How to Make Your Hair Soft and Silky

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References Approved

Healthy hair looks and feels soft and somewhat silky. If your hair has become too dry and brittle, it has probably lost the natural oils that your hair uses to lock in moisture. You can restore these oils by using natural masks, rinses, and oil treatments. You can also do things to help keep your hair healthy and prevent future damage.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Natural Hair Masks

1
Make a mask with avocados and banana. Avocados and banana may also help to give you soft, silky hair. Mash one avocado and one banana together to form a paste. Massage the paste into your hair, making sure to cover all of your strands. Allow the mask to set for an hour, and then rinse out.^{[1]
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- The combination of avocado and banana may also help to reduce the appearance of split ends and add elasticity to your locks.
2
Apply avocados and egg yolks. You can also mix an avocado with an egg yolk for a hair softening mask. Mix the avocado and egg yolk together in a bowl until they form a paste. Then apply the mixture to your hair and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Then, rinse the mixture out of your hair with lukewarm water.
- You may also want to shampoo your hair to remove all traces of the egg yolks.
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3
Prepare a mayonnaise mask. Mayonnaise is made of emulsified egg yolks and oil, which can provide your hair with oils to make it soft and shiny. Completely coat your hair in mayonnaise and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Once the mayo has soaked into your hair, rinse it out with warm water followed by a regular wash of shampoo and conditioner.^{[2]
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- Use full-fat mayonnaise for the best results.
- Do not use mayonnaise if you are allergic to eggs.
4
Give yourself a gelatin mask. Gelatin can also help to make your hair soft and silky. To restore protein to your hair, mix one tablespoon of unflavored gelatin and one tablespoon of warm water. Then apply the mixture to your hair. Leave the mixture on your hair for about 10 minutes, and then rinse it out.^{[3]
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- Follow this treatment up by shampooing and conditioning your hair.
5
Use aloe vera as a hair mask. Aloe vera gel may also help to make your hair soft and silky.You can use aloe that you get directly from a plant or purchase a bottle of 100% aloe vera gel. Apply the gel to your hair, massaging it in around the roots and working towards the tips. Use enough aloe to coat your hair from root to tip. Let the aloe gel sit on your hair for about 30 minutes, and then rinse it out.^{[4]
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- Follow up this treatment with a regular hair wash using shampoo and conditioner.
6
Try an applesauce mask. Get a cup of applesauce or make your own applesauce by boiling a couple of apples (core and peel removed) in water until they are soften and then draining the water and mashing them. If you make your own applesauce, then make sure that you let it cool down to room temperature before you apply it to your hair. Then, apply the applesauce to your hair from the roots to the tips. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse it out.^{[5]
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- Finish the treatment by shampooing and conditioning your hair.
7
Make an egg yolk mask. Combine three egg yolks with one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of honey. Beat the ingredients together until they are well combined. Then, apply the mixture to all of your hair. Let this sit on your hair under a shower cap for 30 minutes. Then, rinse your hair and use shampoo and conditioner to completely remove all traces of the egg.
- Shower with warm but not too hot water as it may cook the egg yolks in your hair making it difficult to remove.
- If you do not like the smell or mess of raw eggs, you can also buy a ready egg oil. This also eliminates the risk of salmonella infection or allergy coming from raw eggs.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Rinses and Hot Oil Treatments

1
Do a hot oil treatment. Heat four tablespoons of coconut, olive, almond, or castor oil in a pan until it is slightly warm to the touch, but not hot. Pour this warmed oil into your hair, and use your fingers to massage it into your roots and scalp. When all of your strands have been coated with the warm oil, put a shower cap over your hair and then wrap the outside of the shower cap with a hot towel. The heat from the oil and the towel will open the pores in your scalp, allowing the oil to soak in and soften your hair.
- After about 10 minutes, rinse out the oil and wash your hair as usual.
2
Soak your hair in oil at night. Before you go to bed at night, cover your hair with olive oil or egg oil. Massage the oil into the roots of your hair all the way to the ends and then cover it with a shower cap. You can also wrap a towel or bandana around your head to help keep the shower cap in place. Sleep with your hair wrapped, and then rinse the oil out in the morning.^{[7]
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- Follow up by shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual.
3
Rinse your hair with beer. Rinsing your hair with beer may help to make it silky and soft. Try pouring a flat beer over your hair after you have finished washing it. Leave it on your hair for about five minutes and then rinse it out with cool water.^{[8]
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- Another alternative is to pour some beer into a spray bottle, and spritz it into your hair after you wash your hair. Then leave it in like a leave-in conditioner.
4
Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can also help to make your hair soft and silky. Combine ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar with one cup of warm water. Spritz or pour the apple cider vinegar onto into your hair after you wash it and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Then, rinse the apple cider vinegar out of your hair with cool water.^{[9]
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- This treatment may also be helpful if you have dandruff or an itchy scalp.
EXPERT TIP

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist
Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist

Our Expert Agrees: To cleanse your hair, use acidic items like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar as a clarifying rinse. That will remove a lot of the dandruff, dirt, and oils from your scalp. However, be sure to follow with something moisturizing to balance the pH of your hair afterward.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Hair

1
Skip a day when you wash your hair. Hair follicles produce natural oils that add shine and softness to your hair. Washing your hair repeatedly with harsh chemicals (such as those present in most shampoos) removes these oils. While these oils can build up and become greasy in appearance over time, washing your hair every day can also strip away the healthy oils. Try skipping a day or two between washes to help improve the look and feel of your hair.
- If your hair is very fine or if you sweat a lot, then you should wash your hair every day.^{[10]
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- Use dry shampoo between washes to keep your hair looking fresh and clean.
- People with fine and thin hair should wash their hair every other day while people with coarse or curly hair may only need to wash their hair once or twice a week.
2
Leave some conditioner in your hair. Conditioner can give you soft silky hair, so it is a good idea to leave a little on your strands. When you condition your hair, don’t rinse it for too long. Try to rinse your hair until most of the conditioner is out, but your hair still feels slick. This will help to ensure that your hair stays soft and silky all day.^{[11]
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- You may also want to wring the excess water out of your hair before you apply conditioner. This will help to ensure that your hair soaks up as much conditioner as possible.
- For fine or thin hair, only apply conditioner to your strands. Do not apply it to your roots.
3
Use styling products with humectants. Humectants are special ingredients that absorb moisture into your hair from the air and environment around you. Read the ingredients label of your hair styling products, and choose products that contain ingredients such as:
- Glycerin
- Propylene glycol
- Butylene Glycol
- Dipropylene glycol
- Hexanediol^{[12]
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- Honey
- Agave nectar^{[13]
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EXPERT TIP

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist
Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan.

Courtney Foster
Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Trick: To get shiny hair, mix olive oil and jojoba oil in a spray bottle, then mist your hair after you shampoo but before you blow out your hair. You can also use castor oil or coconut oil, but remember, a little goes a long way with those.
4
Stay away from heat products. Using blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can dry out your hair and create split ends.^{[14]
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Research source} This dry, fragile, and broken hair will be difficult to smooth and appear dead and dull. Try using heating tools as little as possible, or avoid them altogether. Always let your hair air dry after you wash it.
- If you must use a blower, flat iron, or curling iron, apply a leave-in conditioner or spray in a heat protectant first. This will help to protect your hair as you style it.
- Occasional use of heat products can make your hair feel soft and look great, but repeated use will damage the hair.
5
Trim off split ends. If you do not trim your hair for a long time, then split ends can develop. Split ends can make your hair look damaged and dry. Take time at least once every three to four months to get a hair trim to help prevent split ends and keep your hair looking healthy.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How can you get longer hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Growing your hair takes time, but if you condition it frequently and avoid heat styling you can reduce the frequency of your trims without sacrificing the health of the hair. This will allow you to grow hair stronger and faster.
Question

How can I soften my hair at home?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You can apply an oil treatment once a week to add shine and suppleness. I like to add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of oil to my regular conditioner, then comb it through, cover my hair in a cap, and process for half an hour before rinsing.
Question

How do I get my hair soft and silky?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Washing your hair less frequently and with a mild, sulfate-free shampoo is a great way to improve its softness and shine. A weekly deep conditioning treatment and reducing your use of heat styling tools can also do wonders.

Warnings

Many chemical and heat treatments may make your hair look great at first, but they can cause damage over time.

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