How to Keep Your Hair Silky Soft Despite the Cold Weather, According to a Pro Stylist

Fall might be the best time for fashion — at least if our virtual carts over-stuffed with new coats and cozy sweaters are any indication. When it comes to beauty, though, autumn isn't exactly the kindest of seasons, a fact proven by that dessicated mess formerly know as our hair. 

On a quest to reunite with the silky strands we knew not so long ago, we checked in with professional hairstylist Lucy Garcia Planck of Bergdorf Goodman Salon in NYC, who gave us her product picks for keeping locks soft and silky in defiance of the harsh fall weather. 

“L'Oréal Ever Pure Repair & Defend is very similar to some other high-end shampoos and has a lot of the same ingredients — but it’s a lot less expensive,” says Garcia Planck of a favorite haircare bargain, which rings up at less than $6 a bottle. “Before wetting hair, put the shampoo on, rub it in, and then add water to suds your hair,” she says of a pro tip that sops up oil more effectively while leaving hair silky rather than greasy.

“This product gives hair a ton of shine, is a great detangler, and smells amazing,” says Garcia Planck, who recommends applying to towel-dried hair. “For those with fine hair, spray in your hands first. For those with thicker hair, apply directly to hair.”

"This oil will protect your hair from the cold weather outside,” says Garcia Planck, who suggests first applying a dime-sized amount before you blow dry. “If your hair still seems dry and has static, you can use a little bit more afterwards to keep it looking shiny and healthy.”

Almost nothing smooths hair faster than a few sweeps of a flatiron — and of all the products Garcia Planck has tried, this is one that made the cut for creating silky-soft strands. “One of the things I love about this product is that you can control the temperature so you don’t burn your hair,” she says, recommending that you top out at 400°F if your hair is thick, and start off with a lower setting if hair is fine.

“This iron seems to hold the curl longer than others and also gives soft beach waves — a more natural look,” says Garcia Planck of the shine-enhancing wand that smooths strands while creating curls. 

“This brush is an amazing detangler, and really leaves your hair feeling soft,” says Garcia Planck. Brush your hair upside down to add shine by evenly distributing natural oils through strands.

DIY your own Holy Grail gel-mousse hybrid by mixing a dime-size drop of Shu Uemura’s Fiber lift (above) with a small handful of the brand’s Ample Angora Mousse, which Planck credits as the least sticky mousse she’s ever used. Apply the concoction to roots using your fingertips before styling. “It gives your hair volume, is not sticky, and doesn’t weigh your hair down. It also gives an unbelievable shine,” says Garcia Planck.

“After I blow dry hair, I love to use these to give hair more bounce,” says Garcia Planck, who positions just five of the large Velcro rollers in this set around the head to style in volume. “It closes the cuticle, which is what gives it a nice sheen." Mist with a light-hold hairspray to keep the curls locked in.

While sprays, dryers, and irons are the most obvious tools in a hairstylist's arsenal for faking shine, naturally glossy hair starts on the inside. ”This particular vitamin contains a healthy amount of biotin, which makes your hair strong,” says Garcia Planck, who recommends them especially to clients who are trying to grow their hair out. Keep in mind that it will take at least 30 days before you start seeing results.