How to Make Your Hair Look Shinier

Shiny, healthy-looking hair is important to many people. For hair that is truly damaged, it is still possible to give the hair a healthier appearance by using products made for shine, and by carefully using heat appliances to smooth the hair shaft so the surrounding light is reflected onto the hair giving it shine. Given time and care, even damaged hair can achieve a shiny and silky texture.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Spray-on conditioner
• Blow dryer
• Flat iron
• Curling iIron

1. Wash your hair with a shampoo made for dry hair. Only use a little and make sure it is somewhat diluted so as not to dry the hair and lose luster. If your hair is especially dry, mix a little bit of your hair conditioner in with the shampoo. Gently run it through the scalp with your finger pads and let it run down through the ends without much handling. This gentle wash combined with a good rinse will get the hair clean without stripping needed oils for shine.

2. Squeeze out as much water as you can before adding the hair conditioner. Use a towel if you have extra thick hair or hair that absorbs a lot of water. Hair that is very dry or damaged will absorb more water.

3. Add a conditioner that is made to add moisture and shine to the hair. Use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to evenly distribute the conditioner throughout the hair. Pay attention to areas you know to be more dry and damaged than others. These would probably include the front and ends. The scalp is usually less dry and it wouldn't need as much of the conditioner.

4. Wait 3 to 4 minutes to give the conditioner time to be absorbed into the hair shaft. Broken and split hairs will need the extra time to absorb the moisture. Rinse well but gently, with lukewarm water, allowing some of the conditioner to remain on the hair. A final rinse of cool water will help seal the moisture into the hair shaft to give extra shine.

5. Towel dry your hair gently and spray a leave in conditioner all over and let air dry until your hair is almost dry. Blow dry and use your favorite heat appliance to make your hair lay down smoothly. This will give it a glossy, finished appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• Once or twice a week use a deep conditioner on your hair, leaving it on for the prescribed amount of time or even overnight.
• Use styling products that have heat activated ingredients when you use hot irons or blow dryers.
• Using heat appliances every day could lead to breakage that will make hair lose it's glossiness.
• Bleaching hair can cause it to look dull.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Best Overnight Hair Treatment. Try it Free!