Healthy, Shiny Hair

When we hear the words shiny hair, we light up (no pun intended). But, what makes our hair shine in the first place? And how can we sustain that shine long-term?

We’ve all had that ‘feel-good’ moment coming out of the hair salon rocking the gorgeous, silky hair. Feels good, doesn’t it? But how exactly can this look be replicated over and over again?

The good news is you have more control of your hair than you think. 

Let’s get to the facts. Ultimately, the cuticle (outer layer of hair) is responsible for the shine. A healthy cuticle with level, flat scales creates a smooth surface off of which light reflects. Healthy cuticles usually means beautiful, shiny hair! However, as the cuticle scales become damaged through chemical / physical treatments or environmental exposure, light is reflected at various angles, resulting in a scattered reflection pattern and decreased shine associated with dull, damaged hair. For many of us, dealing with dull hair could be a never-ending battle. From color treatments, to heat styling, we can often find ourselves in a vicious cycle continuously damaging our hair and causing brittleness.

We recommend the following tips on maintaining the long-term shine you’re sought after:

• Condition the most damaged parts of your hair. For the majority, tips have been the most weathered. Using a conditioner after shampooing your hair helps smooth the cuticle layer, which increases shine. 

• Use a shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair type. At Strands, we create a complete hair profile using powerful microscopic imaging and molecular analysis to explore protein levels, scalp sebum, hair texture, and cuticle condition. Depending on your cuticle condition results, we implement specific ingredients to your personalized formula. 

• Another way to keep your hair shiny is to prevent damage from sun exposure. Did you know that the ultra violet rays from the sun are just as damaging to your hair as they are to the rest of the body? Ultra violet light is known to degrade the outer and inner layers of the hair fiber, and this creates potholes in the hair leaving a bumpy and non-reflective surface manifesting in lifeless hair. We recommend wearing a hat covering the head and face and/or using products blended with SPF to protect the hair from harmful UV rays. Just like you would apply sunscreen to your face, it is absolutely essential to apply a sun guard hair groom to your hair and scalp for the ultimate hair protection.  

• Be sure to seek out professional help for any chemical process you choose to apply on your hair, as it may cause the same damage to the cuticle & result in issues with shine. Having the education and understanding for the products you are applying on your hair will go a long way.