For people with naturally wavy or curly hair who want to wear it straight and sleek, using a blow-dryer and/or flat iron. It suits medium to thick textures best and is easy to use at home as well as in the salon.

Most smoothing products are either slippery creams with no hold or gels that leave hair stiff. Straight Works sits in between: the serum part gives slip so a brush moves through wavy hair, and the gel part gives just enough grip to keep it straight once dry. That balance is what makes it useful for sleek blowouts and flat-ironed looks on textured hair.

Apply a small amount to clean, damp hair and distribute evenly. Style as desired; Paul Mitchell recommends applying it before blow-drying to enhance sleekness.

Stylist tip from Paul Mitchell: great for smooth blowouts and sleek flat-ironed looks.

Pros

• Gel hold helps a straight style resist reverting
• Slip makes brushing through damp texture easier
• Leaves hair soft and shiny, not stiff
• Pairs with Super Skinny Serum for heat protection

Cons

• Not needed for already-straight hair
• Too much can make fine hair limp
• Contains no heat-protection claim of its own; layer a heat protectant if flat-ironing