Shiny Hair Tips
No matter the length, color, or how you style it, hair looks its healthiest when it has a little shine. Not only does this add dimension, but I think the brighter your hair looks, the more radiant you look. Shiny hair brightens up your face, removes dullness, and can make you look much more put together, even if your hair is in a simple ponytail or messy bun. Having color treated hair, I have to work a little harder to keep my hair healthy, but these are the tips, tricks, and products I use to add shine to my hair.
shiny hair tips
prioritize your hair health
Dull hair typically implies damage, whether its to the follicle, ends, or body of your hair. Rather than focus on just adding external shine, it’s worth it to work at repairing damage and getting your hair as healthy as possible for long-lasting radiance. Use high-quality hair products and also make sure you are eating properly and getting enough water - I can’t emphasize enough how deeply nutrition correlates with hair health.
avoid sulfates
Typically found in shampoos, sulfates damage your hair by stripping it of its natural oils. while shampoos that have sulfates get very sudsy and leave your hair feeling extra clean, they cause more harm than good. Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo (this one is another favorite), and if you miss the sudsiness, just add extra water (not more product) to get more suds.
lock in moisture by rinsing with cold water after conditioning
It may be a bit of an adjustment at first, but ending your shower with cold water helps to seal the hair follicle, preventing damage and adding tons of natural shine. I always recommend this to friends before they purchase any hair oil or shine-specific product, because this practice adds a crazy amount of dimension to your hair without having to spend any extra money. You’ll notice a difference even if you rinse for just a few seconds.
use leave-in conditioner
I’m all about low-maintenance beauty, and my favorite leave-in conditioners are the ones that hydrate your hair without feeling greasy or heavy, whether you want to sleep in them overnight or let them soak in while your run errands throughout the day. Something I’ve found over the years of testing different leave-ins is that most of them leave your hair feeling soft, but the best ones really add hydration back into your hair on a deeper level. While it’s definitely pricey, the K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask deeply penetrates your hair, which is ideal if you color-treat your hair. Amika also makes a great one that smells nice, eliminates frizz, and helps detangle your hair as it hydrates; I subscribe to this on Amazon to save a little extra money and have this delivered every six months.
treat your scalp like you would your skin
With so much emphasis on keeping the ends of your hair healthy, the scalp is sometimes neglected. Scalp scrubbers may seem gimmicky, but they truly help stimulate your natural oil production and distribute those oils without leaving your hair greasy or weighed down. I also like to apply a scalp serum every other week (usually at the same time as I am treating my ends with the leave-in) and this has really added to the health of my hair by strengthening the follicles and preventing breakage. DpHUE makes a great ACV serum, but I also like this charcoal one by Biossance; it’s minty, so it feels like a spa treatment at home and adds hydration back on days when summer heat feels especially drying.
try an apple cider vinegar rinse as a weekly treatment
There are times when we add lots of extra product to our hair to increase shine and radiance, but this can lead to product build-up, which prevents your scalp from producing its natural oils. Apple cider vinegar will remove product-build up, hard water residue, and reset your scalp back to its natural balance. I have known some people to use the apple cider vinegar you get from the grocery store, but I find it is worth it to buy a product specifically formulated for your hair, like this rinse by dpHUE. Not only does it not have the really harsh (and long-lasting) vinegar smell, but it’s also gentler on your scalp.
protect your hair from damage by using a heat protectant
I had never used a heat protectant until last year, when my super old curling iron died and I had to get a new one. Hot tools have the craziest technology now; with settings up to 400+ degrees, it increases your risk of burning your hair and can really damage your hair, leading to dullness and breakage. I tried quite a few different heat protectants, looking for something that does its job without weighing down my hair or feeling too “product-y.” This one by Unite also works as a detangler and makes your hair feel so soft. The scent is very light and fresh, so it doesn’t give me a headache, and while it is pricier, a little goes a long way. And on days when I’ll be spending extra time in the sun, I like to protect my hair from the harmful UVA/ UVB rays by applying this hair milk.
finish styling with a hair oil
No matter how you style your hair, finish off the look with a pump of hair oil. Ouai makes one that is lightweight, smells great, and my favorite for adding a really glossy shine to my hair. If you want a multi-purpose product instead, the Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil is a little thicker and really locks in hydration; it almost feels like a protective barrier from external pollutants. In the colder winter months or whenever my ends feel extra damaged, I’ll apply the Dae oil to damp hair and let it soak all day (or overnight) as a treatment. For a more low-maintenance option, Davines Liquid Luster is an in-shower treatment that gives you instant shine that lasts for days (you can read my full review here).