17 Best Hair-Straightening Products for Sleek Hair (Tested and Reviewed for 2024)
This is what's missing from your smooth-hair routine.
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.
If you want silky, glass-like hair, you better be incorporating a good hair-straightening product before smoothing your hair with a flat iron or blow dryer. No, a product alone won't take your hair from poofy and curly to sleek and straight (only a hair-straightener brush, hair-dryer brush, or hair straightener can do that), but a smoothing cream or spray is what'll give you major shine and softness, according to hairstylist Clariss Anya Rubenstein. "These products make hair more manageable, easier to detangle, and shinier, which lends itself to a smoother look," she says. Meaning if you want Kim Kardashian-level hair, you've gotta put in the extra step.
Which is why I went on a mission, testing all of the best hair-straightening products on the market, from moisturizing creams to shine sprays to in-shower treatments. And now I’m ready to pass on my wisdom—and the wisdom of two expert hairstylists, Rubenstein and Tiffany Mack—below. And that includes the 17 best hair-straightening products to smooth flyaways and make your hair very, very shiny. Let’s get into it, but first, here's a sneak peek.
Our top hair-straightening product picks of 2024:
Best Drugstore Hair-Straightening Product
John Frieda Frizz Ease Keratin Infused Flat Iron Hair Spray
Read more
Ready for the deep dive? Keep scrolling for the 17 best hair-straightening products from brands like Bumble and bumble, John Frieda, Briogeo, and more.
Pros
- Makes my hair the sleekest and smoothest of every product I've tested
- Doesn't weigh my hair down
Cons
- Filled with silicones, which can build up on hair over time and need sulfates to break down
When I want my hair to look like literal glass, I spritz it with this after the shower, then straighten my hair with a hair-dryer brush. This formula is filled with silicones that give my hair a super-sleek, smooth look and feel, especially when I activate it with a blow dryer or flat iron. (Oh, and I'm not the only one who <3s it—it's got a casual 42,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.)
- Key ingredients: Silicones (smoothing)
- Type: Spray
- Size: 6.7 oz
THE REVIEWS: "This stuff is amazing," writes one tester. "I have fine hair, and it doesn’t weigh it down at all. I live in very humid Florida and using this, my hair does not frizz at all. It doesn’t even crease when I use a hair tie."
Pros
- Uses shea butter to moisturize hair
- Gives my hair major shine, thanks to prickly-pear seed and moringa-seed oil
Cons
- Has tiny shimmers in the formula, which some testers didn't love
Straightening my hair often makes it look super dull and dry. So when I know I'll be looking for a shiny, sleek look, I smooth this through my dry hair, roots to ends, leave it on for 20 minutes, then hop in the shower and shampoo and condition like normal. Shea butter, prickly-pear seed oil, and moringa-seed oil coat my hair with major moisture, giving it a silky, soft feel, even after I blow dry and run my flat iron over it.
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, prickly-pear seed oil, moringa seed oil
- Type: Pre-wash treatment
- Size: 6 oz
THE REVIEWS: According to a tester, "I've used probably every lamellar water/glossing mask on the market, and this one has the most visible, immediate softening and shine effect. I love that it also goes on dry- much easier to use before showering. My hair also actually feels stronger with continued use as well."
John Frieda Frizz Ease Keratin Infused Flat Iron Hair Spray
Pros
- Widely available at drugstores
Cons
- Contains alcohol, which can be a bit drying
You don’t need to ball out to get a hair-straightening product that actually works. Just spritz this straightening spray from John Freida on damp hair, and let the silicones smooth out your flyaways. Plus, it's got a little hydrolyzed keratin to help strengthen your hair and make it look extra healthy.
- Key ingredients: Silicone (smoothing), keratin (strengthening)
- Type: Spray
- Size: 3.5 oz
THE REVIEW: "When I first saw this in the store, I had to try it. I am so glad that I did. It really helps curly hair become straight using a hair dryer, then a flat iron. It also lasts for three days," one tester writes.
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Some users say their hair sometimes feels waxy
To help smooth and stretch out your curls, massage this cream into your damp hair, then blow dry section by section. The formula's silicones and polyquats (aka polymers) give your hair a silky finish that help smooth it out, especially if you follow with a flat iron.
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone, polyquats (smoothers)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 5 oz
THE REVIEW: "This stuff is liquid gold. It definitely cuts down the amount of time it takes to blow dry my hair. But the real plus is it makes my thick hair sleek and silky just-got-a-blowout feeling after I straighten it with a flatiron," one review reads.
Pros
- Moisturizes and adds shine with shea butter and castor oil
- Lightweight enough for fine hair, said testers
Cons
- Strong smell can be overwhelming to sensitive noses, wrote reviewers
Shea butter and castor oil are the MVPs of this super-moisturizing hair-straightening cream. It seals your hair cuticles (aka no frizz or flyaways), smoothes your hair, and hydrates without weighing it down. Plus, it's got a lil dimethicone, a smoothing silicone, to give your hair a silky, soft feel.
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, castor oil, dimethicone (smoothing)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 5.1 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have been using this product since at least Christmas of 1999! It is the best product ever—my hair can be curly or straight, and this cream saves my sanity! Please don't ever discontinue!" writes one tester.
Pros
- Doesn't weigh my hair down
Cons
- Some testers wished it gave them more shine
I used to skip out on heat styling my long, thick hair because I didn’t have the patience (or the arm strength) to spend forever blow-drying and flat-ironing. But this hair-straightening product makes it so much easier. Ceramides and keratin smooth my hair, making straightening thick, long hair a breeze.
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone (smoothing), hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthening)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 5.1 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have very thick, wavy type 2b/2c hair that is dry with plenty of frizz. I have tried for years with lots of different products—all of them had significant downsides from not controlling the frizz to drying out my hair more, or weighing my hair down too much. Discipline immediately gave me soft, frizz-free hair that was bouncy yet smooth at the same time," one review reads.
Pros
- Filled with strengthening proteins
- Fragrance is not too over-powering, IMO
Cons
- Some testers say it is hard to get an even distribution
If your hair always looks a bit messy and poofy when you straighten it, give your a hair a spritz with this strengthening spray. It's got a whole bunch of proteins (hi spirulina, soy, wheat, and corn proteins) to help fill in all the cracks in your hair strands to make them look and feel smoother over time. Plus, a handful of polymers help lay down flyaways.
- Key ingredients: Spirulina protein, soy protein, wheat protein, corn protein (strengthening)
- Type: Spray
- Size: 5.6 oz
THE REVIEW: "YES!! YES!! YES!! Brought my ringlets to poker straightness!! Smells like cocoa butter and vanilla! Holy grail product! Don’t hesitate!!" one reviewer writes.
Pros
- Actually helps rebuild the bonds in your damaged hair
- Makes hair super soft, according to testers
Cons
- Some reviewers said the pump can be hard to use
Bleach, chemical treatments (like keratin treatments), and heat styling can all damage your hair and leave it looking sad, dry, and blah. Repair the damage with this hair-straightening cream. It has coconut oil, vitamin E, and protein to leave your hair feeling (and looking) like a dream.
- Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (bond-building), vegetable protein (strengthening), sunflower-seed oil
- Type: Cream
- Size: 3.3 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have naturally curly/wavy hair. I use this after I wash my hair and I comb it through, then I add my normal styling cream. WOW! Such a difference in the way my hair feels and looks. Definitely helps with frizz due to humidity. Will purchase it again. I highly recommend it to curly-haired girls," one review reads.
Pros
- Argan oil makes hair super soft and shiny
Cons
- May take a few tries to figure out how it works best on your hair
I’m a lazy hair styler, so my ideal product has to either multitask or not require a lot of extra work. Enter: this hair-straightening product, which can be combined with your shampoo in the shower at a one-to-one ratio (yes, you’re officially a hair mixologist now). Wash and condition your hair as usual, then blow-dry to get smooth, straight hair.
- Key ingredients: Argan oil, dimethicone (smoothing)
- Type: In-shower treatment
- Size: 5.1 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have long, fine hair that is straight. The bottom half of my hair is somewhat damaged through color—enough so that when I dry it, I don't get that shiny bouncy look like a professional blowout. When I use this product, I do," one tester writes.
Pros
- Strengthens hair with vegetable protein
- Reviewers love it for smoothing hair before braids
Cons
- Pricey for the amount of product, per some reviews
If you have damaged hair, you might want to take a break from heat styling tools to bring your hair back to life. But, if you’re going to use them anyway, make sure you grab this hair-straightening cream before styling. It’s a strengthening heat protectant that works wonders on damaged hair.
- Key ingredients: Vegetable protein (strengthening); polymers, dimethicone (smoothing)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 5 oz
THE REVIEW: "I am obsessed with this product! I have thick, course type 4 hair. This product smoothes my hair out so well when I blow dry it, especially before a braid appointment. You don't even need to use that much," one customer writes.
Pros
- Helps smooth hair, even in high humidity, according to tests
Cons
- Can be hard to find in stock sometimes (bc *v* popular)
If you have naturally curly hair, humidity is enemy number one when it comes to maintaining a straight hairstyle. Thanks to the humidity-resistant polymers and the moisturizing coconut oil in this hair-straightening product, your hair will be less likely to lose the smooth, sleek look on high-humidity days.
- Key ingredients: Polymers (smoothing), coconut oil
- Type: Spray
- Size: 3 oz
THE REVIEW: "This is a staple in my beauty closet," one reviewer writes. "I have A LOT of very fine hair which gives the appearance of thick hair. This product + a good flat iron keeps my hair straight, even when I don't get a touch-up/relaxer for four or five months. Plus, it doesn't make hair tacky/sticky."
Pros
- Testers said it leaves their frizzy hair super smooth
Cons
- Dry hair types might need another moisturizing cream
In case you don’t want your hair to feel like straw—which I’m guessing you don’t—you’re going to want to try out this hair-straightening cream from Bed Head. It's filled with hydrating glycerin and smoothing polymers that'll keep your hair straight for hours (especially when used with a round brush or hair-straightener brush).
- Key ingredients: Polymers (smoothing)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 4 oz
THE REVIEW: "LOVE LOVE LOVE this product. It smooths and straightens my hair without feeling greasy—even on my fine hair," reads one customer's review.
Pros
- The best product I've tried for smoothing flyaways
- Helps detangle hair
Cons
- Super sweet scent that some may not love
The difference between your blowout leaving you with silky hair vs. poofy, flyaway-filled hair is a smoothing spray like this one. Spray it from roots to ends on damp, clean hair, then blow-dry and straighten with a flat iron. The spray is formulated with keratin to help smooth the cuticle for a straighter, smoother finish until your next wash day.
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone (smoothing), vegetable protein (strengthening)
- Type: Spray
- Size: 6.4 oz
THE REVIEW: "The first time I used this, I was a little iffy about the scent. Then I was a little iffy about the texture of my hair after I dried it. Then I used my flat iron and I was completely sold. This product truly deserves the title of 'miracle sealant.' My hair is coarse, but now my hair is now soft, sleek, tangle-free, and my ends are no longer gnarly and dry. This was worth every penny. I'd pay twice as much for this stuff—it's amazing!" one tester writes.
Pros
- Super easy to use
- Chock-full of strengtheners to smooth damaged hair
Cons
- Most expensive hair-straightening product on this list
This at-home hair-straightening cream with keratin works just as well as the ones in the salon, IMO. Work it into towel-dried hair and then blow dry and flat-iron as usual. The result? Pin-straight hair that looks and feels like silk.
- Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthening)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 2.5 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have been using this product for years because I really like what it does for my hair. I don't always blow-dry my hair completely until it's dry, and it still keeps the frizzy hair away. The price has gone up quite a bit though through the years, so I stock up when it goes on sale," one customer writes.
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream
Pros
- Makes brittle, dry hair feel soft again (thanks to oils)
- Helps protect against heat damage
Cons
- You'll need to use a decent amount of product
Working with curly or damaged hair? Heat styling isn’t exactly going to help it look (or feel) healthier, but you can at least help mitigate future damage with this heat-protectant cream. The creamy formula is packed with argan oil, coconut oil, and proteins to lock in moisture, repair damage, and add back some softness and shine.
- Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, argan oil, coconut oil
- Type: Cream
- Size: 4 oz
THE REVIEW: "I have extremely compromised hair—years of EXTREME heat damage, bleaching, cheap hair dye, and using cheap products. my hair is a mess. But this stuff makes it look BEAUTIFUL. I will say I have to use quite a bit of it but it's worth it, nothing has ever made my hair this soft before," one review reads.
Pros
- Super moisturizing, according to reviews
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Can be too heavy when used on wet hair
If unwanted flyaways are your main concern, this finishing cream will lay them flat and give your straight hairstyle a smooth, shiny finish. It’s spiked with ultra-moisturizing shea butter, as well as rice-bran and jojoba oils, which deliver some glass-like shine and lock in the moisture
- Key ingredients: Shea butter, rice bran oil, jojoba oil
- Type: Cream
- Size: 3.4 oz
THE REVIEW: "This product smells so good and lasts forever. I use only a pea-sized amount when I finish styling my hair to manage flyaways and it works great. It can be used for other styling too, but that’s my favorite way to use it," one customer writes.
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner
Pros
- Moisturizes hair with argan and jojoba oils
Cons
- Smells like toothpaste (?!), which some testers didn't like
Curly-hair folks: You’re no stranger to putting moisture at the forefront of every haircare routine, which means you already know it's a requirement when it comes to heat styling. So before you even get to the smoothing creams for straightening and stretching out your coils, load your hair with a hydrating leave-in conditioner like this one. It's not only packed with moisturizing ingredients, like jojoba oil, argan oil, and aloe extract, but it’s also super lightweight, so it won’t leave you with weighed-down or greasy hair.
- Key ingredients: Argan oil, jojoba oil, wheat protein (strengthening)
- Type: Cream
- Size: 16.1 fl oz.
THE REVIEW: "I love this multi-use conditioner," one tester writes. "I use it as a conditioner after shampooing and also as a leave-in. It has a ton of slip and I have 4b hair. It has the spearmint gum smell and I love it. I’m on my fourth bottle and will continue to repurchase it!!"
What to look for in a hair-straightening product:
Consider your hair type
Hairstylist Tiffany Mack says to pick your products based on your hair porosity (which is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture). For high-porosity hair (which absorbs moisture but can also lose it easily), Mack says to look for serums, leave-ins, and creams that contain heavier moisturizers like coconut oil and shea butter (see: Matrix Total Results Mega Sleek Blow Down Smoothing Leave-In Cream). Low-porosity hair (which needs help absorbing moisture), on the other hand, should opt for lightweight oils like jojoba or argan oil to avoid weighing down strands or leading to buildup. I, personally, love Garnier Fructis Sleek Shot In Shower Hair Styling Cream on my fine, super-low porosity hair.
And if you live in fear of anything oil-based touching your already-oily hair, Rubenstein says to "avoid products with heavy oil ingredients like coconut, almond, or avocado oils, to name a few." But she says that as long as the product is far enough from your scalp (which is what's really causing the oiliness) in just the length of your hair, you should be able to use most of these straightening creams. But if you have dry hair? "Keratin, rich oils, and ingredients with hydrating properties are important," says Rubenstein. Or mix 'em all together, like in Ouai's Finishing Crème.
Look at the formula
If you want that glossy, straight hair, you want to look for products that say “anti-frizz,” "straightening," or “smoothing" on the label, which means they usually contain smoothers like silicones and polymers. “Heat protection is also super important," says Mack, “especially for people who are heat-styling twice a week or more.” So look for products that offer clear heat protection on the packaging (we love Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream), as well as formulas that boast damage-repairing ingredients, like proteins (ahem, Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme is the GOAT).
Meet the experts:
- Tiffany Mack is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City who works with clients like Patina Miller, Jaden Michael, and Naturi Naughton, and is the founder of Lucid Bliss, a hair care and hair extension brand.
- Clariss Anya Rubenstein is a celebrity hairstylist based in L.A., who works with celebrities like Katie Lowes, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Sarah Hyland.
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience writing, researching, and editing hair stories, like hair-thickening shampoos and dry scalp treatments. She's spent a lifetime nursing her fine hair into sleek styles with every hair oil and blow-dry spray she could find.
Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She's an expert at writing hair stories that range from curl creams to sulfate-free shampoos. She's an authority in all haircare categories, but an expert when it comes to straightening products, thanks to a lifetime of trying every hair-straightening product she can get her hands on. She regularly tests and analyzes them, while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new products and brands.
Sami Roberts was previously the beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing health, social media, and beauty-related stories, including the best natural hair dyes to hair volumizing products. Her hair-straightening product picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Sami Roberts was the previous beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan. Keep up with her cat-filled life in New York on Instagram.
Readers Also Read
58 Best Gifts for Men, From Thoughtful to Cool
The 55 Best Gift Ideas for Women, Period
62 Trendy Gifts for Tween Girls That Can't Miss
47 Gift Ideas Mom Won't Stop Talking About
