How to get shiny hair

skinch · 08-01-2009, 12:28 PM

I think I am a 3b or 3c. I have never had shiny hair. I don't have trouble with frizzy. My hair always looks dull...soft but dull. Can anyone help me with a product that might help?

OperaCurls · 08-01-2009, 02:32 PM

KCCC!

LilyWaves · 08-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Of all the (possibly hundreds) products I've used, L'Oreal Out of Bed texturizer followed by Suave #8 gel give me the shiniest and clumpiest curls...which is great because they're also two of the cheapest products I own.

wookiemouse · 08-01-2009, 03:23 PM

This may be too basic, but it's made a huge difference in my hair - I rinse out my conditioner in cold water. Not a lot of fun, but my hair has had amazing shine ever since I've started doing it.

Stacy

likethegum · 08-01-2009, 03:56 PM

I second the cold water technique, and I also find that flax seed gel gives fabulous shine! Also, if you think you could have build up, that can cause dullness

Lil'curls · 08-01-2009, 06:09 PM

Apple cider vinegar rinses have really made my hair shine.

oddityofwings · 08-02-2009, 03:21 AM

I third rinsing with cold water (as cold as you can stand). I have also found that my hair is silly shiny now that I'm toying with KCCC and KCKT as products (it may not be so much them making my hair shiny, though, as my other products were making my hair dull).

curlpro · 08-02-2009, 07:40 AM

Keep in mind that what you eat has everything to do with the health of your hair. If you don't have a good diet rich with good fats your hair will be dull. So if you try everything else and it doesn't work, increase your omega 3 fatty acids and add some evoo to your diet a couple tablespoons a day will do it. I use it in my salad dressing at lunch and dinner with organic apple cider vinegar.
If you have hair that is flat, which you can see under the microscope (my sister has flat hair) it can only reflect light from one side at a time, versus round or oval hair strands that reflect more light, and you will just have to use a product that increases shine. Good Luck,
Cynthia

onethousandcurls · 08-02-2009, 10:53 AM

I think the cold water rinses have upped the shine in my hair, which is really phenomenal considering my hair doesn't shine, no matter how healthy and soft.

Today I have some remarkably shiny hair (again, relative to no shine) with some Aubrey Organics Mandarin Magic Jelly on top of a leave in. I don't need much in the way of hold on a typical day, so the AOMM is enough for me (it's not enough for a lot of people though, hold-wise).

Drinking lots of water will help too, not to mention clear up/brighten your skin (if that's a problem) and flush your body from the inside (gross, but good for you).

susancnw · 08-02-2009, 03:33 PM

What is the Sauve #8 gel?

skinch · 08-18-2009, 06:16 AM

I appreciate everyone taking the time to answer my question. Your advise worked. I have one other question. How do you maintain shiny hair if you flat iron?

*Angela* · 08-18-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susancnw

What is the Sauve #8 gel?

This is the Suave 8 gel.

WurlyLox · 08-18-2009, 09:47 AM

I second rinsing in cold water, eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of good fats, and treating your hair well with good, natural products like FSG, KCCC, AOMM, etc.

Another thing to try is henna and/or cassia treatments to strengthen your hair and get it good and shiny and less porous. If you want no color at all, just the conditioning benefits, go with just plain cassia. If you want color, try henna alone or in combo with cassia, indigo, buxus, amla to come up with a color that works for you - see www.hennaforhair.com and its link to the mehandi store for examples, recipes, photos.

I started with a henna/indigo/amla mix with dye released and applied full-strength for 3-4 hours. Now I'm just doing weak henna/indigo glosses that don't offer the same conditioning/strengthening benefits, so I have just done my first plain cassia treatment myself to maintain the benefits I used to get.

onethousandcurls · 08-18-2009, 08:53 PM

Add tiny dabs of honey into your leave-ins/stylers. TINY AMOUNTS! Does the job, IMO.

rudeechick · 08-19-2009, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likethegum

I second the cold water technique, and I also find that flax seed gel gives fabulous shine! Also, if you think you could have build up, that can cause dullness

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil'curls

Apple cider vinegar rinses have really made my hair shine.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinch

I appreciate everyone taking the time to answer my question. Your advise worked. I have one other question. How do you maintain shiny hair if you flat iron?

You stop!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by onethousandcurls

Add tiny dabs of honey into your leave-ins/stylers. TINY AMOUNTS! Does the job, IMO.

+1

WurlyLox · 08-19-2009, 11:13 AM

Amen about flat ironing!

Robin-in-FL · 08-19-2009, 03:56 PM

Add my vote for henna. My hair even when gloriously healthy is not shiny, by its nature, but after henna I actually had someone comment on how shiny it was!

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntnett

I second rinsing in cold water, eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of good fats, and treating your hair well with good, natural products like FSG, KCCC, AOMM, etc.

Another thing to try is henna and/or cassia treatments to strengthen your hair and get it good and shiny and less porous. If you want no color at all, just the conditioning benefits, go with just plain cassia. If you want color, try henna alone or in combo with cassia, indigo, buxus, amla to come up with a color that works for you - see www.hennaforhair.com and its link to the mehandi store for examples, recipes, photos.

I started with a henna/indigo/amla mix with dye released and applied full-strength for 3-4 hours. Now I'm just doing weak henna/indigo glosses that don't offer the same conditioning/strengthening benefits, so I have just done my first plain cassia treatment myself to maintain the benefits I used to get.

jillipoo · 08-19-2009, 04:05 PM

Nobody is more surprised than I to discover than Joico JoiWhip not only gives me great curls but also noticeable shine. I am bewildered, believe me, but also happy!

abyzc · 08-20-2009, 07:00 AM

My hair is 3a/3b and it's been looking a lot shinier since I started using a natural conditioner I got at the grocery store called Jason Natural Apricot & Keratin Super Shine Conditioner. Or something like that-I don't remember the name exactly but this is it:
http://www.cozycot.com/files/jason_n...onditioner.jpg

Also, rinse out with the coldest water you can handle. Another thing that made my hair shinier than usual was Neutrogena Triple Moisture serum. It could get greasy if you use too much. I loved it, but it spilled all over a shelf in a cabinet in my washroom

WurlyLox · 08-20-2009, 07:31 AM

Word of warning to those avoiding 'cones, the Neutrogena Triple Moisture serum is definitely not CG, nor is the mask:

Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexamethyldisiloxane, Dimethiconol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyltrimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Olive Fruit Oil (olea europaea), Meadowfoam Seed Oil (limnanthes alba), Sweet Almond Oil (prunus amygdalus dulcis), BHT, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Fragrance