The 8 Best Products for Frizzy Hair That We Tested, Including Shampoos, Oils, and Hot Tools

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksBest Blow DryerBest Hair OilBest Heat ProtectantBest ShampooBest Hair BrushBest Leave-inBest Hot Hair BrushBest Flat IronBehind the ScenesWhy Trust PEOPLE

In This ArticleView All

View All

In This Article

Our Top Picks

Best Blow Dryer

Best Hair Oil

Best Heat Protectant

Best Shampoo

Best Hair Brush

Best Leave-in

Best Hot Hair Brush

Best Flat Iron

Behind the Scenes

Why Trust PEOPLE

Photo:People / Sephora (4); Ulta (2); Amazon (2)

People / Sephora (4); Ulta (2); Amazon (2)

I’m a founding member of the frizzy hair club (don’t worry, we never meet when it rains) — and thanks to my job as a beauty product writer, I’ve finally cracked the code to smooth, soft hair.

What Causes Frizzy Hair?

If humidity sends you running for cover and smoothing your hair is an Olympic sport, then you’ve come to the right place. Our team hastried hundreds of hair serums, oils, brushes, and hot toolsfirsthand, and we weren’t easy on ‘em. That hard work lead us to create this definitive list of thevery best products for taming frizzy hair.

Ahead, discover the best products in every hair category, from an ionic hair dryer to a heat protectant that heals hair while adding gloss and shine.

Best Blow Dryer: BondiBoost Sonic Dryer

Bondi Boost

$119 at Amazon$199 at Sephora$199 at Ulta

Star QualitiesIon technology creates smooth, frizz-free blowoutsFour heat settings, three speeds, and a cool shot buttonComes with air concetrator and diffuser headsRed FlagsSmart memory settings have a small learning curve

Star QualitiesIon technology creates smooth, frizz-free blowoutsFour heat settings, three speeds, and a cool shot buttonComes with air concetrator and diffuser heads

Ion technology creates smooth, frizz-free blowouts

Four heat settings, three speeds, and a cool shot button

Comes with air concetrator and diffuser heads

Red FlagsSmart memory settings have a small learning curve

Smart memory settings have a small learning curve

Compared to the other 33blow dryers we’ve tested, the BondiBoost left our hair the smoothest and shiniest. In fact, no matter what hair type we used the dryer on — from pin straight to super curly — we achieved a frizz-free blowout without the need for any extra smoothing products on top.

The shiny hair results are thanks to the hair dryer’s ion technology, which helps reduce static. It comes with an air concentrating nozzle and a diffuser attachment, and offers four heat settings, three power settings, and a cool shot button. It also has “smart memory” function which automatically saves your settings from the last time you used it; a nice feature for consistent styling but with a bit of a learning curve.

Hair Type:All |Weight:0.77 pounds |Wattage:1,875 |Settings:4 heat / 3 speed / cool shot / smart memory |Attachments:Concentrator, diffuser

PHOTO: People / Jessica JuliaoPHOTO: People / Jessica JuliaoPHOTO: People / Jessica Juliao

An Important Distinction"Dry hair can get frizzy, but frizzy hair does not equal dry hair. Dry hair, which lacks moisture, is also more likely to become frizzy because it’s more prone to swelling when it encounters moisture.”—Rogerio Cavalcante, hair stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon

An Important Distinction

“Dry hair can get frizzy, but frizzy hair does not equal dry hair. Dry hair, which lacks moisture, is also more likely to become frizzy because it’s more prone to swelling when it encounters moisture.”—Rogerio Cavalcante, hair stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon

Best Hair Oil: Olaplex Bonding Oil

Amazon

$30 at Amazon$30 at Sephora$30 at Ulta

Star QualitiesRepairs, strengthens, and hydrates hair strandsLeft our hair glossy and smoothDoubles as a heat protectantRed FlagsContains silicone

Star QualitiesRepairs, strengthens, and hydrates hair strandsLeft our hair glossy and smoothDoubles as a heat protectant

Repairs, strengthens, and hydrates hair strands

Left our hair glossy and smooth

Doubles as a heat protectant

Red FlagsContains silicone

Contains silicone

Olaplex is known for its high-end, hair-repairing formulas, and the star product of its lineup is the No. 7 Bonding Oil. It’s lightweight, heat-protecting, and deeply hydrating. Not only does it strengthen and repair, it also creates glossy, smooth styles when applied on wet or dry hair.

Oil is able to penetrate deep into the hair strand to repair it and add the moisture that frizzy hair craves. Out of the29 hair oils we’ve tested, the No 7. Bonding Oil won the coveted title of Best Overall. One thing to note: The No 7. Oil does contain silicone, which could be a red flag for some. But, for its impressive results, we think this golden oil earns a solid gold medal.

Star Ingredients:Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grapeseed oil, fermented green tea oil |Key Benefits:Repairs broken bonds, offers heat and UV protection, fights frizz, helps maintain colorvibrancy |Size:1 ounce

PHOTO: People / Tamara StaplesPHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

Expert Tip"Frizzy hair can be treated in both short-term and long-term ways. For a quick fix, use anti-frizz serums, leave-in conditioners, or smoothing sprays. Long-term solutions involve keeping hair hydrated with moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, and deep conditioning treatments."—Rogerio Cavalcante

Expert Tip

“Frizzy hair can be treated in both short-term and long-term ways. For a quick fix, use anti-frizz serums, leave-in conditioners, or smoothing sprays. Long-term solutions involve keeping hair hydrated with moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, and deep conditioning treatments."—Rogerio Cavalcante

Best Heat Protectant: Color Wow Dream Coat

$24 at Amazon$24 at Sephora$24 at Ulta

Star QualitiesAdds shine and smooths hairProtects hair from heat and UV damageEasy to applyWeightless feelRed FlagsOne of the more expensive heat protectants we’ve tried

Star QualitiesAdds shine and smooths hairProtects hair from heat and UV damageEasy to applyWeightless feel

Adds shine and smooths hair

Protects hair from heat and UV damage

Easy to apply

Weightless feel

Red FlagsOne of the more expensive heat protectants we’ve tried

One of the more expensive heat protectants we’ve tried

The hype is real: The ColorWow Dream Coat really is as good as everyone says. Wetested the heat protectantagainst all of its best-selling competitors, and this one was the clear winner. The two-in-one-formula works as a hair gloss and heat protectant at the same time, so it leaves hair feeling ultra-soft and unbelievably smooth while warding off heat damage at the same time.

The product is also very easy to apply, with a handy spritz bottle and a weightless formula. Once applied, the product instantly absorbed into the hair without any greasy residue left behind. Although this is one of the more expensive hair products in our arsenal, the two-in-one benefits make it feel well worth the cost.

“The Color Wow Dream Coat has been a game-changer for my summer hair. When I blow-dry with this product on, I know I’m going to have smooth, shiny hair that lasts for almost a week and a half since I only need to use it every third wash.”—Alyssa Brascia, Shopping Writer

Size:6.7 ounces |Benefits:Anti-frizz treatment, hair gloss, heat protectant formula |Temperature Protection:Not listed

PHOTO: People / Elena GarciaPHOTO: People / Elena Garcia

Best Shampoo: Curlsmith Frizz Control Cleanser

Ulta

$26 at Amazon$26 at Target$26 at Ulta

Star QualitiesSulfate and silicone-free formulaImmediate shiny results after one useMakes hair healthier, softer, and more voluminous over timeRed FlagsDoesn’t lather easily

Star QualitiesSulfate and silicone-free formulaImmediate shiny results after one useMakes hair healthier, softer, and more voluminous over time

Sulfate and silicone-free formula

Immediate shiny results after one use

Makes hair healthier, softer, and more voluminous over time

Red FlagsDoesn’t lather easily

Doesn’t lather easily

Shampoo can sometimes strip hair strands and leave them dryer and frizzier than before, but not the Curlsmith Frizz Control Cleanser; this shampoo made our hair look smoother and feel softer after just one wash. With continued use, the sulfate-free shampoo left our hair feeling healthier, shinier, and thicker.

Like many surfactant-free shampoos, the Curlsmith shampoo is more challenging to create a lather with, but we think that some extra time spent working it into our hair is worth the incredible results. Don’t let the lack of lather fool you — we found that the shampoo effectively removed dirt and buildup during ourcurly hair shampoo tests.

Key Ingredients:Coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, squalane, argan oil |Sulfate-Free:Yes |Size:12 ounces

PHOTO: People / Alexa Jade FrankelisPHOTO: People / Alexa Jade FrankelisPHOTO: People / Alexa Jade Frankelis

Best Hair Brush: Briogeo Vegan Boar Bristle Hair Brush

$28 at Amazon$28 at Sephora$28 at Dermstore

Star QualitiesGently detangles hairMinimizes static and frizzFaux boar bristles evenly distribute scalp oilsRed FlagsSlightly heavy to hold

Star QualitiesGently detangles hairMinimizes static and frizzFaux boar bristles evenly distribute scalp oils

Gently detangles hair

Minimizes static and frizz

Faux boar bristles evenly distribute scalp oils

Red FlagsSlightly heavy to hold

Slightly heavy to hold

Frizzy haired folks know the fear that a hairbrush can instill — not only is the process of brushing out curly or knotted hair painful, it can also lead to an even frizzier ‘do. Unlike standard plastic hairbrushes that can create static, boar bristle brushes are designed to help evenly distribute oil from the scalp to the rest of the hair, which minimizes frizz. The Brigeo Vegan Boar Bristle Brush doesn’t use real boar bristles, but the vegan fibers perform just like them.

We tested out 26 different brushes on real testers with curly hair, and the Brigeo brush impressed us with its ability to quickly detangle our strands without disrupting our curl pattern. It is slightly heavier than some of theother brushes that we tried, but that also gives our hair a more luxurious feel.

Bristle Material:Boar, nylon |Hair Type:All hair types |Weight:3.99 ounces

Best Leave-in: Crown Affair Leave-in Conditioner Cream

Sephora

$48 at Sephora

Star QualitiesDeeply hydratingTransformed our damaged hair to look and feel healthyLuxurious, subtle scentRed FlagsNeed to keep using it for results to stay

Star QualitiesDeeply hydratingTransformed our damaged hair to look and feel healthyLuxurious, subtle scent

Deeply hydrating

Transformed our damaged hair to look and feel healthy

Luxurious, subtle scent

Red FlagsNeed to keep using it for results to stay

Need to keep using it for results to stay

We sing the highest praises possible for this luxurious leave-in cream. The Crown Affair cream single handedly revived our dry, over-processed hair: transforming highlighted, straw-like hair into soft-as-silk tresses. When we ran out of the product, our hair looked drier and felt weaker, but the purchase of a second bottle brought us back to a glossy state.

We’re not the only fans of the Crown Affair leave-in. The miracle-working product was alsoused on Julianne Moorefor the 2024 Critics Choice Awards to “add texture and definition” as well as “tons of shine” to her hair, according to her hairstylistMark Townsend.

Key Ingredients:Tsubaki-seed oil, meadowfoam-seed oil |Sulfate-Free:Yes |Size:5.1 ounces

Expert Tip"Look for products containing natural oils (like argan or coconut oil), glycerin, and silicones, which help seal in moisture and smooth the hair cuticle. Avoid products with high alcohol content, sulfates, or harsh chemicals, as these can strip moisture from the hair and exacerbate frizz."—Rogerio Cavalcante

“Look for products containing natural oils (like argan or coconut oil), glycerin, and silicones, which help seal in moisture and smooth the hair cuticle. Avoid products with high alcohol content, sulfates, or harsh chemicals, as these can strip moisture from the hair and exacerbate frizz."—Rogerio Cavalcante

People / Alyssa Grabinski

Best Hot Hair Brush: Bondi Boost Blowout Brush Pro

$70 at Amazon

Star QualitiesCreates smooth, bouncy blowoutsDries and styles hair simultaneouslyWorks quicklyRed FlagsCooling function is not intuitive

Star QualitiesCreates smooth, bouncy blowoutsDries and styles hair simultaneouslyWorks quickly

Creates smooth, bouncy blowouts

Dries and styles hair simultaneously

Works quickly

Red FlagsCooling function is not intuitive

Cooling function is not intuitive

For a quick, smooth blowout, the Bondi Boost Blowout Brush was one of the best and fastest workinghot air brushes that we’ve tested. Using this brush, we achieved a silky smooth blowout in only 17 minutes. The results were shiny and soft, even without applying any anti-frizz serum on top. The oval-shaped brush dries the hair while it styles, adding volume to the root thanks to its large barrel and unique shape.

Heat Settings:3 |Cord Length:9.8 feet |Voltage:120

PHOTO: People / Tamara StaplesPHOTO: People / Jessica JuliaoPHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

Best Flat Iron: Chi Lava 4D Hairstyling Iron

$230 at Ulta

Star QualitiesStraightened hair in just 10 minutesCermamic plates with lava minerals fight frizzCreates smooth, sleek stylesRed FlagsNot enough slip for effective curling

Star QualitiesStraightened hair in just 10 minutesCermamic plates with lava minerals fight frizzCreates smooth, sleek styles

Straightened hair in just 10 minutes

Cermamic plates with lava minerals fight frizz

Creates smooth, sleek styles

Red FlagsNot enough slip for effective curling

Not enough slip for effective curling

We all know that hot tools can cause damage to the hair, so if your hair already tends to be dry, frizzy, or damage-prone, then it’s important to choose a less damaging hot tool. That’s why we love the Chi Lava 4D flat iron — compared toevery flat iron we’ve tested, this one smoothed and straightened our strands in just 10 minutes, which means less time potentially damaging the hair.

It’s made with Chi Lava minerals and ceramic plates, designed to help tame frizz and create sleek styles in less time than most flat irons. If you’re planning on using the flat iron to create curls, this isn’t our top choice because it lacks a little bit of the necessary slip, but for straight styles we highly recommend this one.

Temperature Settings:5 |Width:1 inch |Material:Chi Lava minerals, ceramic

We test out hundreds of different hair products every year in our lab, and then send the best products home with our diverse team of testers. With continued use, we can see how well the products perform over time. For this story, we combed through our numerous hair product tests to find the products that best smoothed out frizz.

People / Jessica Juliao

Some of the ways we tested these products include:

Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Cai Crameris a PEOPLE staff shopping writer of two years, who frequently covers beauty and has battled her frizzy hair for her entire life. For this story, Cai combed through (pun-intended) multiple hair product tests conducted on testers with all different hair types, including dry, curly, coily, and straight hair. She also spoke to hair stylist and salon owner Rogerio Cavalcante, who provided key insights on the science behind frizzy hair and how to achieve smooth, glossy locks.

Our Expert PanelRogerio Cavalcanteis a master hair stylist and owner ofThe Second Floor Salon, located in New York City’s Lower East Side

Our Expert Panel

Rogerio Cavalcanteis a master hair stylist and owner ofThe Second Floor Salon, located in New York City’s Lower East Side

What is PEOPLE Tested?

We created thePEOPLE Tested seal of approvalto help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com