How to get Shiny Hair - even if it's CURLY!

Article by BR Natalie

You know what it's like.  Every magazine you open, every movie you watch - the leading ladies all have shiny hair, no matter the colour, style or texture.  So how attainable is it?  Well with these tips and tricks you can maximise shine, whatever your hair type.

Straight Hair

• Factors that dull straight hair include - split ends, residue from products and the environment and grease.
• Celebrity hair stylist Tommy Buckett recommends conditioning your hair first before using a deep cleansing shampoo.  Applying conditioner first from ear level to the ends will protect the strands and prevent tears and split ends from forming.  He also recommends applying the shampoo from ear level to tips too, to prevent stripping your roots of vital natural sebum.
• A cold rinse will lock in shine.
• When drying your hair you'll want to towel dry it to almost-dry before blow drying using a nozzle.  Blow dry you hair from above aiming the blast down your strands to smooth the cuticles.  Again finish with a cold blast.
• Great products for maximising shine in straight hair include creams and milks that will work to seal the cuticles.  Use these before styling and finish with either a hair spray that maximises shine or run a small amount of gloss through your locks.

Coloured Hair

• There's nothing like walking out of the salon with freshly coloured locks.  The smoothness, the shine - you really do feel like a superstar.
• Fast-forward to a month later - your colour is dull, your hair is starting to feel dry.  So how can you extend that freshly-dyed sheen?
• There are shampoos specifically for coloured hair that actually contain a tiny amount of colouring particles.  These will give your colour a boost and add shine.  The less you wash your coloured hair the longer the colour will last - even permanent colours lose pigment with washing. 
• Lifestyle affects coloured hair and as much as we love the sun, just as it's not good for our skin, it's also not good for coloured locks.  You can buy leave-in conditioners with SPF in them, or rock the JLo wide brimmed hat!

Curly Hair

Curly hair is notoriously hard to make shine.  Why?  Here's the science bit - concentrate.  The cuticles on curly hair are naturally more rough than those on straight hair, they (obviously) don't flatten as easily.  Couple this with the fact that curlier hair is also naturally drier than straight hair and you'll realise why so many curly haired lasses believe the grass is greener. 

So how can you get curl hair to shine?

• Always use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner - hydrated hair shines more and moisture will give your curly hair extra weight, making it more difficult for it to frizz.  Frizz dulls hair by creating a fuzzy cloud around the strands.
• If you have curly hair do not fall in to the washing daily trap.  BUT if you do get your hair wet and it's a non-wash day, slap on some conditioner to prevent it drying out.
• Serums and wide tooth combs are a curly girly's best friends.  They smooth and add shine and make de-tangling less brutal.  Pulling and snapping your hair isn't the way to shine!
• If you can get away without using heat to dry your hair, you'll minimise the drying out factor.  Style hair when it's almost dry using a curl cream and finish with a shine spray.

For All Hair Types

• Split ends, 'dead weight' and frizz are all shine killers.  So be sure to trim and if necessary thin your hair often.  Combat frizz with a light serum or regular use of a hair oil such as Argan oil.
• Use brushes with natural bristles - these will redistribute your natural oils as you brush.  Natural + Natural = Shine!
• Always use a heat protecting spray whenever you style your hair with your tongs, straighteners or hair dryer.  Damaged hair does not shine!
• Drink lots of water!  Water improves your shiny hair.  Why not take a 4 Week Water Challenge and see if you notice the difference?

DIY tricks for shiny hair

• Mix 2 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar or a dash of baking soda with a dollar sized dollop of  regular shampoo.
• Give you hair a beer rinse.  Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by it!
• Mix 4 egg yolks with a dash of olive oil together.  Shampoo your hair as usual, apply the mixture to your hair and leave it for 5 - 10 minutes.  Rinse.