Why heatless curls turn frizzy

Frizz comes from disturbed hair surface. Usual causes:

1. Brushing or combing after unwrapping.
2. Taking the set down before it was dry.
3. Friction while sleeping on cotton.
4. A rough tool that grabs hair.
5. Too much touching.
6. Humidity.

Think of hair as a surface of tiny overlapping scales. Anything that roughs up that surface shows as frizz: a brush, a rough pillowcase, an unsnagged tie, or even your own hands. Heatless methods start with a lower risk than hot tools because nothing is heating the hair, but the finish still decides how smooth it looks.

1. Wait a minute.

2. Rub one drop of lightweight oil or serum between your palms.

3. Gently scrunch it over the curls.

4. Separate with your fingers, not a brush.

5. Finish with a light hold spray.

6. Wait a minute.

7. Rub one drop of lightweight oil or serum between your palms until it disappears.

8. Gently scrunch it over the curls, from mid-length down.

9. Separate with your fingers, not a brush.

10. Finish with a light hold spray from a distance.

11. Leave it alone. Every touch adds frizz.

If you have fine hair, use even less oil; a rice-grain amount is plenty. See fine hair.

It can if it tugs or drags. Kitsch describes its satin as gliding through hair without tugging and its velvet as soft; The Hair Edit describes its velour as soft and non-slip. If a tool snags, loosen your wrap or switch to a smoother one.

It can if it tugs or drags. Kitsch describes its satin as gliding through hair without tugging and its velvet as soft; The Hair Edit describes its velour as soft and non-slip. If a tool snags, loosen your wrap or switch to a smoother one. Rough scrunchies and elastic bands also create frizz at the ends, so use satin or fabric ties; Kitsch sells a 5-pack of satin sleep scrunchies for $8.

Check the tool as well as the technique. Cheap or worn fabric can pill and catch strands. Washing it as the brand suggests (The Hair Edit says its tools are machine washable in cold water on a delicate cycle, hang dry) keeps it smooth.

Cover your set with a satin bonnet or sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce friction. See how to sleep with heatless curls.

Cover your set with a satin bonnet or sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce friction. Friction on a rough surface is a leading cause of morning frizz. See how to sleep with heatless curls. Position matters too: if you toss and turn, the set rubs more. A satin cover keeps it contained.

• Smooth hair with a light product before wrapping.
• Wrap in clean, even sections.
• Let it dry fully.
• Unwrap gently.

See also why heatless curls fall out.

• Smooth hair with a light product before wrapping.
• Wrap in clean, even sections.
• Let it dry fully.
• Unwrap gently.
• Use satin to sleep.

See also why heatless curls fall out and how to make heatless curls last.

Yes. Root frizz usually comes from unwrapping a slightly damp section or from sleeping on a rough surface. End frizz usually comes from brushing, or from ends that were not tucked in and dried loose. Handle roots with a gentle press and a drop of serum; handle ends with a small amount of oil.

Frizz is also more visible on some days than others. Weather, how recently you washed and how dry the ends are all play a part. If your ends are dry, a lightweight leave-in before wrapping, as Kitsch's own how-to for its velvet rods suggests (mid-lengths to ends), can help the finished curls look smoother.

• Do not brush dry curls.
• Do not run your fingers through them repeatedly.
• Do not apply heavy product to dry curls.
• Do not use rough hair ties; satin scrunchies are gentler. Kitsch sells a 5-pack of satin sleep scrunchies for $8.
• Do not unwrap damp hair.

Smooth each section with a light product before wrapping. Use a firm, even wrap with the ends tucked. Dry fully. Separate with fingers. That routine gives most of the smoothing you can get from any tool.