how to get shiny hair

If your hair is dull, dry and brittle, there are measures you can take to immediately restore its shine. Learn how to change your hair care regimen, use products that add shine, and make dietary choices that restore your hair's luster in no time.
  
Method 1 : Adopting a Gentle Hair Care Regimen

  (i)Wash your hair less often:

• When you wash your hair every day it starts to get frizzy, dry and brittle. That's because you're washing away the sebum, the natural oil your scalp produces to keep your hair healthy. Start washing your hair 3 or 4 times a week to give it a chance to grow strong, healthy and shiny

•  Your hair may look oily for the first week or so after you stop washing it every day. Your scalp is used to working in overdrive to produce enough oil for your hair, and it might take a little while for your body to get used to the new routine and restore its natural balance.

• On the days in between washings, use dry shampoo to bring life back to your roots. Sprinkle a little baby powder mixed with cornstarch over your scalp, let it sit for 10 minutes, then brush it away

  (ii)Wash your hair with cold water:

• This simple trick provides immediate results. Instead of using hot or even warm water on your hair, use cold hair to wet it and rinse out shampoo and conditioner. The cool temperature flattens your hair shaft, taming frizz and resulting in smooth, shiny hair.

• If you don't want to take a cold shower, start with warmer water and shock your hair with cold water at the end of the shower.
• If using cold water seems unbearable, start with lukewarm water and see if you can work your way to cold water. You'll get used to the colder temperature quickly.

  (iii)Dry your hair gently:

•  When you roughly towel dry your hair and twist it up after showering, you're damaging and fraying your hair shaft. This makes hair look dull and frizzy. Gently squeeze out your hair and blot it dry with a soft towel for a glossier result 

  (iv)Work through tangles with a wide-toothed comb:

• Brushing your hair, especially when it's wet, can break the shaft and lead to frizz. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently work through the tangles 

  (v)Take it easy with heat styling tools:

• In your quest for shiny hair, you have probably employed hair dryers, straightening irons and curling irons to achieve a sleek, shiny look. Using heat can help temporarily, but it ends up drying your hair out and causing it to look damaged and brittle after awhile. Reserve heat styling tools for special occasions 

  (vi)Get regular trims:

• Removing frayed split ends goes a long way toward making your hair look shinier. Ask your stylist not to use chemicals and heat styling tools on your hair

Method 2 : Using Hair Care Products that Make Your Hair Shine

  

  (i)Use non-abrasive products on your hair:

• Shampoos claiming to make your hair shiny and squeaky clean do so by stripping your hair of natural oils that protect it. Without that protective layer of oil, your hair ends up looking dull, not glossy. Avoid products that contain sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates, since these harsh cleaning agents are too hard on hair

• Choose shampoos and conditioners made with oils and other natural ingredients like aloe and and herbal extracts

• Apple cider vinegar is an excellent natural conditioner that leaves your hair soft and shiny. Pour about a tablespoon over your head after shampooing and in place of conditioner

  (ii)Use a shine serum:

• As your hair is air-drying, smooth in a shine serum to help seal in the moisture and prevent your hair from frizzing up while it dries. Look for an anti-frizz serum at the drugstore or a beauty store

• For course-textured hair, olive oil makes a great natural shine serum. Work about a teaspoon of oil through your hair, concentrating at the tips

• For finer hair, try a lighter oil such as almond or rose hip oil.

  (iii)Give yourself deep conditioning treatments:

• Once every couple of weeks, treat your hair to a deep conditioning treatment to keep the shaft healthy, strong and shiny. There's no need to go to a salon; use olive oil, coconut oil or a mixture of honey and oil as a conditioner.

• Spread about half a cup of your conditioner of choice over your hair, massaging it in from the roots to the tips.Cover your head with plastic wrap or a shower cap and let the conditioner sit for 30 minutes to an hour.Rinse it out with cool water until the water runs clear

  (iv)Use olive oil. 

• Pour 1 cup of oil into a container. Crack in one egg and stir thoroughly to combine

• Wet your hair. Slowly cover your head in the oil and egg solution.

• Cover your head with a shower cap. Let it soak into the hair for up to 20 minutes.

• Wash out under the shower.

• Dry with a t-shirt to reduce frizz. Do not blow dry.

• Comb it out (or else it will smell)

Method 3 : Making Lifestyle Choices That Promote Shiny Hair

  (i)Eat a balanced diet:

• When you aren't getting the nutrients you need, it shows in your hair. Make your hair shine by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Incorporate foods that are especially healthy for hair, including the following: Fish, beef, poultry, eggs, legumes, and other foods that are full of protein. Hair is made from protein and it immediately suffers if you aren't getting enough

• Avocados and nuts. These contain healthy fats that make your hair look full and shiny 

• Nutrient-rich plants. Leafy greens like spinach and kale are especially healthy for hair 

  (ii)Drink a lot of water:

• When you're dehydrated your hair loses its luster and starts looking limp. Drink plenty of water to keep your hair healthy. Make sure you get 8 glasses a day. Eating water-heavy fruits and vegetables can also help hydrate you. Choose watermelon, berries, apples, cucumbers, lettuce and cabbage

• Drink herbal tea and other caffeine-free tea for additional hydration.  

  (iii)Protect your hair from outside elements: 

          The sun, extreme temperatures, and environmental pollutants may be making your hair look less than optimal. Protect it from getting damaged by taking the following measures:

• Wear a hat when the sun is strong. The sun is a powerful force, and it can damage your hair if you don't protect it.
• Wear a swim cap in the pool. Chlorine dries hair out and leaves a residue. If you do go swimming without a cap, wash your hair immediately after exiting the pool.
• Don't go out in the cold with wet hair. Your hair may freeze, which will lead to frizz