HOW TO GET GLOSSY HAIR

Achieving a glamorous mane of glossy, shiny hair can be harder than it looks. Fading color, too much product, heat styling, hard water—all these and more can strip your strands of their shine. So how do you get brilliant, shiny locks? Here’s everything you need to know about how to get glossy hair.

Like most things, there’s a scientific explanation behind why your hair appears shiny and glossy or dull and matte. And it’s all about the condition of the hair fiber.

Healthy-looking hair reflects light like a mirror, creating a brilliant shine. This is called specular reflection. Rough, damaged hair produces what’s known as diffuse reflection. It scatters light and makes hair appear lusterless. So to get that glossy, shiny hair we all crave, we need to encourage more specular reflection than diffuse reflection. Here’s how.
 

Styling products are great for helping you achieve that perfect look. But after a few days of styling, product buildup can transform your ‘do from fabulous to lackluster. Hit the reset button by using a detoxing shampoo at least once a week to regenerate your locks and boost shine.

Dry hair has a rougher cuticle. Since we know rough surfaces make hair appear dull, hydration is key to getting shiny hair. If your locks are looking extra parched, try a restorative hair mask. Infused with avocado oil, this mask will take your hair from dull and dry to vibrant and illuminated.

A few weeks after leaving the salon with a gorgeous new color, that color may start to look brassy, orange, and less shiny. Washing and conditioning with a blue shampoo and conditioner can help balance out dull, brassy tones to reveal a cooler, brighter color with plenty of shine.
 

Maintain your hair color with a weekly color-refreshing gloss. A gloss treatment can restore vibrancy and tone to your color, leaving you with fresh, glossy hair that looks like first-day color.

Need a serious boost of shine? Try a color glaze to restore your color to salon-fresh. A glaze treatment adds depth to your shade and refreshes your color. It also adds dazzling shine for glossy style. 

Heat leads to dryness. Hot tools, blow drying and even washing with hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils and lift your hair’s cuticle. When you shampoo, rinse with cool water to seal the cuticle and lock in shine. And if you must style with heat tools, use a good heat-protecting leave-in conditioner to create a barrier against heat damage.
 

Nourish extra-dry or damaged strands with a smoothing, gloss-inducing hair oil. Infused with natural oil like argan, smoothing on a couple drops of hair oil can leave your locks soft, smooth and shiny without weighing it down. 

Brushing wet hair can cause damage and breakage—enemies of shine. Detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb after showering. On dry hair, a natural boar bristle brush can help distribute your scalp’s natural oils from root to tip, smoothing the cuticle and creating luxuriously glossy hair.   

Your hair reflects your health, so getting glossy, shiny hair starts with a well-balanced diet. Be sure to eat plenty of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, and consider adding a multivitamin to balance out any gaps in your diet. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can also help your locks look luscious and glossy.

Love that shine! Check out more hair care tips for colored hair.