We’ve all been there: spent an hour on our hair, perfecting our blowout or getting our slick-back bun to be silky-smooth, only to have flyaways pop up the second we step outside. Or, perhaps you struggle with achieving smooth, flyaway-free hair to begin with due to damage and breakage. Regardless, flyaway hair can be a huge nuisance, a pesky disturbance in our day. Thankfully, however, there are ways to prevent and fix this beauty bother. Keep reading for the best tips on how to tame flyaways, the best flyaway-fighting products and more.
What causes flyaway hairs?
Many different factors can lead to flyaways, from weather changes to the health of our hair. The reason you might notice more flyaway hairs in the winter months? Cold, dry, static-filled hair ends up causing hairs to stick up and tresses to look messy.
Damage is another major cause of flyaways. Celebrity hairstylist TerraRose Puncerelli agrees and says the top cause of flyaways for women over 40 is breakage from the overuse of hot tools that sap moisture from hair.” Unhealthy hair can create a plethora of issues, like frizz, split ends, change in texture, breakage and more, and can be caused by heat, coloring, tight hairstyles and environmental factors, to name a few.
Dry hair can also cause frizz and flyaways, as it hair’s cuticles may not be smooth enough to lay flat. Plus, if you have fine baby hairs, such as around your hairline and temples, flyaways can be more prevalent.
How to tame flyaways
Keep reading for easy hacks and the best products that will keep your flyaways at bay.
Try a hair serum to tame flyaways
As mentioned above, breakage is a major contributor to flyaways. To treat hair, Puncerelli recommends using an apple extract–infused serum, such as Hairapy Restorative Scalp Serum. Apple extract strengthens hair, repairs breakage and hydrates to restore moisture, while the lightweight serum formula keeps hair looking smooth and sleek.
Enlist a toothbrush to tame flyaways
Looking for a DIY trick to smooth flyaways? It’s easier than you think. First, use the cool setting on your blow-dryer and point the dryer at the top of your head (about 2″–3″ away from your scalp) to tame flyaways. Then, spritz hairspray on a clean toothbrush and glide the brush along each side of the part to smooth strands, says Puncerelli. The spray’s stickiness ensures hair won’t pop up again, and the toothbrush is the perfect size for combing the part. Also smart? After applying hand cream, gently press excess onto errant hairs with your palm to help weigh them down.
Use a taming wand to smooth flyaways
I truly don’t know what I ever did before adding a hair-taming wand to my beauty arsenal. These handy, little flyaway fixers are incredibly easy to use on the go and don’t take up much space in your bag. They typically look like a tube of mascara and have a precise spoolie brush that smooths every stray hair. One of our favorite taming wands is Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand. Not only does it smell incredible, it’s a clean hair care brand (meaning no additional damage will be caused to strands) and made with dragon fruit extract to seal moisture, cactus flower extract to strengthen and prickly pear seed oil for added shine.
We also like Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Frizz Tamer, which is available at the drugstore, and BondiBoost Anti-Frizz Flyaway Wand.
Use a wax stick to tame flyaways
Wax sticks are another easy way to tame flyaways on the go. One caution: You just have to be careful with wax stick that you don’t overuse them and cause buildup on the hair. It’s good to use a clarifying shampoo after a couple of wax stick uses to remove this product buildup. We like Briogeo Style + Treat Hair Styling Sleek Stick, which is made with antioxidant-rich yuzu extract, moisturizing plum oil and super B complex.
