Something that catwalk hairstyles and celebrity hair ‘dos have in common is shine. Yet transforming dull, dry hair into sleek, smooth, shiny tresses isn’t easy. Unless, of course, you’re armed with the expert tips, hair advice and shiny hair products that actually work!
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Shine has a lot to do with hair health, which can also include you your own health and wellbeing. So in answer to the question “how do I get shiny hair?” it’s not just a matter of trialling numerous shine-boosting hair products, you need to take a holistic approach too.
Sounds a bit new age? It needn’t. Here are five key tips on achieving shiny hair.
#1 Focus on your diet
Dry hair can be a result of vitamin A and E deficiencies as vitamin A helps generate natural oils in the hair and scalp, while vitamin E contributes to blood circulation, helping with hair growth and boosting moisture. Boost your vitamin A and E intake by snacking on raw nuts and seeds and green leafy vegetables.
#2 Are you getting enough water?
Water is not only great for skin, it’s beneficial for hair too. Drinking enough water each day will help prevent dull, dry hair.
#3 Over-heating
If you use a hair dryer or straightener on a daily basis you’re likely to be causing heat-damage to your hair. Make sure you apply a heat styling protectant product and, if possible, forego heat styling a few days a week. When shopping for hair tools, take into account the adjustable temperature settings too, as it’s good practice to style on as low a heat setting as possible.
bh loves:Formawell Beauty X Kendall Jenner Dryer, Schwarzkopf Extra Care Heat Styles Heat Protection Spray, ghd heat protect spray and Redken Smooth Lock Heat Glide.
#4 Chemical hair treatments
Hair colouring and chemical straightening treatments can severely dry your hair. Try to allow your hair time to re-nourish in between treatments and make sure you use products specifically designed to care for coloured hair or chemically straightened hair.
bh loves: A’kin Colour Protection Shampoo, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Colour Protecting Moisturising Shampoo and L’Oreal Paris Colour Protect Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo.
#5 Product build-up
Over styling, over-shampooing or using too much conditioner (especially if you don’t rinse your hair well enough) can lead to product build-up. This leaves your hair feeling limp and looking lackluster. Try a clarifying shampoo once a week or cut down on the amount of styling product you use. Bedhead can be bang on trend after all!
bh loves: Nu Skin® Clarifying Shampoo, Pureology Purify Shampoo and Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo.
In general, try to remember that your hair does not have superpowers. It needs a break just like the rest of us. Care for your hair with a weekly deep conditioning treatment, limit the amount of product and chemicals you put on your hair and try to avoid unnecessary heat styling. If you drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet rich in essential vitamins and nutrients you should be sporting super shiny hair in no time!
bh loves: Andalou 1000 Roses Complex Colour Care Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, De Lorenzo Rejuven8 Treatment and Kérastase Nutritive Fondant Magistral.
Main image credit: @priyankachopra
What shine-boosting products or methods have you tried?
I don’t do much. Just avoiding leave in conditioners as they make hair look dull.
I definitely need a clarifying shampoo
I love a good cleansing shampoo. I style my hair almost every day so once a week it needs a good clean
I hear you! When I last washed my hair (2 days ago) I used Elvive argenine conditioner instead of my normal Body Shop shea conditioner. I would say my hair looks definitely shinier and less frizzy. After one wash it could just be coincidence but I am excited so far.
My hair is in desperate need of some serious TLC. It’s dry, frizzy, falling out, limp and just awful. It’s because I have been really ill. I’ve recently purchased the Repair version of the new Monday shampoo and conditioner and I really like it. I probably need to find a good hair mask.
My hair is loving the charcoal treatment mask from the brand 18
I wish I could get hold of Dermalogica shampoo and conditioner as the sample I had of that made my hair outstandingly shiny. Finding it very hard to find.
Love Kerastase for shine though – the Elixer Ultime is amazing and smells even better!
Clarifying shampoo. Great invention.
A good quality hair oil will help with shine!
Great tips
Fortunately my hair isn’t looking too bad at the moment.
I’ve just discovered the cold water trick, Gilded – it works a treat.
A shot of cold water to rinse off hair shampoo/conditioner does wonders. Hair oils amazing too.
Brunettes definitely have the advantage over blondes for natural shine, a teensy bit of oil helps me, but it has to be a tiny amount because my hair will look too oily.
I feel when I’m eating well over a long period of time, my hair looks a lot better.
I am also loving the Eleven Miracle Hair Treatment, which is a great shine booster
Really good tips , thanks for sharing.
I find rinsing in cold water helps with shine. In summer, I do a whole-body cold rinse but in winter, I just do my hair, carefully avoiding my scalp.
I like Schwarzkopf shine serum, too.
Cold water at the end of a shower. I have blonde hair and think darker hair always has the potential to look shinier.
I do a hair mask/treatment once a week and my hair just loves it. I also try to limit the amount of heat I use when styling as that really affects the shine.
A splash of cold water helps to flatten the hair cuticles on the hair shaft making hair shinier and also a ‘beer rinse’ (with flat beer i.e. no bubbles left in it) – but that doesn’t smell so good!!
I really need to drink more water. I get so busy that I forget some times. I don’t think curly hair can “shine” though.
I use hair conditioners, but also hair oils and hair essence.
I can’t be without my hair oils
I have straight hair which I think tends to be naturally more shiny.
I think my hair would benefit from some clarifying shampoo
I use a lot of hair masks amd leave in conditioners because my hair was really damaged from over processing
Leave in conditioners, Hair mask and rinsing hair in cold water always on my list for achieving shining hair
I am the same, I always rinse my conditioner out in cold water to help seal the hair cuticles and smooth them over.
Diet definitely makes a huge difference for healthy hair and skin 🙂 great tips
I love my shiny hair.
Shiny hair is a dream for me. My hair is always frizzy.
I do all of these things and finish each shower with a cold rinse and still my hair isn’t very shiny 🙁 Curly hair just doesn’t show the shine like straight hair does. 🙁
Quite useful tips. I always ensure my hairdryer and straightener are set at low temperatures to prevent heat damage, and I always use a heat styling protectant.
Edit: Sorry for the double posting. I’m having site issues again.
Me three! The cold water is fun in this weather, but it helps with hair smoothness and tames the frizz.
Quite useful tips. I always ensure my hairdryer and straightener are set at low temperatures to prevent heat damage, and I always use a heat styling protectant.
I dont know if I am the only one who blames the Australian water for my dull hairs 🙁
Diet certainly plays a big role.
I wish there was a product which gives volume to fine hair. For some reason hairspray falls out after a couple of hours.
I’m always careful not to use too much heat on my hair, a good shampoo and conditioner – that works for me.
Had seen the clarifying shampoos, but never knew what they were for so might try one now.
Water is the key to so much beauty and health
Good tips… Isn’t egg whites meant to make your hair shine???
I like coconut hair oil on my hair.Coconut oil can help to build stronger hair. Great weekly treatment for breakage and slow growth.
I wonder if any of the supplements work
Who would have thought that drinking water would help to make your hair shiny? I find that certain shampoos are better than others?
Great points. Rinse hair well.
Great advise. I have been trying to cut out the hair dying and I have noticed my hair has been healthier and shinier as a result.
I’m guilty of not following any of these and the heat on my hair….dayuuuum
I find if I apply some oil to my hair and leave it in for a few hours, it leaves my hair nice and shiny
Great Tips!