How to Get Shiny Hair

Follow these tips for extra shiny hair/p>

How to Maximize Shine

Nurture by Nature

Trade harsh, plastic brushes for natural boar bristle or softer synthetic bristle brushes. The natural brush fibers are less likely to break the hair shaft.

Give Heat the Cold Shoulder

Most damage stylists see on a daily basis comes from the overuse of heat-styling tools, including curling and flat irons. Heat breaks down the hair’s natural barriers, which can result in a dull appearance. Check your blow dryers to see if they are too hot. Old hair dryers may have blocked vents, which could raise heat too high.

Bottoms Up to Fatty Alcohols

Fatty alcohols are found in many of today’s moisturizers and conditioners, and are good for hair. A common misconception is that all alchohols are drying to the hair. Fatty alcohols are conditioners (look for cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol on the ingredient listing”>, and are critical as they help create a lubricious film over the surface of the hair. This creates smooth cuticles for easier combing, protecting the cuticle from damage and enhancing shine.

Don’t Sleep on It

Hair breakage can be a rude awakening! Many women go to sleep with their hair in ponytails or braids, but the pressure and tension on some of the hair strands may be enough to create breakage in those areas, especially the area around the band. This can disrupt shine on the hair’s surface. Sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce friction.

Rembrandt to the Rescue

If you have damaged your hair to the point that makes natural shine tough to revive in the short term, you can get inspiration from the Dutch masters who used a “highlighting” technique to create the illusion of shine when painting the satin of a lady’s dress. This artist’s technique is the origin of hair-color highlights. A few well-placed highlights can provide dimension to otherwise dull hair.

Silicones can be Your Friend

Silicones can be an important conditioning ingredient that makes the hair smooth, soft and shiny. However, not all silicones are created equal. The newer Amino-Silicones (Amodimethicone”> have an amine group at the end of the silicone chain that allows it to better adhere to damaged hair. Some are able to provide conditioning benefits that last through several shampoos and work well as a weekly treatment for color-treated hair. But overuse of silicones can cause buildup over time, which can make the hair dull.

Michelle Breyer

As co-founder of NaturallyCurly.com, a website for curly hair she began with her business partner and friend, Gretchen Heber, Michelle Breyer helped create the leading community and resource for people with curly hair. Frustrated by the lack of information on curly hair and the limited products available in the marketplace, the duo launched the site in 1998 with the help of a 14-year-old web designer. When Procter & Gamble called three years later to advertise to the NaturallyCurly.com® audience, Breyer knew they had indeed created a force in the industry, providing helpful information and unparalleled expertise for what was then considered a niche market.

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