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Smoothing your hair

We’d all like to know how to make your hair smooth and silky. And with a little help and advice, we all can have it.

The key to smooth hair is healthy hair, so, start with these basics and you’ll soon see the results.

Why hair gets rough

A major reason for rough feeling hair has to do with your hair’s structure.

Your hair is built in layers: an inner core called the cortex, and a second layer that covers the outside of the hair, called the cuticle.

The cuticle is made of microscopic plates – overlapping scales that protect the vulnerable inner layers, like shingles on a roof or scales on a fish.

Unfortunately, the cuticle is not invincible.

When the cuticle plates are damaged, their edges become rough and broken, and the scales lift up, exposing the vulnerable inner layer.

This leads to brittle and rough hair that’s prone to breakage and other problems.

For smooth hair, you want the cuticle layer to lie flat along the cortex - something that conditioners and other products are specially designed to facilitate.

Smoothing things over

Getting that coveted smooth and sleek look means using the right products, but also avoiding doing unnecessary damage to your cuticle.

There are a couple of simple strategies you can use to avoid damaging the cuticle:

Towel dry your hair gently - don’t rub vigorously when drying
If you use straighteners or a blow dryer, go gently – excessive heat can damage your hair and lead to frizz
Styling products are useful for keeping things smooth after you’ve styled your hair

These methods are useful for prevention, but for the best chance of keeping your hair smooth, you need to go further: invest in a good hair conditioner.