8 Tips To Get Healthy, Gleaming Hair

The computer-generated iridescence seen in hair commercials is hard to match in the real world, but even the most lackluster locks can get a shine boost with the right treatment.

Just as nails have a protective cuticle barrier, so does your hair, and the key to a healthy sheen is keeping the cuticle smooth.

Under a microscope, a smooth cuticle looks like a roof with all the shingles lying flat, but day-to-day styling, heat processing, and coloring cause those shingles to lift. Light reflects best off a smooth surface, so a roughed-up cuticle means dull hair. (Make YOUR well-being a priority this year! Join Prevention and other leading minds in health & wellness for our annual R3 Summit.)

Here are a few beauty tips for shiny hair to really get your hair to glimmer.

Eat right.

Hair is made of keratin, a form of protein, so don't skimp on protein-packed lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, and low-fat dairy products, also recommends getting plenty of healthy omega-3 fats, which are found in salmon, avocados, flaxseed oil, Brazil uts, and almonds. "Eating these can increase hair's sheen over time," Nutrition interventions take time—expect to show off new shine in about 6 months.

Come clean.

If you're a styling-product junkie, to get shiny hair you'll need to banish the buildup, which is a guaranteed shine squelcher. Once a week, or try this tip : Once a month, add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 2 tablespoons of your shampoo. (Here are 10 more genius beauty uses for baking soda.) The sodium bicarbonate will remove any stubborn, sticky residues. 

Condition often.

In fact, do it every time you shampoo. Choose nutrient-rich formulas with ingredients such as avocado oil, olive oil, and shea butter, which moisturize and fill in tiny cracks in the hair shaft.

Skip the cold-water rinse.

There's no need to undergo the big chill. Cold water may help close your pores, but it doesn't affect the hair cuticle in the same way. Gently squeeze and blot—don't rub—hair when you towel-dry. "Wet hair is fragile, and any friction will rough up the cuticle. 

Practice damage control.

Always use a heat-resistant product on your hair before drying. New formulations seal in shine and prevent damage from superhigh temperatures. (Try these tips to keep your aging hair looking its best.)

Get glossy.

Make sure that your shine serum is water soluble—look for dimethiconol on the label. Dimethicone, the silicone polymer known for creating a glassy effect, doesn't rinse off easily if it's not in a water-soluble form. And if it builds up, it eventually dries out hair. 

Tip: Sleep on satin pillowcases for equally satiny hair. At night, the average head is 9 pounds of deadweight, and friction from tossing and turning equals fuzz.

Brush with the best.

Boar-bristle brushes (or boar bristle with nylon) are superior for smoothing hair and distributing natural oils. Plastics don't have as much give and can snag and break hair, so consider these pricier options a shiny hair investment.

Tip: Skip those 100 brush strokes before bed. It's a myth that you can condition your hair by repeatedly stroking scalp oils down the shaft. Your scalp would have to be very oily for this to really work, and all that brushing will tax your hair.

Recipe for shiny hair: Hallowell's Vodka Mask

½ avocado, peeled and pitted (Try this moisturizing DIY avocado and honey mask for sleek, shiny hair.)

2 Tbsp vodka

2 Tbsp honey

1 egg yolk

In a small glass bowl, mash avocado, vodka, honey, and egg with fork to form a creamy mixture. Apply to freshly shampooed, towel-blotted hair. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse well in warm water, and then shampoo and style as usual.