There is seriously no better feeling than having super silky, shiny hair after a well-deserved trip to the salon. The bad news is that the supermodel glossiness never seems to last. That va-va-voom look and feel quickly turns totally lackluster. The good news is that there are things you can do to keep your hair looking and feeling just as silky and shiny as it did when you left the salon. Keep reading for 5 hair hacks from Kristine Murillo, New York-based hairstylist and owner of Fedora Lounge.
1. Don't wash your hair every day
Great news for lazy gals. Murillo encourages you to not wash your hair daily, which means more time for beauty sleep. “Over-washing can strip your hair of the essential oils that keep your scalp healthy and hair shaft smooth, shiny and nourished,” she says. “By washing it every day, you are making the pores in your scalp overproduce oil, which leads to oily hair and flaky skin. Washing it every other to every three days keeps the hair shaft and scalp healthy. It will reduce flaking and overproduction of oil and lengthen your blowout, too."
2. Avoid hot showers
As amazing as they may feel, hot showers aren’t great for your hair if you want to keep it looking its best. “Hot water opens the cuticle and takes away essential oils and moisture from the hair,” Murillo says. But, if you simply can’t resist (we feel you), then she recommends at the very least using cold water to rinse at the end of your shower. This will help close the cuticle back up and keep it healthy and strong.
3. Don’t skimp on the hair products
While we all love a good deal, going with the cheap drugstore shampoos isn’t doing your hair any favors. “Those products only contain a small amount of high-grade ingredients,” Murillo says. “They contain mostly chemicals and fillers, which will strip your hair of its natural oils.”
And if your hair is colored, cheap products will make it lose its vibrancy faster. Instead, opt for salon brand products – after all, the pros use them for a reason. Yes, you may spend a little bit more money on them but since you’ll be washing your hair less often, it’ll kind of balance out.
4. Minimize direct heat
Just like hot showers can dull your locks, so can hot tools. “Using irons and blow dryers every day causes breakage, dryness and splitting,” Murillo says. “A little touch up here and there is okay, but direct heat every day will definitely reduce that shine.” Another pro tip: Prep your hair with heat protective spray when you do apply any heat.
5. Be mindful of your diet
What does what you eat have to do with your hair? Apparently, it has a lot to do with it. “Hair is part of the body and anything internal can affect it,” Murillo says. That’s why she recommends ditching junk food and nourishing your body with healthy foods which will help beautify your hair from the inside out. She adds that it might also be helpful to take a multivitamin or fish oil supplement to replenish any vitamins or nutrients you may be deficient in. Editor’s note: Vital Proteins offers a range of beauty-loving products to supplement your daily routine. Our Glow Collagen Shot and Beauty Collagenare two of our bestsellers.