Simple tips for shiny hair

Hair takes a real beating these days! Pollution, colouring, washing too often, chlorine... All these factors dull the hair. The fibre becomes stressed and no longer reflects light.

To get hair looking healthy again, we need a plan of action.

First, by removing dust and other impurities that settle in the hair. To do this, we recall Granny's advice: brush your hair at least a hundred times before bed. Of course, there's no need to go as far as a hundred: gentle brushing can help distribute sebum, but it shouldn't be overdone; adapt it to your hair type and don't over-brush. So each evening, brush the lengths with your head upside down, and above all avoid the scalp so you don't irritate it.

When it comes to tools, some natural-bristle brushes or brushes with rounded tips are prized for gentle brushing, but the technique matters more than the material. And on wet hair, switch to a wide-tooth comb: swollen with water, the fibre breaks much more easily.

After shampooing, rinse well so you don't smother the fibre. The tell-tale sign? Hair squeaks between your fingers! This is when you show your courage: ideally, do the final rinse with cold water. The cold water in that last burst doesn't close the cuticles; its appeal is mostly sensory and immediate, with no proven lasting effect. It's free, so you might as well enjoy it.

Every other wash, switch things up. Alternate a shine-specific treatment with a mild shampoo so hair isn't weighed down or made greasy. The most meticulous among us will apply an oil to the hair before shampooing, leaving it for about thirty minutes before washing. This ritual can help nourish and temporarily smooth the fibre, but its effectiveness varies and it doesn't durably repair damaged hair. Conditioner, meanwhile, goes on towel-dried hair, not dripping wet, otherwise the texture slides along the fibre without penetrating. You can wrap your hair in a warm towel while it's on, for comfort; this doesn't mean the treatment penetrates any better.

After drying, spritz on a hair gloss that leaves a shine film without making hair greasy. Perfect for an evening out!

For fans of natural remedies and old-school recipes, it's time to bring out your vinegar or lemon. Simply rinse your hair after shampooing with vinegary or lemony water. Diluted vinegar is traditionally used as an acid rinse; its effect on the cuticle and shine isn't clearly proven. The smell, however, evaporates as hair dries. Lemon is riskier: it dries hair out and can lighten colour, especially before sun exposure. Best kept for natural, non-coloured hair. Kind to your wallet, this tip has plenty going for it!

Finally, we'd add that there's nothing quite like a blow-dry or straightening to close the hair cuticles and boost shine. A blow-dry visually smooths the cuticles and reflects light, but the effect disappears with the first wash. That's no reason to skip it before a night out, just a reason not to make it a daily habit. The catch, as you know, is that these treatments also weaken the hair, so use them in moderation, for special occasions.

Don't play innocent — you've already tried dozens of styling products to get hair as shiny as possible. But there's a good chance these products haven't delivered the transformation you were dreaming of. Maybe it's simply a product that doesn't suit your hair type, or a lack of preparation for your mane. Yes, hair is like an athlete: for good results, you have to prepare it first! And how do you do that? By following our tips for shiny, soft hair!

Budget

Budget-wise, there's no need to break the bank: a boar-bristle brush costs around £12–35 in supermarkets or beauty retailers, while a wide-tooth wooden comb is more like £4–12. A plant oil (argan, coconut, olive) costs around £7–22 depending on the size, and a finishing gloss around £8–25. White vinegar and lemon are already in your cupboards — it's the cheapest tip on the list. These ranges vary by brand and retailer; check in store, as prices move quickly.