Silky hair that shimmers with the candles and Christmas tree balls: For 40 percent of German women, this is the great beauty dream. This is why more and more shampoos, conditioners and styling products are now specifically addressing this need. “Until a few years ago, there were almost only shampoos for greasy, dry or flaky hair, whose main task was to clean the hair in a way that was appropriate for the type,” confirms Dr. Frauke Neuser, scientist at Wella Professionals. “Today we assume something like that and also expect the fulfillment of individual additional requirements, especially more shine.”
So why is glamor so high on our wish list? Because, for genetic reasons, we find anything attractive that is a visible sign of health and fertility. Shiny hair signals that our hormones are at their best and that we are not lacking any nutrient. The only catch is that we interfere with our modern way of life: 39 percent of German women dye their hair, whereby the cuticle layer has to be opened chemically in order to introduce new color pigments. After that, the horny scales protrude slightly so that they can no longer optimally reflect the light. Our increased need for cleanliness often robs our hair of its natural shine. Statistically, we wash our hair every other day and use an average of 1.7 liters of shampoo per year. As a result, the protective sebum that the scalp makes rarely reaches the lengths, which continue to dry out with every wash—even if the foaming agents in shampoos today are a lot gentler than they used to be. Hot water, intensive blow-drying and styling do the rest to make our hair look dull. Still, you can wash and blow dry them as often as you want. With the new shine products you can combine both: shimmer and comfort. Still, you can wash and blow dry them as often as you want. With the new shine products you can combine both: shimmer and comfort. Still, you can wash and blow dry them as often as you want. With the new shine products you can combine both: shimmer and comfort.
Table of Contents
Shiny hair
BRILLIANT CONTENTS
The only question is: What is actually different about shampoos for more luminosity? First the base. Since dull hair is usually also brittle, the basis usually consists of extra-mild washing substances, the drying effect of which is additionally balanced by the coconut fatty acid betaine. The second special feature is usually a fairly high proportion of silicone, which is used in 80 to 90 percent of all shine shampoos and conditioners. This solves three problems in one go: silicone nestles the splayed-off horny scales against the shaft, protects against evaporation and reflects the light like a tight-fitting satin suit. In addition, there are caring vegetable oils and various glossing agents, which are incorporated into the formula either individually or in combination.
Get angry!
If the hair hangs down like straw, classic additives such as citric, berry or lactic acid are a brilliant idea. Reason: They remove residues of styling products and limescale that sometimes remains on the hair from hard tap water. In addition, acid pulls the hair together so that horny scales, which previously stood out wildly, attach themselves again. This has a nice side effect. dr Frauke Neuser: “The tiny air bubbles that are naturally found in our hair are also compressed. In this way, the incident light, which was previously diffusely scattered, can be better thrown back.”
Der Schonwaschgang-Trick
This is how you protect the stressed ends from losing their shine if you want to let your hair grow: knead a dab of conditioner into dry hair before (!) shampooing. This closes the roughened cuticle layer and leaches it out less when rinsing.
Sparkling clean – thanks be to the water
In order to be super shiny, hair not only needs oil, but also moisture. The optimum is 10 percent water inside, which makes it sparkle in the form of the finest droplets. Many shimmer shampoos therefore also contain thirst quenchers such as aloe vera and panthenol, which slip into the hair shaft and bind moisture there.
Poetry and Truth
A freshly frozen lake glistens in the sun. When ice skaters draw the first circles on it, the shine is over. It’s the same with our hair. The more dead skin cells we have torn off when styling or by combing and brushing, the less the hair shimmers. Shampoos and conditioners with diamond particles, pearl protein or the salt behentrimonium chloride specifically seal small holes, level out bumps and enhance the shine.
More than just hot air
Just not so hot is the motto for shine-preserving blow-drying, because heat dries out. New care lotions are now turning the tables: they contain ceramides, which are melted by the heat of a hair dryer and thus fill gaps in the hair shaft (e.g. “Chroma Thermique Heat Activated Care” from Kérastase, 150 ml approx. 28 euros).
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Diamond Gloss Shampoo” from Nivea Hair Care with diamond particles, panthenol, 250 ml approx. 2 euros; “Beautiful Shimmer Shine Shampoo” from Herbal Essences with fruit acid from berries, 250 ml approx. 2 euros; “Elvital Nutri-Gloss Light Care Conditioner” from L’Oréal Paris with pearl protein and citric acid, 200 ml approx. 3 euros; “SP System Professional Shine Define Mask” from Wella Professionals with lactic acid, panthenol, behentrimonium chloride, 200 ml approx. 25 euros; “Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner” by Pantene Pro-V with aloe vera, 200 ml approx. 3 euros
Care tips for special hair
SPECIALISTS WANTED
Okay, to get shine in brittle hair, cosmetic manufacturers have come up with a lot. But what if you don’t have dry hair but rather flaky or greasy hair? “Then you’re better served with a shampoo specifically against these problems,” says Dr. Miss Neuser. “But there’s nothing wrong with using a shine conditioner or a shimmer treatment for the ends of your hair afterwards.”
Pretty light: white without yellow
Gray hair can look very classy – if it doesn’t have a yellow tinge. However, since only the dark pigments are broken down when the hair turns gray, the yellow ones temporarily predominate. Purple color pigments that attach to the hair shaft are ideal for covering up. They neutralize the yellowness and give the hair a pretty silvery shimmer.
turning straw into gold
Brittle hair lacks sebum. But pure oil is far too greasy as a substitute. The solution: A mix of silicone and borage seed oil with glitter particles that cares without weighing it down. Distribute finely on the palms of the hands, stroke over the hair, done (“Huile Prodigieuse Or” by Nuxe, 50 ml approx. 25 euros).
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Tolfioow Silberglanz Silberweide Shampoo” by Guhl, 200 ml approx. 6 euros; “BC Color Save Silver Reflex Shampoo” by Bonacure, 250 ml approx. 8 euros Dazzlingly beautiful curls They are dangerous on the street, but with wavy hair they are longed for: mirror-smooth curves.
Care for curls
Since curls have little contact with the sebum on the scalp, this is not so easy to achieve. In addition, the cuticle of the hair cracks slightly at the bends. To give your waves a great shine without losing their bounce from too much care, extra curl shine products pump your hair with moisture using glycerine. Protruding horny scales are applied with wheat protein.
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Expert Shine Curl Shampoo” from L’Oréal Professional with glycerin, 250 ml approx. 8 euros; “Be Curly Conditioner” by Aveda with wheat, 200 ml approx. 22 euros
Shining examples of colored laundry
In order to change the natural tone, the cuticle layer has to be broken open during dyeing. This is at the expense of the shimmer, especially since the colors that have been smuggled in are soon rinsed out again when washing. Color gloss care supplies new pigments and seals the shaft.
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Brilliant Brunette Shine Release Intensive Mask” by John Frieda, 150 ml approx. 11 euros; “Blonde Glam Color Enhancer Perfect Platinum” by Redken, 250 ml approx. 23 euros; “Gliss Kur Color Shine & Protection Shampoo” by Schwarzkopf, 250 ml approx. 3 euros
Glamor effect with natural products
GREEN GLAMOR MIT BIO
Silky shimmer through natural cosmetics – many are skeptical, because after all silicone, the number one shine donor, is taboo in organic beauty. Nevertheless, shampoos and conditioners made from natural active ingredients can hold a candle to conventional shimmer products. Sometimes you just need a little more patience, since natural cosmetics are more likely to focus on a “long-distance victory” than on an immediate effect. It starts with the detergents, made from sugar and coconut oilbe won. They leach out the hair less, so the cuticle layer stays intact even with frequent washing and the hair grows back healthy. Sesame or soybean oil, lemon juice, colorless henna and moisturizing coconut milk provide additional highlights. But Bio-Beauty also has something for the impatient: glossy hair sprays with shellac, which used to be used to make records. This resin-like secretion, left by lacquer scale insects on the branches of the cottonwood, coats the hair with a shiny film that is a real alternative to silicone.
Happy-New-Hair-Müsli
Happy New Year with beautiful, new hair: If you eat this muesli every day, you will nourish dull strands with shine-giving B vitamins, zinc, silicic acid and phytoestrogens: pour soy milk over 4 tablespoons oatmeal, 2 tablespoons millet flakes, 1/2 banana and 8 cashew nuts , sweeten with honey if desired.
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Natural Basics Shine Shampoo” by Sante with coconut, 200 ml approx. 4 euros; “Lemon Shine Shampoo” from I&M with soybean oil, 250 ml approx. 7 euros; “Hairspray Silky Shine” by Logona* with sesame oil, colorless henna and shellac, 150 ml approx. 9 Eur
Brushes in the test
IN TEST: BRUSHES
In keeping with the gloss trend, the daily grooming is being rediscovered! But for that you need the right technical support service, because brushes with wire or plastic bristles can roughen up brittle hair. We have tried two shine brushes for you. Wild boar brushes are very popular, especially in the organic scene. The highlight of this is the similarity between pig bristles and our hair, because this allows them to absorb the fat at the base and distribute it evenly down the lengths. Grooming with the handleless brush takes some getting used to, but is very pleasant. The hair actually gets a great shimmer – and on top of that it has to be washed less often. Battery-operated ion brushes are also good, although they are associated with a quiet hissing noise. With negatively charged oxygen particles, they ensure
Happy New Year in Japanese
Anyone who combs dull hair easily gets stuck on protruding horny scales. A trick from Japan protects against this: Simply put a few drops of camellia seed oil on the comb! Provides shine and glides more gently through the hair (e.g. “Camellia Seed Oil” from Primavera, 30 ml approx. 13 euros).
PRODUCTS: e.g. B. “Wild Boar Brush” from CulumNatura, approx. 80 euros; “Satin Hair Ion Brush” from Braun, around 44 euros
