Don’t you love it when you feel as if your hair looks so good, you might've just stepped out of a shampoo commercial? You imagine yourself stopping traffic as you strut your stuff down the street — wind whipping through your long, glistening tresses. Bad hair days? Never!
Okay, so maybe that scenario is only the stuff of dreams — but shiny, healthy hair can be reality. Learn how to shine with these 10 simple tips fromt hair experts. The best part? None of them require
a trip to the salon!
1. Say yes to hair serum.
Shine serums are available that have been specially formulated to give frizzy or unruly hair a sleek sheen. Find some great options at your local drugstore, beauty supply store, or hair salon. These products moisturize your hair with a light concentration of oils or silicone, says Shorter. To apply, “use a pea-sized amount to start,” she advises. “Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up, rubbing it into wet hair with your hands.” It’s important not to use too much serum, because it can weigh hair down, but if you feel you need more moisture, go ahead and add a bit more.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner.
Regular conditioners are great, but if you really want to pump up the shine, Shorter recommends adding a leave-in conditioner to your routine. These come in both spray-on and lotion forms. Apply them the same way you do shine serum
3. Wash with cool water.
Beware of hot water! It can dry out your hair and leave it dull. Instead, after shampooing and conditioning, rinse with cool water. “It closes the cuticle,” explains Shorter. “And that allows light to reflect off the hair, producing lots of shine.”
4. Be smart about blow-drying.
As you’re blow-drying your hair, direct the dryer's nozzle down the hair shafts as you hold each section of hair with a round brush. Finish by pressing the “cool” button on your hair dryer — the cool air produces a reflective effect similar to that of a cool-water rinse after shampooing.
5. Spray on the shine.
When your hair is dry, finish your look with a spray-on shine product. Shorter recommends spray mists made by Ojon and Pantene. Whether it comes in a pump bottle or aerosol can, a shine spray can be misted onto dry hair — no matter what texture it is — to give it an extra glistening effect.
6. Switch to a silicone flatiron.
A flatiron can help straighten hair, which usually looks shinier than wavy hair. But avoid overusing a flatiron — all that heat-styling can be drying! Shorter recommends a new type of flatiron made by Bio Ionic, with silicone built into the plates rather than the typical ceramic or metal. “The heated silicone glides right over the hair and straightens it in one pass. “I’ve found that silicone cuts the straightening time in half, which means less damage.”
7. Get a glossing treatment.
If you really want to get your shine on, consider having a professional glossing treatment. These are often performed after a hair-coloring treatment, but you can get one without the dye job. “It's designed to give you richer hair color with more depth, but it doesn’t actually have any pigment to it,” says Shorter. A glossing is usually temporary, lasting about four to six shampoos, and glossing kits are available at some drugstores, so you can even try it out without hitting the salon.
8. Hydrate your body.
Drinking plenty of water will ensure that your hair is properly moisturized from the inside out. About eight glasses a day is ideal. Keep a bottle by your side and sip from it often!
9. Eat nutritious foods.
Shorter recommends getting your daily recommended allowances of vitamins A and E for shiny, healthy hair. Also, be sure you’re eating plenty of protein, which promotes hair growth. “Eggs and nuts are excellent sources of protein.
10. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Shiny hair is healthy hair — so don’t abuse it! Limit your hair’s exposure to harsh chemicals, like the chlorine in pools, and lye-based hair-relaxing creams. Use heat-styling as infrequently as you can get away with, and avoid products that contain alcohol, which can dry out your hair and strip its shine.
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