There’s no such thing as too much shine, so whether you want an instant fix or are looking for hair that is healthier and therefore, shinier for the long haul, these tips are just what you need.
1. Do an apple cider vinegar hair rinse
After washing your hair, mix apple cider vinegar and water together and pour it on your scalp. Let the solution sit for one to two minutes at least, but you can let it sit for up to ten minutes before rinsing. It works by flattening your hair’s cuticle which in turn, makes your hair look shinier. It also helps to remove buildup on the scalp to help clarify your roots without drying out your hair. Plus, its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it great for combating everything from dandruff to fungus. To learn more about whether an ACV hair rinse is right for you, check out this post all about apple cider vinegar.
If your hair is curly or textured, apple cider vinegar can also help enhance your natural definition, minimizing frizz and unruliness whilst adding a layer of enviable gloss.
2. Use argan oil in place of a shimmering spray
Did you know shimmering sprays actually cause damage to your hair in the long term? Although they coat your hair and give you an instant boost of shine, they actually rough up the cuticles of your hair resulting in breakage and dryness over time.
Many conventional shine serums and sprays are filled with alcohols, parabens, sulfates, and other toxic ingredients which are bad for your hair and your health overall. Instead, stick to a natural oil that actually nourishes your strands at the oil such as Argan oil. Argan oil, like coconut oil and castor oil, will give you the shine you want while also improving the health of your hair. Talk about a win-win!
We recommend applying shine-boosting products both at the beginning and at the end of your heat styling routine. Just run a small amount of Argan oil through your hair in order to smooth out any annoying flyaway and make it look extra shiny and glamorous. Be sure to concentrate on the ends of your hair as this area tends to be the driest. Keep in mind that too much Argan oil can leave your hair looking greasy, so be careful not to apply excessive amounts, especially around your roots.
3. Extend the time between washes + blast your hair with cold water
Blast your hair with cold water after you’re done shampooing and conditioning your hair. This will help seal the cuticle to minimize frizz. Finish off by patting down your hair with a towel but avoid rubbing as this can aggravate the cuticle. Better yet, use an old cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture; not only is it gentler on the hair, but it will also help prevent breakage!
Keep in mind that although blasting your hair with cold water is helpful, it cannot combat the damage caused by excessive hair washing and excessive heat so try to preserve your hairstyle as best as you can so you can extend the time between washes. Too much heat and over washing your hair can actually strip away the natural oils that make it shiny and silky, leaving your hair dry, brittle and damaged. To prevent this, try washing it every other day and use a dry shampoo in between washes to preserve your hairstyle and absorb any excess oil sitting at the roots.
Another great way to maintain your hairstyle is to sleep on a satin pillowcase. While this may seem unrelated at first, it actually helps to prevent frizz and follicle damage and keeps your hair looking better, longer. Satin doesn’t rough up hair cuticles as much as a typical cotton pillowcase, making it a much better option so that you can keep your hair looking fabulous every day!
Other ways to boost the shine and keep your hair healthy? Try to cut down on bleaching your hair as these chemicals can be incredibly harsh and diminish the hair’s ability to retain moisture, giving it a lifeless appearance.
4. Blowout your hair like a pro
Do you love the look of a salon blowout but hate having to fork out the cash. Well, you can get the same effect yourself at home. However, while a good blowout can definitely boost the shine, keep in mind that excess heat can strip all moisture from your hair; therefore it needs to be protected. Instead of using a blow-drier from the start, towel-dry your hair first and carefully squeeze out any excess water. The key here is to be gentle, so don’t vigorously rub the towel on your hair, as this will rough up the follicles, causing breakage and frizz.
Next, spray a heat protectant spray evenly throughout your damp hair. This will limit the damage done to follicles from heat styling tools. We recommend waiting until your hair is about 80% dry before moving onto the next step to preserve the moisture in your hair.
Once your hair has dried 80% of the way, divide it into sections and pin up the top layers. Use a paddle brush to comb through the individual sections of hair while blow-drying, starting with the bottom layers and finishing with the top. This process may be slower, but it’s necessary to ensure that your hair gets dried evenly and is smoothed in the process.
The trick to this is to point the dryer downwards, blowing air in the direction of the cuticle, moving from root to tip. Be sure to keep the blow dryer moving at all times to avoid concentrating too much heat at one section of your hair and causing unnecessary damage. This will flatten and smooth down the cuticle resulting in shiny hair.
Note, not every blow dryer is built the same. Some can cause more damage than others, so it’s important to know the difference when shopping for one. We recommend using one with an ionic setting, as it will dry your hair quickly without causing too much damage.
Once your hair is smooth and dry, use the blow dryer’s cool setting and blast your hair with the cool air for about one minute in order to give it a little extra shine by sealing the hair cuticle.
5. Flat iron your hair
A flat iron can really help boost your hair’s shine. We recommend using a high quality ceramic flat iron, as this will get you the best results. Flat irons typically have a number of heat settings and the one you choose depends on your hair type. A low heat setting is best for fine hair, however, thick hair requires a high heat setting since it is typically coarser.
Before you start, make sure that your hair is almost completely dry, because using an iron on wet hair can damage the strands. Next, once again, divide your hair into small sections, straightening one piece at a time and pinning up the rest to keep it out of the way.
Always brush each lock before you start, as this will prevent any strands from coming out crimped or wavy. Also, don’t forget to spray each section with heat protectant!
When straightening, start near the roots and slowly move towards the ends, running the full length of your hair through the iron. Then, go over the same section again with a brush, while following the brush with your flat iron, always making sure you flat iron your hair in a smooth, continuous motion. This creates shinier hair as your hair cuticles lay flat, giving them more surface area to reflect light.