Learn how to get glossy hair at home naturally without the use of salon treatments. These hair care tips will give your tresses a glass-like shine.
Have you ever seen your favorite celebrities on the red carpet with glossy shiny hair and thought why can’t I have hair like that.
Your hair turns dull and lanky when there is a lack of moisture in it and also when your hair cuticles are raised so all you need to do is moisturize your hair and help seal your cuticles.
So how does one get there? Well, here are some easy tips that I have curated for you that you can try at home and get shiny smooth hair without any salon treatments. Check it out!
How To Get Glossy Hair
Here are some simple hacks to get glossy hair at home without the use of excess styling products for keratin treatments. Check it out!
Do Not Use Harsh Shampoos Or Hair Styling Products
The two biggest causes of your hair not looking glossy enough is dryness and damage to hair cuticles. And the chief culprit behind these two hair issues is the type of hair products you use.
A lot of daily use shampoos contain harsh surfactants usually in the form of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. These surfactants do not just remove dirt and grease from your hair but they also get rid of hair natural oils leaving it dry. (Fernandes, Catarina et al. “On Hair Care Physicochemistry: From Structure and Degradation to Novel Biobased Conditioning Agents.” Polymers vol. 15,3 608. 24 Jan. 2023, doi:10.3390/polym15030608)
So the first step to getting glossy hair is to start using a mild sulfate free shampoo. In the same way you might also want to reduce the number of times you shampoo your hair in a week as this too can leave your hair dry.
Also when it comes to hair styling products avoid alcohols in the ingredients as they can dry out your hair as well.
A lot of shine enhancing products also come with silicones which might make you get glass like hair instantly but they can build up over time and cause hair problems.
Rinse Your Hair With Cold Water
Another reason for hair not looking shiny or glossy enough is raised hair cuticles. These open hair cuticles do not allow light to reflect properly off of your hair’s surface, diminishing its shine.
As heat is the major cause of raised hair cuticles I would suggest rinsing your hair with cold water at the end of your shampoo session. Doing so will seal the cuticles and leave your hair smooth and shiny.
Brush Hair Regularly With A Boar Bristle Brush
Your scalp already produces a lot of natural oil (or sebum as it’s technically known!) to hydrate your tresses. But regular brushing is required to distribute the natural oils throughout the strands.
This is especially true if you have curly or coily 4C hair as these hair textures do not allow the easy distribution of scalps sebum through their strands.
I would suggest using a boar bristle brush instead of a regular plastic brush as both bristles are gentler on your scalp and they do not cause static electricity to build up. So they prevent hair from getting frizzy and reduce the friction on your scalp.
Use A Clarifying Shampoo Hair At Frequent Intervals
While I have previously stated that reducing the amount of hair washing can help increase gloss on hair I have to admit that it is also important to clarify your hair.
These days a lot of hairstyling products contain silicones and even if they don’t, there are other hair products that build up on your strands.
This product build up can prevent your hair from absorbing moisture and nutrients making it look dull and lanky. So it is important to clean your hair of this stubborn buildup at least once a week or maybe even a fortnight.
You can use a clarifying shampoo for the same purpose but be careful to not overdo it.
And if you are hesitant about using clarifying shampoos as they can be harsh, try using an apple cider vinegar rinse instead.
Apply A Smoothing Serum Right After Washing Hair
No matter how gentle you are while washing your hair, the friction between the strands and your fingertips during the shampoo session can cause your hair cuticles to open.
And while rinsing with cold water can help to a certain extent I would also recommend applying a smoothing serum to your tresses after you are done washing it.
These serums are multi purpose as they hydrate your hair, smoothen hair cuticles. and also prevent frizz.
Get Hot Oil Treatments Regularly
It is a simple truth. If your hair is healthy then it will look gorgeous. So if you want glossy shiny hair then you will have to take care of it by getting hot oil treatment regularly.
I especially recommend this hot oil treatment for those who have curly or coily hair as they are more prone to dryness.
You can pick the oil of your choice or even mix a few together. The most common oils used for hair include coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil.
If your scalp is prone to oiliness I would suggest going for a lightweight oil like argan or jojoba oil. but if you need some extra hydration then coconut oil is the best.
After applying oil you can soak a towel in hot water, bring it and then wrap it around your hair to supply some heat.
Or you can save yourself the trouble and buy an electric hot cap which provides a deep conditioning treatment at home.
The heat helps open hair cuticles allowing the oil to penetrate inside your strands increasing the moisture levels in hair.
Look For Panthenol Or Biotin In Conditioners
As I have mentioned before, hair damage can be a leading cause of a lack of shine in your hair.
So to get rid of this problem at its root you need to repair hair damage. The easiest way to do this is to look for conditioners that contain biotin aur vitamin B5.
Biotin helps restore all your hair’s lost elasticity and helps your cuticles to lie flat, thereby enhancing shine.
Also look for panthenol as it can improve your hair’s absorption of moisture and improve the texture of damaged hair making it shinier.
Sleep With A Silk/Satin Pillowcase Or Bonnet
Regular cotton or polyester pillow cases have long fibers that can get at angle to with your hair and cause friction leading to cuticle damage.
This reduces the glossiness on your hair. so I would suggest you invest in a silk or satin pillowcase in state as they do not cause friction or static buildup.
If you do not want to change your wedding then simply get a silk bonnet for hair cap instead and wear it to sleep to protect your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good glossy hair products?
A lot of products that are marketed as “shine enhancing”” actually contain silicones which can cause build up in the long run so in my opinion you can use natural lightweight oils to enhance the glass on your hair. one such favorite product of mine for enhancing shine on hair is the Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment and the Davines Oi Serum as they are lightweight, help nourish hair and increase glossiness, all in one go.
How to make hair shiny but not greasy?
The easiest way to get rid of dull, shine-less hair is by moisturizing it. But if you do not want to make your hair greasy by using rich oils or serums then you can try Rinsing your hair with cold water every time you take a shower. The cold water seals your hair cuticles and enhances shine. If you have oily hair then you can also try an apple cider vinegar rinse as this helps you get rid of greasiness and also smoothens cuticles.
How many times should I shampoo my hair to make it glossy?
One of the biggest reasons for dull hair is dryness. So avoid shampooing it too many times in a week. This removes your hair’s natural oils and contributes to dullness and dryness. In my opinion you should limit washing your hair 2/3 times a week depending on your head type. also do not forget to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a fortnight to remove buildup from hair.
Why is my hair not glossy?
The two chief reasons for hair not appearing glossy enough is dryness and raised hair cuticles. Both of these are signs of hair damage. However, these are easily rectified by providing your hair with hydration and avoiding Harsh shampoos and chemical treatments.
Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
Dry and damaged hair is most likely to be dull and not look really glossy or shiny. so if you won’t have that look good you’ll have to make sure your tresses are healthy From The Inside Out.
The easiest way to get glossy hair is to moisturize it and I’m sure that you are not damaging your protocol by being too rough on your hair.
If you want glossy hair in 5 minutes flat then there are several Shine enhancing serums in the market which contain silicones.
These products will give your shiny hair in no time and while silicon is or not really damaging to hair they can build up on your strengths and prevent it from absorbing moisture in the long run.
So I suggest taking the preventive approach instead and making sure your hair is healthy and shiny by using hot oil treatments, gentle shampoos, and also so by pressing it regularly.
Also Read:
How To Protect Hair While Sleeping
To Summarize