Shiny hair represents health and vitality and even exudes a bit of glamour. But, if you struggle with oily skin and hair, amping up your shine most likely sounds terrifying. What we learned from Monique Murphy, owner of Electric Beauty Lab, is that shiny and greasy are different, and that glossy hair isn’t only achieved after a fabulous salon style. In her 12 years of experience, Murphy has seen a lot of hair. We’ve gathered advice from Monique and other top stylists to create our list of the best methods and products on the market to get your hair from dull and drab to sleek and shiny.
How to get shiny hair – our tips
1. Don't wash your hair every day.
While it may seem counterintuitive to the “But Not Greasy” part of our title, you should really take a day off (or two!) from your wash-rinse-repeat cycle. Hairdressers say this often, but Murphy helps break it down for us. She describes the negative cycle: “Your hair root has sebaceous glands that lubricate the skin and hair. When you wash your hair, you’re stripping away the oils, which tells your glands to produce more.”
She goes on, “When you leave your hair dirty for a day or so, your scalp doesn’t need to produce as much oil to keep itself healthy.” Keep in mind that it might take a few weeks for your scalp to get the hint, so grab a quality dry shampoo and keep your eyes on the prize.
We recommend: Living Proof Perfect hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo.
This dry shampoo has a fast-absorbing formula that will soak up oils on your scalp, and conditioning properties that will contribute to that beautiful shine you’re looking for. Prevent that gritty feeling and apply only to your roots, allowing the hair shaft to soak in your natural oils throughout the day.
2. Get your protein.
For long-term shine, look no further than your plate. Murphy explains, “It takes 20 amino acids to make a protein, and protein is key to healthy hair. Your body can only produce so many amino acids, so you must turn to a well-balanced diet to help supplement.” The body uses protein and iron to grow hair. If you have been struggling with breakage or long growing cycles, consult a nutritionist about how to effectively get more protein in your diet. Layering on products should only be a temporary fix.
Related: What Are Amino Acids?3. Seal the cuticle.
The hair’s outermost layer is called the cuticle. The cuticle becomes raised in attempt to absorb moisture from the air. Dry, porous hair has a raised cuticle, which causes it to lack shine and look frizzy. An easy way to seal the cuticle is “to rinse with cold water, and blow dry properly,” says Murphy. Certain hair dryers treat your cuticle more gently, so invest in either a ceramic or tourmaline hair dryer to limit cuticle damage for a smoother look.
We recommend:Harry Josh Pro Tools Ultra Light Pro Dryer This hair dryer uses ionic heat to minimize drying time, as well as ceramic and tourmaline technology for a shinier finish.
4. Protect your hair from the elements.
Your hair is made of the same material as your skin (keratin), so it similarly needs protection. In the same way you use moisturizer and sunscreen on your face, your hair needs love, too.
Healthy hair is better able to withstand natural and artificial elements, but products go a long way to assist. Murphy describes two natural offenders: “Humidity is probably the hair’s least favorite and makes hair lack shine, and the sun is naturally damaging, so we always need to add moisture to our hair somehow, otherwise our hair naturally drinks up any moisture outside causing frizz.”
For her clients, Murphy will deep condition, then apply heat styling products, typically an argan oil followed by a cream. The products give the hair the moisture it needs so it doesn’t latch onto the moisture in the air.
We recommend: OLAPLEX No. 3 Hair Protector Use this deep conditioner in the shower pre-shampoo to lock in the benefits. This bond builder reduces breakage and strengthens your hair to leave it feeling luscious and smooth.
We recommend: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil
This hair oil will make your hair feel soft and smooth all day long. Apply it to damp hair and watch it work its magic. This product works especially hard for those with frizzy and damaged hair by conditioning and controlling frizz throughout the day.
5. Choose quality over quantity of product.
High-quality products don’t need to be slathered on to see their effects. Murphy urges, “Once you find the right products, less is more. Just a small dime size can usually do the trick.” Adding too much of a shine product, like an argan oil, leads to that greasy look we’re hoping to avoid, and too much of a cream or conditioner leaves a sticky feeling. Accidentally added just a little too much? Reach for your dry shampoo to absorb some of the excess.
6. Get a hair consultation.
Murphy shared a secret with us: most salons will do a consultation for free! It’s important to have clarity on whether you are fine, thin, coarse, curly or a combination in order to choose the right products for shine.
Don’t have time to visit the salon? Try this home test, courtesy of Murphy:
Density: Density is the amount of hairs per square inch on your head. The average person has about 2,200 strands of hair per square inch. Instead of counting the hairs on your hand, look at your hair from different angles. Whether or not your scalp is easily visible will tell you if you have thick, average or thin hair.
Elasticity: To test your elasticity, take one strand of your hair from your brush after you’ve washed and combed it out. Grab each end and slowly pull, does it feel like its stretching or did it snap under pressure? A healthy strand of hair can stretch up to 50 percent of its length when wet.
Texture: Hair texture is often confused with density, but can be fine, medium or coarse—referring to the diameter of the hair. Take a strand of your hair still attached to your scalp and run your thumb and pointer finger up the strand. You may feel it’s smooth or rigid.
Best products for getting shiny hair
To make sure you’re equipped with everything you need to get sleek, shiny hair on the regular, we asked some top stylists to share their favorite products along with expert tips.
A smoothing shampoo
Your efforts toward sleek hair can start while you’re in the shower, so long as you use a smoothing shampoo to add the weight and hydration necessary for silky, shiny strands. Upon incorporating this product, “Your hair will be healthy from the inside out and a smoothing shampoo will help to seal in shine and combat any frizz,” says Dorsey. Oribe’s Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo is a great starting option since it’s suitable for all hair types and strengthens and softens tresses with a blend of bromelain to maintain a healthy balance of oils on the scalp, amino acids to retain moisture, biotin to strengthen the cuticle from the inside out and argan oil to add a healthy dose of radiance.
An ionic hair dryer
A well-crafted, lightweight hair dryer, like the Harry Josh Pro Tools Harry Josh Ultra-Light Pro Dryer, will give you the smoothest results possible with the least breakage. “A high-quality blow dryer like the Ultra-Light Pro Dryer will actually help protect your hair from heat damage and dry faster, giving you the sleek-blowout results you’re looking for,” says Dorsey. With a motor speed of a whopping 94 mph, your hair dries faster with far less damage and it never gets too hot thanks to the dryer’s patented Cool Air Flex Technology. Dorsey suggests using the attachments that come with the dryer to help focus the heat and air exactly where you need it and make the process of blowing your hair out at home much easier.
A shine-enhancing hair oil
For sleek locks, Fitzsimons turns to Alterna’s CAVIAR Anti-Aging Smoothing Anti-Frizz Nourishing Oil because it provides heat protection and doubles as a smoothing styling product helping to eliminate frizz and reduce flyaways, all while strengthening the hair. “Just apply a small amount to damp hair prior to using your blow dryer,” he says. “You can also use this product as a finisher to lock in the smoothness you create and add extra shine,” he adds.
A lightweight serum
Think of using a lightweight serum as the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae—it’s the perfect finishing touch. “It seals in shine, moisture and helps to block out frizz, which is exactly what you need if you’re after a sleek, smooth style,” says Dorsey. “Plus, the lightweight formula won’t weigh hair down if your hair is on the finer side.” To tame flyaways and smooth strands, reach for SEEN’s Magic Serum, which will create a sleek, healthy appearance in a matter of seconds.
A hair smoothing cream
A nutrient-rich hair cream, like R+Co’s HIGH DIVE Moisture Shine Crème, is a must-have if sleek, shiny hair is what you’re after. Sunflower seed extract and argan oil helps condition the hair shaft and lock in moisture long after you’ve left the shower and both vitamin E and B5 provide antioxidant protection and prevent damage. “A product like this will give you optimal results if you blow-dry your hair, but will also give you a smoother style than what you normally would achieve if you air dry,” says Dorsey.
A ceramic flat iron
Hot tools of all kinds can cause damage to your tresses, but especially a flat iron, which holds onto your hair for several seconds. That’s why it’s so important to choose a high-quality iron that uses ceramic technology to evenly distribute heat. The ghd Max Styler 2’’ Wide Plat Flat Iron not only features nano-ceramic plates, but it’s also lightweight and ergonomic, which means it’s easy to travel with and store away. Best of all, the larger plate ensures you won’t have to go over the same strands of hair multiple times to get the sleek, straight look you’re after.
A restorative treatment
It is so important to give your hair the extra nourishment it deserves, especially when sleek hair is the goal you’re after. That’s why we recommend the Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask if your hair is damaged or if you color-treat it. Rich with algae extract, b-vitamins, almond oil, and rosehip oil, this formula will hydrate and protect your hair and leave you with rejuvenated locks. Apply after shampoo and leave in for about 10 minutes before rinsing, about once a week. This mask will restore your hair’s strength and body while leaving it frizz-free once dry.
A leave-in spray
Whether you’re just getting out of the shower or brushing out dry hair in the morning, a few sprays of a hydrating and detangling leave-in spray can work wonders on your tresses when it comes to adding sleekness. “Leave-in treatments are great because they are lightweight enough for all hair types to use and add an extra level of hydration and protection to wet, fragile hair,” explains Dorsey. “Leonor Greyl’s Luminescence Bi-Phase Detangling Milk Styling Spray is a must because it’s infused with hydrating jojoba oil and protects against both UVA and UVB rays, which can cause breakage and generally unruly locks,” he adds.
A clear hair gloss
If you’re looking for a silky sheen to cover and protect your hair throughout the day, look no further than Rita Hazan’s True Color Ultimate Shine Gloss. It arms your hair with pro-vitamin B5, which repairs damage caused by chemical and color treatments, hot tools and the environment along with silk amino acid, which easily bonds to and strengthens your strands. “A clear hair gloss can help reverse the signs of damage, deeply condition strands and leave them silky soft and shiny,” notes Dorsey.
Chanel Hays left a six-figure corporate job to start her own media and marketing company for small businesses. She's passionate about health and wellness and believes you should look as good as you feel and feel as good as you look. Chanel is a UCLA Bruin alum who calls Southern California home, but has a heavy case of wanderlust and is constantly planning her next trip. Catch her on Instagram @chanelhays.
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