Shiny and Smooth. If hair looks silky, it's a safe bet that it's healthy too. That shiny—and sought-after—texture is the result of a smooth, flat-lying cuticle.
"Shiny hair is a result of spreading the natural oil from your scalp throughout the hair," Matthew Guilin, a master hairstylist, told INSIDER. So, if your hair is shiny it could mean the natural oils are evenly distributing throughout your hair.
Get enough protein. As your hair is made of keratin, a protein, not getting enough protein in your diet can lead to dry, brittle strands, says the nutritionist Jo Lewin. She recommends adding chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products and eggs into your diet.
Your scalp's natural oils are what make hair naturally shiny, but if you have long and/or curly hair, it may have a hard time working its way to your ends, which can leave your tips looking dry and broken.
The best reflection occurs when the cuticles have a healthy coating of Sebum, which is a natural hair oil. Dull hair that does not shine is usually lacking in the necessary moisture needed to reflect light. Hair that is deficient in moisture and natural oils will absorb the light rather than reflect it.
Unhealthy hair usually has a rough texture, lack of shininess and luster, have split ends, lack of moisture and elasticity even after treatment and easily broken. Damaged hair will also get tangled up and result in knots due to hair dryness.
Shiny hair can be genetic but environment has an impact too.
Having silky hair is something not every person is born with. Your hair may become dry and brittle if your diet is not healthy or if you use hair products that are not meant for your hair type. When your hair fails to retain the moisture from the natural oils secreted by the scalp, they become dry and rough.
Shiny skin may actually be a sign of skin health, since the oil that comes from the sebaceous glands contains ceramides. These are fatty acids that help form a protective barrier on skin, defending against environmental stressors like sun damage or daily pollution, and helping to regulate moisture levels.
It is considered, frequently, as beautiful and ladylike. Often times, men enjoy showcasing a woman that has shiny or long hair to others as a sign of a great prize that they have. For whatever the reason, the feminine look is often correlated with long or full and healthy hair.
Dull hair can drag you down, but a head full of shiny hair "can take years off," said Franck Izquierdo, a celebrity stylist and the cofounder of IGK Hair Care. "Hair that is vibrant and shiny looks healthier and more youthful.
By sliding a strand, or a few, between your thumb and forefinger, you might be able to feel for the health of your hair. A smooth, easy slide, likely means your hair is healthy, while a rough and bumpy feeling means you likely have some damage.
If at any point your hair feels rough, dry, and brittle and as if random strands are sticking out, this is a sign that your hair is unhealthy and damaged. Under such circumstances, you should consider seeking out treatment for your hair as quickly as possible and not let your damaged hair continue to grow out.
Soft hair is usually well moisturised with good elasticity, both of which are signs that hair is in good health. Moisture and elasticity both give hair strength and make it less prone to damage and breakage.
Type 1A hair is very straight and fine, with no waves or curls whatsoever. This hair type tends to get very oily and requires frequent shampooing. It is the rarest hair type and is common among women of Asian descent.
The porosity of your hair is dependent on the cuticle, the outer layer of your hair. When the cuticle lies flat, this means you have low porosity. When light shines on low porosity hair, it will be easily reflected. Consequently, you hair looks “shiny”.
Genetic factors appear to play a major role in determining hair texture—straight, wavy, or curly—and the thickness of individual strands of hair. Studies suggest that different genes influence hair texture and thickness in people of different ethnic backgrounds.
The cuticle is the outer layer that protects the individual hair. The many layers on an Asian hair are also more dense and wider and thicker than on Caucasian hair. That gives the hair an illusion of being really shiny and silky.
60% of men surveyed say they would rather date a woman with great hair than a woman with big breasts. And 78% of men surveyed consider healthy hair to be a turn-on. Now, the first thing that strikes me is that men are obviously drawn to hair that's shiny and healthy--and that makes complete sense.
Your hair can let you and your doctor know whether you're stressed, have a nutritional deficiency, a thyroid problem, or other health issues.
Believe it or not, the condition of your hair can be one of the most important signs of your overall health. Vibrant, healthy hair means that your body is producing enough vitamins and nutrients that ensure the body is operating at its peak condition.