Fight Frizzy Hair Without Expensive Salon Products

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

Humid summers can wreak havoc on hair, especially if it's curly or wavy. Pricey salon products may prove tempting to consumers with out-of-control hair, but we've found plenty of cheap hair products that have been shown to tame a wild mane. Here are some reputable options to try.

Tame your frizz to reveal luscious and heavenly curls.
Tame your frizz to reveal luscious and heavenly curls.

Cheap hair products for curly and wavy styles. Men and women with curly locks have a few different kinds of cheap hair products to choose from. One of the simplest and most versatile is a gel such as Dep Sport Endurance Styling Gel or Texture Styling Gel. Both control frizz and provide strong hold without making hair "crunchy," according to online reviewers, some of whom have relied on the brand for decades. The price certainly looks like a throwback: less than $3 for a 12-ounce bottle online.

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Those seeking bouncy curls instead of undefined frizz can opt for Tresemme Flawless Curls Defining Gel, which earns dozens of almost entirely positive reviews on the Tresemme website and elsewhere. It goes for about $4 for an 8-ounce bottle both online and in stores and also comes in a spray gel. Editors at Allure magazine like this cheap hair product because it leaves hair soft, not sticky.

If humid weather brings out some wave in your normally straight hair, Garnier Fructis Style Curl Scrunch Gel might be up your alley. Users posting reviews say it adds definition but not stiffness and has a delicately sweet smell. A 6.8-ounce bottle sells for about $4 in stores or online.

For curl definition with added volume, a mousse is probably the best bet. Here, again, Tresemme delivers with the inexpensive yet dependable Curl Care Flawless Curls Extra Hold Mousse. We found very few negative reviews for this product among the hundreds posted online. A 10.5-ounce bottle starts at less than $4.

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Cheap hair products for straight styles. Want a sleek look? You're in luck: Most cheap hair products seem to cater to consumers with straight locks. Hair serum is a go-to for those seeking silky hair and fewer flyaways. John Frieda has been a front-runner with its Frizz-Ease line, which includes an Original Formula, Extra-Strength for coarser hair, Sheer Solution Lightweight Frizz Control for hair that's apt to go flat, and Thermal Protection Formula for heat-styled hair. Shape magazine named the original serum one of the top beauty products of the past 30 years. This cheap hair product is a trusted favorite among consumers as well, as noted in reviews on many sites. It runs anywhere from $7 to $10 for 1.69 ounces (you don't need much), which is less than half the price of similar higher-end products.

An even cheaper alternative is Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Smooth & Shine Serum -- a steal at less than $3 for 2 ounces. Quite a few consumers who have reviewed the serum on Amazon like it even better than more expensive salon products.

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A smoothing agent can also take the form of a cream. Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector Straightening Balm, for example, is designed to be worked into hair before blow drying. Woman's Day magazine offers up this cheap hair product as an affordable alternative to a $400 Brazilian Blowout. It starts at about $3.50 online.

Not about to be left out in the hair cream department, John Frieda offers Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme. It wins near-universal praise in customer reviews on the company's website and elsewhere and costs about $6 for 5 ounces.


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