There’s nothing quite as fetching as a full head of beautiful, shiny hair, whether you opt for loose waves or straight bobbed locks. But unfortunately, lots of things about our routines, product choices, styling habits, and environment can take a toll on our hair’s health, making locks dull, frizzy, or prone to breakage.
No need to worry! Shiny, healthy hair is just a few steps away. Want to unlock your best look? Here are our top tips to make dull hair smooth and shiny again.
1. Invest in Scalp Care
Healthy hair isn’t just about taking care of those strands—shiny hair starts at the scalp. Buildup happens along the hair shaft, but it also occurs on your scalp, making your hair look dull.
The fix? Find a good scalp treatment that gently exfoliates to remove buildup and adds moisture to promote healthy growth. A scalp massager brush is also a great tool to have in your beauty kit to encourage blood flow and replenish your scalp. Use one once a week for a relaxing and rejuvenating addition to your hair care routine!
2. Eat for Hair Health
Your diet goes a long way in helping your hair look and feel its best. Make sure you eat a rich and varied diet with proteins, antioxidants, and vitamins to promote cell regeneration and keep your hair in top shape.
Foods high in iron and omega-3 are great healthy hair choices: think eggs, avocado, and olive oil. Don’t neglect water, either. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of brittle, breakage-prone hair. So try to aim for two liters a day for bouncy hair.
3. Find the Right Shampoo

The latest research in hair care has shown that not all shampoos are created equal. Many shampoos you find on the shelf are filled with ingredients that are not only bad for your hair but also for your body.
Take care of yourself head to toe and promote maximum hair health with products free of phthalates, sulfates, and other harmful shampoo ingredients. Find an all-natural body and hair wash to save time and protect yourself from toxic chemicals.
4) Be Smart About Heat Styling
For most of us, heat styling is a big part of our daily routine. Hot tools help us shape and sculpt our hair into smooth blowouts, luxe waves, or big ringlets—whatever the day or night calls for! But heat-styling, along with hair coloring products, are one of the leading contributors to dull, breakage-prone hair.
How do you get around this problem without completely ditching your heat-styling tools? First, when you have to heat style, use a protective spray that will create a barrier on your hair and add shine. Then, look at your calendar and figure out days when you can skip the intense heat styling in favor of a pretty fishtail braid or elegant bun.
That way, you can save the high-impact hairstyles for special days and cut down on damage—while saving yourself some time in the morning!
5) Protect from UV Rays and Chemicals
Your hair, like your skin, is sensitive to UV rays from the sun and chemicals from the environment around us. What can you do to make sure your hair stays healthy and strong? Fend off dryness from harsh environments like salt water and swimming pools with a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week.
Then, make sure you treat your hair the same way you’d treat your skin when you know you’re about to get some serious sun exposure. Use a sunscreen hair spray to keep hair-damaging UV rays at bay. Many of them also use botanical extracts to promote smooth, silky texture. A win-win!
6) Get the Right Brushes
Reduce breakage with hairbrushes and combs that won’t snarl and pull your hair. Did you know your hair is more fragile when it is wet? Take extra care of your fresh-from-the-shower strands with a wide-tooth comb that will pull through any tangles easily. Start by combing through the ends of your hair and then work gradually upwards toward the scalp.
And what about dry hair and styling? Boar bristle brushes are wonderful for brushing and styling dry hair because the bristles help redistribute your hair’s natural oils. The soft bristles are also gentle on your hair but effective at getting any tangles or snarls out. Just don’t forget to replace your brushes as they get worn to get the most out of them.