FRIZZ SMOOTHER

We have friends who scuttle between doorways or reach into their bags for a hood at the merest hint of drizzle or mizzle. But happily, there's now an entire industry built around offering solutions to this hair challenge – and the category covers several different styles of product from serums to sprays via cream de-frizzers, heat-protectants and styling products.

Whatever style of product you like to use, we think there’s a de-frizzer here for you. Or – heck, why not try something different, for a change? It if tames the frizzies, gotta be worth a go.

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD FFØR Pro:Tect Smoothing Mist

This hair protecting mist is suitable for dry, normal or combination hair, ‘with thermal protection properties to help tame frizz and flyaway hairs for a silky smooth finish.’ It does triple-duty, styling hair as well as protecting it from the ravages of heat styling and humidity. It’s protein-rich, we’re told, infused with sustainably harvested vetiver and bergamot (hence the smell that many testers enjoyed). FFØR stands for ‘Free From/Original/Real’, offering products that are 100% vegan, PETA-certified cruelty-free, with recycled and recyclable packaging derived from drinks bottles and opaque milk bottles.

£20 for 250ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Gave a smooth and silky finish to my difficult hair, which is prone to frizz and dryness. Used it all summer long in our very hot and humid summer and my hair has been the best it has ever looked’ • ‘I suffer from frizz in wet and humid conditions but this is EXCELLENT – tamed frizz wonderfully well, best product I have used for keeping my hair smooth in heat and humidity’ • ‘This will stay in my hair care wardrobe; I tend to let my hair air dry, but when I want to make a good impression and have a sleeker hairstyle this is an easy product to use which gives great results’ • ‘Excellent at smoothing and taming frizz both on the day of using it and for the following day. Even on humid days my hair was a lot less frizzy than it would have been if I hadn't used the product’ • ‘My husband commented on how well groomed I looked when I had used this product to blow dry my hair – a big compliment as he doesn't normally notice my hair!’ • ‘A light, fresh fragrance, which I liked. Curly hair like mine is a lot drier so it needs a lot of care which is why I try to avoid any heat; this was a good addition to my haircare routine if I wanted to go to the effort of using my hairdryer, as I normally find I get more frizz when I do that’ • ‘Really liked using this; I have frizz at the ends and through the crown, but this helped a lot, gave a lot of added shine and did not dull my colour. Highly recommend.’

£20 for 250ml - click to buy 

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Olaplex No7 Bonding Oil

Olaplex is a ‘cult’ brand synonymous with hair strength, and within their now extensive range is this highly concentrated but ‘weightless’ repairing styling oil, which minimises flyaways and frizz while boosting shine, softness and colour vibrancy. Protein ingredients in Olaplex are responsible for the products’ power to repair, strengthen and protect hair. Haven’t tried a styling oil? It’s a new concept to us, too, but this can be used on wet and dry hair, whether you leave hair to dry naturally or use heated tools (as often as daily, they say). Turning the bottle upside-down dispenses a measured dose, so you can’t overdo it.

£28 for 30ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I have actually replaced my usual product with this, as it is perfection. It smooths frizz, leaving your hair looking heathy and manageable, and smells amazing’ • ‘Doesn’t leave your hair looking lank or greasy and I find that a little goes a very long way. I never “got” Olaplex' but now I can see why everyone would rave about it’ • ‘The perfect way to seal your blow-dry, as it leaves hair silky, shiny, and has healing qualities; I noticed a massive improvement with my hair after using the product. It felt soft, smooth and no sign of any frizz, even when there was humidity towards the end of the summer months’ • ‘I really like that this has heat protection, as I use my hair straighteners twice a week’ • ‘I found after using the product, my hair was easier to manage and when combing my wet hair it was a better experience as not so tuggy’ • ‘My partner mentioned that my hair was looking shiny and not so frizzy, which I'll take as a compliment!’ • ‘So worth the money; made my curls look glossy and my hair look healthy as it’s getting drier the older I get’ • ‘My hair gets frizzy on top if caught out in the rain or in humid environments. I am amazed just how much difference there can be in my hair by just changing to this product. I feel that my hair has been transformed from what I thought was reasonably conditioned and in good order to something that is so soft and strong with a silky shine...amazing.’

£28 for 30ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL Innersense Serenity Smoothing Cream

‘A blow-out lotion for sleek style’ is how Innersense pitch this nutrient-rich, creamy styling lotion – and it’s suitable for all hair types and textures, they promise. As with everything Innersense products, the smoothing cream is botanically-powered – in this case, by baobab, frangipani, avocado and coconut oils, plus mango seed butter, to smooth the cuticle, reduce frizz and lock in moisture. Innersense have done really well in these Awards in the past few years: they are really a very ‘green’ haircare brand, B Corp-certified, Climate Neutral-certified and beyond that, Certified Plastic Neutral, by which they pledge to recover as much plastic waste as they use in all stages of production. As for the slim white bottles and tubes themselves? Already 100% recycled plastic. Testers were at pains to point out, meanwhile, that a little goes a l-o-n-g way.

£26 for 6oz - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘A couple of people commented on how nice my hair looked; it left my hair looking sleek and shiny, dried quickly, easier to style and frizz-free. Lovely, expensive aroma, too! Buy, buy, buy!’ • ‘Normally m hair looks OK for the first couple of hours, but this fabulous cream is a miracle – it works! My hair looks and smells amazing’ • ‘Really liked this blow dry-cream, which made my hair feel like I had been in the hairdressers, as it delivers such professional results – a rich, luxurious cream which made my hair feel thicker and smoother, giving the appearance of a salon finish’ • ‘Having curly but fine hair means I've tried a lot of different products in my time - I'm always on the hunt for the elusive perfect curl product! This ticks a lot of boxes; I tend to use it when my hair is air-drying and don't want to bother about having a head full of curls. Gives me smooth, shiny, waves and my hair (dyed auburn) looks really healthy’ • ‘I really like the idea of it being organic and full of natural oils, and I also the concept of encouraging you to take a moment to enjoy using the product’ • ‘The smell is lovely, not overpowering but makes you really enjoy using it; it feels like a treat for your hair!’ • ‘Very good hair product to fight frizz and add shine.’

£26 for 6oz - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Chāmpo Weightless Hair Oil

Is it a serum? Is it an oil? We’d position this as a hybrid of the two: a finishing serum which is skimmed over and through hair to de-frizz, smooth the cuticle, tame flyaways and add a radiant gleam, all without the help of silicones. Instead, Chāmpo – an Ayurveda-inspired brand, and previous Award-winners – use 100% naturally-derived and ‘eco-friendly’ (so we’re told) ingredients, including crambe Abyssinicaoil, amla extract, coconut and jojoba oils. A drop or two of the super-light oil is recommended on dry hair (rather than wet hair) to revive smoothness and enhance manageability; it’s said to be suitable for all hairtypes, but our self-identifying frizzy testers were specifically sent this to try.

£28 for 28ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘My hair is very fine, so oils and serums are generally not my friend – and as soon as a product has been applied to my hair its game over and I’m flat and greasy. So, I didn’t hold much hope when I first laid eyes on this – but wow, what a shocking revelation! My hair loves it and not a flat or greasy finish in sight, but a gloriously glossy, well-kept hairdo!’ • ‘A tiny bottle of miracle, to me. My hair feels like silk and the sheen is positively radiant. I get a salon finish at home – and that really isn’t an exaggeration’ • ‘Excellent frizz tamer – a hair oil like no other; it really works! I loved this product and looked forward to using it every day. Tames my flyaways and helps to de-frizz the frizz’ • ‘You only need a small amount as a little goes a long way; my hair instantly looked healthier and had a subtle shine to it even after first use, which for curly hair is amazing’ • ‘The smell is divine and lasts, too – people even commented on it!’ • ‘It left my hair looking healthier, even without blow-drying or styling of any description which is exactly what I look for’ • ‘A great hair oil to tame frizz and give shine to the dullest hair. The compliments I've received on my hair since using this makes me wonder how bad my hair looked before, LOL!’ • ‘A hair makeover in a bottle, honestly a little hair-taming gem. Small but powerful.’

£28 for 28ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD BondiBoost Frizz Fix Smoother

Those of you who like a serum-style product will want to know about this. (The very first frizz-busting product we ever saw on the market was a serum, actually and they are still super-effective at tackling The Frizzies). As ever, with serums, a little goes a long way – just one or two pumps is all that’s required, to be worked through dry hair from mid-lengths to ends or applied to damp hair before blow-drying. This Australian brand. BondiBoost (who – yes – hail from Bondi Beach) offers a ‘six-oil blend that works to instantly tame unruly, frizzy or wavy hair, smoothing flyaways and adding ‘a pearlescent shine for a flawless look’. Hero ingredients include jojoba, coconut, Brazil nut, avocado, macadamia and argan oils, together with rosemary leaf extract and aloe vera juice.

£27.99 for 125ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Very easy to work into your hair. The serum isn’t a thick, greasy product but is very lightweight to use, with a gorgeous, natural, delicate fragrance. My hair also looks nice and shiny and does not have the sticky texture of my usual frizz product – importantly, it’s actually better at taming the frizz, too. And if it works well on Afro hair, it must work well on European hair’ • ‘Sweet, almost bubble-gum fragrance, but also quite subtle’ • ‘Great de–frizzer and conditioner that can be used on wet or dry hair for a little pick me up!’ • ‘I noticed my hair a noticeably shinier after using the serum; frizz was reduced, and hair was smoothed out. I used the product on damp hair and found that It was easy to work the light gel/cream texture through my hair with my fingers. Lovely, light fragrance – it is kind of fruity-smelling’ • ‘My work colleagues asked me if I had been to the hairdressers when I first used this product, because the finish was so great’ • ‘This product is honestly magical. I was extremely pleased to get such a great finish. It also is very long-lasting, not needing much at a time’ • ‘I used it to blow dry my hair, getting an excellent finish; I also used it as a finisher to tame the odd piece of frizz that remained. This certainly does it job and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.’

£27.99 for 125ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL The Hair Boss The Anti-Static Mist

So good to have an affordable choice in this section, because – as you may have noticed – a lot of the haircare out there has a luxe price-tag, nowadays (and that certainly applies to many of our winners). This? Hallelujah. Under a tenner, and created by a renowned British hairdresser, Lisa Shepherd, no less, who has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for her hair care venture. Misting onto neutralise static and frizz, smoothing flyaways and split ends, it can be used before or after styling; for dry styling, a mist is added to a paddle or bristle brush, then brushed gently through hair. According to The Hair Boss, it offers ‘highly-charged ingredients that neutralise and prevent the build-up of static by forming a thin coating around the hair shaft.’

£8.99 for 150ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Hair magic in a bottle. Helps makes your frizzy hair look like it’s on an advert! I got so many compliments using this, from friends’ • ‘Lovely, lightweight anti-frizz/humidity protection mist for your hair that doesn't affect your hair, nor make it greasy’ • ‘My husband saw me using it and complimented me on my hair – though not sure if that counts, as he'd not have noticed anything if he'd not seen it in use!’ • ‘An anti-static mist that lives up to its name. Often my hair goes static when I brush it, but it didn't on the days I used this. I have never used an anti-static spray before, but I 100% will from now on’ • ‘Really performed well.  It did tame my frizz and made a real difference to the overall look of my finished style. I found that I could apply it through the day whenever I got a bit frizzy, which was great. It also made a real difference to flyaways when I tied my hair back, which normally even hairspray struggles with’ • ‘Great to use if you have an event coming up like a night out, wedding, party that sort of thing’ • ‘A great product to help with frizzy and static hair. It also makes your hair look nice and shiny. I feel this product is great to use if you have an event coming up like a night out, wedding, party that sort of thing.’

£8.99 for 150ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD It’s a 10 Miracle Blow Dry H20 Shield

Do you want ‘always gorgeous hair in all kinds of weather?’ Yup. Us, too. It’s A 10 have taken the British hairstyling market by storm since they launched here a couple of years ago, scooped up some Beauty Bible Awards along the way, and are back with another win for this ‘shield’. It actually repels water and humidity, they promise; ‘just a couple of spritzes before you dry or style is all it takes to lock out humidity and frizz-causing moisture.’ Unlike some other winners, this is to be used on just-washed, towel-dried hair, whereupon using heat – drier, styling irons – activates the shield. Within the ‘micro-emulsion compound’, which coats and penetrates the hair shaft, find sunflower seed and green tea leaf extracts, aloe vera and panthenol

£22 for 180ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘As my hair has become progressively finer, it has been more and more difficult to achieve the root lift, volume and bounce that I like without it becoming sticky and looking very dull. And it's been even more difficult to make the style last. This really made a great difference to the way my hair looked and felt and the staying power which kept it looking fresh and bouncy was a huge confidence boost.  An outstanding product which really does what it says on the bottle’ • ‘If you want your hair to look healthier, thicker, shinier and with more volume and you want that to last between washes, try it, you're going to love it!’ • ‘A friend has twice complimented me on how good my hair looks – I loved this product, as it gave a lovely shine to my hair after styling’ • ‘There is a lovely, light, fruity-floral fragrance to this product, which I liked; I don’t like my hair to smell too perfume-y, so I was happy with the lightness of the fragrance’ • ‘A good spray for defining waves and curls. Great for fine hair, as it isn't too heavy’ • ‘Great pump which dispenses the product quickly and easily, in a fine spray’ • ‘An excellent heat shield that smooths and de-frizzes your hair’ • ‘This helped my hair feel super-soft after using, looking shiny and healthy. It also kept my hair frizz-free, even during some windy wet weather. Overall, a great product!’

£22 for 180ml - click to buy