Can I turn my hair from thick and unruly to smooth and sleek?

[chartreuse]

I saw a photo of myself yesterday and hated it, my hair, brunette longish bob, which looks fine when I've just brushed it, transforms into a wild mane as soon as I leave the house.

I currently use Aveda black Malva shampoo and conditioner, with frizz ease serum before I blow dry it, and use a babyliss heated ceramic hairbrush every morning.

What products could I try to have glossy, smooth hair?

Following with interest.

Mine gets bigger and bigger all day. I can't understand it.

I have very curly hair , if I straighten it and use a serum it is sleek and smooth . I’m always being complimented on my hair but it’s very hard work to make it look nice . I don’t think a lot of people are blessed with easy hair that just looks amazing without styling .

Not cheap but get Oplex treatment from the hair dressers and milkshake integrity shampoo and conditioner. You use hardly any of the shampoo and conditioner so it is more cost effective than you might think.

Paul Mitchell super skinny serum worked incredibly well for me, and I have really really thick coarse hair. Apply it on hair and blowdry on cool with a round brush. If you live in a really rainy area, always blow drying after washing seals the cuticle better so the humidity doesn't expand it and make it frizz (according to my hair dresser)
You can get a gloss treatment too at a salon

VO5 "Smoothly does it" straightening lotion is good. You put it on wet hair, blow dry and then go over it with straighteners. Lasts for up to 3 washes.

You probably can, but I unless you want to spend quite a lot of time/money on your hair, I think it's always best to find a really good hairdresser and ask them to give you a haircut that is designed around the hair you actually have, rather than the hair you want. I have thick, wavy hair, and get it cut to look deliberately, artistically messy because sleek just doesn't survive rain, humidity, wind, sweat, or touching my head.

Thanks for those suggestions, I'll try them all! Does anyone else have a recommendation for shampoo and conditioner? I wonder if switching to something like Kerestase or Pureology? I'm a bit dubious about the benefits of shampoo as it's on your hair for a matter of seconds and then rinsed off, but I'll try anything at this point.

You need a "Brazilian blow dry". That keratin treatment they put into your hair and straighten it. Smooth and sleek and easy to blow dry for a few months.

Do you have to use the Aveda black malva? I used to use it but found it didn't leave my hair in a good condition at all. Having said that I have recently used a keratin home kit that I bought from Amazon which has left my hair fizz free and super sleek, which it has never been before. I was sceptical that it would work but it was recommended by another poster on S&B, even my husband commented on how nice my hair looked.

Yep. You need a Brazilian blow dry.

Black Malva isn't enough for my thick v curly hair. Shampure shampoo and conditioner was much better but I have swapped to Daniel Field Organics products and prefer them at the minute.

I use curl enhancing, plant re-moisturising or smooth and shine shampoo (can't really tell much difference tbh) and first aid, smooth and shine or plant re-moisturising conditioner.

It is lovely.

Sometimes I buy Davines stuff from my hairdresser (Liberty sell it online) but I can't quite get the right combination. The Davines milk stuff is lovely as a spray for wet hair, I use that every time I wash it.

My hair is very thick, very frizzy and just horrendous. I've tried every product going but the only thing that tames it is a Brazilian blow dry. Before kids came along I'd get one every 3 months and my hair was fabulous.

Keratin treatment would be the way to go. And then follow up with sulphate free products for after care.

Thirds on the Brazilian blow dry (other products are available, cezanne or kerastraight). I too have thick curly (frizzy) hair and I've started having these. Whilst it doesn't give you instant super straight hair it makes it so much easier to blow dry (15 mins as opposed to 45), it lasts longer when dried before getting bigger throughout the day. Also blow dry with babyliss big hair but opinions are very varied on those! Also I get Paul Mitchell awapui (sp) mousse and serum - blob of each in hand and mix together in hand before applying. Also, how old are you? Sorry for asking but I really noticed my hair change texture as I got older. I also find a good proper colour don't at hairdressers helps with the smoothness. If it needs colouring this might help too.

Yes - wella straight once a year.

Swish...

Pay in rosehip oil before washing. Then use an oil serum to smooth down. Or just Brazilian blow dry.

Keratin treatment off amazon (the home version of a Brazilian blow dry) then sulphate free products.

I'm sold! Brazilian or keratin it is! Thanks everyone, looking forward to swishing my glossy mane

My hair can be like yours. Best thing I’ve found is condition first then shampoo. Sounds random but really does work. Then blow dry smooth-it takes a while but is worth it. Use a round brush, section off. Straighten each bit once you’ve dried.

Argan Oil. My hairdresser has been praising it for years and I've thought, 'yeh yeh'. But it works! On offer at Boots at two for £10.

If you go for the Brazilian you must as someone mentioned wash with sulphate free shampoo and conditioner. Quite hard to buy in smaller supermarkets but salons sell it. Unless anyone can recommend any on the high street?

Just looking at Keratin treatments on amazon, anyone have a brand they have used and would recommend?

coconut oil, buy from supermarket (same ones you use for food, that is) but the cheapest as long as it is pure coconut oil, once or twice a week leave it for 1 hour, then shampoo. No conditioner. It gradually makes your hear softer and shinier. I love it.

Henna has done wonders for me.

You need Redken Frizz Dismiss spray or serum. Magic stuff.