How to Get Sleek Hair

When it comes to timeless hairstyles, there’s one quality that won’t ever go out of style: sleek strands. The sleek hair look is reflective of hair that’s hydrated, frizz-free, and above all, looks healthy. And who doesn’t want that? The only problem, as we know all too well, is that attaining sleek hair can be much easier said than done. Sometimes, even those of us with the most extensive hair care routines still find ourselves wrangling flyaways, frizz, and downright unmanageable strands. But it doesn’t have to be that way—and we’re here to show you how! Keep reading to learn how to get sleek hair, including the best hair care products to use along the way.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #1: APPLY HAIR SERUM ON DAMP STRANDS

The goal of healthy hair—just like skin—is to keep moisture locked in. When hair lacks proper hydration, it becomes frizzy and dry, which can lead to damage down the road. In the same way that applying moisturizer immediately after stepping out of the shower can help seal in moisture, your hair should follow suit. After your next wash, let your hair dry just slightly until it feels damp to the touch. Then, apply a nourishing hair serum onto your strands—doing so when they’re still slightly wet will help ensure sleekness by the time they dry. 

Try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Serum, which is a leave-in smoothing serum that helps block out frizz and lock in sleek shine. To use, place one to two pumps of serum in your palm, then work through damp strands, distributing it evenly through your lengths and ends.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #2: USE A SMOOTHING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER SYSTEM

Sleek, straight strands are easy to achieve with a flat iron, but if you want to know how to get sleek, straight hair naturally, the answer lies right in your shower. That’s right, the key to flaunting smooth, sleek hair starts with your hair care products and your shampoo and conditioner, in particular.

To help ensure the smoothest, sleekest strands possible, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Smooth Intense Smoothing Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Smooth Intense Smoothing Conditioner. When used together, this system helps moisturize, soften, and tame rough textures for a final look that’s smooth, soft, and—you guessed it—sleek as can be. Swap this system into your routine in place of your regular shampoo and conditioner and use as needed.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #3: REACH FOR A HAIR TREATMENT

Find yourself asking, “What can I use for sleek hair?” It’s all about finding the right hair treatment. Hair treatments are a great way to address various hair care concerns, which can go a long way toward achieving your hair goals, including sleek hair. And our favorite hair treatment to score sleek hair is none other than the L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment.

As the name suggests, this liquid treatment works in just eight seconds to provide your hair with a silkier, shinier, and smoother appearance. Use two to three times a week on wet hair after shampooing, massaging for eight seconds before rinsing thoroughly. Follow with conditioner as usual.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #4: AIR DRY YOUR HAIR

Contrary to popular belief, there is an art to drying your mane, especially when it comes to achieving sleek hair. Sure, you may think that blow-drying your hair right after the wash process is ideal, but letting your hair air dry a bit can lead to better results. Air drying is a great way to reduce damage, which will help your mane look better in the long run. Simply allow your strands to dry partially before finishing the job with your blow-dryer.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #5: ALWAYS USE HEAT PROTECTANT

Listen, we all know that too much heat styling can contribute to damaged hair—but that doesn’t mean you need to put away your blow-dryer and curling iron forever. Instead, when you do want to heat style your hair, make sure to apply a heat protectant spray before you start styling. Doing so can help protect your strands against high temperatures, allowing you to achieve sleek styles with heat tools without risking heat damaged hair. 

Try the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray, which is a high-performance lightweight spray that offers heat protection up to 450 degrees. To use, simply spray onto damp or dry hair in sections, working to make sure that the product is evenly distributed throughout your hair. Then, go about your heat styling as usual.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #6: USE THE RIGHT HAIR BRUSH

How do I make my hair sleek is the question of the day, and using a quality hair brush makes all the difference. Why, you may ask? Hair brushes come in all shapes and sizes and have different functions. And while you may think you can use any hair brush you desire, the wrong move can leave you with frizzy strands. When sleekness is the goal, it’s best to use a boar bristle brush. See, boar bristle brushes help to smooth your strands without causing any static, which is just what you need to bring sleek hair to life. 

SLEEK HAIR TIP #7: SLEEP ON SILK

It may sound ultra-luxurious, but sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase (rather than a cotton one) can help keep your strands silkier and shinier. While your standard cotton pillowcase can cause hair breakage after a night of tossing and turning, a silk or satin one is much softer on your strands (and your skin). Invest in a softer pillowcase and prepare to enjoy some serious beauty sleep.

SLEEK HAIR TIP #8: APPLY A HAIR CREAM TO EXTRA-DRY STRANDS

Sometimes, if your strands are feeling extra dried out, you’ll want to double up on the leave-in products and introduce a hair cream to your routine. Doing so will help that much more to smooth your hair’s cuticle layer and keep frizz at bay. Try the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Frizz Vanisher Cream, which provides frizz control for days. Apply a few pumps onto damp or dry strands, then leave in and style your hair. (Need a little inspo? Here are 50 Cute Hairstyles to Up Your Hairstyling Game.)

SLEEK HAIR TIP #9: FINISH WITH A SHINE-BOOSTING HAIR SPRAY

Of course, even after making some adjustments to your hair care routine, you may still find yourself in need of a product that delivers sleek results ASAP. When this occurs, reach for an oil-infused hair spray that delivers an instant boost of shine. We love the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Precious Oil Satin Hairspray, which is formulated with argan oil and delivers a luxurious touch of shine. The ultra-fine mist will help to soften and smooth whatever hairstyle you’re rocking, ensuring that your strands look as sleek as possible. To use, first shake the can well then spray onto hair holding the can 12 inches away from your head.

Editor’s note: You can also switch things up in the hairspray department with the help of a humidity-controlling alternative. Since sleek hair and frizz do not mix, having a frizz-control spray will help your look go the distance. Try the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Weather Control Hairspray to lock out humidity, tame flyaways, and keep frizz in check. 

Next up: Since we’re already on the topic of shiny, healthy-looking strands, our article on How to Get Shiny Hair is the perfect way to continue your hair lesson.