Shiny hair is one trait almost everyone wants, regardless of their hair type, length, or texture. After all, no matter what hair color or cut you’re rocking, dull-looking strands can detract from your overall look. If you dream of achieving hair that seems to naturally glisten, you’ve come to the right place. We’re breaking down how to get shiny hair both at home and in the salon. Plus, discover the best products for shiny hair that L’Oréal’s professional brands have to offer. Let’s get into it.
Why Doesn’t My Hair Look Shiny?
First things first, there are a few reasons why your mane might appear dull or lackluster. Identifying which habits are impacting your strands is the first step toward correcting the damage. Things standing in the way of you and shiny hair may include:
- Too much heat styling—especially without using heat protectant
- Friction from things like brushing aggressively or rubbing against harsh materials
- Over-processing from hair color, bleaching, and chemical services
- Dry hair that’s not being conditioned enough
- Using haircare products that aren’t tailored to your hair type
- Over-washing or under-washing your hair
- Environmental factors like hard water or UV exposure
How To Make Hair Shiny At Home
It’s easy to score glossy hair when you incorporate these shiny hair tips into your routine. Here are 10 changes you can make now.
Use high-quality shampoo and conditioner
If you’re serious about learning how to get shiny hair, take this first piece of advice to heart: Stock your shower with a salon-quality shampoo for shiny hair and follow it up with a corresponding conditioner. Washing your hair with the right products can help lay the groundwork for how shiny and healthy-looking your strands appear in the days that follow.
With so many shampoo and conditioner sets available, picking just one can understandably be a bit daunting. To help, here are a few of our favorites specifically designed to enhance or restore shine.
- Redken Acidic Color Gloss Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner is an acidic team that helps intensely condition hair and seal its cuticle to lock in molecular-level shine. Check out our Redken Acidic Color Gloss Haircare Review for more details on the collection.
- Those with dull, damaged hair can opt for Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Shampoo and Conditioner. When used together, the system leaves hair twice as shiny* and can help reduce breakage by up to 95%.**
- As the name may indicate, Matrix Food For Soft can help you score seriously soft hair. This shampoo and conditioner duo, which is infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and avocado oil, helps hydrate and smooth dry hair and adds extra shine.
*system of shampoo vs. unwashed hair.
**system of shampoo & conditioner vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
Detox your hair from hard water
Mineral deposits from hard shower water can cling to your hair, which in turn can cause your color to appear dull or faded. If you think hard water is running through your pipes (enter your zip code here to find out), pick up a dedicated haircare collection like Kérastase Premiére to address it. The powerful six-part system works to help remove mineral buildup on the hair shaft and increase shine by as much as 75%. But don’t just take our word for it—one editor recently put the line to the test, and the results are pretty convincing.
Add a clarifying shampoo to your routine
Every once in a while, your hair may need a deeper cleansing to help remove buildup that can block its shine. A clarifying shampoo, like Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo, can help. The gentle, non-stripping formula helps purify hair while restoring sheen, volume, and lift. The result is shiny hair that looks and feels like it got a reset.
Editor’s Tip: While adding a clarifying shampoo to the mix is important, be careful not to overdo it. Clarifying formulas are typically meant to be swapped in for your regular shampoo only occasionally. For some, this might be once per week; for others, once every few weeks. Using one too often could potentially dull your hair color or dry out your locks.
Rinse your hair with lukewarm water
There’s a common shower mistake that could be the one thing standing between you and having super shiny hair: washing your strands in scorching hot water. Hot water can strip necessary moisture from your hair, possibly leading to frizz and dull-looking color. Try to rinse your hair with lukewarm water if you can stand it, or give it a 30-second cold water blast at the end of your shower session. This can help seal hair’s cuticle so that light can reflect off the hair shaft more easily, creating that mirror-like shine you’re hoping for.
Indulge in an at-home hair treatment
Another hair shine product to add to your routine is a luxurious hair mask or deep conditioner. Choose a formula that addresses your hair’s specific needs for the best results. For example, anyone looking to score long, shiny hair can try the Redken Extreme Length Triple Action Treatment Mask. It helps hair feel stronger and visibly reduces the appearance of split ends. If you want to protect your hair color, try the L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Metal Detox Hair Mask to help you maintain that post-salon vibrancy. Discover more masking must-haves from the L’Oréal portfolio of professional brands in our article, 35 Best Hair Masks for Every Hair Type and Concern.
Shield your hair from the sun
According to the Cleveland Clinic, prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays can damage the cuticle layer of your hair. This damage can give hair a dry look and feel, which is enemy number one in the quest for shiny hair. Be sure to always wear a hat or headscarf when spending time outdoors. Straw hats are often the go-to, but looser weaves can still allow the sun to reach your strands. Instead, pick a lightweight hat with tighter stitching and a wide brim to help block out damaging rays and protect your hairline. Not a hat person? A headscarf works just as well and can be tied to your liking for stylish flair.
Protect your strands while you sleep
Swapping a silk pillowcase into your nightly routine could be the secret to waking up with glossy hair. Standard cotton pillowcases can cause tugging and breakage while you toss and turn. Smooth silk, on the other hand, is known to be gentler on your mane, helping to minimize friction while you sleep. Plus, silk is less absorbent than its cotton counterpart and less likely to soak up moisture or oils from your hair (which can dull its sheen).
Try hair oils
Hair oils are perhaps one of the best products for shiny hair. Oils coat the hair to help trap moisture and can temporarily smooth the hair’s cuticle so it has a silky, reflective appearance. If you’re new to the hair oiling game, we recommend working a few drops of Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil into your hair from the mid-lengths through the ends. This multi-benefit hair oil rapidly absorbs into strands to nourish them and add shine without the weigh-down.
Never skip heat protection
Hot tools can zap the moisture from your strands, which can cause them to look frizzy and dull. If you’re committed to your daily blowout or hair straightening session, however, be sure to apply a heat protectant like Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray before using hot tools. Switching your tools to a lower temperature setting is also a good idea to help reduce hair’s exposure to heat.
Finish with a shine spray
For a quick and easy burst of shine, spritz some hair shine spray on your strands after you’ve finished styling. Redken Shine Flash Spray is a lightweight spray that creates a glass-like finish on any hairstyle. Consider this shiny hair product your secret weapon for banishing dullness in seconds.
How To Make Hair Shiny At the Salon
Heeding the above shiny hair tips can help you maintain the brilliance of your mane at home, but you can also head to a salon for a hair gloss or hair glaze service. Both can give you ultra-shiny hair, but the two actually offer distinct benefits. Here’s a deeper dive into each service.
Hair gloss
A hair gloss may sound a lot like a dedicated shiny hair treatment, but it’s so much more than that. Glossing is actually a type of demi-permanent hair dye that helps gently open the hair's cuticle to deposit a wash of color, tone your strands, and leave hair looking shiny and feeling conditioned. A gloss is also a great option for blending grays or letting you experiment with a new color without commitment. These formulas typically fade within 4-6 weeks, too, so there will be no harsh lines or visible root growth after your gloss washes out.
There are many types of hair glosses available, but we recommend asking your colorist about Redken Shades EQ Hair Gloss. In just 20 minutes, these ammonia-free formulas can help refresh and enhance your color, condition your strands, and give them incredible shine. Your colorist will likely combine a few shades of Shades EQ to create a customized color, giving you the best possible results.
Hair glaze
A hair glaze is the way to go if you’re satisfied with your hair color and simply want to boost its luster. Unlike a hair gloss, a glaze can’t penetrate the hair. Instead, it coats the surface of your locks to add mirror-like shine, control frizz, and make your hair color appear more vibrant. The benefits are more short-lived, too, and typically last about a week. Simply put, if your salon hue is looking dull, a hair glaze is an anecdote.
Best of all, neither of these salon services requires a lengthy appointment, so they’re easy enough to squeeze into your schedule. They’re basically like an upgraded version of a blowout, so book accordingly and enjoy enviable, shiny hair.
Next Up: How To Get Soft Hair With Our Best Haircare Products
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Header photo credits (left to right): Redken and @helensofierce