Beauty Tips
KEEP YOUR HAIR SHINY & HEALTY
1. Say yes to hair serum.
Shine serums are available that have been specially formulated to give frizzy or unruly hair a sleek sheen. Find some great options at your local drugstore, beauty supply store, or hair salon. These products moisturize your hair with a light concentration of oils or silicone, says Shorter. To apply, "use a pea-sized amount to start," she advises. "Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up, rubbing it into wet hair with your hands." It's important not to use too much serum, because it can weigh hair down, but if you feel you need more moisture, go ahead and add a bit more.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner.
Regular conditioners are great, but if you really want to pump up the shine, Shorter recommends adding a leave-in conditioner to your routine. These come in both spray-on and lotion forms. Apply them the same way you do shine serum (see tip No. 1).
3. Wash with cool water.
Beware of hot water! It can dry out your hair and leave it dull. Instead, after shampooing and conditioning, rinse with cool water. "It closes the cuticle," explains Shorter. "And that allows light to reflect off the hair, producing lots of shine."
4. Be smart about blow-drying.
As you're blow-drying your hair, direct the dryer's nozzle down the hair shafts as you hold each section of hair with a round brush. Finish by pressing the "cool" button on your hair dryer - the cool air produces a reflective effect similar to that of a cool-water rinse after shampooing.
5. Spray on the shine.
When your hair is dry, finish your look with a spray-on shine product. Shorter recommends spray mists made by Ojon and Pantene. Whether it comes in a pump bottle or aerosol can, a shine spray can be misted onto dry hair - no matter what texture it is - to give it an extra glistening effect.
6. Switch to a silicone flatiron.
A flatiron can help straighten hair, which usually looks shinier than wavy hair. But avoid overusing a flatiron - all that heat-styling can be drying! Shorter recommends a new type of flatiron made by Bio Ionic, with silicone built into the plates rather than the typical ceramic or metal. "The heated silicone glides right over the hair and straightens it in one pass," says Shorter. "I've found that silicone cuts the straightening time in half, which means less damage."
7. Get a glossing treatment.
If you really want to get your shine on, consider having a professional glossing treatment. These are often performed after a hair-coloring treatment, but you can get one without the dye job. "It's designed to give you richer hair color with more depth, but it doesn't actually have any pigment to it," says Shorter. A glossing is usually temporary, lasting about four to six shampoos, and glossing kits are available at some drugstores, so you can even try it out without hitting the salon.
8. Hydrate your body.
Drinking plenty of water will ensure that your hair is properly moisturized from the inside out. About eight glasses a day is ideal. Keep a bottle by your side and sip from it often!
9. Eat nutritious foods.
Shorter recommends getting your daily recommended allowances of vitamins A and E for shiny, healthy hair. Also, be sure you're eating plenty of protein, which promotes hair growth. "Eggs and nuts are excellent sources of protein," Shorter says.
10. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Shiny hair is healthy hair - so don't abuse it! Limit your hair's exposure to harsh chemicals, like the chlorine in pools, and lye-based hair-relaxing creams. Use heat-styling as infrequently as you can get away with, and avoid products that contain alcohol, which can dry out your hair and strip its shine.
COLOR TREATMENT
Avoid Washing Your Hair
At least two days post-dye job, you shouldn't wash your hair. When you do wash it, steer clear of clarifying or deep cleansing formulas, as well as dandruff products, which will strip your hair of dye pigments.
Don't Lather Up Too Often
The key to making your color last: not shampooing. This goes doubly for redheads. Parvine Klein, a colorist at the John Barrett Salon in New York City, recommends keeping it to twice a week so your new shade doesn't fade — every other day if your hair is oily or very fine. On alternate days, you can rinse your hair with tepid water, or dust your roots with a dry shampoo.
Use the Right Brush
Finding the right brush can shine and prevent fading — a must for colored hair, especially if you heat style. If you're trying to create a sleek style, you'll want to use a paddle brush. These brushes aren't good with layers, however, so when you want to create volume, your best bet is to use a round natural bristle brush
Avoid Hairspray
Unless you're in a beauty pageant, you don't need it. Plus, nothing strips the sheen off shiny strands faster than hairspray, leaving your new color looking dull. If you must shellac, follow with a spritz of shine serum.
Add Major Shine
To make your new hue look even more vibrant, try a clear gloss treatment in between color appointments.