How to Get Smooth Hair in 12 Steps

1. Wash with a Rich Shampoo

We can't overstate the importance of a professional-grade shampoo. It's the foundation of your hair care regimen; the first step that sets hair up for a good day. For smooth hair, packing strands with deep nourishment is key, which is where ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo comes in. Its rich, luxurious lather pampers strands from root to tip each time you massage it into wet hair. What's more, it's so effective that it sweeps away even microscopic impurities; the tiny fragments of dust and debris that, little do you know, cause friction and hair breakage. Use it for every wash, indulging in the sumptuous texture and comforting scent. Then rinse with warm water, so hair is ready for the next smoothing step. 

2. Use a Skincare-Inspired Conditioner

Never skip the conditioning step if you want silky-smooth hair. Conditioner keeps dry hair, frizzy hair and fragile hair strong and healthy by infusing hair strands with vitamins and minerals. So, after rinsing out your shampoo, squeeze out excess water, and apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner to mid-lengths and ends. The creamy formula indulges hair in lightweight nourishment, and rinses completely clean. Allow it to absorb for around 1-3 minutes, so the reparative blend of AHA and Omega-9 has time to repair hair from the inside out.

3. Treat Uneven Damage with a Hair Mask

At least once per week, swap your conditioner for a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment to boost moisture levels. ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask is perfect, as it treats the different types of hair damage, from mechanical to UV. It also understands that damage is so rarely consistent from root to tip, so it harnesses smart conditioning agents to identify and treat the areas in need of the most care. The result? Instant frizz reduction and hair that's 6x easier to detangle when wet*. No more dragging your comb through a knotted mane; your brush will glide through after five minutes with this mask.  

4. Rinse with Cool Water for Natural Shine

You should always rinse out shampoos and conditioners with lukewarm water (not hot water!), as it helps to remove any remaining residue without stripping your strands of natural oils. But, before you hop out of the shower, you can also give your hair a final rinse with cold water for extra shine. This step encourages the hair cuticle to lie flat, which creates a smoother, silkier, light-reflective surface. Hello, glow!

5. Gently Blot Hair Dry

As tempting as it is to rub hair dry with a towel, a gentle approach is key. Too much friction can ruffle the hair shaft, leaving it frayed and frazzled. So, instead, blot strands dry with a microfiber towel or a soft cotton t-shirt. This is especially important if you have wavy or curly hair, as gently pressing out excess water is better for maintaining texture. You won't want to miss this step, as it's also essential for getting the most out of your leave-in conditioner, leaving damaged hair ready to absorb all that much-needed nourishment. 

6. Comb Tangled Hair from the Ends Upwards

When it comes to achieving silky hair, even your detangling regimen needs an upgrade. If you tend to pull your comb or brush from root to tip, stop now and try this shiny hair secret instead: 

Use a detangling comb and start working through knots at the very ends of your hair first. Tease them out in small sections, gradually moving higher up the hair shaft as you separate tangles. This way, you won't be dragging on knotty hair and risking breakage or hair follicle damage. It takes a little while to tease out every knot, but it's worth it for keeping hair soft and smooth.

7. Repair Damage with a Leave-In Treatment

Once hair has been towel-dried, it's time for a leave-in treatment – one that leaves hair silky and soft by working on the condition of strands. Our most innovative hair care product, ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, not only repairs hair damage in 90 seconds**, but it also reduces breakage by 99%*** and leaves hair 12x smoother****. Mist it from root to tip, allow the blend of AHA and Omega-9 to absorb, and then continue your styling routine. No rinsing. No compromise. Just healthier hair that's perfectly prepped for smooth styling.

8. Lock in Moisture for Nourished Hair

The secret to silkier hair is all in how you layer your hair products, and the final step before you style should be an occlusive, like a hair oil. Why? Because occlusive formulas seal nourishment into brittle, dry hair, so moisture can't easily escape, and strands stay smoother for longer. If you have straight or wavy hair, try Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil. Massage a pump or two through the mid-lengths and ends of damp hair for instant shine with a glossy finish. If your hair type is curly or coily, use NutriCurls Curlixir Balm. The rich leave-in hair treatment helps to enhance ringlets, boost bouncy volume and hydrate with Jojoba Oil and Panthenol. 

9. Shield Hair Against Heat Styling Tools

Whether you're blow drying, straightening or curling, smoothing hair with heat can lead to long-term damage. Exposing strands to sizzling temperatures may strip away essential oils, so you're left with brittle hair that breaks and frays easily. But that doesn't mean you have to abandon hot tools. Simply make sure you're using a heat protectant serum, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In. This delicate cream safeguards your hair against heat up to 230°C/450° F, so even if you're turning up the temperature to tame a coarse mane, hair will stay protected.

10. Sleep on a Silk or Satin Pillowcase

Even the softest cotton pillowcase can be too rough for sensitized strands, so if you're regularly waking up to frizz, it's time for a bedtime upgrade. Switch to a satin pillowcase or silk pillowcase for more manageable hair come morning. Hair will slide and glide over the pillow while you sleep, rather than being tugged and rubbed each time you turn over.

11. Keep Humidity at Bay

This is a big one. Humidity is the enemy of smooth, soft hair; it causes frizz and flyaways by latching onto dry strands that crave added moisture. The best way to beat humidity is to ensure hair is so nourished that it can't soak up as much water from the air. If hair is highly porous (meaning it’s ultra-absorbent), adding just the right kind of moisture is a must.Your shampoo and care routine above has that much-needed moisture boost on wash day covered, but in between washes, you still need to dial up nourishment for the silkiest hair. For curls and coils, an added layer of NutriCurls Curlixir Balm is your go-to. Lightly scrunch it into hair to revive ringlets while giving hair extra moisture. Or, if your hair is straight or wavy, a touch of ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In will lock frizz out. It doesn't just shield strands against heat; it also protects against UV rays and friction for all-round smoothing power.

12. Get Hair Trimmed Regularly

Your smooth hair care routine falls flat if your strands are split and snapped, so make sure you book in for regular trims to snip away untidy ends. At least every eight weeks, visit your nearest Wella Professionals salon for a cut (our Salon Finder will help). You don't have to lose length if you don't want to; ask for an 'invisible cut', so splits are targeted and trimmed without removing inches of hair. Looking for more tips to care for damaged tresses? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring advice for every type and concern.

* Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.

** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. 

*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo. 

**** Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.