying with heat + tension (and protection like Dream Coat) actually helps seal the cuticle and prevent frizz. You can visit our guide to blow-drying hair without frizz for more tips.

Does towel-drying cause frizz?

Yes—rubbing hair with a rough towel lifts the cuticle. Always blot with a microfiber towel or soft cotton T-shirt instead.

Does brushing wet hair cause frizz?

It can. Wet hair is more fragile. Use a wide-tooth comb or brush designed for wet hair to prevent breakage that leads to frizz.

Can over-conditioning cause frizz?

Surprisingly, yes. Heavy conditioners can leave behind residue that roughs up the surface or attracts humidity. If your frizz-prone hair is dull, dehydrated or damaged we recommend adding a treatment mask to your shampoo routine to help correct the causes of frizz without compounding the problem. 

Read more about all things frizz on the Color Wow Blog:

• Why Does My Hair Feel So Dry & Frizzy?
• How to Stop Hair from Frizzing
• The Science Behind Humidity & Frizz