Get Healthy, Shiny Hair In 7 Practical Steps Author: Emily Irwin | Article Source | “Like” UrbaneWomen On Facebook

Picture  this:  You  step  out  of  the  house  looking  like  you're  about  to  go  and  star  in  a  commercial  for  shampoo.    As  you  walk  along  the  street,  traffic  stops  because  so  many  people  are  staring  at  your  gorgeous,  shining  locks  blowing  in  the  wind.  Don't  you  feel  amazing?    Brrrrrinnnnggg!  All  right,  time  to  wake  up.  Maybe  stuff  like  that  can  only  happen  in  your  dreams,  but  you  can  make  healthy,  shiny  hair  a  part  of  your  everyday  reality  with  the  7  tips  you're  about  to  learn.    

 Even  better  news:  Not  a  single  one  of  these  tips  involves  visiting  a  hairstylist!      1.  Use  Cold  Water  To  Rinse  Your  Hair    Remove  shampoo  and  conditioner  from  your  hair  with  cold  water,  rather  than  hot  water.  The  hot  water  can  dry  hair  out  and  make  it  appear  dull.      Also,  cold  water  helps  to  close  up  the  cuticles  of  your  hair.  When  they're  closed,  light  can  reflect  off  their  outer  surfaces,  which  helps  to  give  your  hair  more  shine.                    2.  Make  Hair  Serums  Part  of  Your  Routine    

There  are  hair  serums  on  the  market  that  can  take  your  hair  from  unruly  and  frizzy  to  shiny  and  sleek.  You  can  find  them  at  beauty  supply  stores,  drugstores,  and  hair  salons.      Hair  serums  work  by  adding  a  small  amount  of  silicone  or  oils  to  your  hair  to  give  it  moisture.    When  applying  hair  serum,  start  with  only  a  pea-­‐sized  amount.  (Using  an  excessive  amount  may  not  help,  since  your  hair  will  be  weighed  down  with  it.)  While  your  hair  is  still  wet,  

rub  the  serum  into  it  with  your  hands,  starting  at  the  tips  and  working  upward.    

 

3.  Use  A  Leave-­In  Conditioner    Leave-­‐in  conditioner  can  really  help  your  hair  shine,  and  can  be  found  in  both  lotion  and  spray-­‐on  forms.      The  procedure  for  applying  it  is  identical  to  the  one  for  applying  hair  serum,  described  above.                          4.  Blow-­Dry  With  Caution    

When  using  a  blow  dryer,  be  sure  that  its  nozzle,  and  therefore  the  stream  of  air,  is  pointing  down  the  shafts  of  your  hair,  toward  the  tips,  while  you're  using  a  round  brush  to  hold  up  each  section  of  hair.  Pointing  the  nozzle  up  the  shaft  toward  the  roots  is  like  petting  a  cat  backwards  -­‐  it  makes  the  hairs  stick  up  in  the  wrong  direction.    Cooling  your  hair  down  with  a  blast  of  cool  air  after  you're  done  drying  it  adds  to  its  shine  in  the  same  way  as  rinsing  it  with  cool  water  does:  it  helps  the  cuticles  close,  allowing  the  

reflection  of  more  light.  This  is  the  reason  why  hair  dryers  have  "cool"  buttons.      5.  Stay  Hydrated    Moisturizing  hair  from  the  inside  is  as  important  as  adding  topical  moisturizers  to  it,  so  be  sure  to  drink  plenty  of  water.      Ideally,  you  should  be  getting  about  the  equivalent  of  eight  glasses  of  water  in  a  day.  Have  a  water  bottle  handy  all  the  time,  and  use  it!                    

 

6.  Get  Plenty  of  Protein  and  Vitamins  A  and  E    

Vitamins  A  and  E  are  essential  nutrients  for  healthy,  shiny  hair.  Eat  foods  that  are  rich  in  these  vitamins  and  in  protein,  which  helps  hair  grow  faster.      Nuts  and  eggs  are  great  choices.          

 7.  Don't  Expose  Your  Hair  to  Harsh  Chemicals    Try  not  to  expose  your  hair  to  chemicals  that  can  damage  it,  such  as  hair-­‐relaxing  creams  containing  lye  and  the  chlorine  in  swimming  pools.    Other  things  that  can  damage  hair  are  heated  hairstyling  tools  and  alcohol-­‐based  hair  products.  Alcohol  tends  to  remove  the  shine  from  your  hair  and  dry  it  out.            Article Source: http://www.urbanewomen.com/get-healthy-shiny-hair-in-7-practical-steps.html Do you often feel that your hair is too dry, frizzy and unmanageable? Are you worried about excessive hair loss? Visit UrbaneWomen to get our expert's tips and advises on how to combat hair problems and say hello to smooth, luscious locks!