How do I get smooth and glossy hair?

[OvertiredandConfused]

My hair is mid-length with a few layers and I'm struggling to get it looking sleek and groomed when I do it myself.

I've got a GHD hairdryer and I try hard to dry slowly on a cooler setting. I always wash and dry at night to allow the frizz to settle overnight but that's not working anymore. When I leave the hairdresser, it's always fine.

The only time it looks okay is the day it needs washing. On a separate note, I've worked had to get to the stage where I only wash every 3-4 days.

I'm wondering if it could be dry, or if I need to try some new products. At the moment, I use pretty standard brands aimed at coloured hair - I have a colour every three - four months with a roots top-up after six weeks.

Any ideas or suggestions about products or techniques I could try?

Hi, I've got exactly the same problem. My hair always looks amazing after the hairdressers blow dry, but I can barely manage at home. I've tried so many different things, but the one I've got now is called Extraordinary Oil by loreal. I put a lot of it (not a bit as it says on the bottle) on my hair before washing (on wet hair), clip it up, leave for 3-5 mins and then wash my hair as usual. The hair after drying become very soft. And seems less frizzy too. I also wash my hair every 3-4 days and worked hard for that Good luck!

I've bought some and am about to try it. Watch this space!

Frizz Ease
Extraordinary Oil
Tigi Blowout Balm

All excellent for smoothing hair!

Bunny - I put the oil on after I wash and condition and before I blow dry and I tiny bit rubbed between palms to smooth any fly aways.

Bog standard shampoo and conditioner
Organix argan oil
Ditched the straighteners as they were just frazzling my hair and just use a blow dryer and BBH on the cooler settings.
My fringe hairs would snap off due to too much heat styling. But doing this for three months and it's like I've got new hair!

I swear by a cold final rinse, as cold as you can stand it. I then use the extraordinary oil mentioned by PPs and my hair is always glossy.

Same but fructis shampoo and conditioners for frizzy hair seem to help as well as straighning it when I can be bothered. I think its down to the products you wash with mainly tbh. That and the humidity. If I skip doing my hair it looks a state because of the humidity when Im taking the shower anyway. its a nightmare.

Someone on here recommended Cloud Nine Magic Potion. I have thick wavy brown hair, and it makes it all smooth and glossy without going limp.

to whoever recommended it, it's great!

Very long, coloured ash blonde hair - I used to look like worzel gumage if I let it dry on its own. Now - oil on the ends and lengths before I was, mild shampoo on scalp only, conditioner on roots and lengths, ditto oil after. Wash every 2-3 days, dry shampoo on roots only - put it on before bed. My hair has never looked better.

I find cheapo shampoo and conditioner works best (and have tried them all!) with occasional usage of Philip Kingsley Elasticizer deep conditioner. Then hot hairdryer, brushing lots as you dry, then keep going for quite a while after the hair is actually dry - it's this final part that makes the biggest difference for me between bit frizzy and v shiny.

I use kerastase elixir ultime, it's amazing! really smooths and softens hair, my hair seems to dry easier aswell. I love it and the bottle lasts forever!

So, not a miracle (and it is only one wash after all) but a significant improvement.

I put a little oil on before washing, used the extraordinary oil shampoo for dry hair and same brand conditioner for coloured hair. Let it part dry naturally then blow dried, with constant brushing, on low heat.

This morning, it was very soft and markedly better than usual. I rubbed a tiny bit of oil on some slightly fly-away / frizzy bits of the body of the hair and it looks pretty good!

Definitely going to persevere for a few weeks, with quite high hopes. Thanks everyone

Liz Earle hair oil. Amazing stuff and only need a tiny amount on my hair which is not massively thick but I have a lot of it and it's wavy/frizzy.

Marking place to return to this

Coconut oil is my hair's best friend. It's a great all round oil and has many uses. I usually wash my hair first, then slather the coconut oil all over my hair, wrap it in a towel and leave for a good half hour. I then use a very mild shampoo (any baby shampoo is ideal) and bob's your auntie. Job done.

I'm always getting compliments about how soft and shiny my hair is. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

HTH

I use a hair oil in the ends (currently Alterna Bamboo) and a blow dry lotion (just a fairly cheap John Frieda one), then the BBH on a cooler setting and finish with a shine spray (again, Alterna Bamboo).

Deep conditioner once or twice a month - coconut oil also good for this.

Irons frazzle hair, especially coloured hair, long term.

Sleeping with a hair mask on has done wonders for my hair:) Hope that helps!

I second coconut oil, i apply to dry hair, leave for a good hour wrapped in cling film (with a woolly hat for warmth!)
Apply shampoo before water to get it out properly.
I do this about once a fortnight.
My bleached white hair is no longer frizzy or prone to breakage. Plus it smells lovely!

I see you have already been recommended the excellent extraordinary oil! the shampoo and conditioner in the same range is also worth trying especially as its on offer in boots and sainsburys at the mo

I use Aveda's intense damage remedy on my ends overnight when my hair us due it's twice weekly wash - and wash my hair with a sulfate free shampoo and put a lighter conditioner then heat protector.