5 New Hair Products to Tame Winter Frizz
Holiday-glam hairstyles call for a silky finish, just as winter’s ravages whip up frizz. Here, five new ways to get smooth
DRYBAR SPARKLING SODA SHINE MIST, $35, AT SEPHORA AND NORDSTROM
THE LIGHT TOUCH: Drybar Sparkling Soda Shine Mist
THE PROMISE: This aerosol spritz calms fly-aways, static and frizz, giving hair a soft, shiny finish without weighing it down. Plus, it imparts dessert-y notes of coconut and vanilla.
THE TECH: Airy enough to be used on fine hair, this mist was made with shine-enhancing mandarin peel oil and marigold flower extract, along with moisturizing camelina oil. For colour-treated hair, UV absorbers help prevent fading.
THE TEST DRIVE: “Rich-girl hair—that perennially glossy, frizz-free, I-just-got-a-blowout look—is now achievable with a light mist of this spray. Bonus? The camelina oil boosted my hair’s hydration and elasticity.” —Ally Dean, fashion & beauty editor, HELLO! Canada
SCHWARZKOPF OSIS+ SOFT GLAM SMOOTH POLISH ELIXIR, $21, AVAILABLE JANUARY AT SALONS
THE POLISHER: Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Soft Glam Smooth Polish Elixir
THE PROMISE: Applied before blow-drying, it acts as a lightweight serum for extra shine and smoothness. When used on dry hair, it gives increased control to ends as well as a glossy look.
THE TECH: A silicone-based polymer called dimethiconol minimizes wintry static, while the plant-based apricot kernel oil conditions and adds lustre, and benzyl salicylate provides UV protection.
THE TEST DRIVE: “Applied to my ends post blow-dry, just a small drop of this deliciously scented oil kept my hair unusually sleek, even on a damp day. It also works well taming frizzies on a slicked-back ponytail.” —Caitlin Agnew, contributing beauty editor, Cosmetics
PHYTO EXCEPTIONAL CREAM ULTRA-DAMAGED BRITTLE & DRY HAIR, $48, AT SEPHORA AND SELECT SHOPPERS DRUG MART STORES
THE NATURAL: Phyto Exceptional Cream Ultra-Damaged Brittle & Dry Hair
THE PROMISE: Getting straight to the source of ragged texture, this nourishing botanical cream repairs breakage and split ends. It also protects against heat-styling (up to 220°C) while leaving hair silky.
THE TECH: A full 94 percent of the ingredients are of natural origin, including botanical keratin (composed of amino acids sourced from corn, soy and wheat) for hair strength, sapote butter for softness and baobab oil for smoothness.
THE TEST DRIVE: “This treatment left my straightened curls feeling healthy and happy, which is normally near-impossible to achieve with only one product.” —Kaylana Griffin, assistant style editor, Chatelaine
KEVIN MURPHY KILLER CURLS LEAVE-IN ANTI-FRIZZ CURL DEFINING CRÈME, $32, AT SALONS
THE CURL BOOSTER: Kevin Murphy Killer Curls Leave-In Anti-Frizz Curl Defining Crème
THE PROMISE: This leave-in cream was designed with medium to coarse hair in mind, maintaining curl definition while providing hydration and eliminating frizz.
THE TECH: Brazilian carnauba wax provides humidity-proof hold, and six Australian fruit extracts moisturize the hair and the scalp. Yerba mate, a plant used as a popular South American tea, strengthens hair with five different vitamins.
THE TEST DRIVE: “This cream has a thicker consistency than I expected, but absorbed quickly post-shower and tamed the fuzzies without feeling heavy or sticky.” —Alicia Cox Thomson, digital managing editor, FLARE
L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL PRO FIBER RECOVER SERUM-IN-CREAM, $29, AT L'ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL SALONS
THE DAMAGE CONTROLLER: L'Oréal Professionnel Pro Fiber Recover Serum-in-Cream
THE PROMISE: A DIY companion to the brand’s new, in-salon Pro Fiber repairing treatment, this conditioner restores and softens weakened hair, adding a protective boost.
THE TECH: This creamy formula shields against heat styling, prolonging the mending effects of Aptyl 100, a molecular complex found in the salon treatment that strengthens the hair’s cortex and smooths its outer cuticle.
THE TEST DRIVE: “When used in the weeks following the salon treatment, this balm smoothed my previously parched, fly-away-prone locks, without adding extra weight. The dreamy vanilla scent has me hooked.” —Kelly Clark, editorial assistant, Cosmetics
This article was originally published in the Winter 2015 issue of Cosmetics magazine. For more, download our iPad edition.