How to Make Your Hair Shiny After 40
When you gaze into the mirror, and the reflection says “‘old,” it’s probably because your hair looks as dull as dishwater. Where did that youthful luster go, and how can you get it back? Guest contributor and hairstylist Chris Maclachlan has some tips for women over 40 to make their hair soft and shiny.
Chris: Clients ask me all the time why their hair gets so much duller as they age. The simple truth is that older hair loses color and moisture and therefore looks flatter and less shiny. Healthy, unprocessed hair is ideal, but who are we kidding? We need grey coverage!! Here are some simple tricks to get shiny, healthy hair, no matter what we put out hair through.
1. Moisturize
A deep conditioning treatment or “gloss” in a salon 3 to 4 times a year is your best bet. If you want to do it yourself, try an old favorite, Alberto VO 5 hot oil (no, I’m not kidding)
2. Clarify
Once a month, use a clarifying shampoo. Aveda Detoxifier or Neutrogena are great ones. It helps to reduce product and pollution buildup and makes hair squeaky clean.
3. Blow-dry Smart
One of the best tips I know for making your hair shiny and smooth is to position the angle of your blow dryer just right. You want the hot air going DOWN the hair shaft (from root to tip). Pay attention next time. I bet you blow-dry from the ends up, creating frizz and diminishing shine. Also, sectioning your hair, as the pros do, will give you a way better result. It may take longer and a little practice, but that is why your hair looks so shiny when you leave the salon.
4. Products
A smoothing or shiny product can really help. Only use a little, it goes a long way, and too much will weigh your hair down. Another way to make your hair shine…….? Go easy on the hair spray!
5. Color
Darker hair has more shine. Bleaching is the single quickest way to make your hair look dryer and more damaged. If you are a blond, try a slightly darker shade, with bright highlights around your face.
6. Tools
A ceramic round brush when you blow-dry is great for smoothing hair and conducts heat better than a metal brush. A boar bristle hairbrush like a Mason Pearson is the best brush on dry hair for distributing oil from the scalp to the ends, and it really smoothes the cuticle layer. Hairstylists swear by it to give your hair beautiful brilliance (and there’s no better brush for creating a smooth ponytail too.) As for hot irons, if you are one often to straighten or curl, it is essential to use a heat-protecting spray on dry hair before you iron.
7. Shampoo Less
The more you wash, the more you dry out your scalp. If your hair gets oily quickly, that’s the reason. As you strip your scalp of natural oils, your body will compensate by producing more. My tip for how to get shiny hair at home is to get your shampooing routine down to twice a week at the most. Start by skipping a day between shampoos and just wetting your hair and scrubbing your scalp with water. Read the back of your shampoo bottle, and you will see the first ingredient is water, a great cleanser on its own without the stripping properties.
8. Get Regular Trims
Removing the split ends from your hair at least every 12 weeks is a must. If you don’t, the hair shaft will fray and split all the way up, giving you a frizzy halo all around your head. Think Crystal Gayle. Not a good look!! Managing your hair can take a little time, money, and effort but remember, you wear it every day, and it deserves your attention. In my opinion, it is one of the easiest ways to look chic, youthful, and stylish.
Chris Maclachlan is a hairstylist and wardrobe consultant with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is passionate about helping women find their own style and feel their best, no matter their age, shape, or size.
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Thanks for the tips; I appreciate it – I’m afraid I entirely have to disagree with the Crystal Gayle comment – I love her hair
You make an excellent point about how your scalp has a ton of natural oils anyway. I need to get a new shampoo for my curly hair. The one I have now made it too frizzy.
Excellent, Very informative, I am getting married in just a few months, and I want to look my best that day, including my hair, so I am looking for any tips that will help me. Thank you for this article; these tips are constructive; I will keep them in mind while looking for a professional that can help me look my best.
Hi, I need to comment on #2 clarifying. *If sodium sulfate-free, do not use those products, for they will mess up your hair …use baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar instead. And I would do it every two weeks unless you always have unhealthy goblin products in your hair.
It’s also been my experience clarifying shampoo strips color out of the hair.
Alberto VO, five conditioning hairdressing, is excellent too! It just takes a minimal amount to make my hair smooth and shiny. I love it!
o.K. I’m trying it! I just bought a John Freida shine product you apply after conditioner, which works well!
Wow! I Love these tips! Haha.. “easy on the hairspray…”
The more you wash, the more you dry out your scalp. If your hair gets oily quickly, that’s the reason. As you strip your scalp of the natural oils, your body will compensate by producing more. My tip for how to get shiny hair at home is to get your shampooing routine down to twice a week at the most. Start by skipping a day between shampoos and wetting your hair, and scrubbing your scalp with water. Read the back of your shampoo bottle, and you will see the first ingredient is water, a great cleanser on its own without the stripping properties.
Yes, you can condition without washing your hair. I have started washing my hair every other day so that the color will last longer. I recently discovered I could use my Frederick Fekkai conditioner on my frizzy ends as a leave-in conditioner on the days I don’t wash. I take a small amount, rub it between my hands, and rub it on my dry hair, then brush my hair to distribute the conditioner. It makes my hair less frizzy and much smoother & more controlled.
You can also use olive oil. Just heat some in the microwave, place one of those clear plastic showers cap-like things, cover with a towel and sleep with it overnight or go into a steam room or sauna. Do this on dry hair, and then after, wash your hair.
On days I don’t like shampoo, can I condition it? I have thick, wavy hair, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to get a comb through wet hair with no conditioner in it.
Thanks! Some excellent advice here!