Has your hair lost its sparkle? Before you do something drastic like run to the salon (scissors in hand) to chop off the lackluster ends, try these easy gloss-getting techniques from some of our fave hair pros.
Mask it
Hairstylist Dean Banowetz tends to the golden locks of filthy rich celebs like Carrie Underwood and Ryan Seacrest, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t relish a bargain. His recipe for sexy strands comes from the kitchen! Mix several tablespoons of honey and olive oil (he fancies the organic varieties). Then, apply this homemade mask to ends, working your way up to coat the entire head. Leave in for 20 minutes and rinse out with shampoo and conditioner. “It’s mother nature’s secret to shiny hair,” he says.
Enter the dark side
You can debate whether or not blondes have more fun, but when it comes to shimmery hair, they definitely get the short end of the stick. “Bleaching and lightening the hair makes it more vulnerable to other chemical processes,” says trichologist Philip Kingsley. To up your gloss factor, he recommends deeper shades because they reflect light, creating greater shine.
Get clarity
Over time, the accumulation of styling product can be a drag. It clings on like a needy boyfriend, weighing hair down and stripping its sparkle. To ditch the buildup, Jet Rhys, owner of her eponymous California-based salons, recommends adding one tablespoon of baking soda to two tablespoons of your shampoo. The sodium bicarbonate will remove the stubborn, sticky residue.
Feed your mane
A natural way to make hair glisten—eat lean. “Hair is made of keratin, a form of protein, so don’t skimp on protein-packed meats,” says Kingsley. It can take up to six months, but eating more fish, eggs and beans as well as omega 3 fats including salmon, soybeans and walnuts can restore hair’s brilliance. Hungry yet?
Brush up
You wouldn’t brush your teeth with sandpaper and the same should be said of your locks. “Upgrade to a natural boar bristle brush,” says Jill Guzzo, stylist at NYC’s Butterfly Studio Salon. Natural bristles evenly distribute the natural oils in hair and smooth the cuticle to create a polished finish.
