Products for Smooth Shiny Hair

Hair products can help anyone achieve smooth and shiny hair.my long hair image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com

Everyday damage to hair can result from coloring, highlighting, chemical treatments and excessive heat-styling. An important requirement for smooth, shiny hair is healthy hair---hair that is clean and free of tangles and split ends. Various products are available that will give hair a smooth and attractive sheen, sometimes by using silicone but often by replacing lost moisture and otherwise working on the underlying causes of lack of sheen.

Hair Serums

Not only do hair serums help smooth frizzy hair and enhance shine, but they also detangle hair so that there is less chance of breakage. Serums coat the hair strand, thereby protecting hair from styling product buildup and the sun. Apply hair serum after shampooing. Place a few drops in the palm of your hand and smooth through wet hair evenly from the ends up to just below the roots. Be careful not to apply the serum to the roots, especially if you have an oily scalp.

Hair glosses add shine to hair and penetrate the hair cuticle for lasting effect. Glosses are silicone-based, contain shine enhancers and seal the hair cuticle, also preventing the hair shaft from breaking. Hair glosses are essentially transparent hair dyes that give hair body and shine, but do not affect color. Hair glosses can be applied to dry hair and hair that has recently been shampooed and conditioned. They can be left on hair for up to 20 minutes. The effect lasts for approximately two to four weeks.

Leave-in conditioners are either in the form of lightweight creams and lotions or sprays. They work by smoothing the cuticle of the hair and helping to detangle hair. These conditioners also soften and smooth while replacing lost moisture and adding shine. Look for leave-in conditioners with natural oils such as olive and jojoba, which beauticians rely on to keep hair looking glossy. Apply the conditioner after shampooing. Towel-dry hair, rub the cream or lotion through the hair, or spray on and comb through, avoiding the roots. Leave-in conditioners are, as the name indicates, not to be rinsed out.

Weekly hot oil treatments can make your hair look shiny, smooth and healthy in about 30 minutes. These treatments are especially beneficial for damaged hair. Many contain essential oils such as coconut, jasmine, olive and jojoba. Warm the bottle of oil in hot water, then massage the oil through damp hair to ensure strands are evenly covered. Wrap a shower cap or warmed towel around the hair and leave on for the recommended time. Rinse hair and shampoo.