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Phyto

DEFRISANT Anti-Frizz Blow-Dry Balm

Leave-in / Light leave-in, lightweight

  • Leave-in
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Not cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size4.4 fl oz
Priceabout $30commonly seen · 4.4 oz
Price / oz$6.82/ozat 4.4 oz
Where to buy6 stores · $24.00–30.00

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

No added fragrance, no scenting essential oils, and no declared fragrance allergens on the list.

Manufacturer page: us.phyto.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.

  • About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
  • Every product matched against your hair across the 22 factors we check.
  • A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
  • Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
  • Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.

$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates

$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.

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Same job for less elsewhere

$6.82/oz at 4.4 oz, more than 84% of the 749 leave-ins , which mostly run $1.31–5.50/oz.

View alternatives

Great for

no fragrance (parfum) on the label
free of strong smells
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
Fine hairthat flattens under most products

Maybe skip if

Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
Hair that tangles wetnothing here makes combing easier
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Coarse, very dry hairthis is a light formula for its category
Vegan and cruelty-freeour record does not support both claims here
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers

Whether this weight suits your hair depends on density, porosity and how much you already layer. That is what the consultation looks at.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Slip and detangling Little

Nothing here is built to reduce combing force.

Water-binding (humectants) High

Humectants near the top: binding water is one of its main jobs.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Fragrance None listed

No fragrance is listed.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterAqua / Water / Eau solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum gum Natural hold and clump definition Holds
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Propylene Glycol humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
Caprylyl Glycol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Moisturizes
Chlorphenesin preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract botanical extract A trace plant extract Neutral
Allium Sativum Bulb ExtractAllium Sativum (Garlic) Bulb Extract botanical extract A trace plant extract Neutral
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening.
Full ingredient list (12)

In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.

  • 1 Water · Aqua / Water / Eau
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum
    General function

    A plant or fermented gum. Gums thicken a water-based formula and give it a slippery, cushioned feel; in a styler they also contribute soft hold.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    Gums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.

    • gum
    • thickener
  • 3 Phenoxyethanol
    General function

    The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 4 Propylene Glycol
    General function

    A small humectant and solvent that keeps formulas stable and helps active ingredients spread.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • solvent
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 5 Caprylyl Glycol
    General function

    A gentle preservative helper that also holds a little moisture.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Humectants bind water into the strand, and water — not oil — is what makes dry hair flexible instead of brittle.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    PubChem
    • preservative
    • humectant
  • 6 Chlorphenesin
    General function

    A preservative used with phenoxyethanol in leave-on formulas.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 7 Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
    General function

    An extract from the root of Althaea Officinalis. Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    • botanical extract
  • 8 Allium Sativum Bulb Extract · Allium Sativum (Garlic) Bulb Extract
    General function

    An extract of Allium Sativum. Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    • botanical extract
  • 9 Cochlearia Armoracia (Horseradish) Root Extract
  • 10 Ferula Assa Foetida Root Extract
  • 11 Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract
    • botanical extract
  • 12 Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
    • botanical extract

What the whole list adds up to

  • 4 botanical extracts
  • 3 preservatives
  • 2 solvents
  • 2 humectants
  • 1 gum
  • 1 thickener

Ingredient list captured 2026-09-17. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 4.4 oz

Commonly seen about $30 Midpoint $30 · 5 stores · checked Oct 22
Good value under $6 Under $1.31/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $6 line; products that do this job typically go for about $12 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it6 listings · 6 stores

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 4.4 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 4.4 oz at recognised stores. We leave out the cheapest and most expensive quarters, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
  3. Good value under $6 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $1.31/oz; at 4.4 oz that is $6. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $12 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 4.4 oz.

Formula

Formula score
6 of 10

It costs more per ounce than 84% of the 749 leave-ins we’ve priced, and 6 formulas we score as close matches cost at least a quarter less per ounce.

How the score is counted
  • 6 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 84% of the 749 leave-ins we’ve priced
  • No conditioning agents up front in the formula
  • Reviewers mention 2 things they like about how it performs
  • Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.2 pts
  • A light baseWater or a volatile carrier first, so it does not weigh hair down.2 pts
  • Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
  • No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.

Bumble and bumbleSame function Tonic Lotion Tea Tree Oil Hair Primer $4.25/oz $2.57/oz less
  • Fragrance-free
  • Protein-free
  • Lightweight
Differs
  • Cruelty-free
  • Prestige tier
  • 8 oz bottle
Compare
Aunt Jackie'sLowest cost per oz Oh So Strong! Shine Boosting Moisturizer $0.83/oz $5.99/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
· Close function
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Oils and butters
Also
  • Drugstore tier
  • 12 oz bottle
Compare
Aunt Jackie'sClose function Scent-Sational! Hair Perfume & Deodorizer $2.25/oz $4.57/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
Function
  • Slip and detangling
Also
  • Fresh scent, not unscented
  • Drugstore tier
  • 4 oz bottle
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Good for the right person, not the lowest cost
Best user

People sensitive to fragrance, for a formula with no added fragrance and a product with no scent

Biggest tradeoff

Not ideal for soft, over-stretchy hair that needs protein, hair that tangles the moment it is wet, or very dry or very humid climates

Best alternative if not

Bumble and bumble Tonic Lotion Tea Tree Oil Hair Primer, for similar results at a lower price

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
The anti-frizz care product that naturally smoothes and protects hair from humidity.

Nothing in the list reads as a smoothing system.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Thermo-active, this balm protects the hair from humidity and heat for a silky touch and incomparable shine.

Nothing in the list reads as a smoothing system.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Achieve the perfect, sleek blow dry Safeguards against damaging affects of heat styling Lightweight, non-greasy & alcohol free Protects & hydrates VEGAN | SULFATE-FREE | PARABEN-FREE | SILICONE-FREE | GLUTEN-FREE

No sulfate detergents appear in the ingredient list.

—

Supported

Gentler on colour and coils.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.

Works effectively on both curly and straight-styled hair, enhancing definition or creating sleek results as needed.

users who alternate between styling methods

Controls frizz in hot and humid conditions, maintaining smooth results through workouts and daily activity.

users in warm climates or during active use

More from Phyto

How this page was made

  • Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 4 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 3 editorial), last checked 2026-09-23.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 2 of 3 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
  • We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-09-21.

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