TOP 4: Tips to Rescue Frizzy Hair

For too long, my natural waves have faced a battle against frizz. I completely fell out of love with my hair and for years, reached for the straighteners everyday without fail to banish the flyaways and smooth out my lack of love. Over time, this ruined my hair -  it was dry, frizzier than ever and thin. It looked horrible and I knew I needed to make a change. I started to take better care of my hair and, I still find it unbelievable that I actually choose to wear it naturally over straightening now. I have embraced the way my hair works and have transformed the way it looks, to the point where the frizz is barely noticeable beyond the sleekness I have created. If you're facing a similar war against your hair, hopefully these tips will help you transform not only your locks but your relationship with them too!

ONE | Condition, Condition, Condition 

My hairdresser told me time and time again the importance of conditioning and, of course I never skipped this step, but I never gave it the attention it deserved. I have found leaving on my condition for much longer than normal has made my hair so much more sleek and luscious. Conditioner is designed to really heal and nourish your hair, so the longer you indulge in the treatment, the better the  outcome! I keep my conditioner on for about 10 minutes while I faff about in the shower with washing my body and shaving my legs, sometimes even turning the shower off and sitting out while the conditioner works its magic. I have found this to really benefit my hair,, leaving it slick and smooth, especially in the long term, so stick it out and your hair will thank you! The conditioner I use is the Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner.

TWO | Give it a Treat 

I started using treatments on my hair about a year ago and have seen it develop and develop to reach the amazing condition I find it in now. I really neglected my hair and have seen how just adding this simple, pampering step into my haircare routine to really turn that hate into love. Treatments seek to stride one pace further than conditioners and nourish deeply to repair and rescue your hair. Just like with facials, hair treatments come in a variety of forms, from masks to deep conditioners, each with different properties to save different problems. Frizz normally lies with dry and broken hair and so, you should look for a treatment to target these problems. Oil based formulas seek to nourish dry hair, without leaving it greasy - these can be particularly helpful for brittle hair too, that feels almost crispy to touch! Look for ingredients such as coconut oil that will hydrate your hair and tone down the wispy, dry fly-aways. What's more, keratin is also an ingredient to smooth out hair and banish frizz. Treatments with this as a base will act a therapy to leave your hair silky with each use. The first treatment I tried was the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Mask that showed me how vital this step of haircare is to rescue your hair routine and leave you the locks you dream of. I am currently using the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner, that not only smells lush but has calmed and repaired my hair. I try to use this maybe once a fortnight or if I notice my hair is being particularly difficult and I always notice how soft, sleek and frizz-free the outcome is. When using treatments, try not to use them too regularly as this can let your hair get used to the ingredients and it will no longer work it's magic!

THREE | Ditch the Heat

The most important step for allowing your hair to heal and, in the long term, look and feel better is to use as little heat as possible. I used to blow-dry my hair after every wash and straighten it everyday! This left it dry, thin and brittle, even my hairdresser told me I needed to desperately cut back and learn to love my hair without styling it so intensely. I began to cut back on straightening and wearing it in ponytails or buns in order to avoid this styling. While I was working, I found this particularly helpful as I had to tie my hair up and it allowed me to experiment with different styles, including plaits and other braids. Today, I have embraced the way my hair falls naturally, as it has had a chance to heal, and don't even blow-dry it anymore! I maybe straighten it once or twice a month, and only really if I'm on a night out. This has not only made it less dry and so, less frizzy, but has also made me love the way it looks naturally and encouraged me to opt for natural hair over heat-styling. 

FOUR | Style it Right

My last tip is to find styling products suited for frizz-prone hair to give it that final boost to reach it's sleek potential. This starts with a heat protection product, incase you are styling it using heat, so that your hair locks in moisture and doesn't become damaged. These come in a variety of forms, from sprays to creams, all of which will over time, protect your hair and leave your finish smooth. What's more, oils and serums designed for dry and frizzy hair will contain ingredients to target the problems that leave your hair frizzy. These formulas are much more concentrated than conditioners so a little often goes a long way, as well as being specifically formulated to work with hair as it drys, so the outcome is smooth and shiny. Focusing these products through the lengths of your hair can help repair and moisturise split ends and avoid oily roots. I have been using the Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum, specially designed for dry and curly hair, that not only keeps my hair hydrated but shapes my waves to look sleek rather than frizz out and look untamed. When searching the market for your styling products, keep an eye out for products formulated for your hair style (for example, if it is wavy/curly or if it is straight) and to help banish frizz, those that hydrate and rescue dry hair, which is what often leads to the cause of flyaways! There are plenty to choose from at a variety of prices, so do your research and see how adding this step into your haircare routine can transform the outcome of your style.  

That's all my tips, and from personal experience, how to look after and rescue how that just won't be tamed. It's hard to change habits straight away so try implementing these ideas slowly into your regime to see the difference it can make. Frizz-less hair is as simple as paying attention to the steps you are taking in your haircare - learn to love your hair and you will be surprised how you ever used to treat it like you did! 

| Products Mentioned | 

Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner 

~ Conditioner Link ~

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Mask 

~ Mask Link ~

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

~ Conditioner Link ~ 

Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum

~ Serum Link ~ 

~ Becca ~ 

P.s: 'Top 4' is a new series I will starting here on Beccaful, to share 4 tips/products/ideas for a range of beauty, makeup and lifestyle concepts! Hope you have enjoyed reading the first instalment and the layout etc. Thanks for reading! 

New Product Review: Batiste Styling Shield My Locks Heat and Shine Spray

When I first found out that Batiste, famous for their range of dry shampoo, was releasing a selection of hair styling products, I was keen to explore the collection and hopefully discover a gem. As my previous heat protection spray was harbouring its last few drops, I thought the new Batiste Styling Shield My Locks Heat and Shine Spray would be perfect to try and maybe even become a new staple. As someone who does rather regularly straighten and style their hair, I was excited to see how many check boxes this would tick and whether it would live up to my expectations from such a well-known haircare brand. If you are in search of a new hair protectant or are just wanting some feedback on the products before spending your pennies, I hope this review is helpful!

To start, the packaging is so pretty! The shimmering finish of a gorgeous bright pink plays background to vibrant orange detailing. It definitely grabbed my attention and stands out on the shelf. What's more, the size is perfect to squeeze into a cupboard, designed in a tube without the large nozzles like many other sprays, while also giving you a lot of product for your money.

What I found the most intriguing about this product was the formula and way in which the product is used. Most other heat defence sprays come in a liquid formula, sprayed onto the hair as a mist before styling. However, the consistency of this product is similar to that of a hairspray or even the dry shampoo! I wasn't sure how I felt about this aerosol format and how easy it would be to cover the hair completely. I found the best way to use this is by sectioning hair and spraying all over, as you would a hairspray, being careful to cover your eyes! This ensures that each section is covered and no where has been missed, as the product comes out quite quickly when sprayed and it can be difficult to judge. I think in comparison to other products with the traditional 'nozzle', there doesn't seem to be such a difference in ease of application. One way that I find this product differs from others is that, once applied, your hair isn't left slightly damp with the product, therefore there is no need to wait before applying any heat and you don't hear that awful singeing sound when you start to style it! Once styled, your hair still feels soft, not stiff or tacky, as though your hair is full of product. In terms of shine, coming from someone with rather frizzy natural locks, I would say your hair does look as though it has a gleam to it, definitely not life-changing but I couldn't deny it does add that little extra sheen after styling. Considering the price, the finish of this product is very nice and, despite the hairspray-like consistency, your hair remains soft and sleek.

On the back of the bottle, it is explained that this product can in fact be used on dry hair too, to add extra shine. This has proved to be my favourite way to use this product. My natural hair is wavy and quite often on the frizzy side. A spritz of this product has been perfect for taming odd fly-aways as well as those days when my waves are too frizzy to resemble a style! This spray really helps smooth out and define the waves in my hair, without my hair left feeling crispy or damp. What's more, it really does add a nice shine when used in this fashion, much more noticeable than when used before styling I would say. My only wish is that it had a more pleasant and appealing scent!

Overall, I think Batiste has done well in not only presenting but formulating this product to add a new concept to hair styling. I am very much a fan of the difference from the usual heat defence products that grace the shelves. What I credit this product most for is the ability to multitask as a quick frizz-fix, and I don't leave the house most days without a quick spritz to add definition and shine. I would definitely recommend to the girls like me, who long for sleek and shiny hair for an incredible price tag!

What are your favourite hair styling products?

- Becca x

Batiste Styling Shield My Locks Heat and Shine Spray - RRP £4.49 (for 200ml)

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