Easy Ways To Get Shiny Hair
Brush Your Hair: Brushing your hair at least twice or thrice a day helps improve blood circulation. It also helps the nutrients to reach the hair follicles. This makes your hair healthier and shinier. Use An Oil Treatment: An oil treatment works well for dull, rough, and shiny hair. Oil helps retain moisture and makes hair soft and shiny. Use coconut or almond oils twice a week. Massage it over your scalp in a circular motion. Leave it on for 30-45 minutes and rinse (1). Use A Hair Mask: Applying a hair mask at least once a week can do wonders for your hair. A hair softening, hydrating, and nourishing mask can improve your hair shine. You can use ingredients from your kitchen (more about it later) or buy a hair mask (2). Change Your Shampoo: Are you using the right shampoo for your hair? Different shampoo formulations suit different hair types. Using an oil-controlling shampoo on rough and dry hair can turn it frizzy and your hair may suffer if you use a shampoo that does not suit its type. Try changing your shampoo and see if your hair responds well to it (3). Use Warm And Cold Water: Using only warm water can make your hair dry while using only cold water can make your hair stiff. But using lukewarm water to shampoo your hair and cold water for the final rinse can soften hair and enhance its shine. Lukewarm water opens up the cuticles and washes away the dirt. Coldwater (water at room temperature) closes the cuticles, seals hair moisture, and prevents frizz. Avoid Frequently Heat Styling: Frequently using a blow dryer, straightener, or curling iron can make your hair extremely dry and strip away the natural shine. Avoid heat styling too frequently. You may instead use heat-free styling like curling rollers. Keratin treatments could also be a good option (4).
Protect Your Hair At Night: Sleeping with your hair open at night causes friction with the pillow and may make your hair dull. You can bun or braid your hair or wear a satin cap while you sleep at night.
Be Careful With Hair Dyes: Coloring hair is fun and adds some personality to it. However, harmful ingredients, like ammonia, could make your hair dry and rough. Hence, choose a good, ammonia-free hair color. Ask your hairstylist to recommend good post-color shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair healthy and shiny (5). Use A Hair Gloss: A hair gloss can give you instant results. It is a hair shine-enhancer that is color-safe as well. It seals moisture, closes the hair cuticles, and makes hair softer, shinier, and frizz-free. A hair gloss can also reduce the brassy tones in bleached or blond hair color.
Use Hair Spray With A Glossy Finish: Gone are the days of hair sprays that make your hair stiff and rob off the shine. A good hair spray with a glossy finish can keep your hair in place without making it prickly to touch or dull to look at. Use A Serum: A hair serum not only enhances hair shine but also makes your hair silky smooth. You can use argan oil or any other serum available on the market. Apply it lightly to your hair and brush your hair before stepping out (6). Use A Leave-in Conditioner: If you want to go swimming in a pool or the ocean, apply a leave-in conditioner to prevent your hair from absorbing the pool or ocean water and becoming dry. Consume Omega-3: You can consume omega-3 fatty acids through fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are extremely good for your hair health. They also rejuvenate your hair (7), (8).
These are the simple ways you can make your hair shiner. You also can use hair masks weekly to make your hair shinier and glossier.
Hair Masks For Shiny Hair
Preparing a quick hair mask and leaving it on for 20-30 minutes can have some great advantages. Here are a few effective hair masks you can check.
1. Egg White Hair Mask
What You Need 1 or 2 eggs, depending on your hair length How To Use
Crack open the egg(s) and separate the yolk. Beat it lightly. Section your hair and apply the egg white to your hair, from the roots to the tips, using an applicator brush. Make a loose ponytail or a bun. Cover with a shower cap and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash with water and a mild shampoo. Use a conditioner and towel-dry your hair.
2. Coconut Oil Hair Mask
What You Need 2-5 tablespoons of coconut oil, depending on your hair length How To Use
Section your hair. Rub the coconut oil in your palm to warm it a little. Apply the coconut oil from the roots to the tips. Massage your scalp for 2-5 minutes. Leave it on for at least 3 hours or overnight. Wash with lukewarm water and shampoo. Use a conditioner and wash with water at room temperature. Towel-dry your hair.
3. Almond Milk Hair Mask
What You Need ½ cup of store-bought almond milk (You also can make almond milk at home by blitzing a handful of soaked almonds (peel the skin) and warm water. Strain the liquid and you have your almond milk). How To Use
Section your hair. Apply the almond milk from the roots to the tips using an applicator brush. Tie your hair into a loose bun. Cover with a shower cap and leave it on for 30-45 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo. Use a conditioner and towel-dry your hair.
4. Mayonnaise Hair Mask
What You Need 2-5 teaspoons of mayonnaise How To Use
Section your hair. Apply the mayonnaise to your hair strands with an applicator brush. Make a loose bun and wear a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water and shampoo. Use a hair conditioner and wash with water at room temperature. Dry your hair with a towel.
5. Ghee Hair Mask
What You Need 3-4 teaspoons of ghee (clarified butter) How To Use
Section your hair. Apply the ghee to your hair, from the roots to the tips, using an applicator brush. Wear a shower cap and leave the mask on for 20 minutes. Wash your hair with lukewarm water and shampoo. Use a conditioner. Wash the conditioner with water at room temperature. Towel-dry your hair.
You can use any of these five hair masks once a week and see an instant difference in your hair shine. However, the process could be a challenge if you have low-porosity hair. The following section can help.
Additional Tips For Taking Care Of Low-Porosity Hair
Use coconut oil. Leave it in overnight before washing it off. Go for a hair spa once a month. Use steam to help the oil penetrate the cuticles. Always braid your hair and use a satin cap while sleeping.
How can I make my hair shiny overnight? You can use coconut oil. Leave it on for 45 minutes and wash off with a shampoo. Use a conditioner and hair serum. Let it dry (if using a blow dryer, use the cool setting) and brush your hair. You can also apply a hair gloss to add instant shine to your hair. Which oil is best for making hair silky? Coconut and argan oils are the best oils for making hair soft and silky. Why does my hair have no shine? Factors such as product accumulation, overexposure to the sun, hormonal changes, and an improper hair care routine can lead to dry and dull hair. Does shiny hair mean healthy hair? Yes, shiny hair is indicative of healthy hair. It shows that your hair cuticle is properly lying flat and creating a smooth and flat surface which allows the light to bounce off. This gives your hair a beautiful and shiny appearance.
