20 Fantastic Tips for Silky Smooth Hair ...

1. Eat Well

You are what you eat, and if all you eat is junk, your hair (and skin) will rat you out. A healthier diet will give you healthier hair, though you don’t need to take a special supplement. Skip the fattening fried foods in favor of lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and replace soda with water or all-natural mixed fruit juices. You’ll look, and feel, a lot better.

2. Rinse with… Beer?

This is a tip for silky hair your boyfriend won’t believe — rather than rinsing with water, rinse with cold beer! I’m not quite sure how this works, or why, but it does… but be sure to rinse with cool water after the beer rinse, or you’ll smell like a pub.

3. Use an Egg Mask

Another tip for silky hair that starts in the kitchen! After washing and conditioning, apply a mask of two egg whites to your hair, then wait for ten minutes and rinse with cold water. Be careful! If you rinse with warm or hot water, you’ll end up cooking the eggs in your hair… ick!

4. Rinse with Cold Water

For the shiniest, silkiest hair, rinse with cold water, which helps seal the cuticle of every hair. I know, I know… it’s hard to rinse in cold in the shower! But save the cold rinse for last, just before you get out… it’s totally worth it… BRR!

5. Don’t Overbrush

When my grandmother was young, common practice was to brush your hair 100 strokes before bed at night for shiny hair. Well, now we know better — that much brushing causes split ends and breakage, the last thing you want if you’re looking for silky hair! Brush only as needed, and when your hair is wet, use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush.

6. Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

In fact, be sure you’re using the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. If you have fine hair, use a volumizing shampoo, like Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo; if you have thicker or oily hair, use something made for your own hair type.

7. Skip a Day

Here’s an unexpected tip for silky hair: don’t wash it every day. If your hair is shoulder-length or longer, it needs the natural oils, and will dry out if you wash too often. When my hair was to the middle of my back, I only washed it every 3 days, unless I used product during that time.

8. Don’t Forget Conditioner

For the silkiest, healthiest hair, remember to use conditioner every time you wash. Conditioner will replace some of the oils you washed away, and it will detangle your hair, making it easier to comb after washing.

9. Don’t Tug Tangles

If you have tangles in your hair, resist the urge to yank them out and be patient… use a wide-tooth comb and a detangling spray to gently comb them out… and be sure to start at the bottom of your hair, and work your way up.

10. Use a Hot Oil Treatment

Here’s another tip for silky hair, one my grandmother used that actually works — treat your tresses to a hot oil treatment once a week, or once every two weeks. My favorite is Josie Maran’s Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment… it works magic in only a minute!

11. Air Dry

If you want shiny, silky hair, skip the blow dryer and air dry when you can. The hair dryer can cause heat damage, making your hair look dull and lackluster.

12. Skip the Flat Iron

Just like the blow dryer, a flat iron or curling iron can damage your hair with heat, so if you want silky, shiny hair, avoid using them when you can. When your hair’s towel-dried, put it back in a loose braid, and when it’s dry, you’ll have beach-ready waves without the heat damage.

13. Use a Protection Mist

If you must use a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, then use a heat protection product, like the Macadamia Heat Protection Serum by Carol’s Daughter. These sorts of products will help minimize the damage heat can do, and even help repair damage that’s already been done.

14. Forget Frizz

Even if your hair is the silkiest it’s ever been, if it’s also frizzy, it won’t look very shiny. Treat and prevent frizz daily, then, by using products designed to help. My favorites are made by Living Proof, but experiment and see which products work best for you.

15. Use a Shine Product

There’s a reason our hair always looks shiny and supple and silky when we come back from the salon. My stylist says it’s her endless talent… and a super-amazing shine serum. She swears by Ouidad Shine Glaze Serum, but I also like CHI Shine.

16. Rinse Salt and Chlorine Right Away

If you’ve gone swimming in a chlorinated pool, or combed the beach at the ocean, that salt and chlorine can take its toll on your hair, making it look and feel dry and dull. Rinse right away, and as soon as you can, wash the salt and chlorine away with a special shampoo, like Lanza Swim & Sun.

17. Don’t Rely on Ponytails

Ponytails and hats are cute, but save them for bona fide bad hair days if you want the shiniest, silkiest hair. Why? Because over time, even the gentlest ponytail holders can cause split ends and other damage, even hair loss. Eek!

18. Don’t Smoke

Here’s a tip for silky hair that will do your whole body good: don’t smoke, and if you already do, quit! The smoke can damage your hair like all other pollution, making it dull, and it can dry it out. Add this to the list of reasons to avoid smoke!

19. Go Dark

Darker hair colors reflect light better than lighter hair colors, so if you want shiny, silky-looking hair, go a shade darker! For instance, if you’re a natural blonde, try becoming a light brunette… don’t worry, you’ll still have fun!

20. Trim Often

Split ends and uneven bangs will take the focus away from your silky, shiny hair, so be sure to see your stylist at least every 8 weeks to keep your hair tidy and chic. Your stylist can also share secrets about which styling products are on-trend in the shine department, and maybe even provide a sample!

Now that you’re read all of my stylist tips for silky hair, are you eager to try every one of them, all at once? Or do you have another tip for shiny, silky, well-behaved hair you’d like to share? Please do! I’m always happy to hear more… I love super-shiny hair!