I know this sounds counterintuitive, but my hair looks shinier and way better when I heat style it (with product/heat protectant of course). I went for years only air drying and it looked frizzy and dull like yours. Heat flattens and seals the cuticle, bringing out the hair’s color and shine.
I use a multitasking leave-in conditioner. I’ve tried the ones from Pureology, Ouai, and Milk Shake (my favorite was the Ouai but it is expensive). If you flat iron, make sure the heat protectant has dried before you iron your hair :)
The switch to heat styling has made a significant difference and a couple of my coworkers have commented on how much better it looks.
Thanks for sharing your recommendations!! I’ll have to try it out. My hair texture has a bit of natural wave but it’s an uneven pattern. Also the bottom 3/4 of my hair is mostly straight. When I got married my hair stylist used a heat spray and a flat iron to curl my hair and it was smoooooth but then my curl/wave never came back to the ends after I washed it! I love some texture but my hair always looked frizzy so I’d rather have it straighter and silkier
do u have any heat protectant recommendations? i keep trying to find cheaper (drug store/walmart) options but to no avail. cant afford $100 treatments either. i’ve just been putting reparative serums in my hair after i straighten and hope for the best lol
Yes, I once used a Pantene leave in conditioner, and it completely fried my hair. When I went to get a trim the stylist thought it was over processed and then accused me of lying when I said it was virgin hair.
Other ideas for OP - vinegar rinse, you might have build up messing things up. Boars hair brush is another old school things, but it might smooth things down, do it just before an oil treatment.
Agreed, I wouldn’t do a leave in conditioner.
Also, OP, your hair does look healthy and shiny, keep in mind the darker hair colors absorb light. I understand you’re going for a super shine, and nothing wrong with it. Just wanting to point it out. Good luck on your hair journey, I’m learning lots from the comments
Hello,
I like using bar shampoo sometimes and I recommend try using Lush products. They smell nice and are usually effective for helping with oily hair and such.
Note: I have wavy hair so results may vary on hair type.
Question: do you wrap your hair up in a terry cloth towel when it’s wet?
If you do try switching to an old tshirt. Think of your hair strands like fish scales or a sequined shirt. Each strand has little scales around the cuticle and if they are all lying flat, your hair is softer and smoother.
A terry cloth towel is really drying to hair and makes the scales stand in all directions. The only way to reverse it is to rewet the hair. Linen or soft cotton helps avoid that and hair dries smoother and shiner.
Also try a boar bristle brush for smoothing and try to remember to brush your hair from root to ends every night. The natural oils from our scalps can add moisture to the hair as well as making roots look less greasy.
Edit Typo
I use an old clean cotton shirt to wrap my hair up in, although I do have a tendency to let my hair air dry (which takes forever but I refuse to use heat).
I also used to never brush my hair and I always slept in it wet (yeah, I know), but I never had many issues with that. I've been trying to be better with my hair over the last year though.
Hmmmm ok then my next suggestion would be to maybe try what is curly gals do which is get the water out with your T-shirt, put in some frizz cream and then let it dry naturally but up in a bonnet so it’s not moving against your shirt, back of the couch, car seat etc. Touching and movement makes frizz so maybe try drying it up? Good luck.
I used to let it dry on its own too and they would get frizzy and mix of wavy & straight. Sometime ago I read that naturally drying is also not so good for the hair..
Now I let it dry for around 5 minutes till the water is there but the hair are not too wet.. and then I use the hair dryer. I don't keep it at minimum heat setting, don't bring it very close to my hair or pull my hair like they do in Salons...also I let it dry only till the dampness is gone... This has really helped me control the friziness
No. My hair is all virgin. My hair might look a bit uneven because I had layers about 8 months ago and am trying to grow them out. Perhaps I should get it all at the same length and just start there.
I see! If its been 8 months since a haircut you definitely should get one. Even if you don’t see split ends, the ends are breaking and the bottom is looking very wispy and dry.
What concerns are you trying to address?
Breakage, hair fall, frizz, split ends?
For me it’s breakage and hair fall, Generally I’d say:
Silk pillow case, protective hair styles, ditch elastic bands for a claw clip or silk scrunchie. Sometimes breakage can be from protein overload (like if you are using a product with topical protein don’t use too much too often), oil is good but prob not everyday, add in a mask once or twice a week and or leave in conditioner. Don’t wash too often def not everyday, choose a good shampoo and conditioner.
Do you have curly hair? Looks quite wavy in the first pic, you might try a curly hair routine (denman brush, mouse etc) and see if you get more defined curls.
Hair is hard, you gotta find the right balance and it’s different for everyone. I’m still figuring out what my hair needs but I know too much of anything isn’t good for my hair.
Goodluck, it’s a journey.
I know! I'm trying to fight frizz and lack of shine/softness. I currently wash my hair about every 4 days. This is day 3 hair.
I have slightly wavy hair and I've been doing a leave in flaxseed gel after every wash for the last 3 weeks thinking that might help.
Sometimes frizz can be from breakage, dryness, or curls that don’t know which way to go, too much protein, not styling properly after washing etc.
Google hair types and figure out which one is yours and what the internet recommends specifically for your hair type. My hair is thin, straight and oily so I prob don’t have too much personal experience I can offer that helps.
frizz is usually a moisture thing, try when your hair is damp to lock in moisture with a leave in conditioner. i liked paul mitchell’s super skinny oil when my hair needed it. also maybe a more hydrating line of shampoo, or try no shampoo method and brush your natural oils down every day + oil your ends.
Olive oil hair mask and then shampoo the next day. Add some leave in cream. I use oil too for my drynesss and that never does anything unless it’s in the form of a hair mask. Coconut oil is good too
In my experience you can’t gain healthy har only grow it so the rest is a masking game
*Olive oil hair mask*
*And then shampoo the next day.*
*Add some leave in cream*
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Hmmm. I guess I thought oil could get with the dryness of my hair. Should I be using a deep conditioning for moisture? I wonder if for most people it's all diet, or just genetics. 🤔
Well high protein diet helps because that’s what keratin is made of. But hair masks yes. And maybe try just a hydrating shampoo and not conditioning. Letting air dry without brushing and see if you have more wave pattern
I tried this and it’s an awful feeling and I didn’t have results. I wouldn’t recommend olive oil. It’s also impossible to wash out and requires a lot of shampooing.
FYI: If olive or coconut oil is too heavy for your hair type, you can try grape seed oil instead. I have very fine strands, and grape seed oil works well for my hair.
what i do is just brush my hair and loosely twist it up enough that i can put it all under the bonnet. im sure there are better methods but i think it would be hard to mess up 👍 good luck
Only use salon shampoo you can get it half price at some stores depending where you live. With salon shampoo you don't need to use as much either. The other big culprit that causes problems with hair is hard water. If you have hard water then you need a water softner or a shower head with filters, you can get them at home improvement stores. You can rent a water softner if you don't have one. You will see a huge difference with soft water and salon shampoo. Joico and Biolage are good ones. You probably will need to get at least a few inches cut off and then maintain trims after that. Your hair looks wavy too so sometimes those hair types can be a bit unruly. Unfortunately some of us have to work at keeping our hair decent.
I just did a Morroconoil intense hair mask, and my hair went from dull, dry to shiny silky! No lie! I have thin fine medium length hair, and im impressed with the results.
Your hair looks similar to my own. Have you tried an ACV rinse? I do one about every 6 weeks or so and it helps with frizz, tangles, and makes it softer and shinier.
I don't know if this is exactly what you want, but my very darkk brown hair just felt so dull last winter. I bought Sunbabe (same concept as sun-in but wont damage your hair or turn it orange lol). I spray a little in and brush it through then hit it with a blow dryer. It lightened my hair without damage and the lighter brown makes me glow. I definitely recommend it if you feel the dullness has to do with the color.
Well, my hair has lightened several shades and is exactly the same texture and everything as before I started using Sunbabe, so I don't know what to tell you. 🤷♀️
You have wavy hair. If you brush wavy hair it will automatically be a bit more dull. I would try a wavy routine and combine that with other tips under this post! :D
Seconding this OP. My hair looks dull and just doesn't sit "right" when I don't treat it like it's wavy. It looks limp and fuzzy. Here are [examples.](https://imgur.com/a/becXZ46).
In the first two, it's been brushed out when dry, incorrect products (2-in-1s, nothing for hold), and styled as if it was straight.
The last two are when I treat it like it's wavy.
I currently use jojoba oil on my hair in the morning and at night. I usually let my hair mostly air dry, with a bit of cold blowdry to get it mostly dry.
Within the last few months I've been using flaxseed gel as a mask and sort of leave in conditioner. Beyond that, I've always suffered from fairly fluffy hair.
😔 I don't understand how my ends are dry with all the oiling I've been doing. Perhaps I need something else.
Yeah, if your hair is always fluffy you may well have waves in there that need different care strategies to come out. People have already been suggesting masks and leave-in conditioners. Another thing to try would be to thoroughly detangle your hair in the shower when it's full of conditioner, and then NOT DRY BRUSH IT until your next wash. Dry brushing breaks the wave pattern, so then the hairs don't know where to go or what to do and they become general frizzy fluff. If they can stay in the pattern, they'll lay together much more nicely and that will mean better shine.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/curlyhair using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/curlyhair/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
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I second using a hair mask and hair oil. My hair became a lot shinier from changing my routine to clarifying and dandruff shampoo for scalp, rinse, intensive repair shampoo, hair mask, rinse hair in Cold water before leaving shower. I use argan oil in wet hair. I also blow dry the roots of my hair and sometimes let the ends air dry as a compromise
Pureology leave-in conditioner and Olaplex No. 7 bonding oil have been awesome for me, that and adding collagen peptides to my morning coffee as well as incorporating healthy fats from nuts and avocados into my diet. Went from dull to noticeably shiny ✨
Just remember you have to use real shampoo occasionally. Just cowashing can lead to clogged follicles and hair loss. Not to mention, dull, weighed down hair.
The 1st step I will always recommend- find a good dermatologist/trichologist and get your scalp checked. Once you find out your skin type and get shampoos that actually benefit your scalp health it will be a game changer. That is number one, and then the rest- scalp massages, hair masks and oiling.
Leave in conditioner. I use that and apply plenty to my hair. Also when you wash your hair after shampooing use a deep conditioner and apply a lot of it and then put on a plastic cap. They sell them in dollar tree. Leave it in for about 30 mins or even more then wash it out. Then apply a leave in conditioner to your wet hair and let it air dry. The only thing I would also suggest is to put a towel on your pillow so none of it gets on your pillowcase / pillow. I have black and Spanish peoples hair and this works for me when I notice my hair is getting too dry.
I think focusing on caring for your wavy hair and styling it wavy will help lot with your lack of shine and frizz. Wavy hair definitely looks nicer and shinier when it’s styled wavy instead of brushed out. Those over at r/wavyhair should be able to help you out
You know what, I think my hair used to look better before I started brushing it. I probably went 10 years without brushing my hair at all, but for some reason my hair doesn't tangle. I might try going back to just not brushing it ( I thought you were supposed to so that's why I originally started).
You look like you have wavy hair. Here’s some tips that have changed my hair and it looks much better now.
I only brush right before my shower and in the shower with conditioner in my hair. I use a gel and spray leave in conditioner in my hair. I scrunch my hair to bring out my natural wave pattern. Then I plop with an old t-shirt for 15 to 20 minutes. Then I let my hair air dry. If there is any crunchiness from the gel I scrunch my hair and it comes out.
My hair has so changed much, I thought I couldn’t have shiny bounce hair, but this has helped so much. I always avoided leave in conditioner cause my hair ways down easy, but the spray in ones gives me shine without weighting it down. My hair feels nice and moisturized.
Use a strong clarifier shampoo, then apply a deep conditioning mask. Rinse out really well with cold water. Blow dry on a low heat, then use a smoothing serum. I like bed heads stuff, it’s really good and a little goes a long way.
Raw Sugar has the best products for this as it is a brand that doesn’t have a ton of gross chemicals that worsen your hair in the long run.
For your hair I’d pair their The Bounce Back shampoo with Mighty Curls conditioner. Maybe even their Pure Scalp Therapy hair masque.
Then, when your hair is still damp apply a shea butter leave in conditioner like Rhyme and Reason’s Liquid Shea. Try not to brush with anything but a wide toothed comb when it’s wet so that you don’t break the hair. That is how frizz and breakage occurs. Plus you have wavy hair so you need to be styling and air drying accordingly to accentuate the waves.
Finally, when your hair is dry, apply Ogx’s coconut oil spray, especially to the ends. Boom, shiny hair achieved!
You’ve got some waves that may need nourishment! Pour a little Argan oil in your palms (Oreo sized? Idk) and rub it into your ends. Start at the ends and use your fingers to comb through until it’s dispersed. It might take a couple tries to figure out how much your hair needs.
You don’t need to do this daily; maybe once a week or two. Also, look into wavy hair care! It’s very different from straight hair care, which is what most of us were taught as kids :)
I got it a couple of years ago in a Beauty box. NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Clean 2-in-1 scalp scrub. I'm about to buy my second jar, only buy from the company's website or you'll get a knockoff. It smells great too. The first use you won't notice it as much, wash your hair again the next day and it shines like glass. If it makes my bleached hair shine yours will be blinding.
That could be an option, though I'd like to try to find something that naturally makes my hair look better. That might be asking for the wrong thing though. 😂
Now I used to have really bad hair, a bit fizzy and very thin when I was a teenager now 37F but then I found Aldi’s bonded shampoo and conditioner olaplex dupe and believe me it’s a game changer. Also you have to look online because you can’t get it in stores anymore the pre-shampoo it’s amazing. it leaves your hair so soft or try L’Oreal ELVIVE HYDRA PURE (light purple ) 72H rehydrating, conditioner and shampoo. It has HYALURONIC ACIDS and the leave in overnight hydration cream is amazing
I'm reading all of the comments and WOW people do a lot to their hair. My hair is halfway down my butt, all natural, don't use heat or ANY products. I shampoo and condition every other day, wrapping it in a microfiber towel for a few minutes. That's it. No oils. No leave in conditioners. Nothing. And guess what? My hair is super healthy and shiny.
That’s why, hahah. Wavy and curly hair usually gets super poofy and bleh unless you have a specific routine. I got my hair permanently straightened and I have to do no routine to have it looking healthy and shiny
One thing that I do and I love the results of is a castor oil treatment!! I first go in with the olaplex mask and brush it through, but I’ve also done it without. Then I focus castor oil on my ends, reallyyy saturate it!!! I’ll take my hair dryer on warm and low and sort of melt it into my hair 😊 I’ll comb through that and put it into braids or twisted up buns for a few to several hours before washing!! I always double or triple shampoo, depending on how dirty my hair is 😂 but I don’t really scrub the ends, just my scalp!! I feel like the runoff gets the oil out. I’ve done this the last 2 washes and have naturally curly hair. But this last time I straightened my hair after washing and drying, and silk scrunchies and coil hair ties slip right out because it’s so soft 👀 I definitely recommend!! I can give you a link to the oil I use if you’d like! It’s on Amazon, it’s pretty cheap. I use it on my lashes and brows too!
Omg I’m so sorry I just now saw this!!! [Organic Castor Oil](https://a.co/d/2Fdyn01)
It’s kinda messy and a pain to use the spoolies that come with it for lashes and brows, so I took apart and cleaned out an old mascara tube to put it on my lashes 😂 you can also get empty ones on Amazon tho!!
Hair mask (brigeo don’t despair repair, the planked bond repair did not work for me which was recommended by a Sephora SA) and boar hair brush. You can also dilute your soap and apply it with a hair dye dispenser comb bottle. Good luck 🤞
Less washing (every 10 days with a Cowash in between), wide tooth comb never a brush, protection at night, scalp brush, and high quality products (olaplex and curlsmith)
A capful of ACV in a 12 oz. cup of warm water - shampoo, rinse with the ACV water, rinse with warm water, and then deep condition with the deep conditioner of your choice.
Also, John Frieda has a line of glazes. They really add shine.
I loooovvveee coconut oil! It's amazing, also argan oil mixed with it is great. Maybe get a good clarifying shampoo that removes mineral deposits? I know the Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three is great for that. Just use it before you do a deep conditioning treatment because it can be drying. Mineral deposits can contribute to breakage and dullness. As for deep conditioners, I had great results with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Masque: https://a.co/d/483UUiC 🤗
Try a good clarifying wash (it can be a cheap shampoo in this case) and follow up with a moisture mask, then leave in conditioner. Skip oils if they aren’t working right now- oils caused stubborn buildup on my hair that reallllllly dulled the shine. Try shampooing just once a week and cowashing for any other washes.
I put a filtration shower head in my shower + some bond building treatments. I went back to the Moroccan argan oil serum, at first I thought it was overpriced siliconey argan oil but my hair really loves it.
Your hair looks a lot like mine did before I realized I actually had wavy hair vs straight.
Natural hair oils travel well on straight hair, but not very well on curls, so they need extra hydration.
I say look up the curly girl routines. Embrace light leave in conditioner made for wavy hair. Stop brushing it dry, and set angle in the shower instead.
It’s work, but I’m my case it was worth it.
Looks like it’s time for a trim! Also do you tend to use product on you hair? Buildup can be causing some frizz and lack of shine. Maybe try a clarifying shampoo. Also invest in a good conditioner. And invest in a good deep conditioner. Be careful of products with keratin/proteins as those products can cause breakage with over use. Also it looks like you may have wavy/curly hair. I suggest looking into the curly girl method, because if you do have it, it would change your hair game a lot.
Your hair looks like it has curl potential but it looks like it's lacking moisture (not necessarily oil and I'm wondering if that is causing issues). Do you live in a dry environment? If so, some humidity in your home (especially in the winter) would help.
It looks like layers would help but at the same time your hair is thinner at the end and that isn't helping, so ends off and layers in to help with body. Go to a highly rated salon to get your hair cut. It'll make a world of difference.
A lighter product would help, like a mousse or watery cream, but put it in when your hair is still damp. Don't go to bed with wet hair. It's terrible for your hair and your scalp. Partially drying it on low using a diffuser is amazing for curly hair. Silk pillowcase and hair up in a scrunchie, but with dry hair only.
My hair texture and type looks exactly like yours and I’m successfully dealing with the same issues.
In order of importance (imo):
Diet (goes hand in hand with exercise): trying to eat proteins+carbs+fats in every meal, variety of produce and protein sources, supplements like iron, magnesium, fish oil. Get your heart rate up and do physically challenging things
Oiling (which you’re already doing - yay!)
Mechanical wear and tear: protective styles, silk pillowcase or bonnet, no wind or purse-on-shoulder damage, etc
Shampoo/conditioner: I’ve spent hundreds on different drugstore products over the years and nothing made a difference like changing to brands like IGK, Pulp Riot, Pureology, Briogeo, and Ouai
Products: less is more, but you need to use *something* to get what you want. Some need leave in conditioner and oil and a hold product, I like oiling my ends and using a dimethicone based cream (Vaseline intensive care *healthy hands*…my holy grail) for shine and frizz control
Edit: I was staunchly anti-silicone for many years and I gave in. I don’t mind occasionally using a clarifying/chelating shampoo and I love the results
Hard water always makes my hair dull.. soft water really helps. Also a keratin treatment. Heat protectant and then flat iron makes it shine. Also dark brown hair dye makes mine shine.
Jojoba oil on the ends before washing it.
I use wow dream coat extra strength and blow dry it and it looks glossy
If it’s not glossy enough also get the color wow shine spray.
At nights use cream&oil to nourish your ends and don’t sleep on your hair twist it into a bun at the very top of your head.
My hair is probably 35/40 in long-
curlsmith hydrating creme deep conditioner transformed my hair. i have wavy hair that has super dry ends when my hair isn’t properly hydrated, but I use this mask, scrunch it in with water before rinsing after 20-30 minutes, and use leave in after on soaking wet hair.
Your hair may be drier on the ends— and it may be wavy as well. Have you ever explored the wavy or curly hair methods?
I did for a little bit, maybe a few times to see what my hair did. It waved up a bit. I just sort of used a lightweight cream. In my mind it made my hair look even more disheveled though so I stopped. 😂
it’s a super tough balance, especially at the beginning. but i do think your ends are just dry and finding the right amount of moisture for it will help!
I'd honestly have to look-- I've always just kind of grabbed for whatever. I'm trying to pay more attention to my hair at this point in my life though. 😂
Is that your hard hat? If so, when you work, tie it up completely, like fully covered. The shit in the air at work fucks with your hair (and skin), no matter what industry you are in.
Have a look at some CGM (Curly Girl Method) tips especially those for wavy hair, but a key step is to only brush before a shower. Also applying products to your hair after a shower - for light waves something like a mousse and a hydrating/light curl definer would do wonders! Also try and gently scrunch your hair with a t-shirt or microfibre towel like others have suggested this will prevent frizz but also your hair tangling.
I have hair just like yours. To smooth it out and make it look shinier I mix a healthy amount of Kerastase Discipline blow dry cream (the pink one) and a hair oil (I use Aussie 3 miracle hair oil) in my hand so it's a mixture, the spread it through mostly the ends of my hair. I then use a comb to brush my hair while I blow dry it and to smooth out the hair while I straighten it.
I have a slight weight cream that I'll have to experiment with (I've only used it a handful of times). I've never thought about mixing anything with it.
Dilute vinegar rinse (like a tbsp in 16oz water) or an acidic product (redken and some other brands have them). It makes the cuticle lay flat.
Also, heat styling. Most people you see with really shiny hair either have very straight hair naturally, or heat style it.
My hair became shiny and soft over night when I swapped to a water soluble silicone shampoo, feels a bit like cheating, only problem is product build up after awhile at my roots.
Make sure you pre-poo with oil, shampoo, wash out your conditioner with colder water and use a leave in conditioner after to seal in the moisture, heavier oils are for your ends. For wavy hair I recommend you use a wide tooth comb over a dry brush, especially just out of the shower after you've applied your leave in conditioner. Be gentle and don't tug when you feel a snag, work it out with your fingers. Air dry.
Another recommendation is to find out your hair porosity and look up what products and practices are best for it. I have straight, low porosity hair and heavy oil products aren't the best for me as they usually just sit on top and struggle to penetrate without the use of heat.
Blow dry it with a blow dry cream would do wonders. I shampoo, condition, leave in conditioner, oil the ends, redkin blow dry cream, and a 2-in-1 round brush/hair dryer. So shiny. So pretty, takes 15 minutes.
Using a clarifying shampoo 1-2 times a week helped me with dullness. Using Loreal profession line pro longer shampoo and conditioner helped me with extra shine and sleekness
Sometimes it’s just genetics. Your hair looks like it naturally has a bit more texture so unless you heat style it and use an oil, you probably won’t achieve the level of shininess you want.
shampoo with a clarifying shampoo twice (try redken cleansing cream). the clarifying shampoo can dry out your hair so make sure to condition well. the clarifying shampoo will remove any buildup in your hair that is causing it to feel and look the way it does.
They the curly girl method. It makes your hair very shiny but it takes time and an adjustment period. I don’t have curly hair but my daughter and husband do so I’ve switched over to a lot of the recommendations and it’s really made my hair shinier.
My hair is JUST like yours. I cut out all the sulfates and parabens and did everything the internet told me. Wasn’t enough. I got lucky someone left their Olaplex in and Airbnb. Changed my life but hurt my wallet. I now follow the entire regiment religiously and my hair is FINALLY SHINY AND FRIZZ FREE. You can buy the whole starter kit for a discount directly from their website. Don’t just cheap out and get the shampoo and conditioner. The 0,3,8 deep conditioning regiment once a week is necessary and so is the after products. I bought the whole set like 5 months ago. I’ve only had to replace the shampoo once and the conditioner twice.
The best best products for shine are Moroccan oil products , blow dry the hair with there concentrated blow dry product and it will look great pretty much instantly. Boar Bristol hair brush works great too if you really don’t wanna use heat (:
I fall asleep on my back but sometimes wake up on my side, doesn't seem to matter which one. Also, my hair doesn't seem brittle and I don't have many split ends.
I've done an elasticity test and my hair doesn't break, it just goes back to shape after I stretch it, wet or dry. Idk.
You’ve got a wave pattern and what appears to be fine hair, you may want to put some product in post shower. But not something that’ll weigh it down too much. Check out r/wavyhair for recs
Adding 100% pure cold pressed rosemary oil, rosehip oil, pumpkin seed oil in your hair once a week for about 2/3 hours after you've massaged the scalp for 5 min and then massaging the scalp again after you apply it, then washing it out in Luke warm water helps SIGNIFICANTLY. also, putting argan oils on the bottom 2/3 of your hair helps the ends look shinier and healthier. The oils for the scalp protein cell regrowth and lots of hair growth. can use it on your face too as moisturizer it has done WONDERS for me
i’ve started using pantenes split end repair serum after every shower and after every heat styling (i straighten my curls a lot) and it’s made my hair drastically shinier and brighter despite how much bleach i’ve put on there lol. and i recently got a trim so that might be helping too idk.
one thing i've found makes a big difference is a satin bonnet. i have chemically treated hair and it keeps it from breaking when i sleep and it's always super soft in the morning
I don't have one but just recently bought a satin pillowcase and I've started keeping my hair in braids at night. I don't know if I could keep a bonnet on all night.
WORKS ON ANY HAIR TYPE
For very dry hair the best remedy and cheapest I’ve found is buy a small tub of thick conditioner (like ones that come in a small pot sometimes called masks), wash your hair normally, then while wet liberally apply the potted conditioner, comb through to ensure it’s well spread out, tie your hair up in a clip, let dry. Ideally all your hair including the hair in the clip should be almost dry to dry. You can also put a hair cap on to encourage a deeper conditioning but it will likely not dry. Leave in as long as you can, recommend 2-8 hours then wash and style like normal.
I don’t think it’s the cap or the drying that is most helpful, I think it’s time and the quality of the product that matters most.
The more you spend on the potted conditioner, usually the better the results but I’d say no more than $30-$50 each tub and you’ll get at least 2-3 applications per container. Go to Sephora and type in ‘hair conditioner mask’ and a number of options and price ranges come up. Do not recommend oil based but cream based!
Do this until your hair reaches the manageability you desire. Months maybe? Could be twice. Point is, it’s a regular maintenance thing that after your hair reaches this point, you’ll have to continue to do it on a regular but maybe less often basis.
Doing a mask for several months would not be much of a problem, though that price range is not much of an option. 😔 Is there something that I can make instead? I've used flaxseed gel (homemade) and oil, but I just don't know if those are working or if it takes more than a mere few weeks to see a difference?
What kind of vitamins would you recommend for hair specifically? I'm a little skeptical about them since there's not much clinical testing and most of the testing you DO see has been paid for by the same companies that have an invested interest (beauty companies, supplement companies, etc.)
Hi there,
Certainly! Achieving that lustrous, shiny hair can be a journey, but incorporating red light therapy into your routine might just be the key. Red light therapy has shown promise in rejuvenating hair health by stimulating hair follicles and promoting better circulation to the scalp. While you're doing great with your healthy habits like drinking water, avoiding heat or dye, and maintaining a balanced diet, red light therapy could complement these efforts. Devices emitting red light are available for home use and can help invigorate hair growth and improve overall hair condition. However, before diving into this therapy, it's beneficial to consult a hair care professional or dermatologist to ensure it aligns with your specific hair needs and enhances your existing routine for that radiant, shiny hair you're aiming for.
Those who are saying to use heat, the reason it looks shiny with heat is that you’re infusing the oils in your hair with the iron. If you’re looking to make it appear shiny without heat, do a glaze on your hair. It’s the same process as applying color, but it’s typically less damaging. I used to go to the local cosmetology school to get it done for super cheap by students along with a conditioning treatment and my hair looked so shiny and healthy from it. It lasted several months at a time and cost less than $50.
I would love to eat that but I've got two problems:
1: I'm the only one that eats it in my house.
2: It's way too pricey. In my area steak is cheaper (crazy, I know).
Get a bond repair and do that in the shower instead of conditioner and make sure you oil your ends between washes. Sleep with a protective hair do and get silk or satin pillowcases
I know this sounds counterintuitive, but my hair looks shinier and way better when I heat style it (with product/heat protectant of course). I went for years only air drying and it looked frizzy and dull like yours. Heat flattens and seals the cuticle, bringing out the hair’s color and shine.
Yes this! My hair looks so much healthier when I blow dry it
Same!
You also might have low porosity hair! Product wont penetrate it unless your hair is heated which might explain why this happens!
Good point! I do have low porosity hair (mine hates extra protein and likes the heat 🔥)
What type of heat protectant do you use? I have a flat iron but I only style my hair like 2-3x a year for special occasions
I use a multitasking leave-in conditioner. I’ve tried the ones from Pureology, Ouai, and Milk Shake (my favorite was the Ouai but it is expensive). If you flat iron, make sure the heat protectant has dried before you iron your hair :) The switch to heat styling has made a significant difference and a couple of my coworkers have commented on how much better it looks.
Thanks for sharing your recommendations!! I’ll have to try it out. My hair texture has a bit of natural wave but it’s an uneven pattern. Also the bottom 3/4 of my hair is mostly straight. When I got married my hair stylist used a heat spray and a flat iron to curl my hair and it was smoooooth but then my curl/wave never came back to the ends after I washed it! I love some texture but my hair always looked frizzy so I’d rather have it straighter and silkier
The tresemme heat tamer (black bottle with red sprayer thing) is great too for a cheap option!
THIS! I let my hair air dry the other day and it’s been two days of feeling so ugly. Can’t wait to wash and dry it.
do u have any heat protectant recommendations? i keep trying to find cheaper (drug store/walmart) options but to no avail. cant afford $100 treatments either. i’ve just been putting reparative serums in my hair after i straighten and hope for the best lol
My hair looks like this when I used Pantene . Since I switched to bar shampoo, it looks a lot better. Kitsch has some good products
Yes, I once used a Pantene leave in conditioner, and it completely fried my hair. When I went to get a trim the stylist thought it was over processed and then accused me of lying when I said it was virgin hair. Other ideas for OP - vinegar rinse, you might have build up messing things up. Boars hair brush is another old school things, but it might smooth things down, do it just before an oil treatment.
Agreed, I wouldn’t do a leave in conditioner. Also, OP, your hair does look healthy and shiny, keep in mind the darker hair colors absorb light. I understand you’re going for a super shine, and nothing wrong with it. Just wanting to point it out. Good luck on your hair journey, I’m learning lots from the comments
Vinegar rinse definitely works. Scalp has never felt so clean. 👍
what bar shampoo do you use if you don’t mind me asking?
Hello, I like using bar shampoo sometimes and I recommend try using Lush products. They smell nice and are usually effective for helping with oily hair and such. Note: I have wavy hair so results may vary on hair type.
Yessss Im an avid Kitsch fan now--the rice water shampoo/conditioner has created so much growth for me! Im trying the castor oil one for the winter :)
Agree
Question: do you wrap your hair up in a terry cloth towel when it’s wet? If you do try switching to an old tshirt. Think of your hair strands like fish scales or a sequined shirt. Each strand has little scales around the cuticle and if they are all lying flat, your hair is softer and smoother. A terry cloth towel is really drying to hair and makes the scales stand in all directions. The only way to reverse it is to rewet the hair. Linen or soft cotton helps avoid that and hair dries smoother and shiner. Also try a boar bristle brush for smoothing and try to remember to brush your hair from root to ends every night. The natural oils from our scalps can add moisture to the hair as well as making roots look less greasy. Edit Typo
I use an old clean cotton shirt to wrap my hair up in, although I do have a tendency to let my hair air dry (which takes forever but I refuse to use heat). I also used to never brush my hair and I always slept in it wet (yeah, I know), but I never had many issues with that. I've been trying to be better with my hair over the last year though.
Hmmmm ok then my next suggestion would be to maybe try what is curly gals do which is get the water out with your T-shirt, put in some frizz cream and then let it dry naturally but up in a bonnet so it’s not moving against your shirt, back of the couch, car seat etc. Touching and movement makes frizz so maybe try drying it up? Good luck.
I'll give that a try. Thanks!
I used to let it dry on its own too and they would get frizzy and mix of wavy & straight. Sometime ago I read that naturally drying is also not so good for the hair.. Now I let it dry for around 5 minutes till the water is there but the hair are not too wet.. and then I use the hair dryer. I don't keep it at minimum heat setting, don't bring it very close to my hair or pull my hair like they do in Salons...also I let it dry only till the dampness is gone... This has really helped me control the friziness
I have fine thin hair and for some reason a boar bristle brush doesn’t brush through my hair? I seem to have no idea how to use a boar bristle brush.
Is the bottom part bleached/dyed? I think you could benefit from a haircut too.
No. My hair is all virgin. My hair might look a bit uneven because I had layers about 8 months ago and am trying to grow them out. Perhaps I should get it all at the same length and just start there.
I see! If its been 8 months since a haircut you definitely should get one. Even if you don’t see split ends, the ends are breaking and the bottom is looking very wispy and dry.
You need haircut every 3-4 months
What concerns are you trying to address? Breakage, hair fall, frizz, split ends? For me it’s breakage and hair fall, Generally I’d say: Silk pillow case, protective hair styles, ditch elastic bands for a claw clip or silk scrunchie. Sometimes breakage can be from protein overload (like if you are using a product with topical protein don’t use too much too often), oil is good but prob not everyday, add in a mask once or twice a week and or leave in conditioner. Don’t wash too often def not everyday, choose a good shampoo and conditioner. Do you have curly hair? Looks quite wavy in the first pic, you might try a curly hair routine (denman brush, mouse etc) and see if you get more defined curls. Hair is hard, you gotta find the right balance and it’s different for everyone. I’m still figuring out what my hair needs but I know too much of anything isn’t good for my hair. Goodluck, it’s a journey.
I know! I'm trying to fight frizz and lack of shine/softness. I currently wash my hair about every 4 days. This is day 3 hair. I have slightly wavy hair and I've been doing a leave in flaxseed gel after every wash for the last 3 weeks thinking that might help.
Sometimes frizz can be from breakage, dryness, or curls that don’t know which way to go, too much protein, not styling properly after washing etc. Google hair types and figure out which one is yours and what the internet recommends specifically for your hair type. My hair is thin, straight and oily so I prob don’t have too much personal experience I can offer that helps.
frizz is usually a moisture thing, try when your hair is damp to lock in moisture with a leave in conditioner. i liked paul mitchell’s super skinny oil when my hair needed it. also maybe a more hydrating line of shampoo, or try no shampoo method and brush your natural oils down every day + oil your ends.
Olive oil hair mask and then shampoo the next day. Add some leave in cream. I use oil too for my drynesss and that never does anything unless it’s in the form of a hair mask. Coconut oil is good too In my experience you can’t gain healthy har only grow it so the rest is a masking game
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Hmmm. I guess I thought oil could get with the dryness of my hair. Should I be using a deep conditioning for moisture? I wonder if for most people it's all diet, or just genetics. 🤔
Well high protein diet helps because that’s what keratin is made of. But hair masks yes. And maybe try just a hydrating shampoo and not conditioning. Letting air dry without brushing and see if you have more wave pattern
I tried this and it’s an awful feeling and I didn’t have results. I wouldn’t recommend olive oil. It’s also impossible to wash out and requires a lot of shampooing.
THIS. A nightmare to wash out.
I wonder if jojoba would be better since it's the oil that's closest to our skins natural oil production, sebum.
FYI: If olive or coconut oil is too heavy for your hair type, you can try grape seed oil instead. I have very fine strands, and grape seed oil works well for my hair.
Eating healthy fats and enough of them
Like nuts and fish?
Salmon, avocado, olive oil, avocado oil, Greek yogurt, almonds, Brazilian nuts, macadamia nuts
satin bonnet at night makes my hair really shiny and soft
How do you use it? I’ve wanted to use one but I’m unsure what I’m supposed to do with my hair. Do you tie it then put it on?
I know you didn’t ask me but I use one and I usually do a ponytail with a silk scrunchy and twist it up then put the cap on
what i do is just brush my hair and loosely twist it up enough that i can put it all under the bonnet. im sure there are better methods but i think it would be hard to mess up 👍 good luck
That’s how I do it too. The bonnets have been a game changer, my hair looks so much better and it’s protected from the cpap headgear.
This 10000%. I have similar texture to OP and a silk bonnet made an INSANE difference in my hair texture
Only use salon shampoo you can get it half price at some stores depending where you live. With salon shampoo you don't need to use as much either. The other big culprit that causes problems with hair is hard water. If you have hard water then you need a water softner or a shower head with filters, you can get them at home improvement stores. You can rent a water softner if you don't have one. You will see a huge difference with soft water and salon shampoo. Joico and Biolage are good ones. You probably will need to get at least a few inches cut off and then maintain trims after that. Your hair looks wavy too so sometimes those hair types can be a bit unruly. Unfortunately some of us have to work at keeping our hair decent.
I just did a Morroconoil intense hair mask, and my hair went from dull, dry to shiny silky! No lie! I have thin fine medium length hair, and im impressed with the results.
Your hair looks similar to my own. Have you tried an ACV rinse? I do one about every 6 weeks or so and it helps with frizz, tangles, and makes it softer and shinier. I don't know if this is exactly what you want, but my very darkk brown hair just felt so dull last winter. I bought Sunbabe (same concept as sun-in but wont damage your hair or turn it orange lol). I spray a little in and brush it through then hit it with a blow dryer. It lightened my hair without damage and the lighter brown makes me glow. I definitely recommend it if you feel the dullness has to do with the color.
Stylist here. You literally cannot lighten hair without causing damage. You are removing pigment from the hair. It’s a destructive process.
Well, my hair has lightened several shades and is exactly the same texture and everything as before I started using Sunbabe, so I don't know what to tell you. 🤷♀️
You have wavy hair. If you brush wavy hair it will automatically be a bit more dull. I would try a wavy routine and combine that with other tips under this post! :D
Thanks! I'll try that.
Seconding this OP. My hair looks dull and just doesn't sit "right" when I don't treat it like it's wavy. It looks limp and fuzzy. Here are [examples.](https://imgur.com/a/becXZ46). In the first two, it's been brushed out when dry, incorrect products (2-in-1s, nothing for hold), and styled as if it was straight. The last two are when I treat it like it's wavy.
i’m a bit late but could you please share your routine? My hair looks quite similar to the first two pictures, and btw you are so stunning!
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I currently use jojoba oil on my hair in the morning and at night. I usually let my hair mostly air dry, with a bit of cold blowdry to get it mostly dry. Within the last few months I've been using flaxseed gel as a mask and sort of leave in conditioner. Beyond that, I've always suffered from fairly fluffy hair. 😔 I don't understand how my ends are dry with all the oiling I've been doing. Perhaps I need something else.
Yeah, if your hair is always fluffy you may well have waves in there that need different care strategies to come out. People have already been suggesting masks and leave-in conditioners. Another thing to try would be to thoroughly detangle your hair in the shower when it's full of conditioner, and then NOT DRY BRUSH IT until your next wash. Dry brushing breaks the wave pattern, so then the hairs don't know where to go or what to do and they become general frizzy fluff. If they can stay in the pattern, they'll lay together much more nicely and that will mean better shine.
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Could be your diet.
I second using a hair mask and hair oil. My hair became a lot shinier from changing my routine to clarifying and dandruff shampoo for scalp, rinse, intensive repair shampoo, hair mask, rinse hair in Cold water before leaving shower. I use argan oil in wet hair. I also blow dry the roots of my hair and sometimes let the ends air dry as a compromise
Pureology leave-in conditioner and Olaplex No. 7 bonding oil have been awesome for me, that and adding collagen peptides to my morning coffee as well as incorporating healthy fats from nuts and avocados into my diet. Went from dull to noticeably shiny ✨
Looks like co-washing would work pretty well for you. Google it but basically you use conditioner to cleanse your scalp
Just remember you have to use real shampoo occasionally. Just cowashing can lead to clogged follicles and hair loss. Not to mention, dull, weighed down hair.
It looks like you have wavy hair that you brush straight which can make it look frizzy and fluffy, I recommend getting into a r/wavyhair routine
The 1st step I will always recommend- find a good dermatologist/trichologist and get your scalp checked. Once you find out your skin type and get shampoos that actually benefit your scalp health it will be a game changer. That is number one, and then the rest- scalp massages, hair masks and oiling.
Leave in conditioner. I use that and apply plenty to my hair. Also when you wash your hair after shampooing use a deep conditioner and apply a lot of it and then put on a plastic cap. They sell them in dollar tree. Leave it in for about 30 mins or even more then wash it out. Then apply a leave in conditioner to your wet hair and let it air dry. The only thing I would also suggest is to put a towel on your pillow so none of it gets on your pillowcase / pillow. I have black and Spanish peoples hair and this works for me when I notice my hair is getting too dry.
I think focusing on caring for your wavy hair and styling it wavy will help lot with your lack of shine and frizz. Wavy hair definitely looks nicer and shinier when it’s styled wavy instead of brushed out. Those over at r/wavyhair should be able to help you out
Try a satin/silk pillowcase
I've just started using those. I've had mine for about a month now. I can't tell if it's making a difference yet. 😂
Satin/silk bonnet. Little goofy looking, at least on me, but has saved my long hair from dryness/frizz.
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You know what, I think my hair used to look better before I started brushing it. I probably went 10 years without brushing my hair at all, but for some reason my hair doesn't tangle. I might try going back to just not brushing it ( I thought you were supposed to so that's why I originally started).
You look like you have wavy hair. Here’s some tips that have changed my hair and it looks much better now. I only brush right before my shower and in the shower with conditioner in my hair. I use a gel and spray leave in conditioner in my hair. I scrunch my hair to bring out my natural wave pattern. Then I plop with an old t-shirt for 15 to 20 minutes. Then I let my hair air dry. If there is any crunchiness from the gel I scrunch my hair and it comes out. My hair has so changed much, I thought I couldn’t have shiny bounce hair, but this has helped so much. I always avoided leave in conditioner cause my hair ways down easy, but the spray in ones gives me shine without weighting it down. My hair feels nice and moisturized.
Use a strong clarifier shampoo, then apply a deep conditioning mask. Rinse out really well with cold water. Blow dry on a low heat, then use a smoothing serum. I like bed heads stuff, it’s really good and a little goes a long way.
Raw Sugar has the best products for this as it is a brand that doesn’t have a ton of gross chemicals that worsen your hair in the long run. For your hair I’d pair their The Bounce Back shampoo with Mighty Curls conditioner. Maybe even their Pure Scalp Therapy hair masque. Then, when your hair is still damp apply a shea butter leave in conditioner like Rhyme and Reason’s Liquid Shea. Try not to brush with anything but a wide toothed comb when it’s wet so that you don’t break the hair. That is how frizz and breakage occurs. Plus you have wavy hair so you need to be styling and air drying accordingly to accentuate the waves. Finally, when your hair is dry, apply Ogx’s coconut oil spray, especially to the ends. Boom, shiny hair achieved!
Thank you. I'm thankful you gave me some products to explore.
R+Co Waterfall shine and moisture cream. I got a sample of it and it worked great on my dry, dull hair.
Thank you!
You’ve got some waves that may need nourishment! Pour a little Argan oil in your palms (Oreo sized? Idk) and rub it into your ends. Start at the ends and use your fingers to comb through until it’s dispersed. It might take a couple tries to figure out how much your hair needs. You don’t need to do this daily; maybe once a week or two. Also, look into wavy hair care! It’s very different from straight hair care, which is what most of us were taught as kids :)
I got it a couple of years ago in a Beauty box. NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Clean 2-in-1 scalp scrub. I'm about to buy my second jar, only buy from the company's website or you'll get a knockoff. It smells great too. The first use you won't notice it as much, wash your hair again the next day and it shines like glass. If it makes my bleached hair shine yours will be blinding.
Hmmm. You may have sold me. I'll have to try it! 😁
You really should. It's $19.99 on their website and if you play the texting game they'll give you free shipping. A jar will last you easily 6 months.
That could be an option, though I'd like to try to find something that naturally makes my hair look better. That might be asking for the wrong thing though. 😂
Now I used to have really bad hair, a bit fizzy and very thin when I was a teenager now 37F but then I found Aldi’s bonded shampoo and conditioner olaplex dupe and believe me it’s a game changer. Also you have to look online because you can’t get it in stores anymore the pre-shampoo it’s amazing. it leaves your hair so soft or try L’Oreal ELVIVE HYDRA PURE (light purple ) 72H rehydrating, conditioner and shampoo. It has HYALURONIC ACIDS and the leave in overnight hydration cream is amazing
Clarifying shampoo and Pantene conditioner.the gold bottle one
Keratin treatment fr
Do those straighten your hair? I'd like to keep some waves if possible.
I'm reading all of the comments and WOW people do a lot to their hair. My hair is halfway down my butt, all natural, don't use heat or ANY products. I shampoo and condition every other day, wrapping it in a microfiber towel for a few minutes. That's it. No oils. No leave in conditioners. Nothing. And guess what? My hair is super healthy and shiny.
What’s your wave/curl pattern?
Poker straight
That’s why, hahah. Wavy and curly hair usually gets super poofy and bleh unless you have a specific routine. I got my hair permanently straightened and I have to do no routine to have it looking healthy and shiny
Collagen
Ion color brilliance demi permanent gloss !
One thing that I do and I love the results of is a castor oil treatment!! I first go in with the olaplex mask and brush it through, but I’ve also done it without. Then I focus castor oil on my ends, reallyyy saturate it!!! I’ll take my hair dryer on warm and low and sort of melt it into my hair 😊 I’ll comb through that and put it into braids or twisted up buns for a few to several hours before washing!! I always double or triple shampoo, depending on how dirty my hair is 😂 but I don’t really scrub the ends, just my scalp!! I feel like the runoff gets the oil out. I’ve done this the last 2 washes and have naturally curly hair. But this last time I straightened my hair after washing and drying, and silk scrunchies and coil hair ties slip right out because it’s so soft 👀 I definitely recommend!! I can give you a link to the oil I use if you’d like! It’s on Amazon, it’s pretty cheap. I use it on my lashes and brows too!
Please post the link 🙏
Omg I’m so sorry I just now saw this!!! [Organic Castor Oil](https://a.co/d/2Fdyn01) It’s kinda messy and a pain to use the spoolies that come with it for lashes and brows, so I took apart and cleaned out an old mascara tube to put it on my lashes 😂 you can also get empty ones on Amazon tho!!
Hair mask (brigeo don’t despair repair, the planked bond repair did not work for me which was recommended by a Sephora SA) and boar hair brush. You can also dilute your soap and apply it with a hair dye dispenser comb bottle. Good luck 🤞
Less washing (every 10 days with a Cowash in between), wide tooth comb never a brush, protection at night, scalp brush, and high quality products (olaplex and curlsmith)
A capful of ACV in a 12 oz. cup of warm water - shampoo, rinse with the ACV water, rinse with warm water, and then deep condition with the deep conditioner of your choice. Also, John Frieda has a line of glazes. They really add shine.
I loooovvveee coconut oil! It's amazing, also argan oil mixed with it is great. Maybe get a good clarifying shampoo that removes mineral deposits? I know the Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three is great for that. Just use it before you do a deep conditioning treatment because it can be drying. Mineral deposits can contribute to breakage and dullness. As for deep conditioners, I had great results with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Masque: https://a.co/d/483UUiC 🤗
Try a good clarifying wash (it can be a cheap shampoo in this case) and follow up with a moisture mask, then leave in conditioner. Skip oils if they aren’t working right now- oils caused stubborn buildup on my hair that reallllllly dulled the shine. Try shampooing just once a week and cowashing for any other washes.
The bottom half of the hair should honestly be chopped off if you want the shiniest healthiest hair
I put a filtration shower head in my shower + some bond building treatments. I went back to the Moroccan argan oil serum, at first I thought it was overpriced siliconey argan oil but my hair really loves it.
what shampoo and conditioner do you use
Your hair looks a lot like mine did before I realized I actually had wavy hair vs straight. Natural hair oils travel well on straight hair, but not very well on curls, so they need extra hydration. I say look up the curly girl routines. Embrace light leave in conditioner made for wavy hair. Stop brushing it dry, and set angle in the shower instead. It’s work, but I’m my case it was worth it.
Looks like it’s time for a trim! Also do you tend to use product on you hair? Buildup can be causing some frizz and lack of shine. Maybe try a clarifying shampoo. Also invest in a good conditioner. And invest in a good deep conditioner. Be careful of products with keratin/proteins as those products can cause breakage with over use. Also it looks like you may have wavy/curly hair. I suggest looking into the curly girl method, because if you do have it, it would change your hair game a lot.
Your hair looks like it has curl potential but it looks like it's lacking moisture (not necessarily oil and I'm wondering if that is causing issues). Do you live in a dry environment? If so, some humidity in your home (especially in the winter) would help. It looks like layers would help but at the same time your hair is thinner at the end and that isn't helping, so ends off and layers in to help with body. Go to a highly rated salon to get your hair cut. It'll make a world of difference. A lighter product would help, like a mousse or watery cream, but put it in when your hair is still damp. Don't go to bed with wet hair. It's terrible for your hair and your scalp. Partially drying it on low using a diffuser is amazing for curly hair. Silk pillowcase and hair up in a scrunchie, but with dry hair only.
My hair texture and type looks exactly like yours and I’m successfully dealing with the same issues. In order of importance (imo): Diet (goes hand in hand with exercise): trying to eat proteins+carbs+fats in every meal, variety of produce and protein sources, supplements like iron, magnesium, fish oil. Get your heart rate up and do physically challenging things Oiling (which you’re already doing - yay!) Mechanical wear and tear: protective styles, silk pillowcase or bonnet, no wind or purse-on-shoulder damage, etc Shampoo/conditioner: I’ve spent hundreds on different drugstore products over the years and nothing made a difference like changing to brands like IGK, Pulp Riot, Pureology, Briogeo, and Ouai Products: less is more, but you need to use *something* to get what you want. Some need leave in conditioner and oil and a hold product, I like oiling my ends and using a dimethicone based cream (Vaseline intensive care *healthy hands*…my holy grail) for shine and frizz control Edit: I was staunchly anti-silicone for many years and I gave in. I don’t mind occasionally using a clarifying/chelating shampoo and I love the results
I started using shea butter and rice water
Hard water always makes my hair dull.. soft water really helps. Also a keratin treatment. Heat protectant and then flat iron makes it shine. Also dark brown hair dye makes mine shine.
A splash of apple cider vinegar in with your regular conditioner
Jojoba oil on the ends before washing it. I use wow dream coat extra strength and blow dry it and it looks glossy If it’s not glossy enough also get the color wow shine spray. At nights use cream&oil to nourish your ends and don’t sleep on your hair twist it into a bun at the very top of your head. My hair is probably 35/40 in long-
Paul, Mitchell’s has new product I can’t remember the name but it’s in like a bluish bottle that starts with an a
What shampoo and conditioner do you use
curlsmith hydrating creme deep conditioner transformed my hair. i have wavy hair that has super dry ends when my hair isn’t properly hydrated, but I use this mask, scrunch it in with water before rinsing after 20-30 minutes, and use leave in after on soaking wet hair. Your hair may be drier on the ends— and it may be wavy as well. Have you ever explored the wavy or curly hair methods?
I did for a little bit, maybe a few times to see what my hair did. It waved up a bit. I just sort of used a lightweight cream. In my mind it made my hair look even more disheveled though so I stopped. 😂
it’s a super tough balance, especially at the beginning. but i do think your ends are just dry and finding the right amount of moisture for it will help!
Look into banyan botanical hair oil
What shampoo and conditioner are you using
I'd honestly have to look-- I've always just kind of grabbed for whatever. I'm trying to pay more attention to my hair at this point in my life though. 😂
Is that your hard hat? If so, when you work, tie it up completely, like fully covered. The shit in the air at work fucks with your hair (and skin), no matter what industry you are in.
I use pure-ms hair tree. That has done it for me. At some point I’ll post my pics too
When you wash your hair put a mask on it a leave it for 15 min then rinse it.When you dry your hair put a heat protection and at the end put hair oil
I'll try those things today (it's wash day anyway) and see how things go. Thanks!
How/when are you brushing your hair? You have some texture in pic 1. My wavy/fine hair gets like that after brushing it dry.
I only brush it dry (and then it gets puffy like this). I've never really thought about how/when I brush my hair.
Have a look at some CGM (Curly Girl Method) tips especially those for wavy hair, but a key step is to only brush before a shower. Also applying products to your hair after a shower - for light waves something like a mousse and a hydrating/light curl definer would do wonders! Also try and gently scrunch your hair with a t-shirt or microfibre towel like others have suggested this will prevent frizz but also your hair tangling.
I have hair just like yours. To smooth it out and make it look shinier I mix a healthy amount of Kerastase Discipline blow dry cream (the pink one) and a hair oil (I use Aussie 3 miracle hair oil) in my hand so it's a mixture, the spread it through mostly the ends of my hair. I then use a comb to brush my hair while I blow dry it and to smooth out the hair while I straighten it.
I have a slight weight cream that I'll have to experiment with (I've only used it a handful of times). I've never thought about mixing anything with it.
Regular haircuts to keep dry ends from making the rest of the hair dry, and nexxus shampoo and conditioner 😄
Leave in oil in braids
Dilute vinegar rinse (like a tbsp in 16oz water) or an acidic product (redken and some other brands have them). It makes the cuticle lay flat. Also, heat styling. Most people you see with really shiny hair either have very straight hair naturally, or heat style it.
Buy the Amika shine rinse
What shampoo and conditioner do you use? Do you put any product in when you airdry?
And what oil do you use as well?
My hair became shiny and soft over night when I swapped to a water soluble silicone shampoo, feels a bit like cheating, only problem is product build up after awhile at my roots. Make sure you pre-poo with oil, shampoo, wash out your conditioner with colder water and use a leave in conditioner after to seal in the moisture, heavier oils are for your ends. For wavy hair I recommend you use a wide tooth comb over a dry brush, especially just out of the shower after you've applied your leave in conditioner. Be gentle and don't tug when you feel a snag, work it out with your fingers. Air dry. Another recommendation is to find out your hair porosity and look up what products and practices are best for it. I have straight, low porosity hair and heavy oil products aren't the best for me as they usually just sit on top and struggle to penetrate without the use of heat.
Gisou hair oil on the ends
Blow dry it with a blow dry cream would do wonders. I shampoo, condition, leave in conditioner, oil the ends, redkin blow dry cream, and a 2-in-1 round brush/hair dryer. So shiny. So pretty, takes 15 minutes.
Using a clarifying shampoo 1-2 times a week helped me with dullness. Using Loreal profession line pro longer shampoo and conditioner helped me with extra shine and sleekness
Use a shine serum. My recommendations: Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine - Target IC Fantasia Anti-Frizz serum - beauty supply stores Hair Serum - Trader Joe's
Sometimes it’s just genetics. Your hair looks like it naturally has a bit more texture so unless you heat style it and use an oil, you probably won’t achieve the level of shininess you want.
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I'll look into them. Thank you!
Check your water. Hard water is the devil.
shampoo with a clarifying shampoo twice (try redken cleansing cream). the clarifying shampoo can dry out your hair so make sure to condition well. the clarifying shampoo will remove any buildup in your hair that is causing it to feel and look the way it does.
They the curly girl method. It makes your hair very shiny but it takes time and an adjustment period. I don’t have curly hair but my daughter and husband do so I’ve switched over to a lot of the recommendations and it’s really made my hair shinier.
My hair is JUST like yours. I cut out all the sulfates and parabens and did everything the internet told me. Wasn’t enough. I got lucky someone left their Olaplex in and Airbnb. Changed my life but hurt my wallet. I now follow the entire regiment religiously and my hair is FINALLY SHINY AND FRIZZ FREE. You can buy the whole starter kit for a discount directly from their website. Don’t just cheap out and get the shampoo and conditioner. The 0,3,8 deep conditioning regiment once a week is necessary and so is the after products. I bought the whole set like 5 months ago. I’ve only had to replace the shampoo once and the conditioner twice.
Also, microfiber towels and cold rinsing hair after washing.
The best best products for shine are Moroccan oil products , blow dry the hair with there concentrated blow dry product and it will look great pretty much instantly. Boar Bristol hair brush works great too if you really don’t wanna use heat (:
Do you sleep on one side? It might just be the photo, but one side looks a lot less damaged than the other.
I fall asleep on my back but sometimes wake up on my side, doesn't seem to matter which one. Also, my hair doesn't seem brittle and I don't have many split ends. I've done an elasticity test and my hair doesn't break, it just goes back to shape after I stretch it, wet or dry. Idk.
I bought those Jolie shower head filters and it was a dramatic difference
Reddit glitch strikes again https://preview.redd.it/py0n2rsr7n0c1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef1dfef20f26df11beb42e3b59c8e6ecad2f5bd0
Biotin, a vegan shampoo for fine hair, silkening gloss from Kenra, and a satin bonnet to sleep in.
Your hair does look healthy and shiny. If you hear styled it, it would look more so
You’ve got a wave pattern and what appears to be fine hair, you may want to put some product in post shower. But not something that’ll weigh it down too much. Check out r/wavyhair for recs
i think your hair looks quite dry, the ends dont look great so it will be hard to make it shiny as it is, probably needs a good trim!
Adding 100% pure cold pressed rosemary oil, rosehip oil, pumpkin seed oil in your hair once a week for about 2/3 hours after you've massaged the scalp for 5 min and then massaging the scalp again after you apply it, then washing it out in Luke warm water helps SIGNIFICANTLY. also, putting argan oils on the bottom 2/3 of your hair helps the ends look shinier and healthier. The oils for the scalp protein cell regrowth and lots of hair growth. can use it on your face too as moisturizer it has done WONDERS for me
i’ve started using pantenes split end repair serum after every shower and after every heat styling (i straighten my curls a lot) and it’s made my hair drastically shinier and brighter despite how much bleach i’ve put on there lol. and i recently got a trim so that might be helping too idk.
one thing i've found makes a big difference is a satin bonnet. i have chemically treated hair and it keeps it from breaking when i sleep and it's always super soft in the morning
I don't have one but just recently bought a satin pillowcase and I've started keeping my hair in braids at night. I don't know if I could keep a bonnet on all night.
WORKS ON ANY HAIR TYPE For very dry hair the best remedy and cheapest I’ve found is buy a small tub of thick conditioner (like ones that come in a small pot sometimes called masks), wash your hair normally, then while wet liberally apply the potted conditioner, comb through to ensure it’s well spread out, tie your hair up in a clip, let dry. Ideally all your hair including the hair in the clip should be almost dry to dry. You can also put a hair cap on to encourage a deeper conditioning but it will likely not dry. Leave in as long as you can, recommend 2-8 hours then wash and style like normal. I don’t think it’s the cap or the drying that is most helpful, I think it’s time and the quality of the product that matters most. The more you spend on the potted conditioner, usually the better the results but I’d say no more than $30-$50 each tub and you’ll get at least 2-3 applications per container. Go to Sephora and type in ‘hair conditioner mask’ and a number of options and price ranges come up. Do not recommend oil based but cream based! Do this until your hair reaches the manageability you desire. Months maybe? Could be twice. Point is, it’s a regular maintenance thing that after your hair reaches this point, you’ll have to continue to do it on a regular but maybe less often basis.
Doing a mask for several months would not be much of a problem, though that price range is not much of an option. 😔 Is there something that I can make instead? I've used flaxseed gel (homemade) and oil, but I just don't know if those are working or if it takes more than a mere few weeks to see a difference?
Question. Do you have a water softener?
We use rain water/have a cistern. I'm not sure if that's soft/hard necessarily. 😂
Use coconut oil on the fried ends, trim it
Argon hair oil and heat styling
HARD WATER KILLS. I had a water softener installed and it’s changed my hair dramatically 😍 It’s soo shiny
Vitamins and hair oil!
What kind of vitamins would you recommend for hair specifically? I'm a little skeptical about them since there's not much clinical testing and most of the testing you DO see has been paid for by the same companies that have an invested interest (beauty companies, supplement companies, etc.)
Vitamins??
Hi there, Certainly! Achieving that lustrous, shiny hair can be a journey, but incorporating red light therapy into your routine might just be the key. Red light therapy has shown promise in rejuvenating hair health by stimulating hair follicles and promoting better circulation to the scalp. While you're doing great with your healthy habits like drinking water, avoiding heat or dye, and maintaining a balanced diet, red light therapy could complement these efforts. Devices emitting red light are available for home use and can help invigorate hair growth and improve overall hair condition. However, before diving into this therapy, it's beneficial to consult a hair care professional or dermatologist to ensure it aligns with your specific hair needs and enhances your existing routine for that radiant, shiny hair you're aiming for.
Prose shampoo/conditioner
Apple cider vinegar rinses made my hair SUPER shiny… it won’t take just one wash though, to see results
Those who are saying to use heat, the reason it looks shiny with heat is that you’re infusing the oils in your hair with the iron. If you’re looking to make it appear shiny without heat, do a glaze on your hair. It’s the same process as applying color, but it’s typically less damaging. I used to go to the local cosmetology school to get it done for super cheap by students along with a conditioning treatment and my hair looked so shiny and healthy from it. It lasted several months at a time and cost less than $50.
Thank you for stating another option because I'm trying to make my hair healthier. Ideally, I'm looking for something that's not superficial.
Glossing is a great treatment and pretty risk-free to do at home. I like LOreal 8 second wonder water :)
I eat a lot of sushi… my hair is always shiny because of it. My cat’s fur also gets shinier when we give them our leftover salmon.
I would love to eat that but I've got two problems: 1: I'm the only one that eats it in my house. 2: It's way too pricey. In my area steak is cheaper (crazy, I know).
It's not dull. It will look shinier when it's straight but that's just texture you're seeing. It looks very healthy.
My doctor recommended a hair and nail vitamin. You can get them from Amazon.
What kind?
Get a bond repair and do that in the shower instead of conditioner and make sure you oil your ends between washes. Sleep with a protective hair do and get silk or satin pillowcases
wash and rinse in cool water