Shiny Hair - How do I get it?

ailuro2

my hair isn't as shiny as it was when I was younger - I just accept it and get on with it.

Rinsing in cold water will close the har shaft and make it look smoother, so shinier. Finishing blow drying on a cool shot hairdryer will give a similar effect. Point the hairdryer down the hair when drying, not across it, it ruffles the har shaft and stops it reflecting so much light.

Use olive oil on your hair ends and wrap it in cling film and leave for about half an hour, like the old V05 hot oil treamtent, but much cheaper.

janejustjane

Years ago I went to school with a girl who had the most beautiful, shiny hair. She said she used either "oil of spirits" or "spirit oil" on it (I can't remember which), which she bought from the pharmacy. We tried every chemist in town, but never did manage to find any!

brokeinwales

I'm another fan of coconut oil. (I discovered it at school after asking an Indian friend with fantastically shiny hair, and she said hair oiling was something of a traition in her family.) don't bother with the body shop stuff - just get a big jar from the World Food section at Tesco, or an Indian/ Carribean food shop (you can also cook with it, although the calorie level is a bit scary!) - then massage it into your scalp (some people think this helps promote healthier growth), and spread right down to the ends of your hair, and leave on overnight, or at least for a few hours before washing out - it'll probably need two lathers.
You don't need to do it every time you wash - I've done this about once a fortnight for the past fifteen years or so, and I definetly think it makes a difference.
I also find using a leave in conditioner, rather than the kind you rinse out, really helps - I've tried several brands and to be honest the cheaper ones are often better than the fancy ones. I do like the Aussie leave-in for a treat though because it smells so nice.

Regarding your Mum's comments - the main point of grooming, beauty treatments and all that jazz is to make you feel good about yourself - not to meet somebody elses idea of how you should be. Getting out of a lovely hot bath and wrapping yourself in a fluffy towel before applying a bit of gorgeous smelling body lotion as a bit of self-indulgence is a great idea. Eating a healthy diet and exercising so that you can enjoy higher energy levels and an all round "healthy" feeling" is also great.

Spending loads of time, energy and money as you get increasingly stressed out trying to achieve someone elses idea of perfection isn't going to do you any good though.

MimiJane

You can also buy tubs of coconut oil from Holland & Barratt ... I use it all the time for cooking. It may be calorific, but is soooo good for you (anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, etc., etc.). Never thought of using it for my hair ... might try this. It looks like lard and can also be used as a skin cream.

ames100

coconut oil is half price at holland and barret atm £5 ish instead of nearly £10

if the deal isnt on in store you can print the web page and take it into the shop and they should charge the same - at least thats what they said when i emailed them!

gwinnie

A tip if you put a natural oil straight onto your hair for conditioning (eg olive or coconut), when it's time to wash it out, don't wet it first but work the shampoo in first. It's like paper, scissors, stones. Oil beats water, water beats shampoo, shampoo beats oil!

qwiksave

If you want shiny hair, do it for you, not because your mum says! :mad:

I'm 46 and I haven't had shiny hair (my diet is pretty bad tbh) for as long as I can remember.... until now!!

My secret is the Trevor Sorbie Nutriheat Hair Dryer - it really seems to work, for me anyway. I got mine recently from Superdrug for about £23 but you have to buy these separate vitamin tablets that you put in it - so its not a cheap option - but for me it works, which is the main thing..

top_drawer_2

hi,

I've recently discovered Lush's "Big"... its a bit strange as it contains real sea salt and I was very skeptical at first ..... but it leaves my hair shiny clean and more full of volume.

You can ask in any of their shops for a sample and they are very willing.

Jen

mazza111

Can't remember the name of it, but L'Oreal Elvive shampoo and conditioner for long hair is ACE, it's in a bright pink bottle and costs around £3.50 a bottle, so not the cheapest, my hair is half way down my back b4 straightening and it's the only conditioner that gets all the knots out my hair and adds some shine b4 straightening. If I need a little boost on shine because I've been too lazy to wash it, a few drops of Pantene Ice Shine works wonders. However it leaves your hair a wee bit greasy, so tend not to use it very often.

Horace

Am not a blonde but a natural red head which I have to spruce up with a trip to the hairdressers now and again to have some colour put on to hide the grey (its not grey its white:eek: ). I need to go again so I shall make an appointment.

I use a mixture of Aussie haircare stuff and Redken as both seem to suit except for the shine or rather lack of it. Sorry I don't like avocadoes as they taste greasy so I am not going to stick them on my bonce.

My mum can be a cowbag to say the least - she has never had a good word to say its always "stand up straight" "you look fat" "you've let yourself go" "you're a disappointment" and "your hair doesnt shine":rolleyes: mind I did tell her that if I was such a disappointment why she didnt have me aborted when she had the opportunity - needless to say that shut her up:rotfl: And she wonders why i never had kids:rolleyes:

I will try all sorts of things except coffee as that seems too freaky. Thanks for the tips, they are useful.