There’s a special moment—usually after a fresh haircut or salon blowout—when your hair feels impossibly smooth. It glides through your fingers, falls just right, and seems to shine from within. But this newfound smoothness tends to disappear as soon as you shower or encounter humidity. Gone are your soft, supple strands, replaced by frizz and dryness. If you’ve ever wondered how to get smooth hair and prolong the silkiness, you aren’t alone. The secret is that you need to adopt the right everyday habits and use dedicated hair smoothing products. With a little intention and the right routine, smooth hair doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-while thing. Ahead, we’re sharing seven tips on how to make your hair shiny and silky.
Tip #1: Wash With Lukewarm Water
When washing your hair, adjust the dial to a lukewarm setting. While we’ll admit that a steaming hot shower can feel relaxing in the moment, it can be a regrettable bathing habit long-term. Washing with scorching water can dry out your hair. And the drier your hair is, the less smooth it will feel. By lowering the temperature, you can help your hair retain more moisture. And, as a bonus, it’s better for your skin, too.
Tip #2: Use a Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner
One common mistake when learning how to make coarse hair soft and silky is relying only on finishing products. Completing your routine with a smoothing hair cream can go a long way, but for long-lasting sleekness, it’s important to curate your entire routine with smooth hair in mind. This includes starting things off right with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner duo. We’re partial to Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo and Smooth Perfection Conditioner. Used together, they lessen frizz and detangle both textured and straight hair. The result is instantly smoother strands with a lustrous shine.
Tip #3: Don’t Skip Leave-In Treatments
Leave-in products can make a big difference when you’re working toward softer, smoother-looking hair. Compared to rinse-out conditioners, they stay on your locks and can continue to help hydrate and protect your hair long after you step out of the shower. The right leave-in can also help detangle, reduce frizz, and create a sleek finish.
Look for lightweight moisturizing formulas that can nourish without weighing your mane down. The Biolage Hydra Source Leave-In Cream is a great option, especially for very dry hair. Formulated with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, it conditions hair, seals split ends, and prevents breakage, leaving you with smoother, sleeker strands.
Tip #4: Be Smart About Heat Styling
Heat styling can be something of a double-edged sword: On the one hand, hot tools like your blow-dryer and hair straightener can help smooth and shape your hair into just about any style you seek. On the other hand, heat damage can make your hair feel rougher and drier. What we recommend is finding the right balance. When using heat, always prep your mane with a heat protectant, such as the Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Leave-In Cream. The smoothing cream helps protect hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, it hydrates, detangles, and provides the ultimate frizz control.
Whenever possible, give your hair a break and embrace air-dried styles. Doing so can help maintain your hair’s moisture balance and limit damage. For inspiration and advice, read our article on How to Air Dry Your Hair in 6 Easy Steps.
Tip #5: Tame Frizz With a Hair Oil
When it comes to how to get smooth hair, a little hair oil can go a long way. Applying just a few drops as a finishing touch can help reduce flyaways and manage frizz, giving your hair a polished look without making it feel heavy. It can also help make your hair look gorgeously glossy. Try Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops Anti-Frizz Hair Oil, which delivers bouncy hair with plenty of shine and smoothness, sans weigh-down.
Tip #6: Protect Your Hair While You Sleep
Even if your bed feels like the softest, coziest place in the world, it’s possible that it’s actually taking a toll on your hair. When you move in your sleep, your hair rubs against your pillowcase, and the ensuing friction can cause breakage. Securing your hair in a protective hairstyle, like a braid, can help, as can wrapping your hair with a silk scarf or bonnet. You can also swap your pillowcase for a silk or satin one, which will allow your hair to glide (rather than snag) over the fabric.
Tip #7: Consider a Professional Hair Smoothing Treatment
If an at-home routine isn’t delivering the results you want, you may want to try an in-salon smoothing hair treatment. Services like a keratin treatment can keep hair looking smoother for longer. And, while treated hair does require special care, a treatment can be helpful for reducing styling time. We recommend consulting with your stylist to determine if a professional service is right for you. In the meantime, you can also study up with our guide, Keratin Treatments 101: Benefits, Maintenance, and More.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes your hair soft?
Soft hair is the result of proper hydration and gentle care. Using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, avoiding excessive heat, and incorporating leave-in treatments can all help maintain softness. You also want to avoid friction that can damage hair and leave it feeling rough or brittle. Take protective steps like sleeping on a silk pillowcase and using a soft T-shirt (instead of a rough towel) to dry your mane.
How to make coarse hair soft and silky
Focusing on moisture can help you transform coarse hair into soft, silky locks. Start with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner formulated to hydrate and make hair more manageable. Follow up with leave-in conditioners and hair smoothing treatments to seal in moisture and reduce frizz. When it comes to styling, it’s important to always use a heat protectant before using hot tools, as heat damage can make coarse hair feel rough and dry. Limiting how often you heat style can also be beneficial.
How to make your hair shiny
Achieving your shiny hair goals starts with a haircare routine that locks in moisture. Fill your regimen with hydrating products that enhance shine, including a nourishing shampoo and conditioner and a radiance-boosting hair mask. A little bit of hair oil can help imbue your strands with long-lasting luster. While you work on making your hair shiny, avoid things that can dull your strands, including color-stripping shampoos and heat damage.
How to smooth frizzy hair
Smoothing frizzy hair involves hydration, cuticle care, and protection from environmental stressors. Make sure to use products specifically designed to reduce frizz, like a smoothing shampoo and conditioner duo. Layer other lightweight smoothing products onto your mane to help further tame frizz and flyaways. Look for formulas with ingredients that coat the hair shaft, like shea butter and coconut oil. You can also supplement your at-home regimen with salon treatments for frizz, like hair glazes and Japanese hair straightening. We share more about both of these options and more in our article, Frizzy Hair Treatment: 5 of the Top Salon Treatments To Try.
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