The crowning glory of a woman is an important part of her overall appearance. We all strive to have beautiful, shiny hair with a healthy dose of volume. Healthy looking hair enhances a woman’s beauty. However, few people understand that different hair textures have different needs to achieve a healthy, shiny and voluminous look. These are various techniques and hair products available.

To create volume:-

When you blow-dry your hair, apply some hair volumizer, flip your head upside down, and then blow-dry while leaning forward so your hair falls forward (this should only be done when hair is damp, not wet). Next, take a vented brush and lift your hair up and in the opposite direction of how your hair normally sits to create lift.

For maximum volume, try to section your hair when you blow-dry. Lift sections of hair up as you blow-dry so that the roots are lifted to create an even, voluminous look. Smart coloring is also a volume-creating tool, as adding artistic highlights and carefully placed lowlights can give your locks the illusion of volume.

To achieve a shiny mane head:-

There are several ways to achieve shiny hair. For one thing, you can choose to use a heat activated shampoo, deep condition your hair at least once a week, refrain from using too many different types of styling products as they can dull your hair. Another way to increase the shine factor in your hair is to give your crowning glory a blast of cool air to seal the cuticles after it’s completely dry, because if the cuticles are frayed, the hair won’t shine.

For those with fine, lifeless hair, our advice is to avoid mousse and wax, as the density of the product weighs down the hair. Also, the powder would easily stick to the surface of the hair. However, we recommend the use of hair serum to add shine. Some products that work well include:

– L’Oreal – Lumi Oil

– La Biosthetique – Shine On Crazy

– Redken – Crystal smoothing serum

These serums help keep hair shiny and also smooth out frizz. For those with coarse, coarse hair, apply 2-3 drops to palm of hand and smooth into damp or dry hair. For those with thin, fine hair, just apply a drop and follow the same steps. Mousse and wax are more suitable for people with thick and coarse hair. These products help add shine and reduce frizz. However, make sure the product is on a water soluble base to prevent buildup of product residue.

Using natural ingredients to add shine:-

Before the evolution of hair care products, people used ingredients found at home to care for their hair. Such ingredients include olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, lemon, bananas, vinegar, avocado, and egg yolk.

Applying oils after a hair wash can not only add shine, but also soften the overall look. Basically, just apply a little oil to dry hair to control frizz and flyaways; this works especially well in humid climates and winter days. For those with light or blonde hair, using a few tablespoons of lemon juice on the hair before rinsing would help add shine. For those with brown and red hair, adding a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before rinsing with water would help add shine.

Other natural ingredients like avocado, banana, and egg yolk work well as homemade hair masks. Here are some examples of how they can be used:

Avocado Hair Mask (suitable for normal to dry hair):-

Mash a whole avocado until smooth. Apply to damp hair and leave for about 20 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly with shampoo and condition if necessary. The results are softer, shinier hair with more body.

Avocado wrap:-

Take a ripe (peeled) avocado, add three to four teaspoons of honey and eight to ten drops of almond oil. Blend well and then apply to wet hair, especially the ends. Wrap your hair in a towel and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse well with lukewarm water. This is ideal as a rich moisturizing hair treatment to nourish the ends of dry hair.

Banana Hair Mask (suitable for very dry and damaged hair):-

Put a banana in a blender until completely smooth. Add a little mayonnaise, oil and mix until it becomes a smooth and creamy emulsion. Apply to hair, comb through and leave the mask on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual.

This banana hair mask will make hair moist and soft.

Egg mask (hair) (for all hair types):

Using only the yolk, lightly shake before applying to hair, leave on for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing completely with cold water.

Lemon “Help” (for dry and damaged hair):-

Use a large lemon with your usual amount of conditioner, mix well, apply to freshly shampooed hair, let sit for three to five minutes, then rinse hair thoroughly as usual. This adds shine to the hair and removes residual buildup of hair chemicals.

Products are available for sale from Shunji Matsuo Hair Studio, 20 Bideford Road, #01-02, Wellington Building, Singapore 229921.