Sebum is the natural oil that makes your hair easier to maintain and, when you have the right amount, shiny. Too much sebum leads to a greasy hair appearance.
Shiny and Smooth.
If hair looks silky, it's a safe bet that it's healthy too. That shiny—and sought-after—texture is the result of a smooth, flat-lying cuticle.
Acid-based toners can add shine to natural hair and won't affect the colour. By reflecting the light, this gives hair a super glossy varnish-like effect which we call 'glossing'." Ask in salons for a Redken Shades EQ hair gloss.
The darker the color, the more intense the Shine-Bands. "That's why black hair looks so shiny," Kenneally says. "It's because the contrast between the Chroma-Band and the color is so intense." Anything that helps protect the cuticle and encourages it to lay down will enhance shine, Kenneally says.
Brush Daily With a Boar Bristle Brush
The sebaceous glands produce natural oils to lubricate the scalp, and using your natural scalp oils to share the sheen is an effective tactic for shiny locks. The best strategy? "Run a boar bristle brush through your hair daily to evenly distribute oil from the scalp to the ends.
So what makes hair shiny? When the outer layer (cuticle) of the hair shaft lies flat, the even surface can reflect light. Smoothing the outer layer also repels the moisture that causes frizz, which is a major shine inhibitor.
Shampoos that contain ingredients like biotin, keratin, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin B can help your hair get stronger from the inside while also making your tresses shiny looking with lots of volume. If you want to enjoy hydrating benefits fully, try a hyaluronic shampoo and conditioner.
Most hairstylists recommend against using products with sulphates, as they can dry out hair further. Instead, look for bottles with argan oil, coconut oil and shea butter on the ingredient list. A simple trick is to rinse your conditioner off with cold water—it helps lock the moisture in and seal the cuticle.
Dull hair tends to lack moisture, shine, and body. It can be caused by many factors, like using the wrong products, not getting enough nutrients in your diet, or overusing harsh chemicals or techniques.
The flesh of aloe vera leaf can be used to apply directly onto the head and hair. As a home remedy for silky hair, you can mix aloe vera gel in olive oil and apply this oil to hair. Then, leave it in for some time before washing it off. Using aloe vera might be a good home remedy to make hair silky and shiny at home.
Thick, glossy strands go a long way toward making hair look healthy—even when it's not. "Because the hairs are thicker naturally, dark hair is better at camouflaging damage than light hair; it weighs down flyaways and split ends," notes Adrian Wallace, senior colorist at Rita Hazan Salon in NYC.
“Sebum, your body's natural oil production, declines with age, which results in hair that is not as shiny, soft or smooth.”
Long black hair was rated as more attractive than medium-length black hair in the study. While black hair is attractive on a woman, lighter and longer hair makes women look more attractive in some circumstances, research finds.
Does hair glaze or hair gloss damage your hair? Both glossing and glazing are safer than permanent color, says Lumzy. If you're looking for the gentler alternative, a hair glaze is the way to go. But, if you're looking for more color or to cover grays, head to the salon for a hair gloss.
Petroleum jelly can reduce the look of split ends and add shine to your hair. Rub a small amount of jelly between your palms and apply to hair ends.
Leave-in Conditioner
This trick will give you celebrity like shiny and glossy hair easily. Apply a leave in conditioner and cover you hair with a shower cap. Now get into warm shower. The steam will open up the cuticles and let the treatment to penetrate the hair shafts and condition them properly.
“Men and women in South Korea are meticulous when it comes to maintaining healthy hair with a three-step process. After washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner, they often apply a hair essence or hair oil to achieve a shiny head of hair. Hair masks, serums, milks and hair mists are all must-haves,” explains Cho.
“I use the Extra Shine Spray — this is my little secret,” Appleton spilled. “I saturate the shine spray all over the hair and then I use a flattening iron.” He recommends pulling a comb through each strand with the straightener to help “separate it” and keep things “smooth.”
Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.