Sleek Hair is One-Step Away: The Hair-Straightening Products We Love For an Ultra-Smooth Finish (2024)

Our Top Picks

Type: Spray | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

No matter your natural texture, a few spritzes of this formula sprayed evenly over dry hair will help smooth it out—and fast. You’ll especially want to add this to your hair routine if you constantly battle humidity since it tames weather-induced flyaways. Paired with the accompanying shampoo and conditioner, it can leave hair up to five times smoother, says the brand. This spray also helps protect your hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees, so you can feel less guilty about heat styling. Plus, it contains shea butter to infuse your locks with plenty of moisture without a greasy feel. If you’re sensitive to fragrance, beware: this one has a strong scent, which might be too intense for some.

Type: Spray | Size: 1.7, 6.7, 16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This spray leaves our hair impressively smooth and sleek, rightfully earning its place on this list for its many benefits (we’ve even dedicated an entire article to it). Credit a proprietary anti-humidity technology acting like a raincoat (hence the name), forming a shield to block out static-inducing moisture. It leaves you with silky, shiny hair, even on humid or rainy days. The smoothing effects are long-lasting, too—through three or four shampoos—and it works on all hair types and textures. Remember that that technology is heat-activated, so you need to blow-dry after using it, but in our experience, you can usually skip the flat iron; the product is that good.

Type: Spray | Size: 3.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Don’t feel like styling your hair every day? We’re right there with you. That’s where this budget-friendly straightening spray comes in handy. It’s long-lasting and lightweight, so it promises not to weigh down your locks. Here’s how it works: heat-activated polymers and keratin proteins wrap around each hair strand, leaving it smooth and sleek after you blow-dry and flat iron. The results last up to three days (or until your next shampoo), leaving you with soft, sleek hair—never heavy or stiff strands. For those prone to grease, go light on the spray; otherwise, it may make your hair oilier.

Type: Cream | Size: 1.69, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What makes this hair straightening product unique is the inclusion of Phytenso, which is a natural alternative to chemical straightening ingredients. The formula also includes a vegan alternative to keratin to help smooth your hair. The brand boasts 24-hour static control and says it’ll protect your hair up to 450 degrees.

Type: Cream | Size: 3.3, 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While intended to be a strengthening treatment, this beloved Olaplex formula is a Byrdie fave for good reason: it does double-duty as an ultra-effective smoother. Its science-backed formula works to repair the protein bonds in your hair that are broken due to (oops!) heat tools, coloring, and sun damage. No matter your hair texture, you can incorporate this into your styling routine a few times a week. You’ll almost instantly have a head full of smoother, shinier, more resilient, and—most importantly!—healthier hair.

Type: Spray | Size: 4.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Like curly hair, thick hair often needs extra help in the smoothing department. This R+Co spray is a must-have for those blessed with a lot of locks, thanks to a formula packed with natural extracts. Its ingredients—which include amaranth seed extract, shikakai fruit extract, and sunflower seed oil—work together for a mélange of benefits. Together, they strengthen hair follicles, seal in hydration, repel humidity, promote a healthy scalp, and add a serious dose of shine and softness. Also lovely: It lasts up to three shampoos. Remember that it is heat-activated, so spritz it on damp hair before blow-drying.

Type: Cream | Size: 1.7, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Jinnouchi names this Oribe cream her go-to, lauding it for being a foolproof pick for almost every hair texture. Not only does it smooth your locks, but it also includes antioxidants and protective proteins that shield your hair from the damaging effects of heat styling. Plus, it reduces your drying time, saving you time and leaving you with more manageable and super-touchable hair.

Type: Cream | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Damaged hair, whether from frequent flat ironing or color treatments, needs all the TLC it can get, and this heat-protectant cream, which safeguards your locks from temperatures up to 450 degrees, does the trick. A trio of oils—coconut, argan, and rosehip—provides essential fatty acids to help protect it from environmental stressors and thoroughly condition your strands. Don’t let “oil” give you the impression that it’ll weigh down your hair, though; it won’t when used in moderation. Consider this a bottle of magic for dry, damaged hair, offering smoothing benefits while rehabbing your hair with plenty of hydration.

Type: Cream | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Straightening, smoothing, and heat-protecting—what can’t this Bumble and Bumble cream do? As if that weren’t enough, the formula also has a conditioning blend to help hydrate and boost shine. It also adds a touch of hold to hair, which is helpful when styling. While it’s nongreasy, this cream is best for thick, curly hair textures. (As lightweight as it is, it can sometimes be too much for fine hair.)

Type: Cream | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Okay, look: Even if your hair is naturally straight, there’s no way you’ll get the straightest, smoothest style if you don’t at least blow-dry. That’s just basic science. But for times when you want to forgo hot tools and simply air dry, working this cream into your locks can make a huge difference. No, it’s not a straightening product, per se, but it does help smooth your hair, tamp down flyaways, and generally make hair less ‘poofy.’ (You know what we’re talking about.) The clean formula and subtle yet sophisticated, 100% natural fragrance is just a bonus, as is the wallet-friendly price tag. We’re suckers for its sleek packaging too.

Type: Cream | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Apply this smoothing balm on, say, Monday morning, then don’t think about it again for a couple of days. Its plentiful benefits last up to three days. Not only does it smooth out your locks, mimicking the shine you would get from a keratin treatment, but the spirulina protein in its formula helps strengthen and nourish your hair, too. While it needs to be heat-activated, it protects against hot tools up to 450 degrees. Just think: You can use this the day before a hot, humid-weather vacation, and then you would not have to think about styling your hair until you’re back home.

Type: Cream | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

After spending time straightening and smoothing your hair, it must be shiny, too. Well, this product from Dae delivers on just that. The prewash formula works on all hair textures and boosts hydration by including prickly pear seed oil, moringa seed oil, and shea butter. Plus, the fruity notes will leave your hair smelling fresh. Be warned, though, that the formula contains glitter to enhance shine, which isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Type: Spray | Size: 6.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You know what’s frustrating? Spending a lot of time straightening your hair only to have a sort of flyway halo appear as soon as you step outside. This Drybar spray, which works on all hair textures, stops those flyaways from appearing because of the smoothing ingredients that wrap around each hair strand. Another bonus? The brand boasts that its shiny and soothing effects last up to three washes.

Type: Cream | Size: 3 or 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When you straighten your hair, you don’t want spit ends distracting from all of your styling work. This Ouai cream works to reduce and repair split ends. But that’s not the only benefit—it also reduces static for 72 hours and acts as a heat protectant. There’s also a super fresh scent that’ll likely garner some compliments.

FAQ

• How do you apply hair straightening products?

  Follow the directions of the specific product you pick, though, as a general rule of thumb, most are meant to be applied onto clean, damp hair before blow-drying, says Jinnouchi.

• How often should you use hair straightening products?

  Again, generally speaking, you can use these daily, says Jinnouchi. The caveat? Some of the ones that are very protein-rich or strengthening should be used more sparingly.

• Do hair straightening products work for all hair types?

  “Yes, so long as you’re choosing the right product for your hair type and texture,” says Jinnouchi.