14 Quick Tips for Taming Flyaway Hair

“Why do I have so many flyaways?” is a question many of us have desperately contemplated in the mirror at some point. Flyaway hair is a notorious hairstyling nuisance that can pop up (literally) for a number of different reasons. While it may be tempting to coat your hair in a protective layer of crunchy hairspray or pluck those wayward strands out, a few less extreme measures can help keep flyaways at bay. Ahead, learn more about what causes these small frizzy hairs to stand up, and discover our best tips on how to get rid of flyaways by adjusting your haircare routine.

What Are Flyaways?

Flyaways refer to those small, fine hairs that tend to stick out from the rest of your hair instead of falling flat. They're typically shorter and more delicate than the rest of your strands and can be particularly noticeable around your hairline or on top of your head.

What Causes Flyaways?

Like many haircare concerns, there isn’t a sole cause of flyaway hair. Oftentimes, flyaways indicate that your hair has undergone breakage or is experiencing new growth. Sometimes, flyaways can also result from untamed frizz or even product buildup. And the condition of your hair, combined with your surrounding environment, is what can make these shorter strands stick out like a sore thumb.

For example, dry hair is more susceptible to puffing up (especially in high humidity) as it lacks the necessary moisture to maintain its smoothness. Similarly, static electricity, often caused by dry air or certain fabrics, can cause individual hair strands to repel each other and stand on end.

The good news is that flyaways typically grow out over time, but you’ll have to be patient as they play catch up with the rest of your mane. It may be tempting (and frankly, pretty satisfying) to cut or pluck those annoying floaters, but that’ll just keep you in a constant battle against them. Luckily, there are many things you can do to help manage their appearance while you wait for them to blend in.

How To Tame Flyaways

Flyaway hair doesn’t have to become your new normal. Consider the below haircare tips to help naturally tame your flyaways.

1. Use a frizz-fighting shampoo and conditioner

The first step towards flyaway-free hair is opting for haircare products specifically designed to control frizz. An in-shower system like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Smooth Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Smooth Conditioner can help control frizz-induced flyaways at the beginning of your routine. The formulas, which are infused with nourishing marula oil, help shield your hair against the effects of humidity for up to 24 hours.

2. Try a hydrating hair system

Dry, dehydrated strands are more prone to standing upright, so restoring hydration is key in the fight against flyaways. We’re partial to the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hydrating Conditioner. When used as a duo, this hyaluronic acid-infused range helps re-plump dry, dehydrated hair for up to 72 hours for shiny, free-flowing hair.

The system also includes the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Flash Hydration Wonder Water, Sulfate-Free, an eight-second hair treatment that helps instantly detangle and moisturize hair, and the L’Oréal Paris Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum, Paraben-Free. This hydrating hair serum helps add moisture back into your hair in between washes.

3. Reach for a deep conditioning treatment

Another way to restore moisture to parched hair is by integrating a deep conditioning treatment into your haircare routine. These thicker formulas often help target common concerns like dryness, split ends, and breakage that can make your strands more prone to flyaways. Using a hair mask once a week is usually beneficial, but you can also use it as needed when hair needs a pick-me-up.

4. Rethink your hair towel

Hair is more fragile when wet, so you’ll want to be extra cautious about how you dry it. One of the best ways to ensure you’re being gentle on your strands is to wring your hair with a microfiber towel instead of a traditional terrycloth one. The latter type of bath towel is typically made with thicker, grooved fibers that can be rough on wet strands, potentially leading to breakage and—you guessed it—flyaways. A microfiber option, on the other hand, is usually softer, smoother, and less likely to tug. Don’t want to shell out for a new towel? You can also use a soft, cotton T-shirt to help plop your wet hair.

5. Apply a hair serum

Hair serums can help address a variety of concerns, including frizziness, dryness, and static. If you’re on the hunt for something to help tame flyaway hair, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In has you covered. This product boasts an ultra-lightweight formula that helps tame frizz and static. All you have to do is apply one to two pumps to dry hair to help maintain a smooth appearance. The versatile serum also offers heat protection, so you can apply it to damp hair before blow drying.

6. Spritz an edge brush with hairspray

It can be quite a predicament when you spot flyaways poking out from your painstakingly-crafted updo. Thankfully, there’s a quick and easy fix for this: Grab a clean toothbrush or an edge brush, spritz it with the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented, and gently brush down your flyaways. This cult favorite hairspray is designed to lock your style in place for all-day hold without any crunch or stiffness.

7. Take a break from heat styling

Constantly blasting your strands with a blow dryer or overdoing it with hot tools could multiply the number of flyaways you have to deal with. Give your hair (and arms) a break by scaling back on hot tools. Look for heatless hairstyles, like overnight braids or space buns, that you can do before bed. You’ll have effortless waves by morning—and a few extra minutes to sleep in.

8. Comb, rather than brush

Roughly brushing dry strands can disturb and lift hair’s cuticle, resulting in flyaways galore. And brushing wet hair can result in breakage. To get rid of tangles and keep your hair in good shape, we recommend combing your hair with a wide-tooth comb while it’s damp (but not soaking). Start at the bottom and gently work your way up to the roots, section by section. If you come across any particularly stubborn knots, apply a detangler or leave-in conditioner to help loosen the tangle.

9. Smooth flyaways with dryer sheets

This tip may seem a bit unorthodox, but trust us when we say it works really well. Just as dryer sheets help reduce static electricity in your laundry, they can do the same for your hair. As noted above, flyaways can be caused by static—the exact thing dryer sheets are designed to fight. Grab an unscented sheet (unless you like to smell like clean laundry) and rub it along your strands to help tame poofy hair on the fly.

10. Wear a headband

No matter how many tips and hair hacks you have at your disposal, bad hair days are bound to happen. Instead of stressing, throw on a headband to help hold down or disguise your flyaways when all else fails. It’s a quick, on-trend solution for when you're rushing to get out the door.

How To Prevent Flyaway Hair

By now, you should have a good grasp on how to tame flyaway hair—but what about preventing them from the jump? Banishing flyaways usually comes down to two things: using the right hair products and maintaining the overall health of your hair. Here are four ways to keep flyaways from spoiling your hairstyle.

Strengthen your hair

If you believe damage and breakage are causing your flyaway hair, consider investing in a bond-repairing haircare range like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair. This fortifying line can help reinforce weakened hair bonds, strengthening damaged hair from the inside out.

The system (which includes the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid, and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid), penetrates deep into hair’s cortex to help reinforce its natural structure. Plus, the line can help smooth and detangle strands, which may help prevent future damage and breakage.

Try a weekly clarifying shampoo

As we mentioned, product buildup can keep your mane from having a smooth, uniform appearance. And while everyone can experience product buildup, it’s even more common for those who often rely on stylers like dry shampoo and hairspray. Luckily, a clarifying shampoo can help get your locks back on track.

A clarifying shampoo offers a deeper cleanse on the hair and scalp to help thoroughly remove buildup. Once a week, reach for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Clarifying Shampoo with Antioxidants in place of your normal shampoo. The color-safe shampoo helps remove residue and product buildup without stripping moisture from your strands. After you rinse, follow it up with the L’Oréal Paris Sulfate-Free Restoring Conditioner with Antioxidants to help lock in hydration and reveal bright, visibly healthy-looking color.

Use humidity-resistant hair products

Flyaway hairs may be a common woe for those living in humid climates—but they don’t have to be. Using a leave-in treatment or hairspray that fights humidity can help keep those uncooperative strands in check. We suggest finishing your style with a liberal spritz of L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Weather Control Hairspray to help tame flyaway hair. This lightweight, high-performance hairspray helps lock out humidity and lock in a smooth style for up to 48 hours.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase

Switch out your cotton pillowcase for one made with silk or satin, and watch what it does for your hair. Sleeping on a slippery-smooth surface helps reduce the friction that can contribute to breakage and flyaway hair (even on those nights when you’re tossing and turning). Both materials work equally as well, so choose one that best fits your budget. Generally, satin is less expensive than its silk counterpart.

Next Up: How To Fix Damaged Hair

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris