21 Tips To Make Your Hair Shine

Summer is fun time, but not for your hair. Damaging chlorine and salt water, color-fading UV rays, excessive heat styling and frizz-raising humidity all can take their toll. But we have expert advice to keep your hair in tip-top shape. So get the look you want, no matter what the weather.

What’s the last thing you want to worry about when the weather’s fine and you have time to play? A bad hair day! Give yourself a break from warm-weather hair woes with these tips and tricks. After all, wouldn’t you rather be out in the sun having some fun?

1. Healthy hair requires a diet rich in protein, found in foods such as salmon, tuna, chicken and cottage cheese.

2. Don’t overwash. Some shampoos recommend lathering up twice, but once is enough to remove dirt and styling products.

3. Product buildup can make hair dull. Use a clarifying shampoo every two weeks to help remove residue.

4. Hair can’t live by shampoo alone. After every washing, use a conditioner to replenish lost moisture.

5. Brighten up. To keep color-treated hair looking vibrant, use a color-enhancing conditioner containing a small amount of pigment once a week.

6. No more flakes. Improve the condition of your scalp with a shampoo that contains a dandruff-fighting ingredient.

7. Rough towel-drying can be damaging. First, gently squeeze out excess moisture, then pat dry
with a towel.

8. Always rinse with cool water after conditioning. This seals the cuticle and makes strands smooth and shiny.

9. Ease really tight CURLS with a relaxing balm; apply from root to end before towel-drying.

10. For shine, stylists suggest rinsing with apple cider vinegar weekly after shampooing; then shampoo again.

11. Restore lost moisture to dry, coarse hair with shampoos and conditioners that contain ingredients such as vitamin E, aloe vera and panthenol.

12. Get the knots out with a wide-tooth comb. Start at the ends and work your way to the roots.

13. Wait until HAIR is completely dry before using heat-styling tools such as curling and straightening irons.

14. Never set your blow dryer on high. Style using the medium setting and finish off with a cool blast for shine.

15. Protect your hair from hot styling tools with products labeled heat-protecting.

16. Dry scalp? Rub in conditioner with fingertips, leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.

17. Daily heat styling is extremely damaging. Get a trim every six to eight weeks to eliminate split ends.

18. Never clamp down with a straightening iron. Instead, run iron through in one quick motion to prevent frying.

19. Limp hair tends to lie flat at the scalp, resulting in greasy roots. Quick fix: Absorb excess oil by sprinkling on baby powder and combing through.

20. Invest in a natural boar-bristle brush. It will cause less breakage and help distribute hair’s natural oils from roots to ends.

21. Heavy styling products, such as gels, pomades and waxes, can weigh down fine, thin hair. Instead, hold your style with a light mist of finishing spray.