Everything You Need to Know About Getting Shiny, Healthy Hair
Disclaimer: this isn’t one of those ‘put away your heat tools and use one zillion different hair oils’ types of guides. These are legit ways to get glossier hair right now.
Disclaimer: this isn’t one of those ‘put away your heat tools and use one zillion different hair oils’ types of guides. These are legit ways to get glossier hair right now.
11You can’t resist a half-head of highlights: Yes, it’s a universally known fact, but a friendly reminder: any kind of bleach on your hair will make it duller.
The solution: First, get some Olaplex—a haircare system for damaged strands—and use it religiously. Next, invest in a shampoo + conditioner + mask trio formulated especially for coloured hair—like Wella Professionals ColorMotion + Color Protection range. This stuff conditions your hair, adding reflection to strands and keeping brassiness at bay.
You’ve been living in a beanie: Hats, scarves, and the like all rough up your hair’s cuticles, or outermost layers, so that they can’t reflect light.
The solution: Dry conditioner. These oil-based products usually come in the form of an aerosol or a mist, and inject much-needed moisture into your strands. We love Kevin Murphy Young Again Dry Conditioner, Rs 2,350.
The weather is screwing your hair over: Our mane is a fragile creature, and whether we’re battling gale-force winds or bathing in the sun, our hair will find something to complain about. What’s more, bone-dry indoor air can also suck the life (and by ‘life’ we mean moisture) out of it.
The solution: A good place to start is with shampoos and conditioners that enlist hyaluronic acid (usually found in skincare). It’s a humectant, meaning it grips water, helping skin and hair cells retain moisture. Try Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Hyaluronic Moisture Kick Micellar Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask trio, Rs 2,850 (for a set of three).
You’re protein deficient: Considering hair’s mainly made of protein, its deficiency can seriously affect your precious locks.
The solution: Be conscious of the nutrients you’re consuming. For example, a veggie or vegan diet needn’t reduce protein intake if you’re responsible. Legumes, beans, hummus, nut butter, and fortified plant drinks are all brilliant sources of protein and other vital nutrients. Plus, dark green vegetables help the scalp generate a natural hair conditioner (sebum) due to their high amounts of Vitamins A and C. Just saying: the pursuit of shiny hair’s no excuse to dodge your greens.
You use more dry shampoo than actual shampoo: Of course, dry shampoo is one of the best gifts to mankind. But keep in mind that too much of the good thing can dry out your hair and disrupt your natural oil-production cycles.
The solution: An apple cider vinegar rinse in place of your shampoo, or between washing and conditioning. It’ll gently remove product build-up and restore shine.
22Let’s talk about silicones for a sec. Silicones get a bad rap, but they’re not inherently terrible—it’s all about how you use them, and what you believe they can (and can’t) do for you. “Silicone coats the outside of the hair, giving intense gloss. There is nothing wrong with this, except often, the actual hair quality is left to degenerate if used too much,” says Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Ambassador, Paul Edmonds. When silicones build up over time, they can weigh the hair down, attract dirt and oil, and lockout moisture. So if you’re going to use silicone products (no judgement here, Cosmopolitan’s beauty team is certainly partial), make sure you’re also washing with a clarifying shampoo (and using a silicone-free hair mask) once or twice a week, too.
33Rinsing your hair with cold water adds glossiness: FACT, “Cool-water rinses work by tightening the cuticle,” says Paul. Sealing cuticles means they lie flat, and this allows light to bounce off them. He also tells us that his clients report cold rinses help their style last longer.
DIY Hair masks can do the job of a hair serum: FICTION, To quote Paul, “Hundreds of thousands are spent on haircare research and development.” Going DIY can be fun, but if you’re looking for a shine home run, take advantage of the amazing serums, pomades and masks on the market. Plus, why give yourself the nightmare of plunging rotten avocado and egg yolk from your plughole afterwards?
Brushing your hair often will make it stronger and shinier: IT’S COMPLICATED, Over-brushing is never a good idea, as it can cause frizz through static, and even breakage. That said, Paul thinks a good brush stimulates the scalp, which in turn should stimulate the blood supply to the hair follicle. The caveat? Use a good paddle brush. According to UK-based hairstylist and textured hair specialist Charlotte Mensah, these brushes “effectively drag the oils from your scalp through to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair”.
Silk pillowcases and sleep turbans are a shine-saviour: FACT, Along with the obvious pro of fewer face-indentations from silk pillowslips, Paul says many of his clients swear silk bed gear helps reduce flyaways and splitting. According to Charlotte, “Sleeping on a silk pillowcase results in smooth, frizz-free hair every morning. It truly does pay off.”
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TRESemmé Biotin+,Repair 7 Shampoo and Conditioner, Rs 995 each. Any breakage your hair suffers will add to the look of dullness. Safeguard strands with this reparative range.
55Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak, Rs 2,750
Use this bb (packed with avocado and olive fruit oils, and lemon extracts) once a week to repair and strengthen your parched hair.
66Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil, Rs 2,950. A tiny bit of this restorative, bond-fixing oil goes a long way. Tap a drop onto damp or dry hair (we recommend damp for fine hair).
77Rene Furterer 5 Sens Enhancing Dry Oil, Rs 3,800. A blend of five natural plant oils, this non-greasy yet extremely nourishing formula protect hair, leaving it soft and shiny.
88L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Shampoo, Rs 940.
Available in two variants (for normal to fine hair and for thick hair), this gentle shampoo doesn’t just help in taming them waves but also leaves hair shiny.
99Wella Professionals NUTRICURLS Deep Treatment Mask For Waves & Curls, Rs 1,150.
Offering intense nourishment, this mask leaves waves and curls defined, soft and manageable, while reducing frizziness.
1010Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original, Rs 2,500.
A gloss-giving blend of silicone, argan oil, and camellia seed oil. Pump into your hands and press into damp hair (it adds heat protection, too).
1111BBLUNT Climate Control, Anti-Frizz Leave-In Cream, Rs 275.
Formulated with hydrolysed keratin, quinoa and Provitamin B5, this leave-in spray cream leaves you with frizz-free, defined waves, and also protects hair from pollution.
1212Moroccanoil Curl Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner, Rs 2,700 each.
Infused with argan oil, this shampoo and conditioner duo restores elasticity, shine, and manageability of curly hair.
1313Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, Rs 900.
Slap on for 10 minutes weekly to repair exhausted strands. It’s also safe for dyed, relaxed, and other chemically-treated hair.
1414OUAI Curl Jelly, Rs 2,700.
This lightweight gel-oil hybrid formula softens and elongates curls while locking out humidity. Bonus: it is totally safe for coloured or treated hair.
1515Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing Hair Spray, Rs 900.
If you want to go easy, spray into your hands and finger-comb immediately through damp hair. To use as a finishing mist, spritz once or twice on styled hair from arm’s length.
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