Shine on me – Hair that Blings!

It’s true, the only books I’ll even consider splurging on are ones that will look good on my shelf. There I said it, I’m an incredibly shallow creature, but then again aren’t we all? And is it really such a crime to want to look your best?

Surely it’s far better to want to look like the shiniest version of you, rather than wallow in a heap of self pity, elasticated waists and neglect?

So with that, I’ve decided I’m on a mission to give myself a little beauty TLC every week (you saw what happened when I forgot to care about my lips!) My first aim is to achieve the most shiny, silky locks ever seen this side of the United Kingdom!

Don’t laugh, but I’ve been watching a lot of the BBC’s Robin Hood and have found myself a hair muse in Maid Marian

For someone who comes from the Middle Ages, she’s got incredibly lustrous locks. I highly suspect she may possess a pair of GHD’s, but hey- she’s a woman from the past! So what’s her secret? And for that matter, how can we achieve it?

For hair that blings:
Did you know that a lack of shine could be due to filthy follicles clogged up with product?

If that sounds like your problem, try Pantene’s Clarifying Shampoo. It removes impurities and residue that you may have accumulated from use of your regular hair products during the week. I actually tried this shampoo out last night, so I can tell you that it lathers easily and it made my hair squeak in the shower, which is always a good sign! The results: My hair looked noticeably glossier and sleeker.

In an ideal world, you should leave your hair to dry naturally to maintain your natural hair moisture level. So if you can bare it, stay clear of heating products!

But if you love your heating products too much?

Try Redken’s styling lotion ‘Satinwear 02′ - it’s a blow dry lotion you apply on damp hair to protect your hair from intense heat, which in turn, adds an incredible sheen!

Eva Longoria with very shiny hair.

For straight haired lassies, whilst blow-drying, ensure you use a nozzle to direct the airflow in one direction. This will prevent your hair from an attack of the frizz.

Broke? Try one of these crazy ideas - It’s amazing what kind of natural remedies you can find in your kitchen cupboard. I found a tip which says that brunettes should rinse their hair with one tablespoon of vinegar mixed in a jug of water; whilst blondes should opt for lemon juice. I’ve not tested these methods myself so I couldn’t possibly comment on their effectiveness.

Sleeping Beauties might want to try sleeping on satin pillows or covering hair in a silk wrap for shiny hair.

Ensure you eat carrots, seafood, oil rich fish to keep your scalp in top condition. A lack of fatty acids can cause your hair to look as dull as a Monday morning.

After washing your hair, give your hair one final rinse with cold water as this will seal the surface of your hair shafts and therefore make it easier for your hair to reflect the light.

So now you have a few tips and tricks to try out. Here’s to having shiny hair!