9 Tips to Shiny, Glossy Hair
We'll spare you the hair that "shines bright like a diamond" references. And, despite the image of Marcia Brady and her long, shiny blonde strands, brushing it 100 times before bed will only cause it to break. While the real source for glossy hair starts with a great diet (more on that below!), the products you use and the ways you care for it play a big part, too. Use a few—or all—of the tips and tricks from the pros to achieve shiny hair status.
Start with a Clarifying Shampoo
Over-shampooing strips the natural oils out of your hair that make it healthy and strong. But for times when you need to hit the refresh button (especially after a dry shampoo streak), a clarifying shampoo like Number 4™ Lumiere d’hiver Clarifying Shampoo rids hair of excess product buildup that blocks its shine (without harming your hair color).
Pump Hair with Moisture
Choose a lightweight daily conditioner with nutrient-rich oils like avocado or olive oil that smooth out the tiny cracks in the hair follicle that create frizz and dullness. "A less porous hair shaft and smoother cuticle increases hair shine," says Dr. Daniel Belkin of Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York. Then, for extra sleekness, treat your hair to a mask like Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color once a week or as often as needed.
Blast It With Cold Water
"Next time you wash your hands with soap, rinse with hot water, and pay attention to how dry and chafed your hands feel afterward. Then, wash your hands again and rinse with cool water to find that they remain soft. It’s the same idea when washing hair," says Davide Marinelli, Oribe Educator and owner of Davide Hair Studio. "Cool water seals cuticles, which keeps your hair shaft laying down, resulting in shinier hair. Bonus: It keeps color in the hair longer, too," he says.
Invest in a Hair Oil
To repair and moisturize hair from the outside in, use a lightweight hair oil like Beauty Protector Protect & Oil that uses argan to add tons of luster without a greasy, heavy feel. A little bit on damp ends goes a long way (1–3 pumps are truly all you need).
Find the Right Brush
"Boar bristles are great for distributing your natural scalp oils all the way from root to tip," says Marinelli. "And, if you use a round brush, you'll get more tension while blow-drying, which means more shine." We love the Spornette Italian Round Brush Collection (use a bigger brush diameter the longer your hair).
Finish Your Blow-dry on a Cool Setting
"Rough-dry the hair 80 percent with a high heat setting, then brush to smooth and shape with medium heat. A brush should never touch sopping wet hair because that’s when it’s at its most vulnerable to breakage and frizz," says Marinelli. "Don’t forget to hit your hair with the cool button on your blow-dryer to set the shape and provide extra shine."
Top It Off with a Spray
In a pinch? Or perhaps it's a no-wash day? This silicone-free Oribe Shine Light Reflecting Spray (infused with argan oil and lemongrass) has a refractive elements so that light actually bounces off the cuticle—as opposed to being absorbed into it. It's instant shine (without any shimmer).
Get Shiny Hair While You Sleep
"Add mint, jasmine, or lavender oil drops to your humidifier while you sleep—especially in cooler weather when hair gets dry and frizzy. It not only smells amazing, but it gives your humidifier an extra boost to combat the dryness in the air," says Marinelli.
Watch Your Diet
Healthy, shiny hair starts from within and a long-term commitment to a well-balanced diet. Whether you take a multivitamin or consume them through your food (iron-rich foods include leafy greens, fish, beets, beans, and meat), "consider a diet full of vitamin A, vitamin C, silica, and omega-3 fatty acids to support shiny hair growth," says Dr. Belkin.
Christa Joanna Lee
Wannabe runner, candle hoarder, and Etsy addict. Never not hungry.