How to Make Healthy and Shiny Hair

Hair care can be a very complex subject, but it doesn’t have to be! In fact, the goal of this blog post is to make it as simple as possible by going over four of the most important things you can do to keep your hair looking as healthy and shiny hair as possible. Let’s get started!

Prepping Your Hair

Good hair care begins at home. Before you wash your hair, use a conditioner that protects against dryness and split ends. Take a teaspoon of coconut oil and warm it in your hands by rubbing them together, then massage it into your scalp from root to tip for three minutes. Then, rinse with warm water without shampooing. Coconut oil will make your hair softer, shinier, and give it a healthy and shiny hair glow while protecting against environmental damage. Use a non-sulfate shampoo to prevent any further drying effects from regular shampoos that tend to strip out natural oils from hair. You’ll notice that you need less product when using a non-sulfate shampoo because these products don’t dry out the hair as much as their sulfate counterparts do.

Avoid Over-Washing

Every time you wash your hair with soap or shampoo, it strips away some of your natural oils that keep hair shiny and soft. Over time, too much washing will actually dry out your hair. For most people, once every two days is sufficient; more frequent washes will likely not make any noticeable difference in how your locks look or feel. The main exception? If you exercise heavily on a regular basis—maybe you run marathons regularly—it might be beneficial to wash your hair even less frequently than twice a week. Why? It could decrease the buildup of sweat and sebum (that stuff that comes out of our scalps when we sweat) in your hair follicles. But don’t worry about it unless your scalp becomes unpleasantly smelly between showers! After each shower, the towel dries your hair gently, avoiding roughing up curls with a brush or comb until they’re fully dried. 

Avoid Hot Curlers or Straighteners

For those of us blessed with curly hair, avoid using hot curlers or straightening irons as often as possible. Just like washing, heating causes hair to break off at its weakest point—the tips. And unlike the skin on your face, hair doesn’t grow back quickly—if at all! So aim for three days between roller sets or flat iron sessions; every day starts to add up pretty quickly over time.  If you have to use these tools frequently, opt for a gentler alternative that’s less damaging to try to save your locks! The Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel is formulated specifically for wavy-to-curly hair types that tend toward frizz.

Don’t Use Every Product You See

Don’t go overboard with products. Just because there are hundreds available on today’s market doesn’t mean you need them all. Unless your hair is particularly damaged or frizzy, just use one product containing moisture sealants to lock in natural moisture. Don’t forget also that many products have different effects depending on hair type—straight hair versus curly versus greasy versus fine versus damaged vs. thick etc. so try to use specific types instead of one size fits all products whenever possible. Pay attention to specific ingredients as well; use only sulfate-free shampoos if your hair tends toward fizziness because these are gentler cleaners compared to other kinds, which may also contain chemicals harmful to sensitive scalp and strands after repeated use over time. 

Heat Protectant

 Use a heat protectant! These sprays and serums will smooth your strands’ cuticle layer to prevent frizz and flyaway. As a general rule of thumb, if you know that you have super dry or damaged hair, pick a product with silicone in it to seal in moisture. If your hair is prone to oiliness, choose a formula with dimethazone, another silicone-based agent. This will work to smooth out your hair and will also give it a healthy shiny hair! If you’re lucky enough to have naturally healthy, shiny hair that doesn’t require a ton of upkeep—congratulations! You’ve hit one of life’s true milestones.

Invest In A Hair Oil

Using a quality hair oil can protect your strands from styling damage and add shine while keeping split ends at bay. It’s also an effective way to seal in moisture, which can prevent brittle strands and other issues that mess with your locks. Our favorite: Desert Essence Coconut Oil . Not only does it offer deep conditioning benefits, but it’s certified organic, so you know you’re getting a product that contains fewer toxic chemicals than others on store shelves. A good hair oil can be just what your strands need when they’re in need of some nourishment. A great hair oil will help smooth, soften, detangle, nourish, strengthen, protect and add shine—and can even act as a styling agent for more manageable hair. There are so many benefits to using a hair oil that it may become your go-to product. 

Use A Boar Bristle Brush

A boar bristle brush is a great way to make your hair look shiny, sleek, and smooth. The bristles are firm enough to get rid of tangles but gentle enough not to cause breakage. Boar bristle brushes are also good for individuals with sensitive scalps who need something that won’t irritate their scalp. To use a boar bristle brush correctly, spread conditioner evenly through damp hair. Then detangle each section using only about four inches of hair at a time before smoothing out any remaining tangles with your fingers or combing through with a wide-tooth comb. Once you’re done detangling, take one inch of hair in between your hand and run it through your brush while holding it vertically against your head. Repeat until you’ve brushed all over. For thick hair, move on to two inches of hair next time. If necessary, repeat until all tangles have been removed.

Consume Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are molecules that carry energy in our bodies. These come from fats, which are used by all cells for energy production. Fatty acids carry these groups of chemical energy packets into cells where they are burned for fuel. The most important fatty acid is alpha-linolenic acid, which our bodies convert into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to hair growth because they allow hair to grow longer before falling out; one study showed that women with lower blood levels of omega-3s had significantly higher amounts of scalp hair loss than those with high levels.

Shampoo Tips

Believe it or not, we often wash our hair too frequently. Too much shampooing can dry out your hair, causing it to look dull and feel brittle. Experts recommend waiting three days between shampoos. Also, try using a clarifying shampoo just once a week—it should be sulfate-free! If you do need to wash your hair on day two or three, use a tiny amount of product (and don’t rub it in) so that you don’t agitate your scalp further by taking off any dead skin cells. Try pairing clarifying shampoo with a deep conditioning treatment (once or twice a month). Deep conditioning will help maintain moisture levels in your hair and keep it looking healthy and shiny hair.

Blow Drying Tips

Blow drying your hair is a great way to make it look shiny and beautiful, but it can also make it appear dry, damaged, or even fried. In order to prevent that from happening, there are some important things you need to do. First, always brush through your hair before you blow-dry. The more knots you have in your hair when you start styling, the harder it will be for you to blow dry it smooth. Try using a wide-tooth comb as well so that tangles don’t happen as easily. Next, conditioner is a must before blow drying – but don’t skip all of your regular conditioners – just use half! This will ensure your hair doesn’t get weighed down while still conditioning it at a good level.

Straightening Tips

Let’s face it, straightening your hair is a pain, but if you have naturally curly or frizzy hair, it may be a necessary evil. Straightening your hair doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult, though. If you keep a few simple tips in mind while you’re styling, you can significantly reduce damage caused by heat and protect yourself from unnecessary headaches later on. Here are three easy ways to make sure your hair looks healthy and shiny. First… Second… Third… And that’s all there is to it! Good luck keeping your hair healthy!

Coloring Tips

Color your hair, don’t dye it. Dying will permanently damage your hair cuticle, whereas coloring only colors on top of what you already have. If you’re trying to cover up gray strands and want a color that’s true-to-life, consider going with a demi or semi-permanent color — these types of dyes use fewer chemicals than permanent colors so they sit lighter on your locks. Ask your stylist for specific product recommendations based on your hair type. For instance, if you are trying to cover gray hair but are worried about adding extra pigment because you already color your hair regularly, ask for a color gloss treatment instead of an all-over application.