Many people often associate hair health with shine. However, for textured hair types, this isn’t always true. Curly, coily, and kinky hair tends to refract light due to the coiled shape of the hair strand and hair follicle, often times giving the appearance of dull hair. This is especially true for naturals with kinky hair types. Additionally, porosity and the state of the hair cuticle can also impact shine – highly porous or frizzy hair where the hair cuticle is raised will have less sheen. Regardless, if you desire shinier strands, there are a few tips and tricks you can try that will help to add sheen to your hair. Here is how to get shiny natural hair:
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1) Make sure your hair is moisturized
Moisture is essential in maintaining good hair health. To add, moisturized strands can benefit you in how to get shiny natural hair. When your strands are hydrated, the hair cuticle is smoothed and soft. This in turn helps to prevent frizz and allows for a better reflection of light and thus shine. To ensure your strands are adequately moisturized, make sure that you are using moisturizing products and following up with a sealant to lock in all the moisture. Additionally, you should be moisturizing your hair on a regular / daily basis.
2) Seal with an oil
In the effort to retain moisture in your hair for longer lasting softness and shine, it helps to use a moisture sealant. A moisture sealant is usually applied as a final step and is used to seal the strands and trap moisture. Oils are one example of moisture sealants. For example, Jamaican black castor oil is a thick oil that can be used to seal the hair strands and smooth the hair cuticle, aiding in the prevention of frizz and dryness.
On the other hand, there are other oils that can be used to add shine to your strands while also providing different beneficial nutrients. Olive oil and argan oil are two good examples of oils that can aid in how to get shiny natural hair.
3) Try hot oil treatments
Hot oil treatments involve heating a combination of natural oils and applying the mixture to your hair. After leaving the treatment on your strands for roughly 30 minutes, rinse with water. Try to rinse with warm to cool water to smooth the hair cuticle – your strands will be left with a luxurious sheen. The heated temperature from the hot oil treatments helps to open up the hair cuticle and allow the nutrients found in the oils to be better absorbed. You can complete a hot oil treatment monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly – whichever suits your hair care regimen.
4) Avoid product build-up
Accumulated residue from your hair products can begin to form build-up if you go too long without cleansing your strands. This build-up can begin to clog your hair follicles and prevent moisture from being fully absorbed. To add, product build-up can obstruct shine in your hair. This is why it is important that you are regularly cleansing your strands with a good shampoo.
You may also want to consider using a clarifying shampoo every so often to get an even more thorough cleanse. To aid in how to get shiny natural hair, it is best to avoid product build-up and keep your strands clean and clear.
Click here to see 5 signs there is too much product build-up in your natural hair:
5) Consider using products that add shine
If you are looking for a quick way to add shine to your hair, you may want to consider trying hair products made just for adding shine. There are sprays, pomades, and other leave-ins that you can apply to your hair for an instantaneous sheen. Take this Coconut and Hibiscus Hold and Shine Moisture Mist from Shea Moisture for example. It infuses your strands with moisturizing ingredients while also adding a glossy finish. There are a variety of other natural hair products that can provide your strands with a nice sheen.
6) Rinse with cool water
Washing your hair with hot water, warm water, or cool water, can produce differing effects. Hot / warm water can slightly raise the hair cuticle. Cool / cold water can help to smooth the hair cuticle. However, cold water does not seal the hair cuticle completely. But, it can certainly help to add to the appearance of soft and shiny hair.
When you wash your hair with water that is too hot, it can cause the hair cuticle to swell and create the appearance of frizzy, dull hair. When rinsing your hair with cool water, this is not an effect. Instead, cool water can help to lessen frizz, thus aiding in the promotion of shiny hair as the hair cuticle is more smooth and able to reflect light.
7) How to get shiny natural hair – Deep condition often
Deep conditioning is a way to replenish your strands with intense hydration and an abundance of nourishing ingredients. Deep conditioners feature a mixture of stimulating and strengthening ingredients such as protein, oils, natural extracts, and more. This process can benefit the overall health of your strands as well as help to promote shine as your strands become healthier and stronger.
Do you have any other tips for shiny natural hair that you would like to add? Let us know in the comments down below!
