5 reasons why your hair isn’t shiny

We have all seen those shampoo commercials on television, where a beautiful woman tosses her head in slow motion, revealing hair that is sleek and shiny and making us wonder why our hair never seems to look as good. There can be many reasons why your hair lacks shine, and this article will pinpoint five of these reasons.

You shampoo too often. The scalp contains millions of glands known as sebaceous glands, which produce an oil called sebum. Sebum is important because it coats the hair in a thin film, which not only protects the hair from damage but also provides shine. Frequent shampooing washes away this protective coating, which can leave hair looking dull. Try shampooing every other day or every two days, instead of every single day.

You have too much product buildup. Over time, residue from shampoos, conditioners and styling products can build up on the hair shaft, causing the hair to look dull and lifeless. This can be prevented by using a clarifying shampoo once a week. Clarifying shampoos deep-clean the hair while removing impurities like chlorine and minerals from hard water. Keep in mind that some clarifying shampoos can also strip out hair color, however.

You are not protecting the hair from thermal damage. Thermal damage caused by blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can strip hair of its shine. Never use a thermal tool on the hair without protecting it with a heat-protection spray (such as CHI Iron Guard).

You are on a diet. Anything you put into your body will effect your hair. Likewise, the things that you don’t put into your body will also effect the hair. Unfortunately, in order for hair to look shiny and healthy, a diet must include the right amounts of fats and oils. It is not uncommon for those on a low-fat diet to suffer from hair that is dull.

Genetics. If your parents and grandparents have hair that is dull, then there’s a good chance that you will as well. Genetics determine many things, and one of these things is hair texture. Generally, hair that is coarse and thick in texture, or hair that is curly, does not have as much natural shine as hair that is fine or straight. Unfortunately, all of the conditioner in the world cannot control genetics. If this is the case, your only option is to add shine artificially using a shine spray (try Redken Vinyl Glam shine spray).

These are the five main reasons why hair lacks shine and luster. By using the proper products and adjusting your diet, however, you may be able to recapture a great deal of that lost shine.