Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Review: Worth Buying?
Frizzy hair has a way of ruining a good hair day before you even leave the house. You blow-dry, you style, you step outside, and the humidity undoes all of it in minutes.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame promises to stop that cycle with a single leave-in cream. I put it through weeks of real use on real bad-hair days.
This is a heat protective leave-in cream built for coarse, unruly, frizz-prone hair. It claims smoothness, hydration, and heat defense up to 450 degrees. I wanted to know if it earns the salon-brand price tag or if it just smells nice and sits pretty on a shelf.
In A Nutshell
- Best for coarse and thick hair: The cream is rich and works hardest on dense, dry, rebellious frizz. Fine hair users report it feeling heavy.
- Real heat protection: It shields hair up to 450°F, which covers most flat irons and blow-dryers. This is a genuine strength, not just marketing.
- Babassu oil is the star: Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil moisturizes and softens without the greasy weight of heavier oils.
- Sulfate-free and sodium chloride-free: A plus for color-treated and keratin-treated hair that needs gentler care.
- Heavy fragrance load: The formula carries many fragrance allergens like limonene, linalool, and geraniol. Sensitive scalps should test first.
- A little goes far: Overapply and you get greasy roots. Pea-sized amounts on damp mid-lengths give the best result.
What Exactly Is Rebel Tame
Rebel Tame is the leave-in cream inside Redken’s Frizz Dismiss family. It sits at the styling step, not the wash step. You apply it after shampoo and conditioner, on damp hair, before you heat-style or air-dry.
Redken markets it as a multi-benefit smoothing cream for all hair types. In practice, it leans toward thicker, coarser, harder-to-manage hair. That is where the rich texture makes sense.
- Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Heat Protective is a professional anti-frizz leave-in cream with a sodium chloride-free formula to tame frizzy hair. Increases smoothness, softness and adds shine.
- This anti-frizz treatment is formulated with Redken's Smoothing Complex, which contains Babassu oil and smoothing complex to moisturize, detangle and protect the hair from humidity and heat effects.
Last update on 2026-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
The core promise is three things at once: frizz control, hydration, and heat protection. Most anti-frizz products pick one lane. This one tries to cover the full styling routine in a single tube, which is part of its appeal.
The Unboxing And First Impression
The packaging is simple and clean. You get a white and coral squeeze tube with a flip cap, nothing flashy or over-designed. It looks like salon-shelf product, which fits the brand.
The tube is practical. The flip cap stays put, the opening controls the flow well, and squeezing out a small amount is easy. No pump to jam, no lid to lose. For a bathroom counter, it just works.
My first squeeze gave a thick, opaque cream with a slight pearl finish. It looked more like a rich conditioner than a light styling lotion. That first look told me right away this was built for thirsty, coarse hair, not delicate strands.
How The Texture And Scent Feel
The cream is dense and buttery between the fingers. It does not run or drip like a serum. You have to work it in, which I actually liked because it distributes evenly through the mid-lengths and ends.
Absorption is decent but not instant. On damp coarse hair it melts in within a minute. On finer hair it can sit on the surface and feel coated, which is where the greasy complaints come from.
The scent is the strongest first impression. It is a warm, sweet, floral-musky fragrance that leans salon-luxe. Some people love it. If you are fragrance-sensitive, know that the smell is bold and lingers for hours after styling.
Top 3 Alternatives For Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame
If Rebel Tame does not fit your hair or your budget, these three are worth a look. Each one solves the frizz problem from a slightly different angle.
Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream
- Conditions from root to tip to enhance shine softness and manageability for smooth frizz-free styles
- Blocks humidity to prevent frizz and keep medium hair sleek and under control in any weather
Last update on 2026-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
Moroccanoil Treatment Original
- Moroccanoil Treatment leaves hair silky and shiny, while Hand Wash locks in moisture with hyaluronic acid.
Last update on 2026-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray
- Dramatically decreases blow-dry time by up to 50%
- Provides intense thermal protection from damage and breakage up to 428°F
Last update on 2026-07-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
The Key Ingredients Explained
The ingredient list is short on active heroes but honest about what it does. Babassu Seed Oil sits high on the list and does the heavy lifting for softness and moisture without a greasy film.
Glycerin is the second workhorse. It is a humectant that pulls moisture into the hair, which helps hair stay flexible instead of brittle. It pairs with a glycerin-derived moisturizer deeper in the formula.
Amodimethicone is the smoothing agent. This is a conditioning silicone that forms a light film on the strand, seals the cuticle, and gives that sleek, frizz-free finish. It is also what makes buildup possible if you skip clarifying.
Does It Actually Control Frizz
Yes, on the right hair type, it genuinely works. On my coarse, wavy, humidity-reactive hair, it cut down surface frizz and flyaways noticeably after a blow-dry. The finish looked smooth and polished, not crunchy.
Humidity resistance is the real test, and it held up better than most drugstore creams. My smooth blowout survived a muggy afternoon without turning into a puff cloud. That is the win many long-term users report too.
But it is not magic. On very curly or extremely thick hair, several users found it softened frizz without fully taming it. It manages frizz best when paired with heat styling, not as a standalone air-dry cream.
Real Heat Protection Or Just A Claim
This is where the product earns trust. The 450°F heat shield claim lines up with how it performs during blow-drying and flat-ironing. Hair felt protected, not fried, even with regular heat use.
The silicone and oil combination creates a buffer between the hot tool and the strand. It is not a substitute for lowering your iron temperature, but it does its job as a daily thermal barrier.
I would trust it for everyday blow-drying and occasional flat-ironing. If you heat-style daily at high temperatures, it is a smart layer to have. This is one claim I found honest rather than inflated.
Who Should Actually Buy This
This cream is made for a specific person. If you have thick, coarse, dry, or frizz-prone hair and you heat-style, this is squarely for you. That combination is where it shines brightest.
It also suits people with color-treated or chemically smoothed hair. Because it is sulfate-free and sodium chloride-free, it plays nicely with keratin treatments and dyed hair that needs gentler products.
Anyone chasing a sleek blowout that lasts through humidity will likely be happy. The people I saw rave about it most were those doing at-home smooth blowouts on hard-to-manage hair. For them, it delivers salon-level results.
The Downsides You Should Know
Let me be direct about the flaws. Fine and thin hair users should be cautious. The cream is rich, and overapplying leaves roots looking greasy and weighed down within hours. Less product is the fix.
The bigger concern is the fragrance and allergen load. The formula contains limonene, linalool, geraniol, citronellol, coumarin, and hexyl cinnamal, all known fragrance sensitizers. Some users reported red, itchy scalps and irritated hands.
The silicone content also means buildup over time. You will need a clarifying shampoo now and then. And the strong scent, while pleasant to many, can be overwhelming if you dislike heavy fragrances.
How I Got The Best Results
Application technique changes everything with this cream. I started with towel-dried, damp hair, never soaking wet and never fully dry. Damp hair spreads the product evenly and prevents patchy coating.
I used a pea to dime-sized amount for medium-length hair and focused on the mid-lengths and ends, keeping it away from the scalp. This single change stopped the greasy-root problem completely.
Then I combed it through and blow-dried. Smaller sections meant fewer passes and less frizz. Used this way, the cream gave the smooth, controlled finish it promises. Used carelessly, it just felt heavy.
My Final Verdict
Rebel Tame is a good product for the right head of hair. If your hair is coarse, thick, dry, and frizz-prone, and you heat-style, it earns its place in your routine. The frizz control and heat protection are real.
It loses points on two fronts: the heavy fragrance that can irritate sensitive scalps, and the weight that makes it a poor match for fine hair. Those are not dealbreakers, just honest limits.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats. Buy it if you fit the target profile and your skin tolerates fragrance. Skip it if you have fine hair or a reactive scalp. For frizzy, unruly hair, it is one of the more dependable creams out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redken Rebel Tame good for fine hair?
Not really. The cream is rich and heavy, and fine hair users often report greasy, weighed-down roots. If you have fine hair and still want to try it, use a tiny amount only on the ends.
Does Rebel Tame work as a heat protectant?
Yes. It protects hair up to 450°F, which covers most blow-dryers and flat irons. The silicone and oil blend creates a genuine thermal barrier, making it reliable for daily heat styling.
Can I use it on curly hair?
You can, but results vary. It softens frizz and adds moisture on curls, though very thick or tightly curled hair may find it doesn’t fully tame frizz on its own. It works best paired with styling.
Is it safe for color-treated or keratin-treated hair?
Yes. The formula is sulfate-free and sodium chloride-free, which makes it a safe choice for dyed and chemically smoothed hair. It won’t strip color or interfere with keratin treatments.
Why does it make my scalp itchy?
The cream contains multiple fragrance allergens like limonene, linalool, and geraniol. Some users experience redness and itching. If your scalp reacts, discontinue use and patch-test any similar fragranced products next time.
How much should I apply?
Start with a pea to dime-sized amount on damp mid-lengths and ends. Keep it off the scalp. A little goes a long way, and using less is the key to avoiding a greasy finish.
Hi, I’m Hannah Foster, a tattoo trend expert and blogger. I’m passionate about body art and love sharing my knowledge and inspiration with others. On Glamour Hub, I’ll be sharing my favorite tattoo designs, trends, and tips. Follow me on Pinterest @Glamourhubblog to stay up-to-date on the latest in tattoo fashion.
