How to Get Silky Hair

What makes hair silky?

We’re all striving for silky hair – but what does that look like? Where dull hair is often dry, brittle and tends to have a lacklustre appearance, silky hair is the opposite. Tresses are smooth, strong and have a glossy finish that catches in natural light. Nourishment is what makes hair silky in both texture and appearance. You’ll find that when your hair is well-nourished, it has more body, shine and softness, with less frizz and breakage.

How to make your hair silky

If your hair is lacking that silky soft feel, it could point to dehydration and damage. This can happen to all hair types, and is usually the result of seasonal changes, sun exposure, heat styling tools, colouring, bleaching, or even over-washing. The key to gaining silky hair is to hydrate the hair and preserve the hair’s natural oils, while avoiding hair habits that may cause damage. Read on for our top hair care tips for silky hair.

1. Use shampoo that’s right for your hair type

Hair care for silky hair starts with a nourishing shampoo that targets dryness, dullness and breakage like our hair food range. When choosing your formula, it’s helpful to have an understanding of your hair type and concerns – you can do this by taking our Fructis Finder Quiz. Our most nourishing formula for dry hair is the Fructis Hair Food Banana Shampoo, which can be paired with the Fructis Hair Food Banana Conditioner. However, if you want to add volume to hair in addition to hydration and shine, we suggest the Fructis Hair Food Watermelon Shampoo to cleanse and plump hair strands. 

2. Cut down on heat styling 

Reaching for hair styling tools is an easy habit, but excessive heat can dry out the hair and make your strands feel rough and brittle. To help promote silky hair, try and avoid heat styling tools where you can. If you are using styling tools, use low heat to reduce damage to your strands and seal your styles with cool settings (if possible). You might even embrace heat-free hairstyles like braids, a low bun, heatless curls, or twisting your hair into a claw clip.

3. Introduce regular hair treatments

As well as a shampoo that’s formulated for your hair type, hair care for silky hair is all about extra nourishment. Hair treatments are a great way to add moisture and revive dull, dry hair. The Garnier Fructis Hair Drink Banana is a rinse-out treatment formulated for dry hair to help smooth the hair fibre and bring back shine. Alternatively, if you have long, dull hair that’s prone to frizz, opt for the Garnier Fructus Hair Drink Pineapple. Vegan, cruelty-free and deeply nourishing, these hair treatments can be dispersed and massaged onto your lengths after shampooing. After 10 seconds, rinse out and follow with your conditioner for an extra silky feel.

4. Always use heat protectant

While it’s important to cut down on heat styling tools if we want to achieve silky hair, we know it can’t be completely avoided when creating our desired styles. This is why heat protectant is a necessary step before picking up a heat styler of any kind. Coat your strands with our Fructis Style Flat Iron Perfector with Heat Protection to help reduce heat damage and tame frizz, giving you sleeker, smoother styles.

5. Apply hair masks or leave-in conditioners

To get extra silky hair, masks and leave-in conditioners are a great way to boost moisture and shine. Garnier’s Hair Food Mask range has been designed to imbue strands with intense hydration to give you stronger, silkier hair and luscious shine. We recommend pairing your mask with your corresponding Hair Food shampoo and conditioner. For instance, apply the Fructis Hair Banana Mask as the final step in your hair washing routine. This can be used as a standard conditioner, mask, or leave-in conditioner.

6. Use a hair oil

Hair oils are a great way to support your silky hair routine to help strengthen and smooth your strands. Formulated with a nourishing fusion of avocado, olive and almond oil, Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir is a 3-in-1 hair oil that amplifies shine, while strengthening and reducing frizz. This hair oil has a non greasy residue and can be used as a pre-styler, finisher or leave-in conditioner to transform your undernourished locks.

7. Switch to a silk pillow case and microfibre towel

There are times when our hair is more vulnerable or susceptible to breakage – like when we’re fresh out the shower and we give our tresses a rough towel dry. To help minimise the chance of damage to wet hair, we recommend switching to a microfibre towel over a standard, coarser towel. Repeated friction against the hair can lead to frizz or breakage, so give your locks a break at night with a silk pillow case, which is a gentler alternative for the hair cuticles. 

8. Stay on top of your trims

Proper hair care is going to do the lion’s share of the work in helping you attain the silky hair of your dreams, but getting regular trims at the salon is essential in maintaining healthy locks. Depending on how fine or thick your hair is, we suggest a trim every 3-4 months with a professional stylist to prevent split ends and other damage.

Wanting to make your silky hair care routine more eco-friendly? Explore our guide on using shampoo bars next.