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).