There are few women out there who have naturally luscious, shiny hair. Thanks to colouring, heat styling and numerous other factors, it can be hard to keep our hair in tip top condition.
However, there are a few products that can make your hair look luscious and shiny, even when it seems like your mane is unmanageable.
Inspired by celebrities
Soft, shiny and bouncy hair has been made famous by celebrities known for their luscious locks. From the effortles ‘I woke up like this’ look of Kate Moss to the carefully arranged tresses of millenial socialites such as Olivia Palermo, celebrities have long been the inspiration behing our hair desires. Unfortunately, not everyone has shiny blonde curls like Blake Lively of the sleek strands of Jennifer Aniston.
However, whether or not we have shiny hair largely comes down to our genetics, gals with fine hair that get’s oily quickly are unlikely to enjoy shiny hair, while women with thick tresses that have never been coloured often shine with health. Bekie Raynard of San Francisco’s Barrow Salon, told Women’s Health Magazine that lighter hair tends to absorb light. So, dark hair reflects light better making it naturally shinier than lighter coloured hair. The good news is regardless of whether you have dry hair, oily hair, dark, light, fine or thick hair, you can create that soft, smooth, shiny look with the right hair product.
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Shampoo and Conditioner
Clarifying shampoo
You should adopt products into your hair washing routine that will give your hair a boost. A clarifying shampoo will give your hair a detox and get rid of any build up of damaging products and pollution. Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo is a great clarifying product to try. Unfortunately, clarifying shampoo isn’t suitable for all hair types. If you have dry hair or very curly hair, then it’s best to use a clarifying shampoo no more than once or twice a month, other hair types can handle a cleanse more regularly, sometimes as often as once a week. If you have fine hair, then gentle formulas such as TRESemme Purify and Replenish Deep Cleansing shampoo is best for your hair type.
Nourishing shampoo
A great product to try is the OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo and the OGX Biotin & Collagen Conditioner, as this range promotes fuller, shinier hair overnight.
Glossing conditioner
Although most brans produce both shampoo and conditioner products in any one range, don’t be afraid to mix it up. For example, if you already have a shampoo that wrks well for your hair and you’re just looking for a shine product to give your tresses an extra shiner, glossing conditioner such as Fekkai Glossing Conditioner or Molton Brown London Plum-Kadu Glossing Conditioner are worth while trying.
If you have curly hair a leave-in conditioner can be particularly effective for enhancing the shape and shine in curly hair. Opt for a product with argan oil and vitamin E.
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What ingredients to look for
As more and more natural hair products and supplements hit the market, it’s important to know what ingredients to look for. Products that contain ingredients such as bergamot mint, cedarwood bark and lavender stem. The Aēsop Classic Conditioner has all of these ingredients in its formula, and has received rave reviews for enabling women who prefer the use of natural products, to achieve soft, smooth hair without the use of chemicals.
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Hair treatments
Hair masks and treatments are your best friend if you have dry and damaged hair, as they act to hydrate and protect. Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment is a hair mask that works to leave your hair looking healthier, stronger and shinier.
Alternatively, for those after a Kardashian approved mask, Olaplex Hair Perfector No.3 Home Treatment by Olaplex, is the one for you. It nourished and hydrates hair, leaving you with soft, silky and shiny hair.
If you have healthy hair and are only interested in improving shine, try Rusk Designer Collection Sheer Brilliance Smoothing and Shining Polisher, which is one of the best hair shine serums on the market. This product creates shiny, frizz free hair that isn’t oily or heavy.
If you prefer sprays to heavy serums or masks, then try Kerastase Nutritive Serum Oleo-Relax which is great for all hair types and creates a smooth feel.
Other options to try dependent on hair type include:
- As a combat for dull or unruly hair: Nexus Oil Infinite Hair Oil
- When you have fine hair: Kristin Ess’s Weightless Shine Working Serum
- To treat frizzy hair and to seal split ends: Ouai Hair Oil
- For a luxury finish: Oribe’s Gold Lust Oil
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How to wash your hair correctly
- Washing: According to Medical News Today, washing your hair frequently isn’t necessarily better for your hair. The exact amount of washes will depend on your hair type and personal style preferences.
- Drying: Let your hair dry naturally, as drying with a towel will cause breakages and excessive use of a flat iron, blow dryer or hair straightener will also damage your hair.
- Brushing: Using the right hair brush is key. Adorebeauty.com.au recommend using a boar bristle brush, that will massage your scalp, unclog hair follicles, and distribute your hair’s natural oils evenly. The distribution of the natural oils in the proper way gives your hair a naturally healthy shine without the need to add any more product.
True or false? Shiny hair is healthy hair
The short answer is: false. There currently isn’t a correlation between shiny hair and healthy hair. Basically, even very healthy hair can lack shine while unhealthy hair can still be made to appear temporarily glossy with the right oil, or hair shine spray.
But, having healthy hair will make it easier to achieve the perfect shine, because healthy hair is soft, undamaged and full from tip to core. In keeping your hair healthy, remember that most of the damage that takes away the shine is a result of using harsh chemical products, dyes and bleaches, and the constant heating, straightening or curling of your hair.
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