Although my hair is typically straight, it’s no stranger to fluffing up and frizzing when exposed to humidity. That’s why the best shampoos for frizzy hair are key players in my hair care arsenal. They help minimize flyaways and keep my strands feeling soft and smooth as ever. Frizziness can be triggered by excessive dryness, which means that choosing dry scalp-friendly shampoos with hydrating ingredients (read: argan oil, shea butter, amino acids) can make all the difference.
Below, we spoke with hairstylists and Glamour editors for tips and recommendations on the very best frizz-defying shampoos. After putting them to the test, our top pick was the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo because it kept our hair velvety and smooth, without a flyway in sight. We liked that the formula works on all hair types, detangles stubborn knots, and is sulfate-free. We also have options for curly and coily hair, plus picks suitable for those who deal with humid climates.
The best shampoos for frizzy hair, at a glance
- Best Overall: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, $32
- Best for Humidity: Eva NYC Frizz Fixer Smoothing Shampoo, $26
- Best for Curly Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo, $69
- Best Drugstore: Being Bye Bye Frizz Smoothing Shampoo, $7
- Best for Dry Hair: Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo, $68
- Best for Damaged Hair: Rootist Strengthen Concentrated Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair, $30
Your shampoos for frizzy hair questions, answered
What triggers frizzy hair?
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According to Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and owner of Second Floor Salon in NYC, frizzy hair can be triggered by a few factors: excessive dryness, open hair cuticles, and high porosity (meaning the hair has difficulty retaining moisture) combined with humidity. “Too much humidity causes the hair shaft to swell by absorbing moisture, and weaker areas (like at the ends ) react more if the hair is dry, damaged or curly,” he says. When moisture is absorbed unevenly, this leads to frizz. “The hair cuticle (the outermost layer) lifts, making it look rough instead of smooth.”
It’s also key to pay attention to your routine. “Overwashing your hair (no more than every other day) and using too much heat (daily and even weekly) on your hair can lead to frizziness and flyaways,” says Miguel Luis, hairstylist at Rita Hazan Salon.
What should you look for when shopping for a shampoo for frizzy hair?
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When shopping for an anti-frizz shampoo, hydrating ingredients (like glycerin, hyaluronic acid or plant butters) are the number one priority. Cavalcante recommends amino acids (like lactic acid) as they will help seal the cuticles. Luis also says to look for hydrating oils, like argan oil, shea butter, and coconut oil.
Are shampoos or conditioners better for taming frizzy hair?
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While conditioners, leave-in conditioners, or hair masks can often tame flyways quite well, using the wrong shampoo can actually lead to more frizz because it can potentially strip your hair of too much moisture. So, using anti-frizz shampoos can actually help in this case for softer, smoother hair, especially if you deal with it toward the mid to top of your hair shaft.
How we tested shampoos for frizzy hair
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We tested shampoos for frizzy hair by evaluating how effective they were at taming our flyaways. We looked at how well the shampoos lathered, how easy they were to wash out, and if they were able to make our hair feel softer, smoother, and frizz-free over the span of a week.
Meet the experts
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- Rogerio Cavalcante, a hairstylist and owner of Second Floor Salon in NYC
- Miguel Luis, a hairstylist at Rita Hazan Salon
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin
- Size: 8.5 oz
- Pros: Gentle on hair, kills frizz all day long
- Cons: You’ll go through it quickly, so it’s a bit pricey for the size
“It’s important to look for formulas with moisturizing and gentle ingredients, and a pro tip: some shampoos that are designed for color-treated hair are great for frizz because won’t strip away excess moisture,” says Cavalcante. This highly-moisturizing shampoo is color-safe, works to reduce breakage and won’t leave the hair feeling stripped.
“Whenever I’m dealing with major frizz or static, I always look to this frizz-control shampoo,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It instantly coats your hair in the shower and I like to let it sit for a minute or two to really get it to sink in. When you wash it out, you’ll immediately notice a difference in your hair texture: it’ll be a lot smoother and easier to run your fingers through. After my blow-dry, my hair is pretty much instantly flyaway and frizz-free, and the best part is that it stays that way all day long. I keep coming back to this frizz-killing shampoo over and over again, and once you try it, you’ll be hooked, too.”
Best for Damaged Hair: Rootist Strengthen Concentrated Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair
Rootist Strengthen Concentrated Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair
Sephora
- Key Ingredients: Bio-peptides, yuzu ceramides, rootbiomic ferment
- Size: 4 oz
- Pros: Boosts shine, kills frizz, adds major moisture
- Cons: It’s a shampoo concentrate, so it’s more intense than other picks on this list
Cavalcante is a big fan of this shampoo if you’re dealing with frizzy, damaged or fine hair. “Heat styling including the frequent use of a flatiron can cause breakage,” he says, so this formula is a great option for those in desperate need to soothe and add volume to their hair with peptides and ceramides.
“This shampoo was truly the smallest gift that kept on giving. As my hair air dried, it kept looking more sleek, shiny and polished as time went on. I also felt like I had way more volume at my root than I usually do when I air dry my hair. I only had to use half the size of the shampoo that I usually use and it lathered SO much more than any other shampoo I’ve used recently. I have zero dye in my hair and have leaned into drug store shampoo options since I don’t have to worry about color-treated hair care. After using the Rootist shampoo, I realize that it does matter because I saw a huge difference in my hair texture! My boyfriend even commented that he liked the smell of the shampoo as well,” says Condé Nast global executive director of creative strategy, Norell Zable.
Best Drugstore: Being Bye Bye Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
Being Bye Bye Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
Walmart
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, almond oil
- Size: 12 oz
- Pros: Super affordable, detangles and tames flyaways
- Cons: Not suitable for hair types 3 and 4
Smooth strands don’t have to come at a high price, and this smoothing shampoo is proof. It contains jojoba oil and almond oil to tame all hair types from straight to wavy and comes in a convenient squeeze bottle.
“I loved the packaging of this smoothing shampoo the first time I tried it because it’s super easy to use and helps you get out just the right amount of product needed. The formula itself is just as nice as its outer shell, it’s super silky, coats the hair nicely, and washes out pretty easily. My hair was very static-y and frizzy before I used this and I almost immediately saw a difference post-wash. As I blow-dried, my hair was velvety soft and easy to run my brush through with no breakage in sight. At $7, this one is a real steal,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best for Curly Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil, coconut oil
- Size: 33.8 oz
- Pros: Cruelty-free, has natural ingredients, keeps hair flyaway-free
- Cons: Pricey
This smoothing shampoo is gentle on hair and tames curly hair with ease. It lathers well and has a creamy, thick consistency during wash and has a blend of deeply moisturizing ingredients including rosehip, argan and coconut oils.
“This shampoo has a nice floral scent and a runny, milky consistency that lathers easily. I have lightly curly hair that without proper care is frizzy especially at the roots, which is where I applied the shampoo. After use, my hair felt very clean, light, and smooth. Shiny, too! I was pleased and will keep using this for sure,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs.
Best for Dry Hair: Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Marine algae, jojoba
- Size: 8 oz
- Pros: Promotes smooth hair, suitable for all hair types, gives off a ‘clean’ feeling
- Cons: Expensive
“This shampoo features innovative technology that mimics silicone, providing detangling, slip, sleekness, conditioning and shine—all while using a sunflower-based surfactant. I love this shampoo because it’s effective in taming frizz and has a nice citrus scent,” says Cavalcante.
“This was the shampoo I was probably most impressed by on this list. It smells nice and sweet and provides a good lather without being excessively soapy. I think it did a great job at smoothing out my strands (for real, they were quite knotty before I tested this) and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to revitalize their hair if it’s extra dry or consistently breaking,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best for Humidity: Eva NYC Frizz Fixer Smoothing Shampoo
Eva NYC Frizz Fixer Smoothing Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Argan oil
- Size: 10 oz
- Pros: Affordable, keeps hair smooth even when it’s hot and humid, smells great
- Cons: The pump on the bottle breaks easily
If you struggle with frizzy hair in humid climates, you’ll love this smoothing shampoo that Cavalcante recommend. “This anti-frizz shampoo is rich in glycerin and oils to keep hair moisturized and frizz-free, and I’d especially recommend it for all hair types, including thick, curly or wavy hair,” he says.
“While I didn’t love the scent of this shampoo, it lathered really well and I felt like I got a really good clean on my five-day hair. When styling with my Air Wrap, I usually use a smoothing attachment on my roots to tame any frizz, but I didn’t feel like that extra step was necessary after using this shampoo. Also, it may sound silly, but the packaging is so happy and fun—I love looking at the bottle,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo
Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Babassu oil
- Size: 33.8 oz
- Pros: Color safe, makes hair very smooth, smells fresh
- Cons: Expensive
If you have color-treated hair, you know the importance of taking care of it, especially when it’s frizzy. This nourishing pick protects against hair color fading and works to keep it looking smooth and fresh with moisture-packed babassu oil.
“A little goes a long way with this shampoo, and after my wash, my hair felt bouncy, not dry, and was quite voluminous but the product didn’t seem to weigh my hair down. I also loved how it lathered, and my hair was less frizzy after use. I also loved that the formula is sulfate-free,” says executive account director at Condé Nast, Carolyn Frazier.
Best for Flyaways: Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Shampoo
Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Provitamin B5, sea buckthorn
- Size: 9.2 oz
- Pros: Vegan, cruelty-free, softens and freshens hair
- Cons: Not the best scent
If you deal with a lot of flyaways and static (same), you’ll love this hydrating shampoo that can give you hair as sleek as velvet, thanks to vitamin B5, and sea buckthorn, that has omega fatty acids and is rich in vitamin C and vitamin A.
“This shampoo lives up to its name and really does make my hair feel like velvet,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “I like to use it when my hair is particularly knotty and tangled, and it does a great job of finessing out knots with just one wash (and a little work from my detangling comb). I do find that after I use this one, my hair is less prone to tangling to begin with, and I also have noticed less static, generally. This is one I’ll have in my arsenal for months to come, especially when it gets humid!”
Best for Coily Hair: Kerastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo
Kerastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo
Amazon
- Key Ingredients: Morpho-keratine
- Size: 8.5 oz
- Pros: Makes hair soft and shiny, smells nice
- Cons: Pricey
Luis loves this shampoo because it does an excellent job at smoothing all hair types including thick and coarse. It has morpho-keratine to restore hair fibers, plus surface perfectors to soften uneven texture. “I enjoyed this shampoo! It smelled really nice, had good slip, and lathered up great,” says Content Licensing Associate at Condé Nast, Paton Hardy. “I was also impressed by the smell, it lingered on the hair and actually went well with the typical conditioner I use for a really nice fragranced finish.”
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