New hair, who dis? Here’s the 411 on everything you need to know about fighting the frizz, right from the right shampoos and deep conditioning masks to salon treatments.
Hands up if you’re sick of bad hair days and stubborn flyaways. We sure as heck are, and we have the lovely humidity in Singapore to thank for our frizzy hair. It doesn’t have to be this way. We’re bringing out the big guns with a complete guide to fighting frizzy hair. Pay attention now, as we’ve got the best hacks from recommended hair oils and hot tools to hair salons.
It starts in the shower with a de-frizzing shampoo, conditioner and deep-conditioning mask
1. John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner
If you’re moved to Singapore from a colder clime, chances are that your hair’s facing a serious frizz problem here – blame the excess moisture in the humid air. Frizz also results from too much heat damage and chemical processing. Tackling this begins in the shower with a frizz eliminating shampoo and conditioner. John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery shampoo and conditioner ($16.20) helps block excess water from being absorbed in your hair, and restore the lipids (these are what keeps hair healthy) lost to chemical processes or too much heat styling.
John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner, available online
2. L’Oreal Keratin Smooth Perfecting line
Another cult favourite is the L’Oreal Keratin Smooth Perfecting line. The 72H shampoo ($15.90) polishes hair fibre by fibre, helps fill in micro irregularities and promises to keep frizz at bay for three days at a time with each use. It’s almost like you’ve just stepped out of a salon!
L’Oreal Keratin Smooth 72H shampoo and conditioner, available online
3. Bee Choo Origin Ceramide Hair Treatment Oil
Dull and damaged hair? You won’t know her after you’ve tried the ceramide hair treatment oil ($28) from Bee Choo Origin. Featuring ceramides, avocado oil and inula crithmoide extract, this repair and conditioning formula is packed with vitamins, antioxidants and all the good minerals that will leave your locks smooth and silky. Plus, it’s designed to keep sun and environmental damage at bay – so you can feel at ease even in the hottest weather.
Suitable for all hair types, this treatment oil can nourish your tresses in a variety of ways. For everyday use, apply it on damp or dry hair from mid-hair length to ends – just be sure to avoid your roots. Or, give your locks added protection by applying the oil before a blow-drying sesh. It’s lightweight, moisturising and nourishing, so add to cart to experience the difference yourself!
Bee Choo Origin Ceramide Hair Treatment Oil, available online
4. K18 Hair Mask
Is the dreaded frizz giving you bad hair days? Add the K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask ($100) to your routine for impressive results. The secret ingredient? The patented K18Peptide, a miracle molecule that carries amino acids into the cortex (the middle layer which provides strength, colour and texture) of your hair. This bioactive peptide strengthens hair follicles, improves elasticity and also reverses damage from bleach, colour, heat and chemical services. TL;DR: it basically restores your mane to a Pocahontas-worthy look. Who doesn’t want that? The four-minute leave-in treatment is lightweight and moisturising, without weighing your hair down. Make the most out of the mask by using it the correct way. First, shampoo your hair (no need to use conditioner). Use just one pump of the hair mask and let it sit for about four minutes to let it do its job. Simply apply every three to four washes for lively locks.
K18 Hair Mask, available online
5. Aromatica Quinoa Protein Shampoo
We love superfoods in our diet, but how about incorporating them into our haircare routine? Meet the quinoa protein shampoo from Aromatica ($38) that boasts a secret ingredient: quinoa seed extract. Leveraging the repairing and nourishing properties of quinoa, this shampoo is said to be a solution for brittle and damaged hair. For optimal results, try using it with the quinoa protein treatment mask, hair ampoule and hair primer.
Aromatica Quinoa Protein shampoo, available online
6. Walking on Sunshine’s Cinderella Treatment
Unruly hair, do care! Let the experts at Walking on Sunshine take care of your mane and transform it for a smooth, gorgeous look. Aside from expert styling services including a cut, colour and wash, there are a range of treatments to give your hair some TLC. We love the fairytale glow up that you get with the Cinderella Treatment, which is like botox for your hair. It uses organic ingredients like aloe vera, vitamins and collagen to nourish and moisturise your tresses, giving you silky, shiny locks. Psst: You can also try the scalp treatment that’s an intensive solution to scalp woes, including dry and inflamed ones – this helps to prevent dandruff too!
Perk alert: Use the code “honeycombers” for a $100 discount voucher, which you can apply to hair and scalp treatments (except add-on services) for first time customers only.
Walking on Sunshine, #03-07, Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
7. Coco & Eve’s Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or away from social media) you’ve probably seen ads of this miracle mask floating around Instagram. I caved and just had to try Coco & Eve’s highly-raved hair masque ($52) for myself to see what the hoopla’s all about. First of all, that smell. Gosh, it just makes you want to slather it all over your hair and body. For some reason, it took me straight to the tropics. So I was not surprised that the mask includes raw virgin coconut from Bali. Other enriching ingredients?
Fig essence for repair, hydrating shea butter and argan oil and linseed to prevent those nasty split ends. I distribute a liberal amount to my ends and only use the tangle tamer when my hair is extra cranky. Hot tip: leave the mask on overnight so all that moisture’s locked in. The result? Healthier and softer waves. Even though the frizz reappears on days when I didn’t use the mask (blame my moisture-deprived hair), this is great for a quick fix or for a spa day at home. And not to mention, the sulphate and paraben-free formulae is like music to my ears.
– Nicole, Associate Editor
Coco & Eve’s Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque, available online
How you towel-dry is key
8. Lisse Luxe towel and hair turban by Aquis
Like clockwork after each hair wash, we often find ourselves roughly rubbing our strands with a coarse towel before quickly wrapping and twisting our hair into a too-tight bundle. This is a major bad beauty habit to break, as your hair is at its most fragile state when wet. Give your locks some TLC by gently patting, squeezing and blotting different sections of your hair. To make sure you’re really doing your hair right, swap out that towel for a microfibre one. The highly raved about ones by Aquis ($24.99) absorb water quickly, reducing your drying time and making sure you leave the house with dry locks – so important as any moisture left in hair leaves it frizzy.
Lisse Luxe towel and hair turban by Aquis, available online
Tame your mane with smoothing treatments
9. For finer hair types: Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid
Made with a heavenly concoction of organic lavender, blood orange, rosemary, this smoothing fluid ($56) boasts a lightweight formula, which tames flyaways and frizzy hair. It’ll leave your hair soft and shiny, and most importantly, frizz-free.
Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid, available online
10. For curly and coarse hair: Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil
For the wavy and thick-haired, oils are the ultimate smoothing treatment – not only does it tame your frizz, but it also keeps your coarse locks well-hydrated. One such oil is the fast-absorbing Ouai rose-gold oil ($54) that doubles up as a hair and body moisturiser, and smells amazing, thanks to its infusion of rose, bergamot, lychee and white musk.
Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil, available online
11. For chemically damaged hair: Moroccanoil Treatment
This popular hair styler ($70.30) is great for hair dulled by frequent chemical treatments. Its ingredients of argan oil and linseed extract helps revive and strengthen damaged strands. Bonus points for its fast-absorbing formula which helps you manage your frizzy hair and tame flyaways on the go.
Moroccanoil Treatment, available online
12. For all hair types: Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother
This well-known brand has several game-changing products that are often raved about all over the internet. Great for all hair types is the bond smoother product ($40) which is a concentrated leave-in smoothing cream that effectively eliminates frizzy hair and flyaways. The product boasts how a single molecule free of silicones and oils does the work in improving hair strength and protecting your locks from the root.
Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother, available online
More permanent solutions: Anti-frizz salon treatments
13. Mi the Salon’s Mi Magic Straight Treatment
Yas, the proof is in the pudding or in this case, a now-tamed mane. When Mi the Salon refreshed their hair treatments in late 2018, we were given one of two choices – Mi Magic Straight for glossy + straight locks or Wonder Curls for wavy + voluminous hair. Fresh from a tropical vacation where my generally wavy hair did a Monica Geller (See: Friends) and went poof, I picked Mi Magic Straight, of course.
Mi the Salon’s special in-house formulated hair service is meant to fight the fizz with TLC. At the former Ion Orchard outlet, my hair was treated to a three-step procedure while the rest of me just relaxed for an afternoon. First, a pre-treatment almond oil mask for protection, then the anti-frizz and straightening stuff went on and finally a mask to restore hair protein, bring down pH levels and lend some shine. And shine it did – I went from looking loco to someone who has her sh*t together… in just 4-5 hours. Did it last? Despite swimming weekly right after the Mi Magic Straight treatment, it lasted in full glory for a good month and a half – which says a lot.
Most importantly though, it made me feel good. What about hair fall, you ask? TBH, not more than usual! I was told to head back for a touch up every 6 – 8 weeks to keep looking fresh. It’s been four months since and I haven’t touched up yet (things we do for a thorough review!). Although not as glam, my hair is still straight, manageable and only now showing visible frizz. Will I go back for round two? You betcha!
– Aditi, former Deputy Editor
Mi the Salon, #02-01C, Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
14. Covo Hair Salon’s Kerasilk Keratin Treatment
So after four years of whingeing about my perpetual frizz and all the hair oils and serums on earth just not cutting it, I decided to do something about my crazylady hair. I did some serious market research (the office poll) and between rebonding and keratin treatments, the consensus was that the latter provided the least damaging and longer lasting results. My hairdresser at my local fave Covo Hair Salon in Katong agreed, and $320 dollars and a couple of hours later, I had the sleekest ‘do of my life.
The next morning I still looked like I was fresh from the salon and it did stay this way for much longer than expected. To be honest, I found my hair a little too straight and I missed the natural waves, which I think were obliterated by the treatment – but five months later my hair has relaxed and I’m back to wavy, but much less crazy hair. If you’re serious about getting the most out of a keratin treatment, you’ll need to invest in a keratin-enriched shampoo and conditioner and use it religiously. Was the investment worth it? Yes, I’d do it again.
– Selina, former Editor
Covo Hair Salon, multiple locations including Tanjong Pagar and Boat Quay
15. Covo Tokio Inkarami Hair Treatment
If you don’t want to re-texturise your hair, your best bet is Japanese salon Covo’s Tokio Inkarami Hair Treatment. Tokio Inkarami doesn’t require straightening of your hair. Instead, the treatment’s use of heat is only via steaming. Don’t be surprised to find your hair stylist pounding your scalp – doing so allows the formula to better penetrate your hair follicles. Note that this won’t last as long as a keratin treatment as it doesn’t involve ironing the nutrients in, so make sure you maintain the condition of your hair with the recommended shampoo and conditioner.
Covo Hair Salon, multiple locations including Tanjong Pagar and Boat Quay
16. Chez Vous Hair Botox + Fillers
Before you freak out and picture needles going into your scalp, hair botox isn’t what you think. Where facial botox helps smoothen out your wrinkles and plump the sunken contours of your skin, hair botox similarly helps to fill up the “holes” in your hair with reparative hair supplements. Here’s how the semi-permanent treatment works: after a good, purifying wash, hard keratin, pro-silk protein and other active ingredients are thoroughly applied to your hair before you lock in all that goodness with hot air. Once that’s been washed out, your hair will be blow-dried and straightened with a flat iron.
Chez Vous, #05-05, Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
17. Expat Hair Studios Keratin Treatment
Helmed by a team of internationally trained mane tamers well-versed with the kinks and curls of Caucasian hair, Expat Hair Studio has quickly become a household name amongst the expat community. Keratin treatments here will first break down your hair’s natural structure, then replace keratin lost by age and chemical services. Expect to see an increase in shine and frizz manageability immediately.
Expat Hair Studio, multiple locations including Boat Quay and Joo Chiat
18. Salon Vim Texture Control
This three-step anti-frizz solution leaves the results entirely up to you – the treatment can be customised to suit your preferences, whether you prefer the finish to be light and airy, or soft yet heavy. The treatment is permanent but will require basic monthly touch-ups to maintain your hair texture.
Salon Vim, #02-01B, Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Hot tools
19. Philips Heated Straightening Brush
Naturally straight hair in just five minutes? Make this a reality with the heated straightening brush from Philips. It’s your cheat code to healthy-looking and silky smooth locks. What’s even better is that this brush keeps heat damage and friction at a minimum – thanks to the ThermoProtect technology that ensures the brush bristles stay at optimal temperature levels.
Philips Heated Straightening Brush, available online and at selected retailers including Harvey Norman and Courts Singapore
20. Dyson Supersonic Dryer and Dyson Airwrap
If none of these work without a hot tool involved, it may be time to invest in the Dyson Supersonic Dryer ($699). This isn’t any ol’ hairdryer; if you’ve already got damaged hair, its intelligent heat control helps maintain an optimal temperature, preventing you from further heat damaging your hair. For the curly haired, the diffusers disperse the air evenly around your curls to reduce frizz. For those who prefer a sleeker mane, the Dyson smoothing nozzle helps you dry and style your hair at the same time, leaving it shiny and frizz-free.
We told you all about this gadget, which can curl or smooth your hair without extreme, damaging heat. Brush up with our review of the Dyson Airwrap if you need to catch up: the hype is real. We’ve all tried hair irons to get that dead straight, smooth look – but if you don’t like spending an age flattening your hair and burning it to a crisp, this is the gadget to invest in. It works, it’s fast and it’s been designed to ensure your hair doesn’t get damaged in the process.
If you want the flexibility of creating curls or a smooth, sleek look without a chemical treatment, close your eyes, hand over your plastics and remind yourself the kit is around the same price as two keratin treatments!
Dyson, available online and selected departmental and electrical stores including Harvey Norman and TANGS at Tang Plaza.
The Right Hair Brush
21. Tangle Teezer The Original Hairbrush
This multi-award-winning detangling hairbrush ($32) has been trending for over a decade – and for all the right reasons. Featuring two-tiered soft-flex teeth, this life-changing tool can easily glide through colour-treated, fine and fragile hair. Rest assured, it’ll be a painless experience with no pulling or tugging involved. Oh, and did we mention it comes in a dazzling array of colours and designs? Keep one of these in your bag for effortless styling on the go!
Tangle Teezer The Original Hairbrush, available online and at selected retailers including Sephora and Watsons
22. The Body Shop Oval Bamboo Pin Hairbrush
Say buh-bye to frizzy hair with bamboo pin hair brushes! Yes, we’re guilty of not paying enough attention to our hair brushes too. Wooden brushes are anti-static which prevents your hair from all that frizz you’ve been trying to tame all your life. It also has other added benefits like stimulating your scalp’s blood circulation and reducing tangles (such a pain, ain’t it?!). One of our faves is The Body Shop’s oval bamboo pin hairbrush ($15) that immediately feels great when you brush your hair. Bamboo brushes are great for all hair types and the woody smells is pleasure to the all-natural enthusiasts!
The Body Shop Oval Bamboo Pin Hairbrush, available online and at multiple locations including Bugis Junction and Plaza Singapura
So say no to frizzy hair problems with these game-changing solutions!
[This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024 by Yuki Ling.]
