How to Make Dry Hair Shiny

Small changes to your haircare routine can help your hair shine.

There a number of things that contribute to dry hair, but the main one is genetics. If the sebaceous glands on the skin do not produce enough sebum or oil, the scalp will be dry. A dry scalp means that no oils flow down to the hair shaft. Dry hair breaks off easily and is also dull looking. But there are ways to treat dry hair and get it to shine just by changing your haircare routine.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizing shampoo
• Moisturizing conditioner
• Silicone spray, mist, cream or lotion

Instructions

1. Wash hair with a moisturizing shampoo. Look for shampoos formulated for dry hair. These shampoos have essential oils, botanicals and emollients in addition to cleansing agents. These lubricate the hair and leave an oily residue on the hair that helps it to shine.

2. Condition hair with a moisturizing conditioner. Look for rinse out conditioners that contain essential oils and other lubricants. These conditioners soften hair and make it more manageable. Smooth hair reflects the light better and gives the appearance of shine.

3. Rinse out shampoo and conditioner with cold or lukewarm water. Low water temperatures cut down on dryness and damage. Cold water flattens the cuticle of the hair which makes it smoother. The light reflects more easily on smooth hair.

4. Add oil to the hair. Look for products made of silicone to add shine to the hair surface. These products come in spray or mist bottles, creams and lotions. Apply only a small amount to the hair to reduce greasy build-up.

References

• CBS News: Hair as Shiny as it can be