How to Make Hair Glossy – 10 Stylist Secrets
Glass hair, expensive brunette, new money blonde... This year's biggest hair trends all have one thing in common: unbelievable shine that makes strands shimmer from root to tip. But if your hair doesn't radiate natural shine, some simple changes to your regimen will give hair gloss that truly lasts.
Let's get into your steps. Here's how to make hair glossy at home and in the salon...
1. Show Your Scalp Some Love
Healthy hair starts at the root, where your hair follicles lie. So, before you treat the lengths, don't forget to show your scalp some TLC. If you suffer from a dry scalp, your first step is introducing a mask that's suitable for the roots. Try INVIGO Balance Sensitive Mask for light, refreshing scalp care that alleviates itching and dryness.
Your next step is a scalp massage, not just when your scalp mask is on, but every day. Whether you're lathering up your shampoo or prepping your hair for the day ahead, take a minute or two to gently massage the roots. Move your fingertips in circular motions, starting at the front and gradually moving backwards until you reach the base of your neck. This step helps to improve blood circulation, so nutrients and oxygen can be carried to your hair follicles.
2. Use a Shine-Enhancing Shampoo
Lay the foundations for dazzling shine with a smoothing, hydrating shampoo; one that nourishes, fights frizz and detoxes your hair of dulling aggressors. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo's luxurious lather is the ideal step one staple, with the built-in Metal Purifier neutralizing any metals, such as copper, that lurk through hair strands. You can't see these metals, so you might not think they're really there, but we all deal with them, when they come from the water we wash with or the air we breathe. While removing them, ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo also infuses hair with a blend of Omega-9 fatty acids and Squalane, two hero hydrators that moisturize your hair from the inside out.
3. Condition, Condition, Condition
Healthy hair just glows better, so make sure you're treating it to a conditioner after every wash – preferably one that fends off frizz for that glossy finish. When hair is smooth, it's better able to reflect the light, making ULTIMATE SMOOTH Conditioner your go-to for creating a shimmery, shiny look. It also makes hair a dream to detangle, so there's no more dragging a brush through knots. Your wide-tooth comb will glide through, causing less stress – and, in turn, less frizz – for even the most delicate hair cuticles.
4. Use a Hair Mask Every Week
Don't skip regular masking sessions. A deep conditioning treatment, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask, is needed to inject dry hair with the glow-boosting nourishment and essential moisture it craves. Suitable for all hair types, this conditioning mask features high concentrations of Omega-9 and Squalane, so you get a supercharged weekly treatment that makes a real difference to your hair's shine. Apply it to the mid-lengths and ends of damp hair, making sure excess moisture has been blotted away first. This is key to ensuring your hair can soak up all the intense shine-enhancing goodness. Then wrap your hair up in a warm towel while the mask absorbs, and leave it there for up to 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and just feel that silky finish.
5. Target Excess Product Buildup
Product residue is one of the biggest causes of dull hair. Let it build up, and it creates a coating that makes hair strands appear flat and tired. So, when you're dealing with oily roots and it feels like product buildup might be dragging hair down, have a 'detox session' with a clarifying shampoo. Try INVIGO Aqua Pure Purifying Shampoo to reset and refresh in one wash, with Lotus Extract to gently yet effectively remove residue, impurities and pollutants. We recommend combining this step with a hair mask session, so the roots get the deep cleanse they need while the lengths get a major moisture boost.
6. Finish with a Cool Water Rinse
Hot water is a no-go in your shiny hair regimen, as it strips the hair shaft of all the vital, protective oils it needs to stay healthy. So, make sure you're always washing your hair with lukewarm water. This is the best temperature to effectively remove any residue without causing harm to your hair and drying it out. Then, after your shampoo and conditioner have been completely rinsed, blast strands with cold water. This quick trick encourages the hair cuticle to lie flat, creating a shinier outer layer. Do your cooler rinse at the very end of your hair washing session – either after rinsing away conditioner or your deep conditioning treatment.
7. Never Rub Hair Dry
One surefire route to lackluster hair is rubbing it dry with a towel. Each strand of hair is at its most delicate when wet, so it needs the gentlest of care. For this, we recommend a microfiber towel or soft, cotton t-shirt to blot away moisture. Simply use it to press wet hair and remove excess water while avoiding unwanted friction.
8. Replenish Moisture with this Power Pair
It takes powerful formulas to revive shine and luster in dull hair, but this potent duo makes a visible difference from day one – even if you have stressed, damaged hair.
- First, mist towel-dried lengths from root to tip with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The weightless leave-in treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds¹ and gives you 99% less breakage².
- Follow with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. The hair oil-meets-hair serum nourishes in 30 seconds and gives you smoothness that lasts up to 3 days³ – essential for glossy hair that's soft and frizz-free.
Plus, ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum doubles up as a heat protectant, so it gives you an instant boost of shine while shielding lengths against the harmful effects of hot tools and heat damage. So, whether you're using a hair dryer, flat iron or curling iron, a few drops of hair oil will keep frizzy hair at bay and provide the protection you need.
9. Get a Golden Glass Hair Glow
While the steps above address dullness and dryness over time, you can get an instant solution by heading to your nearest Wella salon for a Golden Glass Hair service. Combining color and care, it's all about layering luminosity, with a fresh coat of your dream shade carefully blended to deliver mirror-like shine. Choose from Honey Glass Hair, Rose Gold Glass Hair, Apricot Glass Hair, Coral Glass Hair, and more. You can see the full breakdown of looks in our complete guide to Golden Glass Hair.
Once you're in the chair and you've picked your color, your salon colorist will take you through three key steps to ensure the glossiest finish. Here's what to expect:
The Base Layer
Shinier hair begins with your first layer of color, created using one of four signature Wella services that are focused on root-to-tip radiance. These include...
Illuminatural: Featuring Illumina Color for youthful, radiant, 100% natural-looking color, this base enhances the highs and lows in your hair while giving you up to 100% grey coverage.
Illuminage: Combining a root shadow with sun-kissed balayage, Illumina Color delivers the dimensional glow you want through the summer months.
Blondor Lights: Taking your highlights to the next level, Blondor Lights are meticulously woven through your hair to ensure strands shimmer in all the right places.
Color Touch Melt: Starring up to five shades within the same color family to play up hair's multi tones, a Color Touch Melt harnesses the true-to-tone vibrancy of demi-permanent Color Touch.
The Top Glaze Layer
Once your base layer has developed, a SHINEFINITY Glaze is applied from root to tip, creating a glassy top coat that glistens under the light. This zero damage, zero lift, demi-permanent formula delivers a translucent veil of color, giving you brilliant shine you can feel. Dull hair is history in one coat .
The Finishing Layer
With your glass hair color ready to glow, your colorist will finish your service with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, applied to the mid-lengths and ends of hair for instant smoothness and shine. It's a glass hair essential that gives your hair intense moisture to lock frizz away.
10. Don't Forget Night Care
No glossy hair regimen is complete without an effective solution to bed head; a serum that protects your hair while you sleep from the friction caused by tossing and turning. If you feel like you're always waking up to an unmanageable mane, care for lengths with ULTIMATE REPAIR Night Serum. Light yet nourishing, it acts like an overnight shield to reduce mechanical damage, breakage and frizz. So, not only do you achieve smoother hair night after night, but you can also hit snooze on your alarm and skip the lengthy fight against flyaways. We love a time-saver.
Now you've got the full lowdown on glossy hair, discover our complete round-up of hair care guides. From reducing breakage to tackling dry ends, we've got all the advice you need for your healthiest mane yet.
¹ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
² Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
³ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.