How to Frizz Hair Intentionally for Voluminous and Poofy Hairstyles

Written by Shehnaz Shirazi

Updated on September 10, 2023

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For years, the mere mention of “frizz” may have sent many into a panic, reaching for the nearest hair serum or straightening iron. But as with all things in beauty and fashion, perceptions evolve. Contrary to popular belief, frizz isn’t always the enemy. In fact, it’s been increasingly recognized for its potential to add volume, texture, and a touch of wild beauty to various hairstyles. Frizz is the result of a lack of moisture in the hair. While this can sometimes be an unintended consequence of environmental factors, many are now harnessing this natural phenomenon intentionally, leveraging its capacity to offer a fuller, more voluminous look.

When done right, frizz can be an intentional, artistic expression of individuality and texture. Whether you’re hoping to add some volume to limp locks, seeking a retro ’80s vibe, or simply wanting a change from the everyday, frizzing your hair might be the exciting transformation you’re looking for. This guide will take you through the various techniques and products that can help you achieve that perfectly imperfect frizzy mane, allowing your hair to make a statement all its own.

Here are the instructions on how to intentionally frizz your hair for a voluminous and poofy hairstyle with added texture:

1. Wash your hair with a sulfate-based shampoo.
2. Skip conditioner.
3. Towel dry with a cotton towel.
4. Apply a hair texturizing product.
5. Tease your hair from the roots.
6. Blow dry your hair.
7. Tousle your hair with your fingers.
8. Finish with a setting hairspray.

1. Wash Your Hair With a Gentle Sulfate Shampoo

Sulfate shampoo contains sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These sulfates remove oil and dirt from the hair but can also strip away natural oils, leading to dryness and potential damage. The dryness is more problematic for those with already dry or fine hair.

Sulfates in shampoo can create a harsh environment, leading to the hair shaft developing jagged edges. The jagged edges, in turn, can cause hair strands to rub against each other, making them frizzy or fly away.

Specifically, when the hair’s cuticle is rough or raised, it can become more susceptible to absorbing moisture from the air, which causes it to expand and become frizzy.

If you aim to increase frizz for styling purposes, using an anti-frizz shampoo containing moisturizing ingredients can help create a smoother, more polished look. Anti-frizz shampoos are formulated to hydrate the hair and protect it from humidity, which helps to reduce frizz and create a sleeker appearance.

2. Skip the Conditioner

A hair conditioner is a product that provides moisture and hydration to the hair. It is applied after shampooing to replenish moisture lost during the washing process.

When it comes to frizz, hair conditioner helps reduce its appearance by smoothing the cuticles, which are the outer layer of the hair. This smoother surface prevents tangling and limits moisture absorption from the air, reducing frizz.

The conditioner also adds moisture to the hair, keeping it hydrated and less prone to frizz. Conditioner is particularly beneficial for curly or coarse hair types more prone to frizz.

Skipping conditioner after washing can increase the likelihood of frizz in several ways:

• Lack of Moisture Balance: Conditioner helps restore hair’s moisture balance. When skipped, the hair is left without this crucial hydration. As a result, the hair can become dry and prone to frizz.
• Lack of Smoothing Effect: Conditioner plays a key role in smoothing hair cuticles. When the cuticles are smooth, the hair strands lay flat and aligned, reducing frizz. The cuticles remain rough and uneven without conditioner, making the hair more susceptible to frizz and flyaways.
• Tangles and Matting: Conditioning helps to detangle the hair and prevent tangling. When conditioner is not used, the hair can become tangled and matted, leading to more frizz. Tangled hair strands are more likely to rub against each other, causing friction and creating a frizzy appearance.
• Lack of Frizz Protection from Weather and Humidity: Conditioner provides protection against external factors that can contribute to frizz, such as weather and humidity. Without this protective barrier, the hair is more exposed to these elements, making it more prone to frizz when exposed to moisture in the air.

3. Towel Dry Your Hair with a Cotton Towel

Drying hair with a cotton towel creates friction that disrupts the smooth alignment of the hair cuticles, leading to frizz and flyaways. Additionally, cotton towels absorb moisture from the hair, contributing to dryness and frizz.

In contrast, Microfiber towels have a smoother texture and finer fibers that generate less friction when drying hair. This gentle drying process helps maintain the alignment of the hair cuticles, reducing the chances of frizz. They are also highly absorbent and effectively wick away moisture without causing excessive drying or frizz.

To avoid damaging the hair and creating intentional frizz, it’s important to use gentle motions when drying instead of rough towel-drying, which can lead to hair breakage and frizz, pat or squeeze the hair gently with a microfiber towel.

The gentle drying from cotton towels helps to remove excess moisture without causing unnecessary friction or disrupting the hair cuticles. You can keep your hair healthy, smooth, and free from unwanted frizz by adopting gentle drying techniques.

4. Apply a Hair Texturizing Product

A hair texturizing product includes sea salt spray, texturizing mousses, or creams. These products add texture, grip, absorb oil, and create separation in the hair.

Sea salt sprays create subtle waves and add texture to the hair, giving it a natural, beachy look. The salt in the spray enhances the hair’s natural wave pattern and provides a slight hold.

Texturizing mousses are lightweight foams that add texture and body to the hair. They provide grip and hold, making it easier to style and create volume. These mousses distribute evenly in the hair, adding lift and separation.

Texturizing creams are thicker products that add controlled texture and separation. They have ingredients like waxes, polymers, or resins to create definition and hold. These creams can add texture, separate strands, and provide a pliable hold for styling.

To create frizz and texture with a hair texturizing product, follow these steps:

1. Start with damp hair: After washing and towel-drying your hair, make sure it is damp but not soaking wet.
2. Apply the texturizing product: Spritz or apply the texturizing product evenly throughout your hair. Concentrate more on the lengths and ends rather than the roots.
3. Scrunch your hair: Use your hands to scrunch your hair, starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots. Scrunching helps activate the product and encourage frizz and texture.
4. Dry your hair: Allow your hair to air dry or use a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer. Using a diffuser can enhance volume and frizz. Avoid touching your hair too much while drying to maintain the desired frizz and texture.
5. Adjust if needed: Once your hair is dry, add more texturizing product and scrunch again if you desire more frizz and texture. Remember to apply the product in moderation, as too much can weigh down your hair.

5. Tease Your Hair

Teasing hair, or backcombing, is a hairstyling technique that creates volume and height. It involves combing the hair opposite to its natural growth to create a tangle or “tease” at the root. This method makes the hair appear fuller and thicker.

To create frizz by teasing your hair, you can follow these steps:

1. Start with dry and clean hair.
2. Section the hair: Divide your hair into small sections, starting from the crown area or wherever you want to create volume.
3. Take a section of hair: Select a small section of hair at the roots. Hold it firmly with one hand.
4. Tease the hair: With the other hand, take a fine-toothed comb and gently comb the hair downwards towards the scalp, causing the hair to tangle and knot up.
5. Repeat the process: Move to the next section and repeat the teasing process to create volume throughout the desired areas.
6. Add hair spray: To create frizz, apply hair spray to the tangled areas while softly rubbing.
7. Shake your hair: Finish by gently using your hands to shake your hair to create the desired frizz.

6. Dry Your Hair with a Blow Dryer

A blow dryer is an electrical device that blows hot or cool air through a nozzle to dry and style hair. Blow drying can contribute to frizz in two ways:

• Heat from the blow dryer can strip moisture from the hair, causing the cuticle layer to lift and allowing moisture from the air to penetrate, resulting in frizz.
• Blow drying disrupts the natural moisture balance of the hair, creating a difference in moisture levels between the hair and the surrounding environment, leading to frizz.

Diffuser and frizz reduction: A diffuser reduces frizz by dispersing the airflow from the blow dryer, minimizing direct heat, and preserving the hair’s natural texture to define curls and reduce frizz.

Avoid using a diffuser for more frizz: To create more frizz, skip using a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer. Direct heat without dispersing the airflow will create more frizz.

Avoid blow-dry smoothing products for frizz: To maintain frizz in your hair, avoid using smoothing or straightening products specifically designed to prevent frizz, such as serums or creams. These products form a barrier that prevents frizz, so avoid using them to keep your hair frizzy.

7. Tousle Your Hair with Your Fingers

To tousle means to disarrange or mess up the hair by running or combing the fingers. Tousling can create a deliberately tousled or messy-looking hairstyle.

When hair is tousled, the individual hair strands become disordered and disturbed. The natural alignment of the hair is disrupted as the cuticles of the hair get moved around. This results in a more unrefined and sometimes frizzy appearance.

Tousling disrupts the alignment of the hair, creating a tousled frizzy look.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tousle your hair to create a frizz effect:

• Start with dry hair: Make sure your hair is completely dry before you begin tousling.
• Prep your hair: Apply a small amount of texturizing spray or mousse for added texture and grip.
• Divide your hair: Divide your hair into smaller sections to make it easier to tousle.
• Use your fingers: Take a section of hair and run your fingers through it from roots to ends, gently scrunching and tousling as you go.
• Repeat: Continue working through all sections of your hair, tousling them individually with your fingers.
• Shake it out: Once you’ve tousled all sections, gently shake your hair to enhance the frizz effect.
• Finish with hairspray: To set the tousled look and control any flyaways, lightly mist your hair with a flexible hold hairspray.

8. Finish with a Setting Hairspray

Setting hairspray is a type of hairspray that provides a strong hold to lock in a hairstyle. Adding structure, volume, and hold is used to achieve a textured, voluminous look.

When it comes to enhancing the frizz look, setting hairspray helps to maintain and amplify the naturally occurring or intentionally created frizz by preventing the hair from settling down and lying flat. It controls flyaways and stray hairs, maintaining the desired untamed and textured effect.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a setting spray to enhance frizziness in your hair:

1. Start with dry hair: Make sure your hair is completely dry before you begin.
2. Prep your hair: Apply a volumizing mousse or texturizing spray to your hair for added texture and grip.
3. Divide your hair: Divide your hair into smaller sections to make it easier to apply the setting spray.
4. Apply setting spray: Holding the setting spray about 10-12 inches away from your hair, spray it on each section generously, working your way from roots to tip.
5. Scrunch your hair: To enhance the frizz look, use your fingers to scrunch and tousle your hair, working from the ends to the roots.
6. Let it dry: Allow your hair to air dry, or use a low heat diffuser to dry it while keeping the structure and lift.
7. Finish with a final spritz of the setting spray: Once your hair is dry, apply one final spritz evenly over your hair, holding the spray can at least 10-12 inches away.

Reasons for Adding Frizz to Your Hair

Here are five reasons why you may want to embrace frizz and add it to your hair:

• Volume: Frizz can create a voluminous appearance, making it perfect for those with fine or flat hair who want to add fullness and lift.
• Texture: Frizz can add texture and movement to your hair, giving it a more natural and effortless look.
• Versatility: Frizz can be styled in various ways, from tousled and messy to sleek and chic, giving you endless options for different occasions and moods.
• Fashion statement: Frizz can be bold, expressing your individuality and creativity with a unique and eye-catching look.
• Natural look: Frizz is a natural aspect of hair, and embracing it can help you appreciate and celebrate your natural hair texture rather than constantly trying to fight it.

Be Careful to Avoid Damaging Your Hair

While adding frizz to your hair can be fun and trendy, it’s important to remember that some methods used to create this look can damage your hair in the long run. To summarize the tips:

While these tips can help you achieve the look you want, it’s important to be mindful of the damage that excessive heat and chemical treatments can cause to your hair. Giving your hair a break’s always a good idea and avoiding using these methods daily.

With these tips, you can embrace your natural frizz while keeping your hair healthy and beautiful in the long run.

Have You Tried Frizzing Your Hair Yet?

Frizz is seen as a hair faux pas, but it can be a bold, expressive, and uniquely chic style statement if you know how to express yourself with it.

Embracing your natural texture or experimenting with a more voluminous and frizzy look can be a liberating experience, giving you a fresh perspective on the versatility of your tresses. If you haven’t yet ventured into the realm of frizz, perhaps now is the time to dive in. After all, fashion and beauty are all about experimentation and finding what makes you feel most confident and vibrant.

About the Author

Shehnaz Shirazi

Shehnaz Shirazi has been writing in the beauty and cosmetics industry for over 8 years, sharing her expansive hair care and beauty knowledge. Shehnaz researches and tests new hair care trends and publishes her insights here.