We all want our hair to shine, and lucky for us, there is a plethora of products on the market today that will help us to achieve our shine potential. However, the bottom line is that healthy hair is shiny hair, so keep your hair looking it best with a diet that is rich in protein like dairy products, poultry and fish. It is also important to drink plenty of water every day to keep your scalp and strands well hydrated. Beyond the good health basics however, there are some products to look for and ways to use them to make your tresses stand out in a crowd.

Shampooing

Shine begins with the cleansing process, so give your hair the “head’s up” during your morning shower. Too much washing is one of the easiest ways to strip hair of shine, so aim for a lathering every other day, and only shampoo once instead of the “rinse, repeat” cycle that your shampoo bottle recommends. It is also a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo every couple of weeks or so. This product will cleanse your hair of any potential residue that has been left by your regular shampoo, conditioner and styling products, leaving nothing but your own beautiful tresses. Conditioning after your shampoo is essential to keep hair healthy and moisturized, and if your hair is color-treated, go for a conditioner that is designed to keep your color brilliant for as long as possible.

A rinse after shampooing is a great shine enhancer, and you can do one with apple cider vinegar or plain water that is on the cool side. Rinsing with a special product will ensure that all of the shampoo is gone from your hair, and will seal up the cuticles again to make hair shiny and smooth. Use caution with your towel after shampooing as well – while gently squeezing excess water out of your hair is okay, vigorous rubbing may result in damage to your strands. Always use a wide-tooth comb to work through wet strands, since using a brush on wet hair is a near guarantee that you will end up with split ends and other damage. Wet hair is simply to fragile to handle the rigors of brushing and rough handling so treat your locks gently at this stage.

Styling

Avoid using styling tools like curling irons on your hair until it is completely dry. Do not get out your blow dryer until your hair has dried on its own nearly all the way. Damp hair will be just as easy to style as wet hair is, and will be less prone to breakage and damage. You can also keep your blow dryer on the medium setting for styling that way, which is also better for your tresses. Use styling products sparingly, so that you don’t get in the way of your hair’s natural body and shine. And if all else fails, there are shine sprays that you can use to give your hair an extra boost. Concentrate the majority of the spray at your ends, where the most help is needed.

Shiny hair is beautiful, healthy hair. Shine on.

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