Velvet Hair: The Best Products To Use For A Mirror-Like Shine
Who doesn’t want shiny, glossy, velvety hair? Over the past year, searches for terms like “glass hair”, “glossy hair” and “liquid hair” have increased by 65 per cent, suggesting that shine, rather than any specific shade, is this season’s most sought-after hair trend. A salon can give you a gloss treatment, which won’t change the colour of your hair, rather it will boost its lustre and shine.
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But there are also plenty of products you can use at home to achieve a similar effect. These formulas are built on one fundamental idea: shiny hair is healthy hair. If hair is dry or damaged, it won’t reflect light. Well-moisturised hair will be easier to style, have a healthier texture and, crucially, will shine brighter.
From shampooing to styling, here are four simple steps to give your hair a mirror-like shine.
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#1 Prep the hair with pre-shampoo
Pre-shampoos, luxurious treatments that should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before washing your hair, have come a long way. They boost moisture, support the hair’s structure and enhance shine. Once it’s been applied, active ingredients (pre-shampoo treatments are made up of oils like argan, macadamia, camellia and linseed that are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids) are absorbed by the hair fibres. It’s important to apply pre-shampoo treatments to damp hair, because the moisture opens the cuticles allowing the formula to penetrate the hair shaft. Applying a pre-shampoo to dry hair is less effective.
#2 Wash
When your goal is shiny hair, not all shampoos are equal. Seek out gloss treatments that contain glycolic acid (widely used in many skincare products), ferulic or citric acid. The mechanism is the same with all three: they smooth the hair fibre, close the cuticles and make hair shinier. These are not aggressive acids, which is why they are suitable for all hair types. These acids, or naturally active botanicals, are now available in a range of products (shampoos, conditioners and masks) to achieve and maintain glossy hair.
#3 Acid rinse
The acid rinse, used to get instant mirror-like shine, has taken TikTok by storm. While apple cider vinegar has long been used to achieve this effect as it’s incredibly effective at closing cuticles, its smell isn’t all that appealing. There’s a new generation of products that, while they are still vinegar-based, have far more pleasant aromas. Note: these products must be thoroughly washed out of your hair. Just use a small amount after shampooing and using a conditioner or mask, then rinse it out with lukewarm or cold water. The acid rinse makes all the difference, and it takes only 30 seconds. Hair is left shiny and silky soft.
#4 Styling
Shine is the result of sealed cuticles, which is why you should take care when drying the hair. First, use maximum heat only at the beginning, when the hair is wet, and then gradually lower the temperature. You should also hold the hairdryer vertically in the direction of the cuticles, and, at the end, seal them with a final blast of cold air. You can then use styling products to help you achieve that mirrored effect, such as sprays, liquid crystals and illuminating oils.
